How much is bassoon a hook in college admissions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

My son's only EC is cello. He's not at the level of the OP's kid, but I was hoping it would help a little because he does do several cello-related activities out of school. Not a "hook" because he's not stellar, but he does want to continue playing in college.

I also have a kid whose only EC is his instrument (he's section leader in the top orchestra, does jazz ensemble, pit orchestra, tutors a younger student). He's not likely to be one of the 8 students who make all-state (at least not this year) and he hasn't done expensive well-known summer programs or youth orchestra programs, so I realize he's not destined to be a music major or double major. Still, it's important to him that he keep playing in college and it definitely adds an extra wrinkle to the college search process. He may pursue a minor.

It is difficult trying to sort out which schools have good opportunities for non-majors, which have scholarships, which have private lessons available, etc. It seems that schools that only offer a B.A. in music might be the best bet for getting some pull for a capable non-music major, but those schools also might have pretty small programs and limited faculty (some don't have a single faculty member for DC's instrument), and my kid isn't all that interested in LACs.

Long shot, but for help trying to find schools try asking local music schools\organizations and their faculty for advice - Duke Ellington, Levine School of Music, Virginia Music Teachers Association, GMU, private teachers, ect. Most would be happy to help.

[Anonymous]

I would try the LACs because they are smaller and thus are. Not likely to have more than one or two bassonists apply: depending on her grades. Williams, Amherst, Harvey Mudd or if her grades and scores are not top then schools like Layfayette, Dickenson, Colgate. Etc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the order of "hooks"

Academics > Development > Sports Recruit> Legacy > Piccolo > Mellophone > Marching Band > Student Council > Viola> Debate> Cello > MUN > Bassoon > Bass > Oboe> Tenor Sax > Clarinet > Flute > Violin > French Club

So the real question is -- why in the world did you not make your kid play the piccolo? It is THE ticket to an Ivy.

Where does diversity fit on this scale?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the order of "hooks"

Academics > Development > Sports Recruit> Legacy > Piccolo > Mellophone > Marching Band > Student Council > Viola> Debate> Cello > MUN > Bassoon > Bass > Oboe> Tenor Sax > Clarinet > Flute > Violin > French Club

So the real question is -- why in the world did you not make your kid play the piccolo? It is THE ticket to an Ivy.

Zut.

[Anonymous]

Just found this thread. DC plays bassoon so I really like to know if OP’s child got into her dream college with bassoon as a hook.

By the way, is All-state or Interlocken summer music a huge deal for young musician?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She plays at a very high level, All State, All Eastern, pre-college, high level orchestra etc. TIA

It all depends on if the school needs a bassoon and how many bassoonists are interested. Some schools give the band director and the orchestra director a few admits for the entire orchestra/band like they give sports. So, it is still the luck of the draw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How much does a college need a bassoon is what you have to ask yourself.

Really, this.

A school with an exceptional orchestra might need a bassoonist, but probably has one.

Does she want to go to a school desperately in need of a bassoonist? Would the music department have that kind of pull?

[Anonymous]

This thing about a college needeing a bassoonist, a trombone player, a flute player, is urban legend. When a college pulls a legacy or a $400,000 donation, it can say the student filled a bassoonist position.

[Anonymous]

No clue about bassoons, but just wanted to comment because I remember the title of this thread from 2 years ago and immediately knew it was an old/ bumped thread...and that made me feel a little pitiful.

[Anonymous]

When USC pulled its stunt, it didn’t say it needed a $400,000 donation. It said it needed someone for rowing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the order of "hooks"

Academics > Development > Sports Recruit> Legacy > Piccolo > Mellophone > Marching Band > Student Council > Viola> Debate> Cello > MUN > Bassoon > Bass > Oboe> Tenor Sax > Clarinet > Flute > Violin > French Club

So the real question is -- why in the world did you not make your kid play the piccolo? It is THE ticket to an Ivy.

facetious, right? Anyway, I heard bagpipes is the ticket

Wait!!! No crew these days????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No clue about bassoons, but just wanted to comment because I remember the title of this thread from 2 years ago and immediately knew it was an old/ bumped thread...and that made me feel a little pitiful.

Why did you feel it is pittful? I found and bumped the thread after I googled bassoon and college yesterday. It will be cool if you are OP.

[Anonymous]

My DD is a rising senior and a bassoonist. She is good but not great. (made top band in HS, but not district honor band). And she has no interest in majoring in music.

From what I can tell, it will not help her any more than having any other activity that she is passionate about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bassoon is a huge hook. A huge hook is one that increases your chances of admissions a huge amount.

Most huge hooks only help admissions by a huge amount for a hand full of schools.

All you have to do is sift through all the schools for those who have orchestras with admissions pull.

Then narrow the schools further to orchestras that haven't used their admissions pull for bassoon the last two or more years.

On the one hand, there may not be more than 10 schools that meet those criteria.

On the other hand, if Stanford is one of them and you play bassoon at a high enough level, bassoon is enough to get someone with a 3.3 unweighted and 1250 SAT admitted.

IF you really are at the top of the bassoon heap, you should be able to ask around through the people that run the All State and All Eastern programs and find schools that will help bassoon players.

The thing to point out is that programs that use bassoon as a huge hook will want a huge bassoon commitment.

If you use a huge hook to obtain admissions with barely qualifying stats and meet that bassoon commitment, your chances of graduating are not that great.

How do I do this?? Help!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bassoon is a huge hook. A huge hook is one that increases your chances of admissions a huge amount.

Most huge hooks only help admissions by a huge amount for a hand full of schools.

All you have to do is sift through all the schools for those who have orchestras with admissions pull.

Then narrow the schools further to orchestras that haven't used their admissions pull for bassoon the last two or more years.

On the one hand, there may not be more than 10 schools that meet those criteria.

On the other hand, if Stanford is one of them and you play bassoon at a high enough level, bassoon is enough to get someone with a 3.3 unweighted and 1250 SAT admitted.

IF you really are at the top of the bassoon heap, you should be able to ask around through the people that run the All State and All Eastern programs and find schools that will help bassoon players.

The thing to point out is that programs that use bassoon as a huge hook will want a huge bassoon commitment.

If you use a huge hook to obtain admissions with barely qualifying stats and meet that bassoon commitment, your chances of graduating are not that great.

How do I do this?? Help!

If you are good enough that it will be a hook, you will be all state honor band. They will find you.

Like any hook, once word gets out, the instrument gained in popularity. DD picked up the bassoon because she was asked to by the band director: there were no bassoonists in the band. (3 years ago). Now, every freshman class has multiple bassoonists. Basson is not getting a 3.4 UW into Stanford. 3.8 UW with 1500 SATs, it may get you in.