<p>I think a strong part of my application lies in my piano achivements and performance. I am a classical pianist who has won international, national, and state competitions as well as soloed with five symphonies. </p>
<p>Naturally, I sent in a CD along with my music supplement. My friends told me the professor who reviews the CD, so I contacted him and he says he still hasn’t gotten my CD! Even though I sent in in December…</p>
<p>When I contacted the admission office, the really terse secretary finally agreed to check if they received my supplement. In the end, she said they do have my tape but that not ALL the tapes are heard. She also said that if an officer thinks an applicant is a strong applicant, he/she will send the cd to be heard. </p>
<p>so…does that mean that i’m NOT a strong applicant?? i am so confused. I thought that ALL cds were supposed to be heard. I had really hoped for the music faculty’s recommendation when he heard my CD, but the comments I received when I called the admissions office really put me offguard.</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure they said all the supplements would not be reviewed which is why you have to be sure of what you’re sending.</p>
<p>By strong applicant, I think they look at your list of actiivities and music formation to see if you have the basis to a pianist at their school. A lot of kids with little to put on their applications would send recording of them playing the guitar (as angsty teenagers often do) or the keyboard. They don’t have the time to get a music professor to review all of these.</p>
<p>For all you know multiple professors review piano CDs and your friend only knows about one of them. Agree with undisclosed that they do not review all supplemental materials. If the person is not in range with GPA, test scores, etc. then it doesn’t matter how great their CDs or their slides of their art or whatever is. It could be that your international awards speak for themselves and you’re already on the radar and there’s no reason to listen to your CDs. Or maybe the professor hasn’t received your CD yet because you’re not going before the committee (if you make it to committee) for another week. I wouldn’t let a secretary’s offhand remark get to you. I would also advise not to contact the music professor any further about this.</p>
<p>thanks guys. i contacted the admission office again, this time a different person, and they said that not listening to the cd has nothing to do with the quality of the candidate. it all depends. whew. </p>
<p>yah i’m hoping that the reason they didn’t listen to it was because basically both of my teachers mentioned my piano AND i sent in a rec from my piano teacher, who’s professor and music director at a university. and i posted an extensive list of my piano experience and awards on the additional info section of the common app.</p>
<p>as for GPA, test scores, i’m well in the range. will post stats if needed. i got in scea into stanford, so i’m pretty sure it’s not the academic issue.</p>