What achievement in violin will help college admission?
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Anonymous
| My dd is playing violin well. What level of achievement in it will help ivy admission? If she is in the famous youth ochestra in dc area, will that help? Or does she need national prize? Thanks. |
Anonymous
| There are a lot of violinists out there, so a major university or college is not going to be specifically looking for a violinist (versus say a a trombonist good enough to play in a university symphony or even a string bass player). Assuming this is a kid applying to an Ivy or similar school and not conservatory. So there are no "slots" being held for violinist as compared to say football players. And I don't think that for an Ivy that even winning national competitions really matters beyond being dedicated and good enough to get into AYP and be say a section leader there. What the universities care about is sustained evidence of dedication and (hate the word) passion for an activity. And having a parent pushing them to do it to get into an Ivy could backfire. Anyway, at my DDs Ivy there are a lot of musicians, or past musicians, I think more because musical talent does seem to predict facility in other areas, particularly math/science than any admissions help, but ANY serious EC commitment helps. And they have a GREAT chorus and symphony and a cappella groups as a result, with kids finding music a great way to have a social group and to relax from studying. |
FruminousBandersnatch
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| Having enough money to buy her a Stradivarius. |
Anonymous
|
I've been an Ivy interviewer for a while. Being in a regional youth orchestra is valued by Ivy league schools, especially if the student has a leadership role there.
Winning a national prize would be better, but not if it comes at a price of practicing so much that schoolwork is neglected. Getting 5's on the harder AP tests is still the most important thing. A kid who wins a national accolade in violin would probably do that to the exclusion of everything else, and would be assumed to be headed for a conservatory. |
Anonymous
| Playing violin to help you get into an Ivy League college -- I'm going to cry. |
Anonymous
| Drop the violin and start playing the bassoon. |
Anonymous
+1 |
Anonymous
| How about, let the kid play an instrument because they enjoy it and let the rest of the chips fall where they will? |
Anonymous
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She needs to be Concertmaster in the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra. |
Anonymous
FYI, my beamish boy, it is "Frumious Bandersnatch," not "Fruminous." Have a frabjous day! |
Anonymous
What about the DC Youth Symphony? |
Anonymous
|
Playing in the youth orchestra, can't hurt, but won't be a silver bullet for admissions. If it is one of a number of things done "well enough," then she may begin to look like a dilettante. On the other hand, if she can draft an essay that incorporates her love of violin, builds from it, that could be a starting point that makes her look a little unusual (not because there aren't a zillion other kids who play violins, but because she actually loves it).
If she plays well enough and the school(s) to which she is applying ask for a music portfolio (as happened w/ my DS and piano), then that may also help. |
Anonymous
| OP how old is your DC? |
Anonymous
There was a girl who played the violin on my floor at the Ivy I attended. She solo'd with the National Symphony Orchestra, NY Philharmonic and the Cleveland Orchestra as I recall. She was a pretty good violinist 
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Anonymous
| Getting into an Ivy is more than checking all the boxes- it is beyond that. There are more than enough applicants that tick all the boxes. You need something that makes your child stand out. Playing in a regional orchestra is a box ticker not a stand out activity. Being the first chair and soloist would be closer to a stand out. |