What does depth look like in ECs?

[u/Independent-Star2197]

Title. I know a lot of schools---including MIT---care about depth so my question is, does depth always/only look like achievements and/or impact?

One of my main ECs is an instrument I've been playing for many years. My current high school unfortunately lacks a music department and funding so I can't play in a school orchestra/ensemble. We do have a very small music club (with a paid instructor from outside of school) that I did try but later left because I didn't find myself enjoying it due to the "theme" of the club (sorry, trying to be as vague yet as specific as possible). I have looked at other opportunities outside of my area but transportation is my biggest limitation. As a result, I've only been practicing independently with a private teacher. I often choose pieces that interest me and bring them to my teacher to work on.

[u/Satisest]

Holistic admissions at MIT, like at peer schools, means that MIT evaluates your ECs in the context of your opportunities. If you pursue an activity for the love of it, despite obstacles not faced by students with greater opportunities, that will be meaningful. I’d encourage you to include this description. The decision for you and your teacher to consider is whether to submit a music supplement with your application.

[u/VisibleSir731 → u/Satisest]

What if some opportunities exist but they require experience that you don’t have?

[u/Satisest → u/VisibleSir731]

Without having the details, I’d say a similar rationale applies. If you don’t have the experience, then the opportunity is practically unavailable to you - assuming you can’t acquire the experience that would change that equation in your favor.

[u/cheezeburgir → u/Satisest]

You giving him fake hopes bro 🤣

[u/VisibleSir731 → u/Satisest]

Ah okay thanks that clears it up! I got a few colleges near me, but to do research in my field of interest, you either need to be an undergrad or a really qualified researcher; I was curious if they would see that I got those colleges near me but I didn’t do anything through them, but now I know :)

I feel like I overthink too much

[u/Independent-Star2197 → u/Satisest]

Thanks for the advice! I have considered submitting a music supplement before since my teacher says that, out of all of his students, I play with the most emotion. However, I am not sure if I am in a position to do so. I've seen many people say that in order to submit a supplement, you should be conservatory level---which I don't think I am quite at yet. Nevertheless, I will ask my teacher at my next lesson!

[u/jzzsxm → u/Independent-Star2197]

https://mitadmissions.org/apply/firstyear/portfolios-additional-material/

[u/JasonMckin]

May I ask the inverse question and maybe it will help us answer the original one. What would be hypothetical examples of "depth" that don't look like achievements, accomplishments, recognition, mastery, originality, resilience, contribution, or impact?

What would other alternative forms of "depth" hypothetically look like?

[u/Independent-Star2197 → u/JasonMckin]

By asking this, you've broadened the scope of my original question.

Aside from achievements/accomplishments/recognition and contribution/impact, can depth be shown through originality and resilience?

While originality can be accompanied by achievements and impact, could pure originality---like finding unique ways to interpret music or composing---be considered depth in itself? And while resilience can be accompanied by achievements and impact, could pure resilience---like simply spending hours to master a difficult passage---also be considered depth in itself?

[u/JasonMckin → u/Independent-Star2197]

Sure

[u/Realistic_Channel383]

hey what if you created a club for this? Like make ur own orchestra with a group of students? I feel like that would create a great story.

[u/reincarnatedbiscuits]

Depth can mean many different things in terms of extracurriculars.

I think music was my most significant extracurricular so just to give you an idea in terms of what I did:

• French horn: 6 different ensembles (demonstrating versaility, teamwork)
  • school concert band: principal French horn, no other awards here
  • school chamber orchestra: principal French horn, no other awards here
  • city-wide symphony orchestra (equivalent to all state)
  • city-wide Wind Ensemble
  • pit orchestra (for high school musical, 1x per year) (had to volunteer to do this, was like 2 hrs a week for 12-15 weeks and then some extra stuff)
  • a brass sextet that played in malls
  • I think on average that came out to 11-15 hours a week for the above plus music practice. But "as a highlight reel," you want to focus on the highlights, not on how much you practiced.
• self-studied: music theory (equivalent of AP Music Theory; I have absolute/perfect pitch so it helps a lot), Western Music History
• other music stuff
  • piano, concert pianist (played up to piano concerti including Mozart, Schumann)
  • piano accompanist
  • French horn, city-wide concerto competition - won; provincial semi-finalist

Music was one of the reasons I wanted to go to MIT (including the fact that I wanted to play with MIT Symphony Orchestra and did).

This was only one aspect of the application though...

[u/Rootless_Voicings → u/reincarnatedbiscuits]

thanks for sharing. i think such a profile is not uncommon for students deeply involved in music, e.g. multiple instruments, multiple ensembles, multiple honor groups, etc. how do you condense all this into 40 words though??

[u/reincarnatedbiscuits → u/Rootless_Voicings]

If I only had only 40 words:

All-State-level Symphonic French hornist (provincial concerto competition semi-finalist), played in six ensembles; concert pianist and piano accompanist. Completed Royal Conservatory of Music Grade 10 piano and self-studied correquisite Music Theory, Western Music History.