<p>state orchestra. academically, the grades will speak for themselves.</p>
<p>@hornet:
What state are you from?</p>
<p>And I think that your child should go with whatever he/she’ll enjoy more, because they’d probably look equally good to colleges if anything. All-state Orchestra would look good if your child was looking more into music, but you can’t really focus Academic Team in anything, it’s just sort of a standalone considering that it’s quizzing in several fields. (Personally I’d choose All States, but I’m a bit biased here.)</p>
<p>The fact that you are attempting to choose which one to attend based on which one “looks better” is utterly frightening. I can’t imagine a more irrelevant factor in determining which activity your child wants to pursue. Good golly this is just craziness.</p>
<p>I have been in a similar situation and in my personal opinion it’d be better to do the academic team state. While I’m sure you’re son is a fantastic musician, there is no guarantee he’ll make the orchestra. Whereas the academic team is already at state. But as long as he does what he loves it’ll make no difference to admissions. They like to see that you have a passion- for whatever it is he chooses to do.</p>
<p>I’d say, if it is just at the audition stage, do the academic team, because getting into the orchestra is extremely difficult. He may not get in as ybmtl said. But if he gets in, in other words, if it’s a matter of going to the all state concert as a performer or academic team, definitely orchestra because it’s a great individual achievement and a great experience.</p>
<p>As long as the orchestra practice or concerts are not in conflict with the academic team contest, why not inquire as to whether you could submit a youtube type file with some scales, pieces, or other exercises which might demonstrate the level of expertise. </p>
<p>There are some who wouldn’t accept it out of small-minded rigidity, or “fairness”, but there are others who are looking for the best players for the orchestra and would consider that approach, I believe.</p>
<p>It might even be safer, if you decide to do the academic thing, just to submit something directly via mail or email without inquiring in advance whether it would be looked at. That way you don’t have to have the judges agree to make an exception in advance. They just have to decide whether to look at the tape or not, and then whether they want you on the stage. If you don’t hear from them, you’re not in 
A nicely worded cover letter would probably be appropriate to explain your inability to attend the audition in person. And it probably needs to arrive in advance of the audition to have any chance of success.</p>
<p>Fairly sad that the decision is being posed in the context of a nameless, faceless admissions committee and what “(faceless) they” would like rather than as an adult decision (with consequences)by a young adult.</p>
<p>When my son was in 8th grade, he gave up the option to attend All-State Chorus, something he worked hard for and really enjoyed, because it was the Bar Mitzvah of his very good friend. I told him that it was his decision, and he opted for his friend. He was not allowed to participate the next year, a consequence that he accepted as part of his decision. At no point did we ever consider “what would the ad com do?” I was very proud of his decision.</p>
<p>As a violinist and member of the virginia all state orchestra, college admissions officers will be thrilled to see that your child has assumed the highest level of musicality. I know that is one of the main reasons I am participating. colleges want to see passion and commitment.</p>
<p>I just read the link GoBlue posted … now I understand more why my son got into his reach with a B+ academic record. He reads voraciously in every spare moment he has, and surfs the internet to further read research on the topics that grab him. As a result, his interview ended up talking about an African tribe in which the interviewer had spent some time as part of a work study. Apparently my son and her discussed details about this African tribe that no mere mortal would know. Reach smeach … he even received merit aid after applying ED. When he was getting B’s in HS, his teachers would tell me, “dont’ worry about him, he’s going to be fine … I assure you.” I think a student’s natural curiosity and interestingness permeates them in many places, not just the college application.</p>
<p>
You seem to be right, but as it is nearly impossible for admission officers to identify what the student really enjoys, it is clever to do things which you don’t enjoy.</p>
<p>@GoBlue31, excellent link! Thanks for sharing! The author writes about something my kids have ascribed to since early on, without knowing that such a ‘hypothesis’ exists. Interestingly, it meant huge scholarships for each of them as well, and we were often surprised! One of my kids is the epitome of ‘the zen valedictorian’ that this guy writes about in a follow-up page. My son didn’t have any ‘strategy’ for being what this author calls ‘the zen valedictorian’ or ‘the relaxed superstar.’ That’s just who he truly was/is. It’s very interesting to see all of that in print. Maybe I’m blind … but it took me quite a bit of searching to find the name of this author! It wasn’t anywhere on the link (that I could find anyway). Cal Newport. Right? Good stuff. </p>
<p>But I was drawn to this thread because my ‘zen valedictorian’ son was in roughly this same predicament when he was 17 years old. (I say ‘roughly’ because my son’s choice revolved around attending all-state; this poster’s choice revolves around the opportunity to audition for all-state.) My son chose All-State Orchestra, for whatever that’s worth. He picked that for three main reasons, as I recall. One, he attended all-state the previous year and considered it to be the most rigorous & rewarding experience of his high school career. He wanted a repeat! Two, getting to all-state required much more consistent dedication and devotion, over years of practice – not so for the academic team – the all-state accomplishment therefore felt more rewarding to him. Three, while he felt a loyalty to both teams, he felt a stronger sense of belonging to the orchestra program, as a whole, after years of being part of the process, even though his all-state orchestra ‘team’ would consist of many players whom he never met. He didn’t at all consider how either option would look on his college applications. He chose based on what he most wanted to do, though it hurt him to let either ‘team’ down and he strongly wished he didn’t have to make a choice. No regrets for him. And, the whole thing has been water under the bridge since shortly after he chose. I haven’t thought about it since. Until this thread. I doubt he’s given it another thought either.</p>
<p>@hornet, I can only guess that your state simply isn’t competitive in music. All-State Orchestra is very competitive in our state and is perceived to be quite an accomplishment. Students who make it have been playing consistently for years, and for hours per day. And plenty of students who do that don’t make it. It’s impressive where we come from.</p>
<p>“Pay attention to what makes you special, and what makes you interesting, and what is interesting to you…</p>
<p>“If you can focus on those things, you actually have a chance at doing something unique, and something that will catch the attention of people down the road…</p>
<p>“Strive to tell the story that you and you alone can make… The best advice I can give is, Be true to yourself…”</p>
<p>-- Mark Osborne, director of “Kung Fu Panda”</p>
<p>State Orchestra is more selective, and shows that your son is not only focused on Academics, it makes him look more well rounded! and will be more fun! I was selected to audition for all-state Choir but choose to miss it because I wanted to go to a leadership conference at my University and have regretted the decision!</p>
<p>I was in the allstate orchestra in the 80’s. I’ve never heard of it not being the best of the best. Maybe it depends on the instrument? For a horn player, there aren’t many other outlets. I lived in 2 states while in high school, and it was a big deal in both, and the band directors were thrilled with the attention also.</p>
<p>But I also, like someone else posted, was sickened when I first read the post. Let the child pick instead of worry about perception. My kids high school had an academic team, and while some of the kids were very intelligent, not all were. Making all state orchestra signifies years of practice and dedication. But that’s just my opinion.</p>
<p>I still have fond memories of all state orchestra and it was a signifying moment in developing self-esteem. Self-esteem probably helped my educational years more than anything.</p>
<p>I don’t have any issue with the original question that was asked. Not sure why some get ‘upset’ over that. It is a good question to consider if the student is equally interested in both activities.</p>
<p>Asking our opinion on which one means more on a college application is part of the reason for websites such as this.</p>
<p>You will get a variety of input, some good, some bad. The whole idea is see what a variety of others think about the particular question being asked.</p>
<p>
Yes. Go to the top and click on “About”. You can find out more of Newport’s projects and books.</p>
<p>I can’t believe that anyone is truly shocked/distressed by the original question of which “looks better”. Those of us who have found CC and spend our time reading and/or posting are all well aware of and part of the admissions game. The game being what will get our child into the prestigious school of their choice. I don’t find a lot of action on CC about your standard LAC but a whole lot of activity on how to get into HYP etc…</p>
<p>The best advice for this situation is for the student to do what makes them happiest–but the poster asked for advice from CC readers, not Circle of Moms readers.</p>
<p>bump 10char</p>
<p>“The best advice for this situation is for the student to do what makes them happiest”, yes.</p>