3 answers
Monet
Student
Durham, North Carolina
1
Question
Asked
286 views
Am I off to a good start for College Applications?
I'm 15, I published my own novel last August at 14 (2024). I'm in 9th Grade, and I have a 4.2 GPA (I'm at an early college high school), and I'm wondering if I'm off to a decent start for college applications. I'm in Girl Scouts, not a student athlete, and the only club I'm in is music club at school (I performed a solo in our Christmas performance). I'm not really trying to worry about it, but I'd like to get an idea of where I stand so far. I want to be a musician, actress, and an author, so I want to be sure I get into a college that fits me.
Login to comment
3 answers
Disraeli Partridge
Accounting
8
Answers
Detroit, Michigan
Updated
Disraeli’s Answer
Hello Monet,
You are off to a fantastic start your list of accomplishments! To turn these achievements into a college application, I would recommend that you draft up a list of what you are learning by being in these hobbies and programs. Jot down some challenges that you have faced or a currently encountering (I imagine time management is one with your impressive list of activities) and how you have resolved them. List out reasons why you participate in these things (service to your community, passions, etc.). These drafts will help you write the essays for college and scholarship applications. Just keep them as drafts for now (rather than write the entire essay) because each application will have a special twist on the questions and you want to stay adaptable.
You seem like a well-balanced applicant who isn't afraid to get involved, the only thing left to do is communicate the "why" and "what have you learned" from each activity.
Good luck with your applications!
P.S. Also keep up with your acting and music practice as you will likely have to audition to get into a music or acting program in addition to the written application.
You are off to a fantastic start your list of accomplishments! To turn these achievements into a college application, I would recommend that you draft up a list of what you are learning by being in these hobbies and programs. Jot down some challenges that you have faced or a currently encountering (I imagine time management is one with your impressive list of activities) and how you have resolved them. List out reasons why you participate in these things (service to your community, passions, etc.). These drafts will help you write the essays for college and scholarship applications. Just keep them as drafts for now (rather than write the entire essay) because each application will have a special twist on the questions and you want to stay adaptable.
You seem like a well-balanced applicant who isn't afraid to get involved, the only thing left to do is communicate the "why" and "what have you learned" from each activity.
Good luck with your applications!
P.S. Also keep up with your acting and music practice as you will likely have to audition to get into a music or acting program in addition to the written application.
Sara Solomon
Doctor of Pharmacy Student
9
Answers
Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Updated
Sara’s Answer
You're off to a fantastic start and are on the path to success! You've achieved so much that truly reflects who you are. College applications love to see how these experiences have helped you grow and what you've learned. Leadership roles and jobs also shine on applications because they show external investment in your skills. Keep striving for greatness!
Michelle M.
Actress
2240
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Monet !
You are most certainly an outstanding student who will undoubtedly do well in college !
Applications for college are one thing, but continuing to sharpen your music, writing and acting skills for the careers that you want will be most important for you while in high school. Take it one step at a time. Chances are that you will apply to several colleges, all of which have different admissions criteria and requirements. That is something that you can explore right now. Their admissions requirements are all spelled out on their websites. You didn't mention what your intended major is which may weigh in on what is expected for the application. But as an actress, I can tell you some ideas of how to take this.
First and foremost, keep doing what your doing - performance and writing experience will be in your favor before college. Audition for all the shows in 11th and 12th grade. Schedule time for your writing, too and venture into writing short stories, plays, and other forms of writing. Since you have already played music for an audience as well as had a novel published, you may be professional quality at this point. It's the Acting that may need to be focused on if that is what you are really interested in and want to take some time to focus on that training to get to a professional level.
It's going to really depend on your circumstances and preferences. Since work for acting, playing music and writing do not warrant a college degree (but you're better off going to get that degree) I would suggest majoring in Theatre in college. You can always write on your own as you have been doing and can take classes for the instrument you play from a private instructor. Acting is more intricate than it seems, however. Whereas music and writing can even be done online, acting can't because it depends on live interaction. I would suggest going for a Bachelors Degree in Theatre (emphasis on Acting).
If you decide this Major, some schools do require auditions for admission but many do not. You'll have to decide if this is what you'd major in and if you want to go to a university that requires auditions to be accepted to their Theatre program or to a university that doesn't require auditions. If you go to a university that requires auditions, you would have to be both accepted to the university and then, as well, accepted to the theatre program. So the application process can depend on many things. I did go to a university that didn't require auditions and did fine. The perk with that is you get to begin right away instead of having to wait to be accepted by the Theatre program. It's okay to wonder about college applications but it's not all generalized and depends on what major you're going for and which specific colleges you want to apply to. All colleges have different application requirements.
So, think about a specific major for college, continue all the fascinating performances and writing you're already doing, keep up those stellar grades and GPA and when the time comes, you will ace your application essay and have an impressive background !
Best wishes in all you do and I hope this is helpful !
You are most certainly an outstanding student who will undoubtedly do well in college !
Applications for college are one thing, but continuing to sharpen your music, writing and acting skills for the careers that you want will be most important for you while in high school. Take it one step at a time. Chances are that you will apply to several colleges, all of which have different admissions criteria and requirements. That is something that you can explore right now. Their admissions requirements are all spelled out on their websites. You didn't mention what your intended major is which may weigh in on what is expected for the application. But as an actress, I can tell you some ideas of how to take this.
First and foremost, keep doing what your doing - performance and writing experience will be in your favor before college. Audition for all the shows in 11th and 12th grade. Schedule time for your writing, too and venture into writing short stories, plays, and other forms of writing. Since you have already played music for an audience as well as had a novel published, you may be professional quality at this point. It's the Acting that may need to be focused on if that is what you are really interested in and want to take some time to focus on that training to get to a professional level.
It's going to really depend on your circumstances and preferences. Since work for acting, playing music and writing do not warrant a college degree (but you're better off going to get that degree) I would suggest majoring in Theatre in college. You can always write on your own as you have been doing and can take classes for the instrument you play from a private instructor. Acting is more intricate than it seems, however. Whereas music and writing can even be done online, acting can't because it depends on live interaction. I would suggest going for a Bachelors Degree in Theatre (emphasis on Acting).
If you decide this Major, some schools do require auditions for admission but many do not. You'll have to decide if this is what you'd major in and if you want to go to a university that requires auditions to be accepted to their Theatre program or to a university that doesn't require auditions. If you go to a university that requires auditions, you would have to be both accepted to the university and then, as well, accepted to the theatre program. So the application process can depend on many things. I did go to a university that didn't require auditions and did fine. The perk with that is you get to begin right away instead of having to wait to be accepted by the Theatre program. It's okay to wonder about college applications but it's not all generalized and depends on what major you're going for and which specific colleges you want to apply to. All colleges have different application requirements.
So, think about a specific major for college, continue all the fascinating performances and writing you're already doing, keep up those stellar grades and GPA and when the time comes, you will ace your application essay and have an impressive background !
Best wishes in all you do and I hope this is helpful !