I have played the piano and violin for 12 years and drums for 7 years. This video gave me a smile as now I can see I don't need to give up my passion for music if I study at Caltech next year!
I'm an alum. I actually ended up choosing Caltech not because of the science education but mainly because it gave me the chance to continue in music without having to already be good at it. It's one of the few places where you can participate extensively in music without being a music major. I started playing violin only in my late teens, very late compared to most string players, so I likely would have stopped if I'd gone to any of the other schools I was accepted to. Instead, because of the orchestra and chamber music program at Caltech, I was able to continue playing, continue improving, and eventually (10 years later, having never quit music) have a side career playing viola in professional orchestras. You can get a good STEM education in many places. What you can do at Caltech that often isn't possible elsewhere is to get a good STEM education while continuing to do all the other things that you enjoy.
I have played the piano and violin for 12 years and drums for 7 years. This video gave me a smile as now I can see I don't need to give up my passion for music if I study at Caltech next year!
I'm an alum. I actually ended up choosing Caltech not because of the science education but mainly because it gave me the chance to continue in music without having to already be good at it. It's one of the few places where you can participate extensively in music without being a music major. I started playing violin only in my late teens, very late compared to most string players, so I likely would have stopped if I'd gone to any of the other schools I was accepted to. Instead, because of the orchestra and chamber music program at Caltech, I was able to continue playing, continue improving, and eventually (10 years later, having never quit music) have a side career playing viola in professional orchestras.
You can get a good STEM education in many places. What you can do at Caltech that often isn't possible elsewhere is to get a good STEM education while continuing to do all the other things that you enjoy.