Piano at Stanford

[cubsfan334]

I'm currently a junior in high school and will be applying to several schools in the fall, including Stanford.  After looking through their admissions website, I noticed that you can submit an arts supplement in addition to the regular application, if you are interested in the visual/performing arts.  You're not required to be a potential music major/minor, but you do have to have "exceptional talent."  I believe this is simply meant to boost application credentials, which is what I would be using it for -- I already have good grades, SAT, etc

Anyway, would someone with knowledge about college music programs mind defining "exceptional talent?"  Also, could someone elaborate on Stanford's piano department in general?

Thanks

[oxy60]

Be careful with those words "exceptional talent." They will be the ones to judge whether or not you're "exceptional." My advice would be to throw in everything you have. Your offering may be among the "exceptional" ones in the batch of applicants.

[berniano]

I applied to Princeton, which had the same wording. Basically they required a Bach Prelude an Fugue, a mvmt from a Beethoven Sonata, and something substantial from another time era. If you have a CD with these, that should be fine, but if anything less, I wouldn't send a CD as it might hurt you application.

Berniano

[prongated]

Be careful with those words "exceptional talent."

Indeed. And I bet the fact is they're more interested in filling up the spots in order to get the dough in, as opposed to finding "exceptional talent", whatever they really mean by it.

[cubsfan334]

And I bet the fact is they're more interested in filling up the spots in order to get the dough in, as opposed to finding "exceptional talent", whatever they really mean by it.

I guess that would work in my favor then, as I'd like to attend Stanford for its academics/would pay for it?  Although I do love the piano, I want to go into medicine, not music.

I applied to Princeton, which had the same wording. Basically they required a Bach Prelude an Fugue, a mvmt from a Beethoven Sonata, and something substantial from another time era. If you have a CD with these, that should be fine, but if anything less, I wouldn't send a CD as it might hurt you application.

I'd probably do a Chopin etude and Appassionata 1st or 3rd movement.

[oxy60]

What about The University of California at San Diego? Nothing against Stanford for pre-med but at UCSD the med school is right there along with the jobs when you are ready. The only star in the music department is the drummer of the Police. Anyway as a pre-med you won't have any time for that. I really have no connection with them except that I was born in their hospital and recently have had tests run at their facility.