by Ana Alvarez (Posted on March 10, 2026 @ 3:57 p.m.)

A lot of middle school students in Texas participate in UIL, but some people still wonder if it’s actually worth the effort. UIL stands for University Interscholastic League, and it hosts competitions in areas like academics, music, and sports. At my school, for example, orchestra students participate in UIL, where they practice music and then perform for judges. Some students find it stressful, but others think it’s really fun.

To find out what it’s really like, I interviewed an eighth-grade student at my school who is in orchestra UIL. First, I asked her if she enjoys UIL. She replied, “Yes, I enjoy learning about the music and challenging myself with hard music.” I found that interesting because a lot of students don’t always seek out harder work, but she actually likes the challenge. I believe this desire for challenge is one of the real benefits of UIL. It can push you to improve at something instead of just sticking to the same easy material all the time.

Next, I asked her what her favorite and least favorite parts of UIL are. She said, “Probably my least favorite part of UIL is having to be quiet and professional and wear fancy outfits, but my favorite is probably performing and seeing my score after.” Honestly, I understand that. Being super quiet and professional for a long time can be hard, especially in middle school. Plus, formal outfits are not always the most comfortable. Sitting still and being quiet for too long can sometimes feel impossible.

The performing part actually sounds really exciting. After a lot of practice, you finally get to perform the music you worked on. Then you get your score back from the judges, which must feel really satisfying after all that effort.

Another great aspect of UIL is that it can help students improve and feel more confident. Even if you’re nervous at first, performing in front of judges can make you feel proud of yourself when you finish.

So, is UIL worth it for middle school? I think it depends on the person, but based on the interview, it seems like it can be really fun if you enjoy music and challenges. Even if some parts are annoying (like being super quiet and dressing formally), the performing and improving part might make it worthwhile.