Where are your UNDER 1400 SAT kids going?

[Anonymous]

Funny Dance dept story from when my daughter interviewed at Mason a couple years ago. The graduates of Mason representing the school were introducing themselves and telling their story of "Why Mason". This one very nice 24 year old guy described how he had never taken a dance class before! But junior year at the college he was asked by someone in the dance department (they needed male dancers) if he might be interested in taking a class and eventually he decided to major (and he also had just opened his own studio). I looked at the faces of all of these perfectly put together, perfectionistic females, most of whom were dancing pretty vigorously since they were three and I could tell they were thinking, "Are you kidding me? You took your first class Junior year? Wtf?" It was interesting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Funny Dance dept story from when my daughter interviewed at Mason a couple years ago. The graduates of Mason representing the school were introducing themselves and telling their story of "Why Mason". This one very nice 24 year old guy described how he had never taken a dance class before! But junior year at the college he was asked by someone in the dance department (they needed male dancers) if he might be interested in taking a class and eventually he decided to major (and he also had just opened his own studio). I looked at the faces of all of these perfectly put together, perfectionistic females, most of whom were dancing pretty vigorously since they were three and I could tell they were thinking, "Are you kidding me? You took your first class Junior year? Wtf?" It was interesting.

It reminded me of a sitcom years ago where the son took up ballet in middle school to get into Harvard. He was probably on to something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Funny Dance dept story from when my daughter interviewed at Mason a couple years ago. The graduates of Mason representing the school were introducing themselves and telling their story of "Why Mason". This one very nice 24 year old guy described how he had never taken a dance class before! But junior year at the college he was asked by someone in the dance department (they needed male dancers) if he might be interested in taking a class and eventually he decided to major (and he also had just opened his own studio). I looked at the faces of all of these perfectly put together, perfectionistic females, most of whom were dancing pretty vigorously since they were three and I could tell they were thinking, "Are you kidding me? You took your first class Junior year? Wtf?" It was interesting.

He may well have been a gymnast or similar, prior to taking dance though. Easy shift sideways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Funny Dance dept story from when my daughter interviewed at Mason a couple years ago. The graduates of Mason representing the school were introducing themselves and telling their story of "Why Mason". This one very nice 24 year old guy described how he had never taken a dance class before! But junior year at the college he was asked by someone in the dance department (they needed male dancers) if he might be interested in taking a class and eventually he decided to major (and he also had just opened his own studio). I looked at the faces of all of these perfectly put together, perfectionistic females, most of whom were dancing pretty vigorously since they were three and I could tell they were thinking, "Are you kidding me? You took your first class Junior year? Wtf?" It was interesting.

Yeah, male dancers are not as plentiful so probably have a much easier path to a college dance degree.

Mason kinda bugs me that they are so very proud that 75% of their dancers are from oos. It feels like a state school should at least give some advantage to in state students? I know, dance departments are their own little thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter's sat's were just under 1200, gpa was i think 3.85 or so, extracurriculars were good, she applied and did second performance interviews for the department at most of these schools because she's a dance major. She got into almost all she applied to: American, JMU, George Mason, Radnor, VCU. A couple others I can't remember. She ended up choosing Towson and got 2 k in merit aid. She loves it there. She was swiftly rejected by Montclair State in nj in the dance department (though accepted to the school). They are one of the most competitive dance programs in part because all dance majors pay in state tuition even from other states. And it's just a well known program. I had hoped she would apply to small or medium liberal arts colleges on the east coast with better names and status. That's not where the best dance programs were. She knew that and did what she wanted. And it served her well, I'm proud she followed her own plan.

Congrats! Towson’s dance program is awesome. I have a dancer too and she will be looking at some of the same schools. What made you decide on Towson versus JMU? We’re looking at both, and UMD.

I am the poster with a child currently deciding - I am curious, as well. Also, to the above poster, your child should also consider Mason (which is highly sought after) and VCU in VA as well as maybe UMBC and Goucher in MD. Oh, and add Shenandoah. Another school just outside of Pittsburgh to consider is Slippery Rock and there are several schools in Philly area (Temple, UArts, Drexel). And then there are ECU, Elon and UNCG in NC.

Thanks so much! I forgot to mention GMU. She loved that program. She’s toured UMBC and it doesn’t have the other major she wants but the dance program is great. Goucher’s too small, NC’s too southern and far, but we’ll look into VCU and the PA programs for sure. Appreciate the advice. We dance parents need to stick together

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t forget: C’s earn degrees!

+100

They do. They are also doctors and lawyers. Maybe even your doctor or your lawyer.

There is always someone at the bottom of the class and you will never know who they are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter's sat's were just under 1200, gpa was i think 3.85 or so, extracurriculars were good, she applied and did second performance interviews for the department at most of these schools because she's a dance major. She got into almost all she applied to: American, JMU, George Mason, Radnor, VCU. A couple others I can't remember. She ended up choosing Towson and got 2 k in merit aid. She loves it there. She was swiftly rejected by Montclair State in nj in the dance department (though accepted to the school). They are one of the most competitive dance programs in part because all dance majors pay in state tuition even from other states. And it's just a well known program. I had hoped she would apply to small or medium liberal arts colleges on the east coast with better names and status. That's not where the best dance programs were. She knew that and did what she wanted. And it served her well, I'm proud she followed her own plan.

Congrats! Towson’s dance program is awesome. I have a dancer too and she will be looking at some of the same schools. What made you decide on Towson versus JMU? We’re looking at both, and UMD.

I am the poster with a child currently deciding - I am curious, as well. Also, to the above poster, your child should also consider Mason (which is highly sought after) and VCU in VA as well as maybe UMBC and Goucher in MD. Oh, and add Shenandoah. Another school just outside of Pittsburgh to consider is Slippery Rock and there are several schools in Philly area (Temple, UArts, Drexel). And then there are ECU, Elon and UNCG in NC.

Thanks so much! I forgot to mention GMU. She loved that program. She’s toured UMBC and it doesn’t have the other major she wants but the dance program is great. Goucher’s too small, NC’s too southern and far, but we’ll look into VCU and the PA programs for sure. Appreciate the advice. We dance parents need to stick together

I went to school in NC - it was 8 hours from my home. My daughter's top choice in MA is just shy of 8 hours from us. That seems to be our limit in our family.

There are a TON of options, but it depends what your child is looking for. As I have already noted, my child wasn't looking for a BFA, so that already ruled out Mason, Towson and VCU for us (these ONLY offer a BFA in dance). She wanted a chance to get either a minor or double major in exercise science/kinesiology, so UMBC and Goucher were out, as well as tiny Hollins and Sweet Briar in VA. She wound up liking the idea of non-audition programs, and she even wound up liking another small school in VA with only a dance minor (Randolph). There were a couple schools that had a BA or BS in addition to a BFA, but required a minor and the one she wanted didn't exist (UNCG and Fredonia in NY).

I'm sorry to have taken this post on a tangent, but it is always nice to run into other DCUM families looking at dance programs. I wound up chatting with a family at the local Radford admitted student event whose daughter was a potential dance major - she was down to Radford, JMU, VCU and WVU (they have a BA in dance). So, it seems they were looking within a smaller radius, too.

Depending where you are and the radius you are looking at, there are lots of places to consider. It sounds like VA, MD, PA, NJ and maybe NY might be possible? I pretty much explored them all as I was helping my daughter by researching. Happy to throw out a few more ideas. If your child is interested in Towson, then I would also throw in Rutgers and Montclair in NJ. Point Park is the top dance school in PA, but Seton Hill (outside of Pittsburgh, where PP is) just added a dance BFA, too. If your child is a ballerina, Mercyhurst in Erie might work.

Come join the Dance Parents: College Bound board on FB. So helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Better to have a low test score than a GPA lower than 3.75UW. They say our kids shouldn't stress about grades -- then they make it ALL about grades. You can't have a bad day or a bad year because your 1500 SAT won't make up for those Bs even if was in AP classes.

This is why TO should go away. Someone who has a UW3.6 but took high rigor classes and gets a 1560 on SAT belongs in a elite college, someone who has a UW4.0 but took easier classes , or has grade inflation, and gets a 1290 does not.

Says who? We see your bias, but it doesn't make it so.

I think what a lot of people who cling to test scores as the end-all be-all don't want to admit is that they are malleable too. The difference between the 1300 kid and the 1500 kid is often $10,000 in test prep or a fake diagnosis that gives the latter extra time. I'm not saying test scores don't matter or shouldn't be part of a holistic review but as a parent (with two kids that score pretty well on these things) I would hate for the highest scorers to get in...but not as much as I hate the bumps to legacies and athletes.

Nah you can't test prep a 1300 into a 1500.

Sure you can, especially if the 1300 was early and truly cold.

Worked for both my kids...sub-1300 summer before 11th grade to 1490-1520 summer after. It's not an IQ test. A lot of kids forget a lot of math--especially if they took geometry in 8th or 9th grade--and/or are slow test takers and can't finish when they take it at first. Tutoring and practice helps a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter's sat's were just under 1200, gpa was i think 3.85 or so, extracurriculars were good, she applied and did second performance interviews for the department at most of these schools because she's a dance major. She got into almost all she applied to: American, JMU, George Mason, Radnor, VCU. A couple others I can't remember. She ended up choosing Towson and got 2 k in merit aid. She loves it there. She was swiftly rejected by Montclair State in nj in the dance department (though accepted to the school). They are one of the most competitive dance programs in part because all dance majors pay in state tuition even from other states. And it's just a well known program. I had hoped she would apply to small or medium liberal arts colleges on the east coast with better names and status. That's not where the best dance programs were. She knew that and did what she wanted. And it served her well, I'm proud she followed her own plan.

Congrats! Towson’s dance program is awesome. I have a dancer too and she will be looking at some of the same schools. What made you decide on Towson versus JMU? We’re looking at both, and UMD.

I am the poster with a child currently deciding - I am curious, as well. Also, to the above poster, your child should also consider Mason (which is highly sought after) and VCU in VA as well as maybe UMBC and Goucher in MD. Oh, and add Shenandoah. Another school just outside of Pittsburgh to consider is Slippery Rock and there are several schools in Philly area (Temple, UArts, Drexel). And then there are ECU, Elon and UNCG in NC.

Thanks so much! I forgot to mention GMU. She loved that program. She’s toured UMBC and it doesn’t have the other major she wants but the dance program is great. Goucher’s too small, NC’s too southern and far, but we’ll look into VCU and the PA programs for sure. Appreciate the advice. We dance parents need to stick together

I went to school in NC - it was 8 hours from my home. My daughter's top choice in MA is just shy of 8 hours from us. That seems to be our limit in our family.

There are a TON of options, but it depends what your child is looking for. As I have already noted, my child wasn't looking for a BFA, so that already ruled out Mason, Towson and VCU for us (these ONLY offer a BFA in dance). She wanted a chance to get either a minor or double major in exercise science/kinesiology, so UMBC and Goucher were out, as well as tiny Hollins and Sweet Briar in VA. She wound up liking the idea of non-audition programs, and she even wound up liking another small school in VA with only a dance minor (Randolph). There were a couple schools that had a BA or BS in addition to a BFA, but required a minor and the one she wanted didn't exist (UNCG and Fredonia in NY).

I'm sorry to have taken this post on a tangent, but it is always nice to run into other DCUM families looking at dance programs. I wound up chatting with a family at the local Radford admitted student event whose daughter was a potential dance major - she was down to Radford, JMU, VCU and WVU (they have a BA in dance). So, it seems they were looking within a smaller radius, too.

Depending where you are and the radius you are looking at, there are lots of places to consider. It sounds like VA, MD, PA, NJ and maybe NY might be possible? I pretty much explored them all as I was helping my daughter by researching. Happy to throw out a few more ideas. If your child is interested in Towson, then I would also throw in Rutgers and Montclair in NJ. Point Park is the top dance school in PA, but Seton Hill (outside of Pittsburgh, where PP is) just added a dance BFA, too. If your child is a ballerina, Mercyhurst in Erie might work.

Come join the Dance Parents: College Bound board on FB. So helpful.

I’m the OP of this thread: https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1158584.page

I think you and another PP may have contributed to that one as well. I’m glad to hear your daughter’s path is becoming more clear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My neice got a 1350 and will be attending UVA. I think you just need to get your score in the ballpark - even if it is on the lower end (and of course make sure that your GPA, activities, essay and recs are good too). She did get waitlisted for W&M.

Did she submit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My neice got a 1350 and will be attending UVA. I think you just need to get your score in the ballpark - even if it is on the lower end (and of course make sure that your GPA, activities, essay and recs are good too). She did get waitlisted for W&M.

Did she submit?

DP and I agree with PP. DC scored 1390 and will attend UVA. Scores submitted everywhere, as they would have been assumed to be lower if DC went TO. Also admitted to VT and W&M. Strong rigor and GPA.

[Anonymous]

Kid had a 1350. In at 11 of 13 schools including South Carolina, Auburn, Georgia, Clemson, Florida State, JMU, Elon and Tennessee. Waitlisted at UVA. Attending VT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter's sat's were just under 1200, gpa was i think 3.85 or so, extracurriculars were good, she applied and did second performance interviews for the department at most of these schools because she's a dance major. She got into almost all she applied to: American, JMU, George Mason, Radnor, VCU. A couple others I can't remember. She ended up choosing Towson and got 2 k in merit aid. She loves it there. She was swiftly rejected by Montclair State in nj in the dance department (though accepted to the school). They are one of the most competitive dance programs in part because all dance majors pay in state tuition even from other states. And it's just a well known program. I had hoped she would apply to small or medium liberal arts colleges on the east coast with better names and status. That's not where the best dance programs were. She knew that and did what she wanted. And it served her well, I'm proud she followed her own plan.

Congrats! Towson’s dance program is awesome. I have a dancer too and she will be looking at some of the same schools. What made you decide on Towson versus JMU? We’re looking at both, and UMD.

I am the poster with a child currently deciding - I am curious, as well. Also, to the above poster, your child should also consider Mason (which is highly sought after) and VCU in VA as well as maybe UMBC and Goucher in MD. Oh, and add Shenandoah. Another school just outside of Pittsburgh to consider is Slippery Rock and there are several schools in Philly area (Temple, UArts, Drexel). And then there are ECU, Elon and UNCG in NC.

Thanks so much! I forgot to mention GMU. She loved that program. She’s toured UMBC and it doesn’t have the other major she wants but the dance program is great. Goucher’s too small, NC’s too southern and far, but we’ll look into VCU and the PA programs for sure. Appreciate the advice. We dance parents need to stick together

I went to school in NC - it was 8 hours from my home. My daughter's top choice in MA is just shy of 8 hours from us. That seems to be our limit in our family.

There are a TON of options, but it depends what your child is looking for. As I have already noted, my child wasn't looking for a BFA, so that already ruled out Mason, Towson and VCU for us (these ONLY offer a BFA in dance). She wanted a chance to get either a minor or double major in exercise science/kinesiology, so UMBC and Goucher were out, as well as tiny Hollins and Sweet Briar in VA. She wound up liking the idea of non-audition programs, and she even wound up liking another small school in VA with only a dance minor (Randolph). There were a couple schools that had a BA or BS in addition to a BFA, but required a minor and the one she wanted didn't exist (UNCG and Fredonia in NY).

I'm sorry to have taken this post on a tangent, but it is always nice to run into other DCUM families looking at dance programs. I wound up chatting with a family at the local Radford admitted student event whose daughter was a potential dance major - she was down to Radford, JMU, VCU and WVU (they have a BA in dance). So, it seems they were looking within a smaller radius, too.

Depending where you are and the radius you are looking at, there are lots of places to consider. It sounds like VA, MD, PA, NJ and maybe NY might be possible? I pretty much explored them all as I was helping my daughter by researching. Happy to throw out a few more ideas. If your child is interested in Towson, then I would also throw in Rutgers and Montclair in NJ. Point Park is the top dance school in PA, but Seton Hill (outside of Pittsburgh, where PP is) just added a dance BFA, too. If your child is a ballerina, Mercyhurst in Erie might work.

Come join the Dance Parents: College Bound board on FB. So helpful.

I’m the OP of this thread: https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1158584.page

I think you and another PP may have contributed to that one as well. I’m glad to hear your daughter’s path is becoming more clear.

I did contribute to that thread multiple times Yes, we're basically narrowed to 2 schools at this point. Just waiting to see where the money shakes out. Radford is cheaper for us since it is in state, but Dean really has incredible opportunities for such a small school in both the dance AND the exercise science departments. It also is well known for support programs for kids with LDs.

I know you will find a great fit for your daughter! Best of luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS got a 1290 on the SAT (3.98 weighted gpa from FCPS) and is going to JMU this fall.

He also applied and got into Penn State and GMU.

Did he submit the 1290 at JMU?

Mine got a 1480 and was WL at JMU!

I'm going to assume that the GPA was a bit lower than the threshold.

Nope! 3.85.

Did he show rigor? Full IB, or AP's and DE's?

He took one or two APs, as well as the STEM classes (genetics, etc.). He had mostly As, a few Bs, and a B- in chemistry during COVID -- but is that really disqualifying for JMU? He's got straight As in college (STEM major).

[Anonymous]

DD got a 29 ACT and recently graduated from WashU. With her low ACT she was surprised and thrilled to get in RD back when they were need aware and she applied for Financial aid. Extremely hard worker and absolutely thrived there. Works at one of the top management consulting firms (MBB) as a business analyst.