<p>I've recently heard of students in previous years who do not get accepted to top-tier schools because of taking music/art throughout highschool. (Apparently, admissions may consider this to be an easier course-load than taking all academic subjects??) In my school (I'm from Canada), our music program is HUGE and it is well-known and often win gold awards at nationals. In order to be a part of the band, I have to take 2 Music credits per year- 1 on my timetable and another 1 that is also on my timetable but takes place afterschool. Music is one of my passions and I never considered that having these credits will bring me a disadvantage.</p>
<p>The rest of my courses are about as rigorous as it gets at a school that does not offer AP courses: 3 sciences (Bio, Chem, Physics), 2 Maths: (Functions, Calc), Economics. Only reason I'm not taking English is because I did it last year. If anything, having to take a music course outside of my timetable is even more rigorous because it takes up a lot of time. I never considered this before so I didn't add a letter of explanation on my applications but should I write a note/letter and email or mail it to the schools I applied to (incl. Columbia)?</p>