Even Better Bands

OK so I’m going to be a freshman next year…. I’ve been doing band since 5th grade when I was like 11, I’m 14 now. I play the flute. I suck. I hardly ever practice… and when I listen to recordings of myself I cringe. I’ve always WANTED to be a good flute player, I still do… but I feel like I need private lessons to fix bad habits and whatnot, but there’s no chance of getting those with my parent’s financial situation (and my lack of job). (I still want to try though.)

Anyway, here’s the school situation:

I really like being in band because it’s just so FUN. You go on trips and competitions with friends, etc…
BUUT if I do marching band OR symphonic band next year (in freshman year it’s required to be in both!):

I have to go to school at 6:30 every morning, 1hour early (I only live 5 minutes away though).
I have to wear a stupid feathery outfit (at least it’s mostly black).
I have to go to practice nearly all day EVERY (?) Saturday (I just found out about this part!?).
Play/march at the football games every 3rd Friday or so during the fall season.
And use my both of my elective periods for sectionals.

My reasoning for all of this was to try it out the first year and then drop it if it wasn’t worth it, since it does screw up my course plans a bit. I also wanted to do journalism and tennis, which are conflicting.
I’m just so attached to band, I don’t feel like I could leave it so soon
But would it look bad on my transcript if I dropped out?

Do you think I should do band next year??
Oh, and attend competitions. Potentially expensive competitions.

Being in the band looks good on your college application. My son actually got into UCLA because of band. He was wait listed and he sent a recording of himself playing the trumpet to the marching band leader. The band leader had control over some slots at the school and got him in.

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here are some stuff about me:
i was born in Mexico(now a permanent resident)
first to go to college
low income family
SAT score:1630
weighted GPA 3.73
took 2 ap classes this year(jr year)
going to take 3 ap classes next year(senior year)
member of health academy at my school

VOLUNTEER:
local clinic:80 hours
and i also have about 50 more hours doing smaller things
I’m also going to volunteer at a vet office this summer and I am going to intern at the local hospital next school year(senior year)

Xtra curricular:
UCSD bio-bridge program(student leader)(1 yr)
National Honor Society(2 yrs)
Jr. Civitan(3 yrs)
Drama Club(3 yrs)
Girard Prep-(program for college bound students)(3 yrs)
Honor Roll student(4 yrs)
Marching Band(1 yr)
Adopt a Family (health academy event- i was the one of the leaders that helped put the events together)
*the years represent how many years i would be in each by the end of high school

Do you think I could get accepted into CSU’s? which ones?i don’t think I’ll get accepted into UC’s (maybe only riverside but through their gap program) but what do you guys think?
I am considering CSU San Marcos, CSU Long Beach, Cal Poly Pomona and ESPECIALLY SDSU( I really want to go to SDSU)
Do you think i have a chance?
What else can I do to prepare?
Any advice?

THANKS!!:)

You should really try to raise your SAT score or consider taking the ACT (some people think it is way easier than the SAT). Extra curriculars are good, GPA could be higher (but it’s fine). Make sure you somehow let the colleges know you are the first to go to college!! This is a biggie. Also, make sure they know you are Mexican because that is also important to colleges to have diversity on campus.

I think you could definitely get into the CSUs you listed (except maybe Long Beach). You might also try for some of the UCs like UCI, UCSC, UCM and UCR. Check out the other UCs as well, too.

If so, what instrument? i was just wondering because of black parade and stuff……..GO LEGACY LIGHNING!! 5A CHAMPIONS 2006-present!!!!!! XP i’m such a band nerd

I don’t think any of them were in marching band, Maybe Bob. But most likely not. Although I see where you could get that idea because of Black Parade and the whole kinda marching band theme.
Interesting question =)

I don’t think Frank, Ray, Mikey, or Gerard did though because they only play guitar and mikey plays bass. And Gerard does play guitar but he just isn’t quite as good as the others. As for Bob on the drums, it’s possible he was in a marching band but I doubt it. =)

Im in a BLACK MARCHING BAND where volume is a great factor…just need to know what exercises can help me to be WAAAAY louder than what i am and how to circular breath (or whatever you call it)…thanks in advance!

Long tones. Lots and lots of long tones. Soft dynamics at first. Then in round two, start soft, crescendo towards the middle, then decrescendo to the end. Do this in the mid and lower range. It’s not exciting, but it helps improve breath control and lung capacity.

Don’t worry about circular breathing, you won’t need it on the field (and it’s highly impractical for loud notes).

okay, the last two years, my grades have been pretty good but right now, I have a cumulative GPA of about 2.75 and a 20 on my ACT. I am retaking my ACT in october and am looking at around a 24. I am looking at majoring in music. I am in symphonic band for four years, marching band for four, McHenry County Honor Band for two, Marching band leadership team, and an active Tri-M music honor society member. I also play Varisty badminton for three years. What are my chances, mainly as far as GPA and ACT, on admission into Illinois state university, Southern illinois university carbondale, Eastern Illinois university, or Western Illinois University..
..and which ones have the best music program. I am familiar with ISU’s music program, but less so with the others.
please and thanks!

You were in Tri M with a 2.7 gpa?
You are retaking your ACT, which is good, but your simply can not count of raising your score by 4 points-most only raise it by a point or two.
Eastern and Western you should get into. Southern and ISU you may not. But if you can afford the application fees I would try.
Please be aware that you probably will have to audition to be in the music department. And these auditions can be held as early as February before fall start. So you could be auditioning before you even know if you have been accepted or before you make a final choice of which college to go to. Make sure to check out the music department web site at each college. Don’t be afraid to call up and double check.

here are some stuff about me:
i was born in Mexico(now a permanent resident)
first to go to college
low income family
SAT score:1630
weighted GPA 3.73
took 2 ap classes this year(jr year)
going to take 3 ap classes next year(senior year)
member of health academy at my school

VOLUNTEER:
local clinic:80 hours
and i also have about 50 more hours doing smaller things
I’m also going to volunteer at a vet office this summer and I am going to intern at the local hospital next school year(senior year)

Xtra curricular:
UCSD bio-bridge program(student leader)(1 yr)
National Honor Society(2 yrs)
Jr. Civitan(3 yrs)
Drama Club(3 yrs)
Girard Prep-(program for college bound students)(3 yrs)
Honor Roll student(4 yrs)
Marching Band(1 yr)
Adopt a Family (health academy event- i was the one of the leaders that helped put the events together)
*the years represent how many years i would be in each by the end of high school

Do you think I could get accepted into csu’s? which ones?i don’t think I’ll get accepted into UC’s (maybe only riverside but through their gap program) but what do you guys think?
I am considering csu San Marcos, CSU Long Beach, Cal Poly Pomona and ESPECIALLY SDSU( I really want to go to sdsu)
Do you think i have a chance?
What else can I do to prepare?
Any advice?

THANKS!!!!

i think your doing everything you can possible. you have a chance in getting into SDSU. but i would try to raise your gpa. (: goood luck!

I’m an incoming sophomore in high school with a cumulative GPA of 3.579. I’m a part of many clubs–marching band, drama, writing clubs, animal rights, and literary magazine–and I’ve even made my own successful book club on campus. I’m in the IB program, and I think I’ll be doing a combination of IB and AP classes my junior and senior years.

I am absolutely passionate about going to Tufts University.

Thing is, I would need a lot of financial aid–though I’m willing to take out a loan if it means I could go there–and I’d need to up my grades. I also live in Southern California. I have skills mapped out to raise my grades, but is there anything else I could to do make myself more attractive to the admissions officers? I’m absolutely determined to go–it sounds like my dream college.

If you continue working on getting your grades up and staying involved in your activities, here are some things you can do:

1) Get to know your teachers. The better they know you and the longer they know you, the better their recommendation will be.

2) Try to get a leadership position in some of your activities. You are already on your way with this because of your successful book club you started. Just keep it up.

3) Do well on your standardized tests. You can start learning vocabulary now if you want so you don’t have to study so much later on. You should take your tests you junior year if possible to get it out of the way and to give you time to re-take it if you want.

4) Challenge yourself, but don’t take too many advanced classes if you can’t handle it. Taking a full schedule of all AP and/or IB classes will be extremely demanding and you might not be able to keep your grades up or stay involved in your activities. Make sure you can find a balance.

5) Once you apply, make sure you pay attention to financial aid deadlines and submit everything as early as possible.

You’re on the right track for starting to think about college early. Good luck!

here are some stuff about me:
i was born in Mexico(now a permanent resident)
first to go to college
low income family
SAT score:1630
weighted GPA 3.73
took 2 ap classes this year(jr year)
going to take 3 ap classes next year(senior year)
member of health academy at my school

VOLUNTEER:
local clinic:80 hours
and i also have about 50 more hours doing smaller things
I’m also going to volunteer at a vet office this summer and I am going to intern at the local hospital next school year(senior year)

Xtra curricular:
UCSD bio-bridge program(student leader)(1 yr)
National Honor Society(2 yrs)
Jr. Civitan(3 yrs)
Drama Club(3 yrs)
Girard Prep-(program for college bound students)(3 yrs)
Honor Roll student(4 yrs)
Marching Band(1 yr)
Adopt a Family (health academy event- i was the one of the leaders that helped put the events together)
*the years represent how many years i would be in each by the end of high school

Do you think I could get accepted into csu’s? which ones?i don’t think I’ll get accepted into UC’s (maybe only riverside but through their gap program) but what do you guys think?
I am considering CSU San Marcos, CSU Long Beach, Cal Poly Pomona and ESPECIALLY SDSU( I really want to go to sdsu)
Do you think i have a chance?
What else can I do to prepare?
Any advice?

THANKS!!!!

The only thing bad is your SAT score. You should just take it again and do better, because then you could get into many good colleges.