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Prepare Your Supplemental Material
The applications are in...now it's time to focus on the teacher recommendations,
Some colleges offer you the opportunity to send in music CDs or art slides if these are talents of yours. Think about sending in this material if you are truly outstanding in your field.
A "blue-chip" music or art skill is like athletic ability - it's talent that cannot be taught, to an extent. Colleges want to know if you're at this level, and students with strong talent may benefit in the admissions process.
Determine whether a college welcomes this material, and if so, where and how you send it to them. Here are some tips:
• Be realistic: If you're third violin in your high school orchestra, you probably don't need to send a CD. But if you're first violin in your state youth orchestra, they'll want to hear you play.
• Follow instructions exactly. Send music of different genres and minimal lengths with you as a soloist, or send varied art slides in the plastic jacket as they request.
• Attach an explanatory letter to the item describing your submission and all your professional training.
• Colleges rarely watch anything, so unless you have a dance or athletic submission that they want to see specifically, send just a CD or slides.
HOH Tip
If you plan to major in music, theatre, or dance, schools may well expect you to audition. Find out what a typical audition entails, and practice, practice, practice. Try to choose pieces that show off your talents (and won't be the same ones everyone else uses).