Colleges for a strong dancer and student

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d look into Indiana- they have a strong dance program and give merit aid to OOS students

Didn’t see she’s applying TO. Substantial merit aid will be hard to get if you’re not submitting test scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Although I do not recommend this school, Goucher College meets her requirements.

Agree. I know a dancer who went to Goucher. She had to transfer out when the school did not match her financial aid to the tuition increase.

[Anonymous]

Muhlenberg College in PA is a great option for students who want a liberal arts education and to study dance. Worth a look and I understand they have decent merit and talent scholarships.

[Anonymous]

George Mason has a good dance program, but I don’t think you can double major there.

Elon has a dance major and I think you can double major there.

[Anonymous]

I know a dancer from DC who went to Princeton.

[Anonymous]

You might look into the program at Dickinson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d look into Indiana- they have a strong dance program and give merit aid to OOS students

Didn’t see she’s applying TO. Substantial merit aid will be hard to get if you’re not submitting test scores.

I don’t think that’s true everywhere. A friend’s daughter got $30k/year in merit aid from Middlebury TO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know a dancer from DC who went to Princeton.

TO?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here again: UMDCP is her top choice, but she’s not sure she’ll get in because she won’t have 10-12 APs like many of her peers and no test scores.

My DS was admitted to UMDCP (OOS, FCPS) as a performing arts major with a 3.95 weighted GPA and only 2 APs before senior year. He submitted a good test score (34), but don't underestimate the power of a good audition. He was even offered a $50k scholarship.

Maybe she should look into applying to dance and adding biology if she's admitted.

[Anonymous]

OP here and this is her list so far:

Early Action: UMDCP, JMU

Regular Decision: American, Dickinson, Muhlenberg, Connecticut College (all require merit aid)

I’ve also heard that Vassar and Princeton value dancers, but I don’t think she has the stats for either, especially TO.

[Anonymous]

Dickinson and Muhlenberg are good suggestions and test optional would be fine-they do merit aid based on GPA.

What you probably want is a school with a BA program if she wants to double major. BFAs with a second major are crazy hard to do.

So, I think Indiana and Utah would be no gos.

Shenandoah in Winchester might actually be worth a look. They have a great dance program, but offer a BA option that allows more flexibility. They also are pretty strong in sciences.

Don’t rule out Goucher - it might work for your daughter.

UMBC has a nice dance program, too, and would be in state tuition.

Some other thoughts on schools with BA Dance-Bates, Colby, schools in the Five College Consortium, holy cross, springfield, tufts, alma, hope, western Michigan, UNH, rider, Stockton, Buffalo, Colgate, Hamilton, Hobart and William smith, Hofstra, Rochester, Sarah Lawrence, skidmore, Vassar (don’t think they have a degree, but a great company), Desales, Drexel, Mercyhurst (very ballet focused), seton hill, slippery rock, ursinus, Roger Williams, salve Regina, Vermont, Hollins, JMU, sweet briar, Richmond.

My daughter is applying to several of these above, but her grades are not anywhere near as good as your child’s. She has ODU as a top choice and might apply to Radford, too. She likes Randolph, which only has a dance minor. Another she is applying to is Meredith in NC. We just visited Dean College on Monday and she loved it - well regarded dance program that we got the wonderful surprise she had already been accepted to. She may also apply to Northern Michigan and Lindenwood near St Louis.

[Anonymous]

The Facebook page is called dance parents:college bound.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here again: UMDCP is her top choice, but she’s not sure she’ll get in because she won’t have 10-12 APs like many of her peers and no test scores.

My DS was admitted to UMDCP (OOS, FCPS) as a performing arts major with a 3.95 weighted GPA and only 2 APs before senior year. He submitted a good test score (34), but don't underestimate the power of a good audition. He was even offered a $50k scholarship.

Maybe she should look into applying to dance and adding biology if she's admitted.

Congratulations, that’s wonderful! She can only declare one major at first so will go all in on dance and audition for the performing arts scholarship (that’s her only opportunity to audition because the major doesn’t require one). Then she’ll add another major at some point if she gets in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d look into Indiana- they have a strong dance program and give merit aid to OOS students

Didn’t see she’s applying TO. Substantial merit aid will be hard to get if you’re not submitting test scores.

I don’t think that’s true everywhere. A friend’s daughter got $30k/year in merit aid from Middlebury TO.

Middlebury doesn’t really give merit aid. I checked the CDS and it was something like 32K in non-need aid and 70 million in need based aid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think she has a chance at UMD, honestly, OP.
But please DO apply early action, by Nov 1st! My son had the same GPA coming out of MCPS, with top AP exam and ACT scores, and he was admitted to an Honors college at UMD. Have her really brainstorm her essays: something about finding her identity in dance, and how that's connected to the other things she wants to study. Universities do read personal statements.

NP. I also think she has a shot at UMD. Apply for dance and add bio later. This is all good advice above.