But while Caram, who leads Harvard's largest orchestra, agrees that prestige is often a determining factor in first-years' decisions, he says by shopping orchestras--attending multiple groups' rehearsals before settling on one--first-years can get a better feel for the groups.

"There are some who look at just [prestige]," he says. "But then there are others who try all the orchestras and then pick the one they like."

"I think a lot of freshmen [shop orchestras] and I encourage it. We want freshmen to be happy with the orchestras they choose," Caram says.

Chuang says first-years often shop her group as well, but that this often makes it difficult for MSO to work out its roster.

"It makes it kind of difficult for us, in terms of not knowing what our orchestra will look like," she says.

Other orchestra organizers say they discourage shopping altogether.

"I've had a lot of people say they're going to come to the first rehearsal, and I hope that they're not shopping me," Rous says.

Even with the option to shop, many first-years decide on the basis of inaccurate or incomplete impressions.

"A lot of the things I had heard [about the orchestras] when I was a first-year ended up being incorrect," Chuang says. "Some of the information I had was old."

But Chuang argues it is hard to make a wrong decision.

While she says her decision "was almost random," she is "happy with [her] choice."

In fact, some leaders say, the most dangerous misconception might be that in order to play music at Harvard, musicians have to fight their way into a spot.

Many first-years, Rous says, "are mistaken about the idea that there aren't enough spaces, because there are enough spaces for everyone to play. There aren't enough spaces in HRO [for everyone], but everyone who wants to play can."