<p>I'm planning to have music as my main focus for basically "everything" like ECs and essay and how it impacted my life and family. Actually, this is my only "strong" ec. .I incorporated community service, leadership etc all in this category. My other ec's besides music are not all that outstanding meaning i am just a member or there is no "hook". So considering that Ec's are such a main factor at this Harvard do you think emphasizing music is good enough or is it too stereotypical? I heard that quality was what counts not a myriad of random ec's..</p>
<p>"old on a second jono, music is very well a deciding factor in Harvard, especially classical music. The big four, Yale, Stanford, Harvard, and Princeton, all have huge orchestral programs (I think Harvard may have as many as four and the Princeton one is also professional class). Colleges such as Harvard are basically run by white elites, and the important socializing element of "high culture" is classical music."</p>
<p>Sure, music is a deciding factor in Harvard admissions -- if you can play your instrument as well as Yoyo Ma was when he applied. A small reminder: He was already known around the world as a prodigy and was having solo concerts at Carnegie Hall.</p>
<p>Otherwise, I doubt that music is a deciding factor at all. In fact, according to Harvard adcoms, it is the most or one of the most popular ECs. Why? It's not that Harvard is particularly trying to attract people who play instruments. The reason Harvard gets so many applicants with music backgrounds is that it gets so many Asian applicants -- and music, particularly classical music is very valued by Asians. </p>
<p>As a result, unless one literally is world class, music is not likely to help you get into Harvard. Having a less popular EC or passion may help one get into Harvard.</p>
<p>Frankly, I think that what would really help a student get into Harvard would be having Harvard quality stats, a rigorous curriculum and being really, really good at a sport. Harvard has more NCAA teams than does any other college. Most jocks do not have the grades/scores/curriculum to get into Harvard. The few that do often do not want to go to Harvard, but would prefer schools more known for sports.</p>
<p>Back to the original question -- just publishing a CD is unlikely to be a deciding factor. I think that a lot of Harvard applicants have made CDs. Depending on how you present the information, however, it could help decide whether you get into Harvard. If it represents an overwhelming passion and if you write an essay focusing on this, yes, it could spell entrance for you. That's not guaranteed, but it could happen.</p>
<p>Hi Northstarmom,</p>
<p>would the visual arts be considered a less popular EC, or are there lots of those artists applying to Harvard too?</p>
<p>bump.............</p>
<p>Music is the most frequent EC of Harvard applicants, and also is something that many Harvard students are involved in in some way on campus. That's because so many applicants are Asian, and Asian parents tend to start their kids early with classical music lessons.</p>
<p>Visual artists are less frequent. Of course, considering there are 20,000 applicants it's hard to have an EC or passion that is truly rare.</p>