Type of high school (current college for transfers): Public
Gender/Race/Ethnicity (optional):
Other special factors (first generation to college, legacy, athlete, etc.):
Intended Major(s)
Something bio related, general music or performance. I want to do something of both at once GPA, Rank, and Test Scores
Unweighted HS GPA: 3.87
Weighted HS GPA (incl. weighting system): 4.312
College GPA (for transfers):
Class Rank:
ACT/SAT Scores: Not taken yet, expecting pretty high score on the SAT and unsure whether to take the ACT
Coursework (AP/IB/Dual Enrollment classes, AP/IB scores for high school; also include level of math and foreign language reached and any unusual academic electives; for transfers, describe your college courses and preparation for your intended major(s))
4 on AP Euro, 5 on chem, I’m currently taking APUSH, Physics 1 and 2, Precalc, Seminar, and a dual credit German class (all A’s). Next year, I’ll be taking a few more APs and will most likely have a seal of biliteracy. I’ve also been in choir for three years, will most likely go for a fourth, and just rejoined band this year speedrunning bassoon (I’m trying to get into my school’s top band by next year and really wishing I hadn’t quit earlier)
Awards
Honor roll???
Extracurriculars (Include leadership, summer activities, competitions, volunteering, and work experience)
Essays/LORs/Other (Optionally, guess how strong these are and include any other relevant information or circumstances.)
Cost Constraints / Budget (High school students: please get a budget from your parents and use the Net Price Calculators on the web sites of colleges of interest.)
Parents said not to worry about cost Schools (List of colleges by your initial chance estimate; designate if applying ED/EA/RD; if a scholarship is necessary for affordability, indicate that you are aiming for a scholarship and use the scholarship chance to estimate it into the appropriate group below)
Safety (certain admission and affordability)
Likely (would be possible, but very unlikely or surprising, for it not to admit or be affordable)
As one approach to finding colleges suitable for your dual interests, consider schools with notably flexible curricula, such as the University of Rochester.
Do you have any preferences beyond your field of study? What about the size of the college? Greek life? How do you feel about spirit for intercollegiate athletics? Are there any additional interests you’re hoping to pursue?
Check out Wesleyan, which has a lot of ensembles and overall outstanding academics, and it has a relatively open curriculum that would allow you flexibility to do two demanding majors. You might also look at Amherst and Skidmore, both for their open curricula and for their strengths in performing arts and sciences.
@tige_r do you have instrumental lessons? Have you done any music outside of school or summer programs? Do you consider yourself conservatory level (not necessarily suggesting conservatory)?
The music major forum has an essay entitled “The Double Degree Dilemma” in the Read Me section there. it discusses different ways to study music using hypothetical individuals.
You can do a double major or a double degree, or a major/minor, or do a BS in biology and do lessons and performance as extracurriculars. Many schools have vibrant music extracurricular departments. If you want to do biology, the easiest route is the latter.
If you don’t do a BM degree, it is sometimes wise to avoid schools that offer one because the best teachers and resources may go to the BM students. This is not always the case, though.
You could choose schools like Brown, Amherst, Hamilton that have open curricula and no gen eds, for more flexibility, but a BS will take up a lot of your classes so extracurrlcular music may work best.
Oberlin has a “Musical Studies” major that gives conservatory resources to non-majors. Double degrees are common there. Bard Conservatory students are required to do a double degree. I also know a student who majored in biology there for a BS but did a lot of music. Lawrence is a good place for double degree. Tufts and Vassar may be fits. Tufts has a double degree with NEC but also excellent extracurricular music.
You really have to look at each school in detail to satisfy both needs!