Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Remind me again what the pros are for getting in All State or All County, especially for a non music major student.

Ivy Ivy Ivy

That's the stereotype, but my DD, who is in MCYO and All-State, is definitely not gunning for status. We want the best fit college. She will go where she's accepted and wants to go.

But PP is correct that college admissions are based on measurable achievements. The "measurable" part is difficult to show unless you're admitted to a selective group like All-State, that the 26 year old admissions person can recognize, or if you can cite competitions you've won. Simply saying "I've played violin for 10 years" isn't going to get your anywhere. Which personally I think is really sad. People should be able to enjoy their hobbies, whatever they are, without necessarily jumping through all these showy hoops to get into a decent college! Thank goodness my kid is fine with a few of the hoops, just because her friends are there.

Also, and then I'll get off my soapboax, colleges have become much more selective than in the past. I've got a sophomore in college. The year he applied to college, two of his acquaintances got rejected in-state from UMD, even though they had 4.2 weighted GPAs, they'd done AP classes, and had good test scores. So when you say these families are targeting Ivies... most of these kids will not end up at Ivies. They'll attend second or third tier institutions. And be happy there!

MCYO is an amazing and worthwhile experience regardless of if you do music past HS. I am surprised at some kids being rejected from UMD but from what I understand, part of it is also the major they are choosing. It's really unfortunate they aren't getting in and seems unfair but that's life. UMD has a great music program.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Remind me again what the pros are for getting in All State or All County, especially for a non music major student.

Ivy Ivy Ivy

Some of the kid selected surprised me and some are NOT Ivy material just kids who love music.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Remind me again what the pros are for getting in All State or All County, especially for a non music major student.

Ivy Ivy Ivy

That's the stereotype, but my DD, who is in MCYO and All-State, is definitely not gunning for status. We want the best fit college. She will go where she's accepted and wants to go.

But PP is correct that college admissions are based on measurable achievements. The "measurable" part is difficult to show unless you're admitted to a selective group like All-State, that the 26 year old admissions person can recognize, or if you can cite competitions you've won. Simply saying "I've played violin for 10 years" isn't going to get your anywhere. Which personally I think is really sad. People should be able to enjoy their hobbies, whatever they are, without necessarily jumping through all these showy hoops to get into a decent college! Thank goodness my kid is fine with a few of the hoops, just because her friends are there.

Also, and then I'll get off my soapboax, colleges have become much more selective than in the past. I've got a sophomore in college. The year he applied to college, two of his acquaintances got rejected in-state from UMD, even though they had 4.2 weighted GPAs, they'd done AP classes, and had good test scores. So when you say these families are targeting Ivies... most of these kids will not end up at Ivies. They'll attend second or third tier institutions. And be happy there!

is she also in the blair magnet?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Remind me again what the pros are for getting in All State or All County, especially for a non music major student.

Ivy Ivy Ivy

That's the stereotype, but my DD, who is in MCYO and All-State, is definitely not gunning for status. We want the best fit college. She will go where she's accepted and wants to go.

But PP is correct that college admissions are based on measurable achievements. The "measurable" part is difficult to show unless you're admitted to a selective group like All-State, that the 26 year old admissions person can recognize, or if you can cite competitions you've won. Simply saying "I've played violin for 10 years" isn't going to get your anywhere. Which personally I think is really sad. People should be able to enjoy their hobbies, whatever they are, without necessarily jumping through all these showy hoops to get into a decent college! Thank goodness my kid is fine with a few of the hoops, just because her friends are there.

Also, and then I'll get off my soapboax, colleges have become much more selective than in the past. I've got a sophomore in college. The year he applied to college, two of his acquaintances got rejected in-state from UMD, even though they had 4.2 weighted GPAs, they'd done AP classes, and had good test scores. So when you say these families are targeting Ivies... most of these kids will not end up at Ivies. They'll attend second or third tier institutions. And be happy there!

Anonymous wrote:Why is Richard Montgomery representation not as much as Blair, in terms of magnets?

IDK, but the RMIB students I know were involved in other things, not music.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Remind me again what the pros are for getting in All State or All County, especially for a non music major student.

Ivy Ivy Ivy

Or just the experience of playing in a great orchestra.

Why can’t anyone appreciate anything for its own sake?

who are you kidding

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Remind me again what the pros are for getting in All State or All County, especially for a non music major student.

Ivy Ivy Ivy

Or just the experience of playing in a great orchestra.

Why can’t anyone appreciate anything for its own sake?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Remind me again what the pros are for getting in All State or All County, especially for a non music major student.

Enjoyment of the ability to play with an ensemble full of dedicated musicians and great conductors. At least, that's what my kid who just made All-County and All-State is happy about. Not planning to be a music major, but kid enjoys playing their instrument and also has seen how music can be a meaningful lifelong hobby through participation in community ensembles as an adult. It doesn't have to be more than that.

Likewise with mine. Has no ambition to be a music major but enjoys the camaraderie of the being in a well-run orchestra. As an aside, I am not sure if the Ivies care about All-State.

Anonymous wrote:Remind me again what the pros are for getting in All State or All County, especially for a non music major student.

Enjoyment of the ability to play with an ensemble full of dedicated musicians and great conductors. At least, that's what my kid who just made All-County and All-State is happy about. Not planning to be a music major, but kid enjoys playing their instrument and also has seen how music can be a meaningful lifelong hobby through participation in community ensembles as an adult. It doesn't have to be more than that.

Why is Richard Montgomery representation not as much as Blair, in terms of magnets?

Anonymous wrote:What about Junior All State?

Junior All-State is not that hard to get into. The Senior All-State Orchestra is incredibly competitive.

Anonymous wrote:Remind me again what the pros are for getting in All State or All County, especially for a non music major student.

Ivy Ivy Ivy

Remind me again what the pros are for getting in All State or All County, especially for a non music major student.

All of the All State rosters are here: https://www.mdmea.org/2025-all-state-ensembles
And the All County ones are here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1no56dmMJ3CL9mBvT0jWht_V_Ea2T7cejZA3NPy-wy-c/edit?usp=sharing

Anonymous wrote:Interesting that River Hill HS (Howard Co) beat out Blair (16 names to Blair's 13 names). River Hill is comparable to the W schools in terms of parent income and education levels, and also not a magnet like Blair.

Most of those kids are probably magnet but most of the school is not magnet and some kids choose to go there to access the classes that didn't get into the magnet program. Its not just about parent income and education. Many of us do it with not as high incomes as that is our priority. But, its a huge time commitment with private lessons and orchestra as it's a few times a week. For us, outside MCPS its 3-4 days a week depending on the week.