Find solution
What looks better in a college aplication?

What looks better on a college resume - art or orchestra?

  • Okay so I'm an 8th grader right now and maybe it's a little weird to be worrying about college, but I can't decide if I want to take orchestra or art next year. I took orchestra throughout middle school and have been in Chamber orchestra (top) in 7th and 8th grade, made Region and am aiming for Chamber 2 (Chamber 1 is the top) at my high school (as of 2010-2011 #1 HS orchestra in Texas). I think I would do well and have a lot of fun, but it's so expensive - competition fees, private lessons, and the instrument itself. I don't have to switch teachers to a cheaper one because I guess I am used to her and really like her as a teacher. I also think I would do well in art though - plus, it's less expensive and I can take AP art eventually, making my GPA higher than if I took orchestra. However, I feel like I would lose all of the friends I have now that are going to be in orchestra. :/ So which one do you think looks better on a college resume? May I add that my sister goes to Stanford and her art probably contributed to her acceptance and she was #3 or 4 in her class. I think I'm planning to take for AP classes than she did in 9th grade, though. (1 or 2 next year I think, I also have mad ea 4-year plan) I really want to get into a good college and I feel like the decisions I make right now could really affect that. I won't have enough time to take both classes and not enough room for other non-extra-curriculars. Id like to take one and stick with it all 4 years. Basically orchestra would be for fun and social, while art is better for my academics/GPA. I'm not sure if I want to put one above the other, (however I think my other AP classes could help if I took orch), and if I do I wouldn't want to suddenly give it up. I'll probably eventually get used to having one over the other.

  • Answer:

    Well, orchestra has a higher chance of getting into a well-educated college. BUT, being an artistic person also can have great chances of being into a well-educated college. So if I were you, I would put both. Then you could write a few details about each of them, showing how important they are to you. But if you can only put one, then I suggest you do the one that you've been doing longer. Also, since you've been doing both classes for a quite amount of time, then whichever class you did better in, you should put on. The college probably wants to have a more skilled perfection of your talents. If you still can't decide, then make sure everything else on your resume has been done longer than art or orchestra. You can ask your sister for adveice as well! :) But you still shouldn't worry about college now because you have a long way to go.

c l at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source

Was this solution helpful to you?

Other answers

I know exactly what you are going through. I am also in 8th grade and I play trombone in band. I always heard playing an instrument looked great for college. They assume that if you play an instrument then you are creative, disciplined, and have good people skills. And, studies show that playing an instrument makes you better at core subjects. Plus, if you don't like art, then it will be hard to get back to play orchesta if you decide to play the next year. If you can, take both. If not, I recommend orchestra (or band :D)

Falcon4242

Well, orchestra has a higher chance of getting into a well-educated college. BUT, being an artistic person also can have great chances of being into a well-educated college. So if I were you, I would put both. Then you could write a few details about each of them, showing how important they are to you. But if you can only put one, then I suggest you do the one that you've been doing longer. Also, since you've been doing both classes for a quite amount of time, then whichever class you did better in, you should put on. The college probably wants to have a more skilled perfection of your talents. If you still can't decide, then make sure everything else on your resume has been done longer than art or orchestra. You can ask your sister for adveice as well! :) But you still shouldn't worry about college now because you have a long way to go.

MRunner

it depends on what major you plan to pursue in college. are you going to be a music major? do what you love, but if its too pricey to do music then talk to your parents and see what they say. its not too early to start thinking about college, because next year is your first year of high school.

picture

Honestly, I'd put BOTH. Nowadays, you can get a scholarship to most colleges in both art AND music.

jaybird

Skill is important. You know you are skilled as a musician. Do you have any evidence that you have skills in art, too? If so, the combination should be very good for you. Perhaps you should take art for a year or two, and then evaluate. I think being skilled is much more important than simply having taken classes. If you are skilled with the flute and Stanford needs a flautist, that will improve your chance of admission over having studied art and those who don't play the instrument. Can you do both? It seems to me that being in the orchestra is proof of your skill (and having done it for many years is very good). I would expect that you'd need equivalent proof of art skill for art to have the same weight. I side with your sister as admission chances is the basis of your question, but see no reason not to add art, too.

kaliesq

Skill is important. You know you are skilled as a musician. Do you have any evidence that you have skills in art, too? If so, the combination should be very good for you. Perhaps you should take art for a year or two, and then evaluate. I think being skilled is much more important than simply having taken classes. If you are skilled with the flute and Stanford needs a flautist, that will improve your chance of admission over having studied art and those who don't play the instrument. Can you do both? It seems to me that being in the orchestra is proof of your skill (and having done it for many years is very good). I would expect that you'd need equivalent proof of art skill for art to have the same weight. I side with your sister as admission chances is the basis of your question, but see no reason not to add art, too.

kaliesq

I know exactly what you are going through. I am also in 8th grade and I play trombone in band. I always heard playing an instrument looked great for college. They assume that if you play an instrument then you are creative, disciplined, and have good people skills. And, studies show that playing an instrument makes you better at core subjects. Plus, if you don't like art, then it will be hard to get back to play orchesta if you decide to play the next year. If you can, take both. If not, I recommend orchestra (or band :D)

Falcon4242

Honestly, I'd put BOTH. Nowadays, you can get a scholarship to most colleges in both art AND music.

jaybird

it depends on what major you plan to pursue in college. are you going to be a music major? do what you love, but if its too pricey to do music then talk to your parents and see what they say. its not too early to start thinking about college, because next year is your first year of high school.

picture

Related Q & A:

Just Added Q & A:

Find solution

For every problem there is a solution! Proved by Solucija.

  • Got an issue and looking for advice?

  • Ask Solucija to search every corner of the Web for help.

  • Get workable solutions and helpful tips in a moment.

Just ask Solucija about an issue you face and immediately get a list of ready solutions, answers and tips from other Internet users. We always provide the most suitable and complete answer to your question at the top, along with a few good alternatives below.