I applied to Penn RD last week. I’m qualified and have varied ECs, but as we all know nothing is certain for Ivy admissions and at this point I personally think my chances of acceptance are slim (but still better than the average candidate).
I was seriously considering submitting an arts supplement for trumpet. It would be an excerpt from a very advanced concerto (grad level) and I consider myself to be certainly above average for a high schooler.
Considering this, however, I have heard that the arts supplements only help you if you’re a prodigy or could go to a conservatory. I think I could go to a conservatory (I don’t plan to; I don’t want to be a music major) but not any top-tier ones.
Penn says they want supplements from “recognized” and talented musicians.
Would sending the supplement help at all in any way?
If I said on my application that I plan to submit an arts supplement and then don’t would it be detrimental?
Thanks!
Also: If students who are extremely accomplished and “recognized” musicians are applying to top conservatories, why are Ivy admissions offices holding other passionate (albeit less qualified) students to their level, especially if they are more interested in the academic aspects of their school? (Maybe untrue, but from other posts this is what I gathered).
I’m sure that you have noted on your application that you play trumpet. Admissions officers don’t want to spend time with supplements that confirm what is already clear in the application. Therefore, I would only send a music supplement if it is of such an extremely high quality such that it could not be otherwise properly documented on your application.
Many very high quality ,even conservatory level musicians don’t want to pursue music as a career and seek to gain admission to top tier academic institutions.
My advice would be to submit the supplement only if you plan on continuing your high level of musicianship while at Penn. If, as you state, the piece is from an advanced concerto (grad level) and you feel your skill is such that you could go to a conservatory/ are certainly above hs level … then I don’t think it would hurt your application at all to submit it.
My son (who is a current student at Penn) has said he’s heard though that the supplements aren’t considered unless you indicated in your application/activities/ Why Penn essay that you plan on participating and continuing your music education in the music programs, groups, courses, lessons etc. Not sure if that is true or not.
My son isn’t majoring or minoring in music but participates in several ensembles and music classes. I don’t think it’s that admissions officers are holding aspiring students to a top level only status, rather its more of only passing along top or more qualified students to be on the directors’ radar coming in because graduate students also participate in the ensembles and there is no separating undergrad from the grad students in the orchestra. There are some seriously talented students (and faculty) involved in the music programs.
Anyone is able to audition for the ensembles and at that point the director would place the student in the appropriate level ensemble. A hs level player wouldn’t need to be on the director’s radar so to speak for several reasons, one being that a very large amount of admitted students are decent musicians but don’t have the time to continue playing while at Penn and or the ones that do might need a few years more experience before being able to play in the orchestra alongside the high level grad students. - Thats my take from what my son has told me. Hope it s helpful or sheds some light?
And just FYI, My son has “raved” about the top notch faculty in the music department. They are all the “real deal” and are a high level. If you are seriously interested in music, even if you aren’t going to major in it in any way …Penn has so much expertise to offer that will change you for the better. For example-
My son thought he knew so much about music from a lifetime of playing and training and took an elective class about the symphony (from Prof Bernstein it was about the ways in which this music conveys the composer’s musical rhetoric to the listener). He thought it would be an easy “A”/ a gpa booster in which he could slide through… let me tell you he would spend 6 hours on homework assignments (willingly!!) listening and articulating what was happening in compositions bc he was so inspired and challenged… The class ended up being a huge and challenging effort to get that A… but one in which he enjoyed every minute of it and that took his intellect to a new level. He can’t give enough accolades about Prof Bernstein. If, you get in he highly recommends any music lovers to take any of his courses!!