Today’s navel-gazing topic, to fill the time for the denizens of Installment 9, a little interesting nugget I stored away that I’ve been meaning to share.
Last year the admissions director of Lehigh visited D’s school to talk to the juniors about college admissions from the other side. One point he made is that he’s started to advise parents and students to stop thinking of applying to college as a “process” and start thinking about it as an “endeavor.”
Why? “Processes” have a more predictable relationship between input and output than college admissions do these days. Those of us who remember how it worked a generation ago probably remember a much higher degree of predictability. You do “A B and C,” apply to “X Y and Z,” and you have a decent idea how things will turn out. You want to get a driver’s license? Here’s the process…
An “endeavor” or “project” is something you’re trying to do, but the outcome is less sure. It’s not a checklist you’re checking off, it’s a holistic effort. Given that factors outside an individual’s control are much more at play these days, and especially so in artistic admissions, maybe thetas indeed a better way for parents to talk about it and students to think about it.
To be sure, there are processes contained within the endeavor. You want a live audition? Here’s the process- record four songs fitting these criteria, upload them here, etc. But overall, it’s not a process, it’s a project.
That sounds fine. I tried to think of college as a possible component to a music career endeavor. The endeavor aspect of the music career is then inherited by the college component.
Yes, I like this @NYCMusicDad ! And, like @GoForth says, it’s just sort of the beginning installment of the larger endeavor: A Career in Music. We are only one year ahead of you, but I see that for my D (maybe more especially in voice, because there are personal, physical factors that dictate successes, failures, and the overall path) this is true on an almost daily basis as a first year; do what you know you should do, practice hard, learn and implement organizational strategies, Dream and plan, and see what happens. A great deal of flexibility and stick-to-it-iveness are required!
Chiming in on the agreement about it just being one piece of the larger endeavor. S is only a freshman, but he is close with another student who had an incident that almost derailed his music career. It’s not my story to tell, but S was shaken by it. He realized that an injury (he’s already had a broken wrist 3 different times!), a damaged instrument, or any other number of things could derail his career down the line. It was enough for him to connect with advisors in three different schools to create his own second major. It aligns with his music interests, and I think he is even more convinced that a career as a classical performer is for him. But he is approaching it with that endeavor mindset and I’m very proud of him for it because he is being proactive and not reactive.
I was just taking a walk and saw some neighbors who asked about him. They what he planned to do career-wise. I said I didn’t know. And that didn’t bother me one bit.
Honestly, why do people ask that question? They should just stick to discussing the weather 
Oh these are people who have known and loved him since he was tiny, and it was asked out of genuine interest about him and what he is up to. I wasn’t bothered by them asking in the least. Though I know there are plenty of people who would ask in a less kind way, lol!
@BassTheatreMom “I was just taking a walk and saw some neighbors who asked about him. They what he planned to do career-wise. I said I didn’t know. And that didn’t bother me one bit.”
This was my favorite answer too as my D continued on in school bc it was the truth…and it really didn’t bother me. It was for my D to figure out…not me. Most people responded kindly to the simple answer…as who really knows what their kid will do after school. I always added…she’s a smart kid and will figure it out.