A kid in my neighborhood went to Princeton - his parents said they were especially interested because he played an uncommon instrument they wanted- cant remember if it was oboe or tuba. A million other things would have to align but in tie breakers things like this do help.

Colleges don't care much what instrument you play.

Anonymous wrote:

Would playing an oboe actually be seen as favorable for college?

I just have to LOL at this type of thinking.

I’d bet my life savings that OP is Top 20 or bust.

If he's musically inclined, he might find he likes other instruments as well. Ukelele is cheap and fast and easy to learn, and portable. Could open up other string instruments for him.

Would playing an oboe actually be seen as favorable for college?

I just have to LOL at this type of thinking.

Oboe is not unique but yea it helps, more so than violin or piano.

or making violins rather than playing them.

An oboe isn't unique. Unique would be: harp, harpsichord, a medieval instrument, or something like fiddling or Appalachian music rather than classical.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes

Colleges aren’t looking for a million violinists

+1. Despite what Amy Chua says, people do value instruments other than piano and violin. If anything, a rarer instrument should be a plus. I don’t know how you don’t like it. The oboe solo in Beethoven’s Fifth is my favorite 10 seconds of music ever.

+2 and he should absolutely play what he loves, will translate to better results.

Anonymous wrote:Let him play if he wants to play but not because you/your kid think it will lead him to promised land.

+1

Anonymous wrote:Yes

Colleges aren’t looking for a million violinists

+1. Despite what Amy Chua says, people do value instruments other than piano and violin. If anything, a rarer instrument should be a plus. I don’t know how you don’t like it. The oboe solo in Beethoven’s Fifth is my favorite 10 seconds of music ever.

Let him play if he wants to play but not because you/your kid think it will lead him to promised land.

Yes

Colleges aren’t looking for a million violinists

Does it matter? He wants to play it. If someone said no, it won’t help for college, are you going then to deny him playing it?

My DS loves his oboe. Dh and I don’t care for the sound. DS is lobbying for private lessons and said that if he plays for the marching band, he could go to Florida. He said his band teacher said it could help for college admissions.

DS has played piano and violin. He stopped playing violin and is desperately trying to quit piano for the oboe.

Would playing an oboe actually be seen as favorable for college?

We will let him play the oboe because my kid loves it.