<p>I am currently a freshman in high school, but I am very proactive and excited about searching colleges. I am currently enrolled in a Pre-IB curriculum, and I have many extra-curriculars, but there is one that I'm thinking about quitting.</p>
<p>I have been in Orchestra since sixth grade, and I've always really enjoyed playing. When I entered high school, I joined so many things orchestra became a huge burden in my life. I joined Crew, which is really intense and time consuming, 7 clubs (including things like MUN, Junior State of America, and French Club), and the IB program is getting much harder as time progresses.</p>
<p>I've been thinking about quitting for a long time, but I just don't know if I should. Would it look bad on a college application if I were to Orchestra it only for freshman year? Is it better to have an art as well as a sport? </p>
<p>I still maintain a 4.1 GPA even with all these extracurriculars, and I have about 90 service hours. I also have lived overseas, which I have heard is a huge advantage in the admissions process. I have my eyes set on Georgetown or Princeton University specifically. I'm worried that quitting or joining orchestra would make or break college acceptance. </p>
<p>Also, I am not an extraordinary player, but I'm decent. I probably will not be first chair or concertmaster.</p>
<p>Is it better to do this? Or that? Or will this look bad? I’m worried about this.</p>
<p>What you need to do is become an independent thinker rather than so concerned about what others think. Step back and look at the opinion leaders in your school – not just the people with resume titles – the real leaders – those whom others look up to. Are they the people with fifty clubs? Or is their influence derived from their sense of confidence and direction?</p>
<p>You really can’t seek the opinions of others to tell you what activities to pursue- that is an entirely personal decision based on your makeup. Do what you love and not because of what others think or what you think others are looking for.</p>
<p>OP, Ivy admissions aren’t based on who joined the most clubs. Choose one or two of those clubs, and dump the rest. Quality of ECs is far more important than quantity.</p>
<p>Even more important than ECs is your schoolwork, and IB is really challenging. You’re going to have to shed anything that gets in the way of your academics.</p>