2
3 years ago
Admissions Advice

What can I invest my intermediate guitar skills in?
Answered

What can I invest my intermediate guitar skills in?

I am by no means an advanced player, but over the course of quarantine I’ve picked up guitar and have become somewhat if an intermediate player. While I know I can continue getting better, what activities can I invest my skills in to create extracurriculars that would be meaningful for colleges. I’m planning to major in bio (minor in english) and eventually enter the medical field, but I want my common app to revolve around my love for both medicine and the humanities (how I will do this, I don’t know yet.) I already so music related stuff, such as being part of my school marching band as a clarinetist, but how can I expand my horizons as a guitarist?

guitar
11th
music
commonapp
college
extracurriculars
2
3

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3 answers

1
Accepted Answer
3 years ago

Great question here! Of course you could always start a band or document your journey with the guitar in a series of Youtube vlogs. Whether or not these activities would impress admissions officers depends in part on how many followers/views/listens you'll have by the time you apply.

Outside of a band, there may be other opportunities (perhaps more of these post-COVID) to perform. It's possible that your school has a jazz band or alternative ensemble that needs guitarists. Maybe the pit band/orchestra for your school musical needs a guitar. Maybe someone at your school is producing a show of their own and is hoping for musical accompaniment.

If you get into classical guitar, there are options here as well. You could form a guitar ensemble (like a guitar quartet), for instance. You could commission a composer to write you a work for solo guitar or for an ensemble with guitar. You could apply for competitions, summer music programs, or even precollege programs.

In any case, not all activities need to be used to dramatically elevate your college admissions chances. It's perfectly all right to play guitar because you like playing it and not worry about winning awards or major recognition in it.

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1
3 years ago

You could possibly create your own little thing where you teach younger kids the guitar. Or you could go play for certain parts of your community that you care about. For example, if you have a grandparent or an older family member who is in a nursing home you could possibly go to the nursing home they're out and play guitar. And I feel that you volunteering to teach members of your community or perform for members of your community is on par with the specific humanities track you want to be in. I would recommend maybe going to a hospital that would allow you to play your guitar.

1
0
3 years ago

Hello! I know a couple of senior centers near my area that have allowed for virtual concerts/recitals. If you can contact some other soloists or even student bands, you could put together a concert/recording for your local senior centers. You could write about this in the EC section, or even use it as a supplement as something you're passionate about or how you've given back to your community. If you aren't able to do this, you could also participate in a school showcase or even use your guitar skills to apply for some scholarships. Hope this helps!

0
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Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

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