<p>These forums have been pretty helpful to me these past few weeks, so thanks!
I'm a junior right now, but I'm getting the jump on college searches early. I'm wondering what colleges will think of a few of the traits of my applications. I plan on applying to schools in the liberal arts/liberal-leaning research category (Brown, Wesleyan. Tufts, Vassar, Brandeis, etc). I take rigorous classes, standardized test very well (33 act retaking), and although my WGPA is a bit low (4.36) coming from a top 100 public school such as mine, I think I have a serious shot.</p>
<p>My question for you guys is about the weight that my music will have in my application. I play electric and upright bass in jazz band, pit orchestra, show band; pretty much every opportunity I can through school. I also want to stress on my applications that I am ALWAYS playing in a band outside of school, be it alternative rock, experimental, or jazz combos, and that no matter what school I go to, they can count on me to play in their jazz ensemble and hop into a band in the school's music scene. I may even submit a professionally recorded EP from my band in 9th-10th grade as a supplement to my application.</p>
<p>Is this something that I should really flaunt (I'd never try to be anything other than myself - don't worry) for the admissions officers? I think this could really separate me from the pack admissions wise. Besides, Wesleyan could some more musicians since MGMT. :P</p>
<p>Your ACT score and GPA (assuming it’s out of 4.0) are amazing. 4.36 by no means is low! Honestly, for those schools, you don’t even need to accentuate your musical talent but if you do, it could help solidify the decision IF you are really good. A bad supplement would be embarrassing…</p>
<p>The WGPA is out of 4.91, my unweighted is 3.71 out of 4.0
Thanks though! :D</p>
<p>It’s rather scary coming from a top public school such as mine. At my school, 15% of graduating class is 4.51+. Yikes! But I am taking difficult classes, so that doesn’t worry me too much.</p>
<p>I am mostly wondering how unique such musicianship looks to admins.</p>
<p>Well, I’m not sure how long you’ve been lurking CC boards but nearly every other applicant is either a piano prodigy or something along those lines. It won’t seem that unique UNLESS you are really, really, really, amazing.</p>
<p>Mmmmhm. I get the hunch that college admins like to see the difference between Kid A who is in symphonic band all 4 years and doesn’t intend to play music very much ever again, and Kid B who will fully participate in any music opportunities at the college, not to mention a music minor/doublemajor.</p>
<p>Yes, emphasize the music. They way you’ve written it here nicely shows your enthusiasm and how you see yourself taking that talent to college. Great!<br>
Hope you have a nice balance of other ECs. If not, get started now. Something that’s a bit out of your comfort zone- ie, not just sitting in a few school club meetings. Good luck.</p>
<p>ps you don’t have to be a prodigy or a music major. Colleges love kids who will get involved in campus life, as well as dig into the academics. Especially a few on your list.</p>
<p>^^^^ Yeah. I’m sure that schools like UChicago and Hopkins, who have a reputation of attracting the number crunching software engineer types, wouldn’t give me too much of an edge for the music. But the hipster schools will like it! </p>
<p>And I have a few other EC’s that I invest my time heavily in. I’m not a big EC stacker, but the ones I’m in, I adore. Music, politics, poetry, and fraternity. Aww yeah</p>
<p>Starky - My son, who is a senior, has a similar musical profile to yours (but plays piano/keyboard). He is applying to several of the schools you listed and he used the Additional Information section of the Common Application to discuss his musical activities in more detail than was possible on the Activity List. He listed all the different bands and combos he’s playing in, the venues in which he has performed, the number of professional gigs he has played in the past year etc. His Common App. essay also focused on an experience playing in a renowned Chicago blues club. Since music is basically his only EC, we’re hoping that his applications have captured the central role it plays in his life.</p>
<p>Yep. It seems as though us modern musicians should be in high demand, especially among small ( < 5000) schools. Lets think; if the freshman class doesn’t have a bassist, bye bye goes any musical acts or a 4 year strong rhythm section of jazz band.</p>
<p>And I’m sure that when I sit down with the Common App, I’ll find a bunch of places to wedge my musicianship. Besides, I’m writing my essay about how every time I met my high school girlfriends’ fathers, they have always asked me, “don’t you wish you played guitar instead of bass?” Hahaha</p>
<p>At many colleges and universities, students can submit “arts supplements” to their regular applications. These might be CDs, videos, portfolios. Where I teach, the arts supplements are distributed to the faculty in the relevant departments–music, art, theater–who evaluate them and send their comments back to Admissions. In your case, for instance, the person who’d listen to your CD would be the director of the jazz program.</p>
<p>A positive review of an arts supplement will certainly help you, though it certainly won’t get you in by itself. At some schools, they want to be sure not only that you are artistically talented but that you will continue to manifest that talent during your undergraduate years–they’re not admitting you as a reward for your talent, but because they want active musicians among the student body. So you want to make your intention to continue making music clear in your essays as well.</p>