Extracurriculars for High Schoolers Interested in Studying Music
Planning on studying music in college? Prospective music majors must demonstrate passion and talent for music in high school, building a strong extracurricular portfolio showcasing their skills and dedication. In many cases, depending on the rigor of the program and school to which you’re applying, your extracurricular activities will matter even more than your academic record.   How much do extracurricular activities matter in college admissions? The short answer is: it depends. Ulta-competitive institutions generally use a holistic admissions process to review candidates, as do small, private colleges. This means that they take into account the whole student and her profile, not just her grades and test scores. Extracurricular activities are sometimes given as much weight as academic components of their profile.  This can also be true for highly specialized students whose academics aren’t the major focus of their application and plans for the future — such as music majors. Colleges and universities will weigh your extracurricular profile more heavily, since your musical talent is more important than your grades, in this case.  Extracurricular activities can be divided into four tiers:      The extracurricular activities on your application should ideally span all four tiers. In this post, we’ll largely focus on the more common tiers 2-4.  Many states offer some version of an all-state orchestra, band, or ensemble for high school students. The audition process is generally highly competitive, with just a small percentage of students selected to participate. For example, in New York, 900 out of 6,500 students are chosen for the New York State School Music Association Conference All-State music groups. Depending on your state’s process and its competitiveness, all-state could be considered a tier 1-2 activity.  Some states also offer a region ensemble that feeds into the state ensemble, if you audition and receive one of the top seats. The region ensembles are less selective but still an accomplishment, so students should also consider these groups as a solid tier 2-3 activity.  Many cities also offer audition-based youth orchestras, which are similarly selective to region orchestras. These are another way to stay involved in music throughout the year.  Founded in 1936 as Modern Music Masters, Tri-M is a music honor society for middle- and high-school students with chapters at schools across the United States. Students must receive a recommendation from their school’s music department and maintain an A average in all music courses and a C average in their academic courses to participate. The society recognizes the achievements of members and provides them with service opportunities.  Depending on the student’s level of participation in Tri-M, this could be considered a tier 2-3 activity. If the student is a high-ranking officer in her chapter, for instance, it would be a tier 2 activity.  Some clubs for students planning to study music include:  A Capella Club/Glee Club Chamber Orchestra Chorus Concert Band Drumline Guitar Club Jazz Ensemble K Pop Club Marching Band Mariachi Club Music Composition Club Music Production Club Pep Band Percussion Ensemble Piano Club Pit Orchestra String Ensemble Ukulele Club  The availability of these clubs will, of course, vary from school to school. These activities are largely independent and not tied to any national club or society, meaning they will mostly be tier 3 or 4 activities, depending on the student’s level of participation (tier 3 for officers and tier 4 for participants).  Want access to expert college guidance — for free? When you create your free CollegeVine account, you will find out your real admissions chances, build a best-fit school list, learn how to improve your profile, and get your questions answered by experts and peers—all for free. Sign up for your CollegeVine account today to get a boost on your college journey.
How Are Extracurriculars Evaluated?Â
Tiers of Extracurricular Activities
What ECs Should Students Do if They’re Interested in Studying Music?
All-State, Region, or Youth Ensembles
Tri-M Music Honor Society
Clubs