Am I setting myself up for disappointment?

Chance Me / Match Me
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<p>I’m a senior at Upper Arlington High School in Ohio, a very competitive public school (one of the best, if not the best in the state)</p>

<p>GPA: (UW) 3.8
SAT: 690(CR) 660(M) 770(W) 2120 composite (I’m taking this again in October and I hope to raise this score 100 points…should be doable.)
ACT: 29 (Again, taking it in October and I’m shooting for a 31)
Courses: Full IB diploma (it’s the first year for the program at my school)
-IB HL Biology
-IB HL English
-IB HL Music
-IB SL Math
-IB SL Economics (5 out of 7 on the exam…meh.)
-IB SL German
-AP Government
-Honors Science (Freshman Year)
-Honors German</p>

<p>I should have very good essays, since I have a defined passion (music) and good writing skills. Recommendations should be good, especially my music recs.</p>

<p>HONORS AND AWARDS
• Inducted into National Honor Society, May 2005
• Superior Rating in Middle School Violin Solo Performance at OMEA Solo and Ensemble Competition in 2001, and 2002
• Superior Rating in Class A Violin Solo Performance at OMEA Solo and Ensemble Competition in 2003, 2004, (event cancelled in 2005)
• Superior Rating in Class A Vocal Solo Performance at OMEA Solo and Ensemble Competition in 2004, (event cancelled in 2005)
• 2005 Winner, Heritage Festival of Gold Competition as Assistant Concertmistress of the UAHS Symphony Orchestra
• 2003 Winner, National Orchestra Cup Competition as a member of the UAHS Symphony Orchestra
• Recipient of the Toni Auch Performing Arts Award, June 2002</p>

<p>EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
• World Affairs Seminar, University of Wisconsin at Whitewater 2005
• Oxford Study Pre-International Baccalaureate Program, Harvard University 2004
• District Science Fair 2003, Superior Rating for Project Examining “The Effect of Music on Academic Performance”
• Buckeye Science Fair 2003, Superior Rating for Project Examining “The Effect of Music on Academic Performance”
• Investment Club Member 2004 – 2005</p>

<p>MUSIC AND PERFORMANCE ACTIVITIES
• Orchestra Experience

  • Upper Arlington High School
  • Chamber Orchestra (Class A Level) 2002 – 2005
  • Symphony Orchestra (Class A Level) 2002 – 2005
  • Pit Orchestra for “South Pacific,” 2005 (Concertmistress)
  • Heritage Festival of Gold, Boston MA
  • Festival Honors Orchestra 2005 (Principal Second Violin)
  • Central Ohio Regional Orchestra 2002 – 2004
  • Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestras
  • Youth Orchestra 2004 – 2005
  • Cadet Orchestra 2002 – 2004
  • Junior Strings 1999 – 2002
  • University of Texas Strings Project 1994 – 1998
    • Choir Experience
  • Upper Arlington High School
  • Appointed Soprano Section Leader for 2005 – 2006
  • Vocal Ensemble (audition-based top ensemble) 2003 – 2005
  • Symphonic Choir (Class AA) 2003 – 2005
  • Woman’s Glee Club (Class AA) 2002 – 2005
    • Theater
  • Upper Arlington High School
  • “Annie Get Your Gun” 2004 (chorus member)
  • “Les Miserables” 2003 (minor role)
  • Jones Middle School
  • “Oliver” 2001 (Lead role of Nancy)
  • “Wizard of Oz” 2000 (Minor role as Munchkin)
  • “The Music Man” 1999 (Supporting role of Amaryllis)</p>

<p>COMMUNITY SERVICE
• Vocal Ensemble performances in the Columbus area to raise funds for the UAHS Vocal Music Program 2003 – 2005
• Regular cantor at Our Lady of Victory Church 2004 – 2005
• Volunteer at Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival 2002 – 2004
• Volunteer at Our Lady of Victory Annual Church Festival 2002 – 2004
• Volunteer tree planting in Upper Arlington 2001</p>

<p>WORK EXPERIENCE
• Violin Instructor, 2005
• Freelance Wedding Vocalist, 2005
• Freelance String Quartet Performer, 2004 – 2005</p>

<p>Sorry for the length, I essentially copied and pasted my resume. Hehe.</p>

<p>I’ll probably end up pursuing a double major in voice performance and political science. Most of my colleges, therefore, have strong programs in both areas.</p>

<p>So my school choices are:
-Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music
-Northwestern University
-Barnard College
-University of Michigan
-Kenyon College
-University of Chicago (not sure about this one…my mom went here, so that’s the main reason I’m applying)
-Ohio State University (major safety…like, if nobody else accepts me)</p>

<p>So…am I setting myself up for disappointment, or do I have a shot?</p>

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<p>NYU too…forgot NYU :-)</p>

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<p>Good chances at all of them except Oberlin. “Except Oberlin” because I don’t know anything about their conservatory. </p>

<p>A 5 on an IB exam is nothing to be ashamed of! IB SL Math what-Methods, Studies? </p>

<p>U Chicago has a good music program overall, but I’m really not all that sure about voice performance. </p>

<p>What about Rochester? It’s political science and music programs are top-notch, although once again I’m not sure about voice.</p>

<p>Wait, your school has IB Music HL and it’s a new program? I would’ve given ANYTHING for that class. My HS only offered IB Art, and we’ve had IB forever. :mad:</p>

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<p>Does UChicago really have a good music program? Because I visited the campus this summer and it came across like they had a good symphony orchestra but that it was one of their least popular majors. That’s just the impression I got…I’m not sure. Thanks for the feedback!</p>

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<p>IB Math…goodness, I’ve got no idea. Haha, it’s sad. They just call it IB Math SL. I think it’s methods, but idk. And yeah, we have IB Music HL. I think what the school did was ask for teachers who’d be willing to spend their summer being certified under IB. One of our orchestra conductors who has a background teaching theory and music history agreed to do it. It’s a very good class, really well rounded. You do everything from solo performances to composition to music analysis and history.</p>

<p>I’ll look into Rochester…doesn’t it have an affiliation with Eastman? That’d be brilliant!</p>

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<p>Least popular at Chicago doesn’t mean it’s not good. Anyway, I was pretty impressed with their program when I visited (for instrumental, not voice, though). I’ve heard it’s better to find a good music teacher or two than a good music school. You might find this interesting, though. It’s helpful for more than just music:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.stat.tamu.edu/~jnewton/nrc_rankings/nrc41.html[/url]”>http://www.stat.tamu.edu/~jnewton/nrc_rankings/nrc41.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Also, you really might want to check out this thread on voice performance:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=71930[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=71930&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>If your class was calc-based, it was Mathods. If it was stat-based, it was Studies.</p>

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<p>It’s methods, then. Thanks for all your help, it’s really appreciated.</p>

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<p>FIRST OF ALL: cut all the middle school stuff out of your resume. Colleges will be absolutely disgusted if you include middle school stuff in there. It specifically states to include ONLY high school activities on your apps. </p>

<p>Here’s my opinion:
-Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music: slight reach/match
-Northwestern University: reach/match
-Barnard College: match
-University of Michigan: match
-Kenyon College: match/slight reach
-University of Chicago: match
-Ohio State University: as you said, major safety</p>

<p>Your ACTs don’t really seem on par with your SATs- that might end up biting you in the butt applying to midwestern schools where ACTs are more common. I would retake them as well.</p>

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<p>Not necessarily true about the middle school stuff. I believe my involvement in different activities through elementary and middle school (while I won’t list them on my activities chart) show dedication at a young age. One of the top reasons that my stepbrother got a $100,000 scholarship to Case Western University is due to an activity in 2nd grade.</p>

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<p>That is a freak experience. Read the instructions on your applications. If it says specifically grades 9-12, do it. Do you really think these high caliber institutions want to admit someone who can’t even follow simple instructions?</p>

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<p>Note: “while I won’t list them on my activities chart”</p>

<p>I can follow directions, buddy. Trust me, I wouldn’t be where I am if I couldn’t.</p>

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<p>It’s a reasonable list.</p>

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<p>You have a good shot at Oberlin depending on how your audition goes. A violinist with similar stats, music wise (concertmistress starting freshman year of a 200 member orchestra that played in Carnegie Hall) and slightly higher SATs (NMF) got in.</p>

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<p>my high school orchestra was also at the Festival of Gold. Langley HS from Virginia. i miss Boston so much…</p>

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<p>Yeah, Festival of Gold was an awesome experience. I love Boston as well, I’ve been there several times, once for a 4-week Pre-IB camp, once for a 5 week stay with my cousin and for the festival. I’m relieved to hear that you’re not from the Oklahoma group that was there. They were extremely catty and somewhat mean. :-/</p>

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<p>bump biddy biddy bump bumpiddy bumpy!</p>

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<p>I have heard a lot of good things about the Conservatory as well as the liberal arts at Lawrence University (WI). Your stats match theirs perfectly.</p>

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<p>Thanks so much! I can’t believe I hadn’t even heard of this school before, it fits me really well!</p>

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<p>any other advice? predictions?</p>

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<p>i think northwestern is easier to get into than barnard…but im not positive.</p>