<p>Just got rejected from MIT :(. So, naturally, I am extremely nervous for Stanford. I turned in a music supplement for both schools, but I want to know the impact for Stanford specifically. I have probably low to okay stats for Stanford (33 ACT, 790 Math II, 770 Chem, 3.8 UW, 4.3 W) but I have pretty decent ECs with some leadership, lots of research, and music most importantly (wow, I'm sounding like a chance thread, this is not the point, I'm just sad after MIT). Anyways, the main question and point is asking how much of an impact do you think a stellar music supplement and recommendations can help me with Stanford? Do my prospects look okay for Stanford? Does Stanford really value great music recordings?</p>
<p>Thank you in advance and sorry for all my questions (again, I'm sad/very nervous)</p>
<p>Hey, sorry to hear about MIT. Actually commenting because my stats were pretty close to yours and I got accepted EA for Stanford. </p>
<p>I did an arts supplement (music) and in the handwritten note my admissions officer wrote she talked about the music as one of the impressive parts of my app (ie one of the reasons I got in). I think a good recording could help immensely, but maybe less so for common instruments (piano, violin, flute) than for less common ones (horn, oboe, bassoon). </p>
<p>Probably depends on whose listening, but I think they’re much more impressed when they can hear your playing than when they just have credentials on paper. Also, I know someone who had lower gpa and test scores than you who got in last year after doing a live audition.</p>
<p>Thanks for your quick reply! Maybe its because I’m just so saddened from MIT, but your post makes me very hopeful (I shouldn’t though, Stanford is even harder than MIT). I think the worst part of my application is that I’m asian (not be racist, but Asians do have it much harder, especially for engineering majors). I sent a piano supplement, would you like to hear them to kind of evaluate and compare to yours? Sorry if I’m being very intrusive and a bit creepy, I’m just very worried for Stanford. Waiting until April 1st is gonna make me go crazy :P.</p>
<p>I’m sure your supplement was great, probably better than mine. Personally I thought mine wasn’t very good. </p>
<p>What’d you play? Just curious. I didn’t do my supplement on piano, but I used to play it pretty seriously.</p>
<p>Track 1 – Bach Prelude and Fugue in b minor WTC 2
Track 2 – Chopin Etude Op. 25 No.11
Track 3 – Debussy Ce qua vu le vent d’ouest
Track 4 – Liebermann Gargoyles Op. 29 No. 4
Track 5 – Prokofiev Suggestion Diabolique Op. 4 No. 4</p>
<p>Here’s my general list for the various schools I applied to. I think for Stanford I sent my Chopin Etude “Winter Wind”, Prokofiev Suggestion Diabolique and possibly my Bach. (See what I’m worried is that for MIT, I sent Liszt “Feux Follets” which I learned a while back when I actually had time to practice in freshman year, and a pretty good recording of Bach Partita No. 6, and I got rejected)</p>
<p>Thanks for replying, I may be desperate, but its nice to have some hope :)</p>
<p>Don’t be desperate, definitely have hope too. I think everyone applies thinking they wont get in (I certainly did). </p>
<p>Well that sounds like an impressive line up to me. I love the Chopin! One of my all time favorites. I’m also a Prokofiev fan. I wouldn’t worry too much about the MIT thing. Stanford, at least where I live, is known for being the school that values music more than any other top tier school. Everyone whose been accepted to Stanford from my school in recent years has played an instrument. </p>
<p>Even if Stanford doesn’t work out, there are plenty of other great schools.</p>
<p>Thanks! Do you think music was kind of the deciding factor in getting into Stanford (besides the normal good grades and scores)? If not, then what do you think got you in? The essays perhaps? (sorry, so many questions!)</p>
<p>Lol I think it was a major factor, but they basically tell you why you got in with your acceptance letter (in the handwritten note) and it wasn’t the only reason. </p>
<p>They liked two of my essays (what matters and why and the common app one), the music, my athletics, my two part time jobs, and chess (4 years varsity). They may have also mentioned community service stuff but I can’t remember. </p>
<p>Ironically enough the english side of my essays was definitely not as good as it should have been. I was extremely disappointed with how they were written. But it was the content that the admissions talked about.</p>
<p>Oh wow, Stanford writes personal letters for all Early Admits? Or are you a likely letter person? Ahh, I’m so nervous, I just want to know now. Are you definitely going to Stanford? Did you contact the music department or have any special contact with them?</p>
<p>I’m not sure if they do it for all early admits, but I believe so. Not sure what you mean by likely letter person lol. </p>
<p>I’m definitely going (it was the only school I applied to). I contacted the music department only to ask about live auditions vs recordings. I wish I had more special contact. </p>
<p>What I did for Brown, UPenn, and Princeton was met with the heads, sit in on a rehearsal, and a class (for Brown only). If I could go back and do it again then I would contact the heads for Stanford too, and go to a rehearsal. But my high school director knows the people in the music department pretty well as does my private teacher, and I talked with other kids in the music program. I got a pretty good feel for the program without going (though I wish I had anyway).</p>
<p>Is Stanford’s music program pretty good? I heard their ensembles needed work. I know they’re building a new music hall, thats exciting. Are you majoring or minoring in music?</p>
<p>Well I’ve heard from students who attended my high school and are now at Stanford that Stanford’s wind ensemble is not quite as good as our high school one (but our high school’s is pretty good). However, I’ve heard that the groups are still good and fun, and that if you want a more competitive/intense group you should try orchestra. </p>
<p>I’m not planning on majoring, but I am considering a minor in music. How bout you?</p>
<p>I will probably double major engineering and music (mostly because of the outside scholarships for piano require me to major in music). If by the rarest chance of me getting into Stanford, I would probably double major in the first year, and then probably move music major to minor. What are you majoring at Stanford? Just curious :).</p>
<p>Well if you got scholarships for piano then you’re probably very accomplished at it! </p>
<p>Not really sure what to major in, going to take some classes and see what I like. Right now I’m thinking economics but that may change. There are so many subjects my hs doesn’t offer that I want to try before deciding.</p>
<p>I was also considering economics. Stanford is very good, like top 5 at least in economics. My hs through doesnt have any economics courses, theyre just all online. (This thread just seems like a convo and q&a then an actual thread) anyways, u seem very nice. Hopefully i will see u next year on campus! ;)</p>
<p>Lol yeah we’ve turned this into more of a convo. You seem awesome, I hope you get in. Let me know if you do, we’ll have to meet up at admit weekend.</p>