What kind of (top) universities would accept supplements as part of their admission process? For instance, I’m aware that MIT accepts supplements of all kinds.
Another question - I want to major in Materials Science and Engineering, while I enjoy music a lot (both singing and composing). What kind of music pieces would a high-quality supplement?
For singing, my choral teacher suggested “Thou Art Gone Up on High” from the Messiah, but I don’t really know how other people find this piece to be (at least it’s easy for me, so I’m doubting its “impressiveness.” For composition, would it be better for me to rearrange some pieces from Mozart’s Requiem or would it be better to compose something completely of my own? (I just find it hard to actually develop a music theme and sustain it.)
I know this is soooooo “wrong” to just try to impress the admission officers, but I do want to show my singing and composition skills so that they will know me better as an individual. Any advice PLS?
As far as I know, any college or university- incuding top schools- would like a music supplement if it shows real talent and ability to contribute on campus, and helps them to get to know you. However, conventional wisdom is that you want to make sure that the level of your singing or composing justifies sending a supplement or it can backfire a bit.
I can’t really respond concerning the singing. Perhaps someone else will come along.
For composition, it is definitely better to write something of your own but if you say that you find it hard to “develop and sustain a musical theme”, it might be counterproductive to include composition in your supplement. I could be wrong: maybe you could write a little more about your experience, the style you compose in and so on.
Composing is not always about developing a theme Are you familiar with much 20th and 21st century composition? Meaning modern and contemporary concert/ “classical” music, often called “new music”? Or are you more into jazz or popular music?
If you are into classical work, then a goal would be to develop an individual style, eventually. An “individual voice.”
So it is fine if you decide to do a music supplement, but get some advice on the actual choral work or compositions that you want to submit. It is also okay NOT to submit a supplement and make sure that the common application reflects your involvement in and love of music. You can also put this in the extra information section.
If you do do a supplement, you can also include a music resume, list of performances, and letters of recommendation from music teachers and directors- but only if the submission is justified by the level of your work.
Are you familiar with much 20th and 21st century composition? Meaning modern and contemporary concert/ “classical” music, often called “new music”? Or are you more into jazz or popular music?