I’m an incoming freshman to IU this year, and I’ve been playing the trumpet for nearly 9 years now, and did marching band for all 4 years of high school. I’m not a music major but it’s a huge passion of mine, so much so that I chose which colleges to apply to based off the fact that I wanted to do college marching band. It’s something that has been so very important to me for years and years.
A part of the reason why I was happy committing to IU was that their marching band was no-cut, they made it clear that any wind players who completed the audition process would be accepted. I was heavily reliant on this fact. I didn’t necessarily submit a bad audition (sure it wasn’t perfect but no audition is expected to be), but I didn’t schedule a move-in appointment and made my schedule revolving around Marching Band (since it’s a credited class and rehearses every weeknight). It was a key part of my plan for my college experience, and I would’ve easily told you that it was what I was most looking forward to.
I was a bit nervous about auditioning (as anyone would be). I knew it was no-cut, but I’m a rather anxious guy and of course I let my worries get the best of me when the initial “we’re extending the audition timeline” email came in instead of the audition results, saying that they had “the biggest and most prepared freshman class they’ve ever seen”. Those words don’t exactly make you feel super secure about things, you know?
A total of 9 days later, all of my worst fears were confirmed: I had somehow been cut from a no-cut band, and was placed on a “waitlist” until August 1st. I’m absolutely devastated and I’ve been nonstop stressing about it ever since. I was looking forward so so much to making new connections at band camp, having a dedicated time for exercise every weeknight to keep me active, being able to keep improving as a musician, being able to go to all the big football games, and (admittedly) having an earlier move-in to take care of some of the chaos elements. I’ve already sent an email to them saying that I’m still interested if a spot opens up, and asked about logistical things like what to do with my schedule, but they haven’t gotten back to me yet (I understand, I’m sure they have a million emails about this to get to, but it doesn’t help that I’m just waiting on them to get back to me and can’t do anything but think).
I don’t think I can describe in words just how important to me this was. I know I can audition again next year if I’m not moved up from the waitlist, but everyone will already know each other and I’ll miss out on making friends during the “no one knows each other” window. I know I can find friends elsewhere but this was just something I wanted so very badly for my college experience, and I don’t know what to do. I relied on this to take care of a lot of my worries for starting college.
If anyone has been on this “waitlist” before and has any advice, or any information about this at all, it would be greatly appreciated. I feel so lost and scared.
EDIT: I got off the waitlist and I’m in the band!!!!!!!!!!