<p>Thank you all!</p>
<p>My S is an accomplished trumpet player - all genres, but specifically jazz. After freshman year he went to the Tanglewood Institute and loved it - not jazz, but loved the atmosphere. Thought he’d major in music, or pursue a music career. Fast forward 3 years - he’s in every ensemble there is in school, and 8-10 outside of school, principal in 3 of the outside ones, and has decided not to major in music after all or pursue a music career. It will be interesting to see where he ends up - still waiting on the admissions results. He wants to play in college, particularly in jazz ensembles or marching bands, but who knows whether he’ll get in or not! We hope the music ECs are a hook!</p>
<p>Most of the time, extra curricular activities only indirectly impact admissions when it is not something that is a major part of what the student is doing in college. For example, being a good athlete in high school and winning awards in those pursuits is not going to give the student the time of clout that being a recruited athlete for a NCAA team, but it certainly bolsters the application as a whole. Plus colleges have intramural teams and programs that they want to keep lively. </p>
<p>The same with your son’s music pursuits. It’s hard to say how much impact they will have on his admittance. The admissions counselor appraising his application might find it fascinating and give him high points for the interest and activity, whereas another might just consider another hobby fill in. Also how important music culture is at the school, if there are non major performing troupes that the school considers a vital part of the profile can make a difference. </p>
<p>For the most selective schools, a nationally or internationally recognized accomplishment is really the only thing that definitely makes an impact on the application. To be am Olympic athlete, for instance, would be something that stands out. The activity can be parlayed into all kinds of things in presentation, but there is no guarantee of its impact in selective school admissions unless it is of a certain caliber.</p>