Extracurriculars that are really unique

BU Medical Sciences
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Harpoonslinger said:
Hi everyone, I'm new here. My MCAT score and my GPA are right at the cutoffs of many medical schools. But I do have unique extra-curricular activities. For instance, I starred in a ballet in our county in St. Louis I also trained circus animals and I am part of an Acapella group at Boston College, the Bostonians. Anyway I took lead vocals on a few songs and I would appreciate if you guys would rank my video and post comments regarding my singing so I know whether it's a worthwhile endeavor to use it for my application. Thanks again

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ucgn9aObGU
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REPRESENT! haha i was/am friends with a bunch of those guys
 
Well, what kind of opinion do you want here?
Apparently your audience enjoyed it so that says something.
As a comedy act, you did fine. If you're asking whether it was technically good (in terms of vocal style & technique or musicianship), I'd say that's something you should talk about w/ a trusted friend who knows a capella music well (and is a strong musician him/herself).
I'd say in terms of being an interesting EC, I think this definitely can be. Having some solo rep would be helpful in case they ask you to sing at the interview and if you get some solo rep, I'd suggest getting some vocal training and maybe pick up a complementary instrument (e.g., piano, guitar). Those aren't entirely necessary but I think they would be advantageous in case you get asked to demonstrate.
 
Harpoonslinger said:
I am looking for a lot of people to rank the video on youtube, and preferably post comments directly on youtube so that I can get a sense as to the technical ability of the vocals. I did not intend to have comedic effect, I tried to sing acapella. Thanks for ranking the video on youtube and posting comments there.
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First off, as a musician (vocal, guitar, keys, producer/engineer) who has worked on both sides of the glass and done some minor teaching as well, I would strongly suggest avoiding YouTube when it comes to getting an evaluation of your abilities. If you think SDN can be bad for getting "What Are My Chances?" advice, you haven't seen anything!

That being said, some vocal training along with instrumental and basic ear (musicianship) training would do you a lot of good. I am assuming you are the lead on this song; in which case, I would work on blending your head voice and chest voice. Right now, you are singing in a very "manly" (read: guttural, forced) chest voice and in a feminine/comedic-sounding falsetto. This is simply due to a lack of vocal development and is completely normal but will make people laugh rather than take your vocal talents seriously (not exactly the response you want if you are being serious about this). At 0:41, your tone does clear up somewhat but you need to a good tone consistently throughout your range and consistently across different vowels sounds, dynamics, etc. Finally, toward the end there are significant pitch problems. At around 0:48 and thereafter, the entire group manages to end up in a completely different key (not by modulation).

With that in mind, I would suggest taking some ear-training classes and/or pick up a second instrument (preferably piano) to help develop your ear so you can stay on pitch better as well as better hear when you need to make corrections as a singer. Secondly (or simultaneously), I'd suggest finding someone who can train you as a singer. It appears that BC's music dept lacks group voice classes or a vocal ped class (which would train voice majors to teach voice) but they do offer individual voice lessons. While private lessons are often expensive, you may be able to find a graduate student on campus willing to give lessons for a reduced price. If even $10-15/wk isn't affordable, you might try finding a voice major (UG) who could teach you, although they may not know how to help you improve if they have never taught before. (I still remember my first time teaching voice as a UG voice major -- it sucked! lol)
 
1 star on utube. heeh=/ waht else can i say 😛
 
i didn't watch the video. but FWIW, singing a capella is not "really unique." lots of people, myself included, sing.

EDIT: i just watched the video. was that a joke song? i'm honestly asking. i couldn't tell what was going on with the arrangement or any of the vocals. yeesh.
 
OP.... deleting your own posts doesn't do much good when you've already been quoted... lol. Why the deletions? Were you feeling embarrassed or something? You shouldn't... You should pursue your interests. Good luck, man.
 
bleargh said:
op had a funny nickname in college... good times...
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lol... don't be too mean, bleargh, just b/c you know/knew the poor kid... 😎

(but do tell.... j/k)
 
Troll much?


:troll:
 
i wonder if one of the bostonians is playing a joke on mdt...
 
Harpoonslinger said:
apparently you do - I post a videoclip and you start bashing me and saying I have a nickname - if you have a life you'd come clean and admit that there's nothing to talk about.
I just want people to watch my singing

I post a comment and the first reply is by this mysterious guy who "knows me." who the hell are you bleargh?
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bleargh has been around here for quite some time and has a pretty good reputation here. You, on the other hand, have a new account. Now, bleargh could just be having fun w/ you, but you deleting your post and then putting it back up and such seems a bit...strange, to be honest.
 
apumic said:
bleargh has been around here for quite some time and has a pretty good reputation here. You, on the other hand, have a new account. Now, bleargh could just be having fun w/ you, but you deleting your post and then putting it back up and such seems a bit...strange, to be honest.
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lolwut.jpg
 
Harpoonslinger said:
I removed it because bleargh was mocking me and I put it back up because you made a good point...it's up anyhow. Remember he's the one who said I have a funnny nickname, if you look at all my posts I'm quite nice in all of them
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wtf? dude when did i mock you?
 
Harpoonslinger said:
I asked people to rate a video of my singing, and you said I had a funny nickname in college. You haven't identified yourself or how you know me nor did you say what the nickname was - it sounds completely absurd objectively speaking.
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a) it's bizarre (completely absurd, in fact, objectively speaking) that you're asking random premeds to judge your singing
b) you DID have a funny nickname, at least amongst the upperclassmen bostonians.
c) i told you i know a bunch of bostonians.

i no post did i attack or mock you in any way.
 
what's going on behind your back? i'm just going to have to assume you're not the person depicted in the youtube video, because that guy from as far as i could tell was a laid back and very nice dude. don't pull a dumb prank.
 
bleargh said:
what's going on behind your back? i'm just going to have to assume you're not the person depicted in the youtube video, because that guy from as far as i could tell was a laid back and very nice dude. don't pull a dumb prank.
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:laugh:

wtf is going on in this thread?
 
Put it on an application if you want but your singing is pretty lousy. I can't tell if you're joking or not.
 
Ok I'm done with the thread - thanks for all the comments
 
Last edited:
gj bleargh! 🙂
props to making a little kid get all pumped up!
i always get a good laugh when ppl take things so seriously 😀
 
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