Statistics Over 4th year of Orchestra?

Pre-College Topics High School Life
1

<p>Playing the violin had been my hobby since elementary school, but I have begun to grow more and more disenchanted with its harsh competitiveness and non-academic rigor. I've already taken 3 years of it in High School, and my most notable achievements are a 1 on my solo at state, qualifying for an alternate in the highly selective All-State Orchestra, and first chair in first violin section. However, it's becoming to feel like a job that I neither enjoy doing nor am getting paid for.</p>

<ul>
<li>Is taking a 4th year of Orchestra necessary or beneficial at all? (vs. taking another math and science course, such as Statistics)</li>
<li>Would it hurt my application if my high school transcript only shows 3 years of orchestra? (i.e. does it seem like I gave up on it or whatever?)</li>
<li>Is the 3 years and my (admittingly few) achievements in Orchestra sufficient for my colleges of choice? (i.e. to show well-roundedness)</li>
</ul>

<p>Some more background knowledge:
Dream colleges: MIT, Caltech
Majors: Computer Science, maybe minor/double major in Chemistry, Physics, or Math
Dream Career: Computer Programmer. Entrepreneurial or freelance preferable
Schedule for Senior Year: AP Language and Composition, AP Calculus, Advanced Physics, French 4, Science Research, Advanced Computer Programming (and then either Orchestra or Statistics). Already took AP Chemistry in Junior year.
35 (36 Math and Science ) on ACT, ~4.4 GPA currently</p>

<p>Sure, violin playing is nowhere near my career path, but I've always been told that being well rounded is crucial, especially for highly selective colleges like the ones I am applying to. If necessary, I can post more information/qualifications and other achievements.</p>

2

<p>Depends. Do you like playing the violin? Do you have a great interest or talent in it? Looking at how rigorous the rest of your course selection is, it would be best to take orchestra over AP Statistics, or at least in my opinion.

  1. You are already in AP Calculus- the most advanced math class and are also taking a variety of difficult science courses.
  2. Because of this, colleges will not penalize you for not taking AP Statistics because of the other advanced classes.
  3. You need a block to relax from the rest of your advanced classes. A fun class.
    I would therefore recommend orchestra but in the end it is all up to you if you want to or not.</p>
3

<p>Statistics is not AP, though it is weighted. I am relatively very good at math and enjoy doing it, more than playing the violin.</p>

<p>I’m afraid they will penalize me for not taking Orchestra though, because it might seem like I’m “quitting”.</p>

4

<p>Bump, need help ASAP.</p>

5

<p>In regards to your college apps, I think you should keep taking orchestra even if you don’t like it. Theres a spot on the commonapp for you to put your extracurriculars and saying that you were involved in orchestra for all 4 years would show interest in something other than STEM. You have a pretty solid transcript and test scores so taking stats won’t really help you much anyways</p>

<p>Coincidentally, I’m also in orchestra and I hate rehearsals… maybe we’re related :p</p>