Poking the Bear: College Admissions is Broken

To be (selective), or not to be (selective), that is the question…

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The question in the title above is a fallacy. There is no winning in a scenario where you either lose your arm or your leg, but colleges tend to think in these terms — especially considering the enrollment cliff predicted to arrive next school year and continue dramatically through 2033.

What institutions need to remember in times of reducing applicant pools is that their ability to filter and connect with applicants is typically limited by quantitative data. Yes, the essays are there to give character context, but how much can truly be gleaned from 500 words that have been polished ad nauseam?

It’s time to talk about the musical applicant.

No…not the athlete…the ARTIST!

Music, and participation therein, can tell colleges much more about an applicant than an essay. If indeed “a picture is worth 1,000 words”, what about 4–10 years of musical performances?

If what institutions are searching for includes curiosity, intrinsic motivation, dedication (read: retention), community-focused engagement, and creative energy they need look no further than the music ensemble classroom. The questions abound, however, about how to get these young minds in front of those who should be scouting them…