<p>Having had a daughter in exactly Nester's situation, I would say that unless it's a truly national class talent -- national competition honors, professional performances, etc. -- a musical interest won't count for much more than any other EC at an elite college, and most certainly won't overcome any deficiencies in academics. I hope everyone here understands the critical difference between a music performance program at a conservatory (whether freestanding like New England Conservatory or part of a larger school like Rice) and "doing" music as part of a general liberal arts degree. If you audition for conservatory admission, it's ALL about your performance abilities. Also, you will spend 80 percent of your time or more on music, with non-musical studies at the periphery.</p>