Instruments Needed by College Bands

So, I'm currently involved in my high school band and looking to continue this in college. Does anyone know what instruments college band directors tend to need the most?

College bands generally strive to create a balanced sound, so ideally they would have all the instruments needed for that. However, the specific needs can depend on the type of band (e.g. marching band, concert band, jazz ensemble), the repertoire they are playing, and the particular mix of instruments they already have.

For marching bands, often the biggest gaps are in the brass section—especially in low brass like tubas, trombones, and baritones. There's also often a need for more percussionists. However, the specific needs can vary greatly from school to school.

Concert bands and wind ensembles, on the other hand, often lack oboes, bassoons, and low brass. Again, the needs can vary depending on the school and the specific ensemble.

For jazz bands, typically, the rhythm section (piano, guitar, bass, drums) is well-covered, while there can be challenges finding students who play the wind instruments found in big bands such as trumpet, trombone, and saxophone.

A good way to find out what a particular college band needs would be to reach out to the band director or the music department at the colleges you're interested in. They would be able to give you the most accurate information about their current needs.

Lastly, if you're considering switching to a different instrument to suit a future college band's needs, remember that proficiency and performance ability matter a great deal, so steer clear of switching unless you're confident that you have sufficient time to reach performance competency on the new instrument.