Music Hook Question / Chances

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>Stats:
SAT I: 760M / 690CR/ 710W (2160) From 2 testings</p>

<p>SAT IIs: 740, 740, 740 (Math 2, Chem, US History)</p>

<p>ACT: N/A </p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 UW (hardest courseload offered), 4.2ish weighted</p>

<p>Rank: #1 of 650ish, possibly down to #2 due to unweighted band class</p>

<p>APs: Euro, Bio, US History, Chemistry (3 / 4 / 5 / 5) <em>Should I just report the 4 and 5's and not mention the 3?</em></p>

<p>Spanish at local community college, Harvard SSP distance Ed</p>

<p>EC's:
Professional snare drumming with traveling choir (weekends Oct-Dec, "little drummer boy" soloist)</p>

<p>2-year veteran and co-section leader of state champion (2006) percussion ensemble. I was a featured soloist. (about 15 hrs prac/week Oct-Apr)</p>

<p>Alternate section leader for nationally known Drum and Bugle Corps, 2005</p>

<p>University of Michigan Hockey Band: 2003, 2004, 2005</p>

<p>Destination Imagination, 2nd place regionals, 2nd place States, 8th place Globals (of a few hundred) in 2004</p>

<p>JV and V quiz bowl (captain for JV). 9.5 hrs/ week</p>

<p>Volunteer at hospital, 3hrs/ week (just started Dec 2005)</p>

<p>HS drumline section leader (3 years of leadership)</p>

<p>Spent frosh-soph summer trimming trees (not for long, though, just a few weeks)</p>

<p>NHS</p>

<p>Student Council member (a joke at my school)</p>

<p>Location/Person:
State or Country: MI
School Type: Large Public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: M </p>

<p>Possible Hooks:
First Generation College
State Champion Snare Drummer</p>

<p>I know the SAT scores arent steller, but, if it means anything, Math and Writing set school records :) (Noncompetitive HS)
Councelor and Teacher Recs will probably be "best of career;" again, noncompetitive HS</p>

<p>I would really prefer not to spend another Saturday morning taking the SAT (or trying the ACT), even though I could possibly raise my CR a few points. Do you think there'd be a big difference between a 690 and 710 CR?</p>

<p>*I know chances threads are usually pretty pointless, but I want to see if a) having school record SAT scores makes any impact (possibly to reflect the kind of non-college-focused area i come from) and b) how much impact it would make to be focused on such a limited instrument (that's really used just for marching band/ drumline), assuming that the adcoms are impressed enough w/ the tape to consider it a "hook."</p>

2

<p>Umm...how proficient are you on other percussions instruments?</p>

<p>Drumset? Kettledrums (aka Timpani)? Mallets?</p>

<p>Usually they expect a percussionist to be able to play anything. Being a fiend with the snare drum won't help if you can't play other percussion instruments well; it just won't stand out.</p>

3

<p>First generation college will be your biggest hook for the top colleges.</p>

<p>If the school needs a snare drummer...you're golden...even without SAT's all over 700.</p>

<p>You should make contact with the assorted band and orchestra directors. Others on this forum with music experience should be able to tell you how to do that.</p>

4

<p>WhiteCloudUltra:
I'm pretty well-rounded in percussion, but the majority of my time goes into snare drumming / marching percussion. I dont intend on majoring in music, just playing for the drumline (Which probably doesnt help a whole lot since the Harvard Band doesnt compete). Nonetheless, they do have spots to fill, so hopefully theyre looking for a snare drummer.</p>

<p>2boysima:
I'd definitely be interested in getting a hold of some of the music staff. Would I contact a drumline instructor, then? I assume I would just tell him/her that I am interested in playing for the college and get an evaluation on campus or send a tape, but I really dont know how the process works. If you know of anyone thats done something like this, Id appreciate any helpful PMs/ posts.</p>

<p>What about the SAT, would it really be worth it to retake for a few more points? Thanks for all the imput.</p>

5

<p>Orchestra more likely to be of interest to Harvard than marching band...but you never know! </p>

<p>Hopefully, someone else on this site can give you insight on who to contact. (there are some other threads started about music at Harvard...so maybe there will be some advice there.)</p>

<p>As first generation, your SAT's I are fine, and your SATII are very good. I wouldn't recommend taking again for a few more points. With the 5 on US History AP, and 740 on US Hist SAT II, it may balance the 690 on CR.</p>

<p>Also..you might want to re-post, without including "Chances" and "Music Hook" in the title. There are some people on this site very knowledgeable about Harvard admissions, who probably don't want to answer "Chances" threads. Try something like "First Generation seeking advice on Harvard admissions process"</p>

<p>What you really want to know, anyway, is how to make your application most appealing to Harvard admissions...not what your chances are.</p>