Hi, I’m going to be a senior this year and I want to quit band. I am/was the uniform manager in our band, but that position didn’t give me any leadership or anything. I did more work than most section leaders and wasn’t even put on council.
The main reason I want to quit band is because I just hate it. I hate the competitions and games and practices. I have no friends in or out of the band. My band director got involved in an argument me and a student were having and told me to apologise just because that student is his favorite. He didn’t hear my side or anything.
I have never been in a leadership position outside of uniform manager and I don’t do honor bands or anything. I played bass clarinet one year in concert season.
I am planning on attending a community college when I graduate and then transferring. My mother is really dissapointed and wants me to stay in band, but I just abhor it. It is like a chore. Band is my main and kinda only extracurricular. Would I get accepted/would it look bad if I quit?
Thanks in advance for the advice.
It sounds like it is making you miserable, so I would consider finding other things that you really enjoy doing in your free time. Since you are planning on doing community college after you graduate, it is a good opportunity to really immerse yourself in ECs that you really enjoy while you are there. Also your ECs from high school will matter less than if you applied directly out of college, but I would encourage you to explore more things that you find interest in, if not for applying to college, but for your own sake in terms of making friends and finding things that you care about.
Sounds awful. The only thing you might gain out of it is a great college essay, but honestly, I would find something more interesting to yourself.
Unless you’re planning to be a fine arts major, I see no reason not to move on to something that interests you more and is more enjoyable.
Band at DD’s high school tends to be very time consuming. Other high schools near us have concert-only bands, but in our school, after freshman year you have to join marching band or there is no place for you. It sounds like your band is similar.
Don’t do something that makes you miserable. Explore a new interest!
Agree, if it is making you miserable then find another EC. You might look for another outlet to continue playing – perhaps there is a non-school run (town, county, church) band you can join that would be more enjoyable to participate in.
Colleges really do like the “stick-to-it-ness” of 4 years in HS marching or symphonic band. But if you have don’t have a leadership position (drum major or 1st chair or soloist) and you plan on attending CC, then given your circumstances it doesn’t make that much sense to stay. My only hesitancy is that if you do quit, make sure you use that extra time wisely rather than not doing anything with it. The other consideration is that at some schools, marching band is a substitute for PE so you need to make sure that that requirement is squared away if you do quit.
To me, the EC has to have some value…even if you aren’t great in band, but enjoy the friends,that is good enough. You don’t like activity nor do you have friends in band.
I would, however find some other ECs. Explore some new clubs/activities!
Do activities you enjoy and can support.
My sports son quit football his senior year. He was burnt out and just wanted more time to try other things. I loved watching him play and was disappointed, but it had to be his decision. It did not hurt his college acceptances and he got a lot of merit money. Do what makes you happy.
Quit band. Even for a regular four year college - even your state flagship- it’ll be ok. Just find another club to be Manager of. 
The good thing is if you decide not to continue, it will free up a good amount of free time to explore other things – so I would highly encourage you to do so even if it is only for one year. Who knows how it will influence your future pathway and your interests. I took up jounralism in high school and it really changed my perspective on life.
You don’t say where are you live but in my state the community college system accepts everyone who is over 18 and applies. It is likely the same where you live. Easy for you to check.
You should have a conversation with your mom about why she want you to continue in band. It may not be for college at all. For example maybe she thinks you should be involved in school, or she thinks it’s a way for you to make friends.