Why Study the ARTS?
Colleges WANT Music Students!

A recent graduating class of Music Department seniors from District 204 High Schools took an exit survey inquiring about scholarships, choice of major, and college choice.* Just look at these stats!
Accepted Scholarships
Choice of Major
Metea Valley High School
College Choice (all 3 High Schools)
*Survey responses were self-reported.
Accepted Scholarships
- $9.5M in scholarship awards accepted
- Over 25% of the respondents received scholarship rewards of $50,000 or greater
Choice of Major
Metea Valley High School
- 58 different majors
- Most popular majors were; Biology-Medical, Engineering, Education, Undecided, Nursing
- 8% of the survey respondents were planning to pursue a music-related field as a major
- 55 different Majors
- Most popular majors were: Engineering, Undecided
- 6% of the survey respondents were planning to pursue a music-related field as a major
- 62 different Majors
- Most popular majors were: Engineering, Business
- 6% of the survey respondents were planning to pursue a music-related field as a major
College Choice (all 3 High Schools)
- Over 100 different universities and colleges were represented
- 5 students going into the military
- Big Ten Schools represented: Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Northwestern, Ohio, Purdue, Wisconsin
- Other Institutions represented: Arizona State University, Boston University, Brigham Young University, Case Western University, Cornell, Illinois Institute of Technology, Loyola University, Miami University (Ohio), St. Louis University, University of Chicago, University of Illinois - Chicago, University of Kentucky, University of North Texas, University of Notre Dame, University of Pittsburgh, University of South Carolina, Valparaiso University, Vanderbilt University, West Point United States Military Academy
*Survey responses were self-reported.
Students Who Make Room for an ARTS Education GET IT ALL
YES!! Music students CAN have it all! Waubonsie Valley High School 2016 graduates reported:
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Playing an Instrument Benefits Your Brain
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"The arts play an important role in human development, enhancing the growth of cognitive, emotional, and psychomotor pathways. Schools have an obligation to expose children to the arts at the earliest possible time and to consider the arts as fundamental (not optional) curriculum areas. Finally, learning the arts provides a higher quality of human experience throughout a person's lifetime." - David A. Sousa
Read the entire article |
The ARTS Encourage Creativity (Facts, Figures, Action)
"For a host of reasons, high-quality arts education is absolutely critical to providing all students with a world-class education. The study of the arts can significantly boost student achievement, reduce discipline problems, and increase the odds that students will go on to graduate from college. Arts education is also essential to stimulating the creativity and innovation that will prove critical to young Americans competing in a knowledge-based, global economy. And the arts are valuable for their own sake. They empower students to create and appreciate aesthetic works. Creating by doing is a uniquely powerful way to learn."
- U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan Read the entire report |
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The ARTS are Essential in Education
Check out some great articles:
Live Sciences – Playing Music Makes You Smart The Benefits of Music on Children’s Brains How Music Makes Your Life Better The Connection between Music and Mathematics Johns Hopkins – Why Are the Arts Important? See more amazing articles and videos on our Facebook Page, Twitter Account, and YouTube Channel. |
Music is KEY to Success
Look carefully and you’ll find musicians at the top of almost any industry. Woody Allen performs weekly with a jazz band. The television broadcaster Paula Zahn (Cello) and the NBC Chief White House correspondent Chuck Todd (French Horn) attended college on music scholarships. NBC’s Andrea Mitchell trained to become a professional Violinist. Both Microsoft’s Mr. Allen and the venture capitalist Roger McNamee have rock bands. Larry Page, a co-founder of Google, played saxophone in high school. Steven Spielberg is a Clarinetist and son of a Pianist. The former World Bank President James D. Wolfensohn has played Cello at Carnegie Hall. Check out more great info about why music is key to success!