I want to push back on this a little when it comes to music, just because I keep seeing variations of it in assorted threads, and I think that can be discouraging for kids who are strong musicians but not the best of the best. My senior is a very good French horn player, but he’s definitely nowhere near “one of the best in the country.” While, of course, I think he sounds like an angel, he wasn’t admitted to the top 2 music schools he applied to (and neither of those were tippy top conservatories like Juilliard or Curtis); he’s sixth chair his youth wind symphony (which is a strong group; getting in at all is great and takes a lot of work, but what I’m getting at is that there are plenty of stronger players on his instrument even in our metro area). But he submitted a music supplement at all of his non-music schools, and it was very clear that this was a factor in his acceptance at at least a couple of top schools (in one case he was directly told this). Of course, he also needed to have an otherwise very strong application. Strings may be different, but it really is tough to fill non-conservatory college orchestras with high quality student musicians, particularly at small LACs.
How many high school french horn players are there? You may have inadvertently made my point – if there are proportionately fewer french horn players than pianists or violinists, the french horn player will have a featherweight advantage.
I am not saying don’t play an instrument! Or an instrument that is common but you love! I am saying don’t think your kid needs to play an instrument because it’s the done thing in your community, even though they aren’t very interested. Ticking that box, just to tick the box won’t do all that much with selective admissions. Ditto playing a sport, for those otherwise uninterested.
I stand by my assertion that thinking outside the box of “everyone does it” is helpful with college admissions. Don’t take the well worn path just because you see “everyone” taking it.
There are a LOT of high school horn players. It’s true that it’s a relatively less popular instrument than, say, trumpet or flute, (and I do think there’s likely a somewhat bigger boost for it) but it’s not bagpipes 
That’s why I gave a couple of examples of my kid relative to other horn players . I certainly agree that standing out in some way is very helpful at schools with holistic admissions, but I also think that the practical need to simply fill up orchestra seats can be a big boost for an “average excellent” kid who’s also “average excellent” at a fairly humdrum sort of EC like playing in band. But absolutely it’s not something you should do if you don’t love it! Love your ECs!
I love the bagpipes but can you imagine listening to them played (badly) by a kid every day (practicing). 
We had issues during Covid where one kid had band class while DH and older sibs had class/zoom meetings, so he stood in our backyard for his band zoom. Now I’m picturing that w bagpipes. Oh what the neighbors would think!
Generally there are fewer French horn players as compared to violinists applying to colleges, conservatories etc. However, there are far fewer openings for French horn than for violin. In general there are 1/10 of the number of horn players in an orchestra versus violinists.
Wanting to kindly make that point as I hear that all the time with respect to my oboist kid auditioning for schools and now jobs. Yes, he plays a “rarer” instrument, but an orchestra only needs 2 or 3 oboes…so the openings are also more rare.
Got it, and absolutely, see your point.
Can we get away from music? I chose a common instrument to illustrate my point, probably badly.
Think Outsìde The Box.
I absolutely love this life advice! Thank you!
Me too! I saw so many of my son’s friends push hard in high school, head off to top schools, and then move home the next year to commute to the University of Southern Maine. I think kids in high school are under so much pressure to succeed that they can burn out when they get to college. They need to have some fun as teenagers! And watch out for kids putting pressure on themselves. That’s what I did. I had stomach aches constantly. I’m sure it was anxiety but that wasn’t talked about in the late 70s. I wish I had seen a counselor.
I worry more about my teens being happy now as teens than their future happiness. Teenage years can be the best of times but they can also be the worst of times. Just follow your kid’s lead. If they want to do a summer program in marine biology at a local college then let them, but if they’d rather go fishing with their buddies or get a job at an ice cream shop to eventually buy a car that’s fine too. An undergrad educaton at the “best possible” school does not at all directly relate to future happiness.
My son is not one of the top flutists in the country. He went to a selective music program (not Juilliard) and camp (did not get into buti) and had a huge bump at the LAC he is attending due to music. Flute is probably the third most common instrument played so a high level (but not highest) at a very common instrument also is a huge bump.
My son and his friend took a couple years of free bagpipe lessons at a local pipers club, I was disappointed when HS/club soccer got in the way.
They start out with just a pipe (chanter) so it’s not bad.
I agree that the “best possible” school does not directly relate to future happiness. However, I do hope that our children get into the best possible school to have the best chance at finding meaningful work in their lives, and obtaining financial security. Is this viewpoint wrong? And honestly, I’d be thrilled if they got into a Top 10 or Top 20 school. So I’ve been looking for resources on what common paths to get into those schools are.
Meaningful work-- speech therapists who work with stroke victims. Physical therapists who work with veterans who have suffered burns or loss of limbs. Federal Marshall’s who protect judges and witnesses trying to put the heads of drug cartels behind bars. Food inspectors who make sure that the vegetable supply chain isn’t contaminated with pathogens which kill people. Housing advocates who work with landlords, the courts, and the families who are being threatened with illegal eviction. Translators who help our diplomats and foreign service officers understand a complicated message which was intercepted from North Korea planning a missile test to see if they can reach Hawaii.
There are hundreds of meaningful careers. The problem is that a rising freshman doesn’t know what they don’t know- and you, even as a devoted parent, don’t know what the young person is actually going to be good at and enjoy. So a focus on making your kid a happy, productive “best version of themself” as a HS kid is likely to be successful. Micromanaging college admissions at this stage of the game, so you can then cherry pick the “right career” doesn’t always work.
You really can’t predict much at this stage- except that kids who get pushed and prodded and poked into academics and EC’s that they aren’t interested in, sometimes suffer from anxiety, imposter syndrome, depression, etc. Supporting the kid’s natural interest often has better results.
My kids were on this math track, they all took AP AB calculus junior year, 3 took AP stat senior, 2 took AP BC calculus. We are a middle class donut hold family, no reach schools were applied to, we couldn’t afford them.
AP BC Calculus is so difficult, I still remember! Did you work with your high school counselor or any “consultants”, and did the process pan out well for you overall?
My kid plays two “endangered instruments” and played first chair in her college orchestra all four years. She did not get offered full rides to any college, and clearly the one she attended needed someone on her instrument.
In the summers, your kid doesn’t have to be doing anything “special”. They don’t have to do research or do a HS internship. They can get a garden variety job and jobs are well regarded.
This kid should try to do their personal best in high school.
If your kid loves bagpipes, that is what matters. Do not play any instrument because you think it will impress some adcom and get you accepted to some college. Play an instrument you enjoy.
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Nope, our guidance counselors give each student 20 minutes, no school suggestions. It all worked out, 3 went to in state public’s, 2 went oos with merit. All of my kids were strong in math, only 1 took any AP English classes.
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