Anonymous wrote:

Don’t forget, selection is a two-way process. Value the college that doesn’t penalize your child for making balanced choices by taking music all four years. OP, tell your talented daughter that if that’s why they reject her, she doesn’t want to go there anyway!

+1. Being well rounded has benefits for a kid beyond college application craziness

Anonymous wrote:OP here and thanks all for the comments. It’s too late to do anything differently anyway - DD is a senior and all the apps are in. She’s now in the destructive spiral of waiting and wondering about her chances. She’s enjoyed her four years of music and I hope she’ll have an opportunity to play in college at a similar level.

Second guessing after apps are in is very common. It's a long wait. Hopefully other stories of similar admits will help. My DD was admitted to W&M with 4 years of photography (similarly did not want to sacrifice what she enjoyed to pile on APs). Took a total of 10 APs--9 APs with rigor and AP Art 2D her senior year. Had three 5s and one 4 at the time of application. Fingers crossed for your daughter.

My child chose to attend a performing arts high school instead of choosing a highly regarded governor’s school. Even when he made that choice, he didn’t think he wanted to make music his career and we still supported that choice. If a college doesn’t appreciate what he has to offer, it’s not the right place.

Don’t forget, selection is a two-way process. Value the college that doesn’t penalize your child for making balanced choices by taking music all four years. OP, tell your talented daughter that if that’s why they reject her, she doesn’t want to go there anyway!

So far, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by my son’s acceptances as he has 2 AP, 4 DE and flatly refused to take the 3rd AP available to him (calculus - terrible teacher!). He’s T50 bound so far.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Her APs were mixed - some hard and some easier. She could have taken AP Gov or Human AP Geo as a freshman allowing her to take AP Bio and AP Stats in addition to the APs she took later on. Maybe more she didn’t consider. She wasn’t eligible for AP Spanish because she only got to Honors Spanish 4.

She loved making music in school. It was a much needed break for her.

So why would you make your kid skip out on band that they love and that is such a good thing to be a part of your life?!?!?! Let her take band and don't worry. Part of life is enjoying it, and band is a good thing!

Why are you assuming I would make her do anything? I fully supported her love of music. She is second guessing her choices, but only because she’s anxious.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The truth is students need both if they want to be competitive for the ivies/elite privates. Top rigor/hardest Ap's possible and music/art. They need to maximize both in the context of their high school.
For schools in the T20-50 range it matters less.

You forgot sports and volunteering!

DP.
volunteering/impactful ECs yes, sports no. Neither did sports, both unhooked,different ivies