I’m a sophomore aiming for McCombs undergrad. I’m currently valedictorian, and my extracurriculars include debate, Model UN, Academic Decathlon, and serving as Chief of Operations for a statewide nonprofit.
I’m also a member of my school’s orchestra. Right now, I’m in the top ensemble and was selected for All-Region. However, I really dislike it and want to drop it next year to take a business CTE course and an AP class, which would allow me to join both DECA and BPA. I participated in DECA last year, but due to a rule change requiring a CTE course, I couldn’t continue this year.
My concern is that dropping orchestra in junior year might hurt my college applications. I’m willing to tough it out if staying in would give me a better chance at McCombs, but I’m not sure if it’s worth it.
If you don’t like it, drop it. Orchestra involvement isn’t something that is likely to move the needle for business school.
And now for some unsolicited advice: Please use capitalization and don’t use “text abbreviations” here on this forum. It isn’t a group chat with your friends. Thanks.
In the Thumper family, some involvement with the arts was required by us parents. But there are lots of options…art, drama, dance, chorus, orchestra. And that was our family.
If you really hate orchestra, discuss this with your school counselor who should be able to give you some advice.
I will add…joining a business club will not guarantee your acceptance to any business program, if that’s what you are thinking.
Also, I’m a parent and found your post difficult to read as it was written like it was going to one of your friends.
First I think that you should read the “applying sideways” blog on the MIT admissions web site. As I understand it, it recommends that you do what is right for you; whatever you do, do it well; and treat people well. This is the approach that my family has taken and it has worked out well for us. However, what each of us did was very different, and it has resulted in admissions to a range of schools that were each appropriate for us (only one of which was MIT, but some others were similarly ranked). I would recommend the same approach for pretty much any student aiming for pretty much any university (whether highly ranked or not).
Then I think that you should do what is right for you.
To me, this is all that you need to tell us. If you hate it, then stop doing it, and find something else that you would rather do.
Drop it. I believe it is toxic to live high school years with admission in mind. But if that is what you are concerned about, it is much better to present an authentic version of yourself to colleges. You hate orchestra and are interested in business. Drop orchestra and go for it. (If you regain interest in music, take some lessons!)