The University of Utah has a very strong dance program; the honors college is solid; programs for biology or environmental college are good; and tuition even for out of state is a bargain. Unfortunately not close to home, but I think it'd be a mistake not to include it on the list for a dancer interested in biology.

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

Emory

Your daughter is limiting her options due to test optional yet in need of merit scholarship awards and strong interest in dance, but not willing to attend an urban school.

Doesn't fit in with your geographic limitations, but the College of Charleston Honors College could work. Lots of merit scholarships designed to lower costs to in-state rate for non-residents.

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

Merit aid may not be realistic for one going test optional, but I am not certain about this.

She’s at MCPS so needs a MD state college or merit aid elsewhere. She’d prefer medium or large, rural or suburban (not urban), north of the Mason-Dixon Line, and less than a day’s drive from DC.

We won’t qualify for much need-based aid. DH is extremely frugal and won’t break the bank on an expensive college.

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.

Me again. BTW, she is wise to prioritize her GPA over test scores, and she needs to maintain that in the first semester of senior year. If you can't do both, that's the way to go. I happen to know of students in my son's year (last year) who were rejected from UMD with a slightly lower GPA but more APs, or good AP exam scores. Apparently UMD cares about high GPA!

Connecticut College.

Barnard College of Columbia University in NYC.

Connecticut College Might be an option.

Fordham University.

SMU (Southern Methodist University) Dallas, Texas

Indiana University

Florida State University (FSU)

Arizona State university (ASU).

There is a FB group for college-bound dancers. I forgot the name, but you may want to check it out.

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.

Anonymous wrote:DD is a talented dancer and strong student from MCPS. She spends 15-20 hours a week dancing in a pre-pro conservatory and has a 4.5 WGPA (3.9 GPA) with 7-8 APs. She’s a terrible test taker and won’t be submitting scores. She’d love to dance all day but knows she’ll need to support herself and wants to make a difference in the world. Whether she can do that through her art is uncertain.

For now, she hopes to double major in dance and biology, environmental science, or public policy and wants to go into conservation work someday. She’d like to stay in the mid-Atlantic and would need significant merit aid to go out of state. Any recommendations?

Does this mean that she cannot qualify for need-based financial aid ?

Resident of which state ?

Preferences: Small, medium, or large school ? Rural, suburban, or urban ? Single sex school okay ?

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.

DD is a talented dancer and strong student from MCPS. She spends 15-20 hours a week dancing in a pre-pro conservatory and has a 4.5 WGPA (3.9 GPA) with 7-8 APs. She’s a terrible test taker and won’t be submitting scores. She’d love to dance all day but knows she’ll need to support herself and wants to make a difference in the world. Whether she can do that through her art is uncertain.

For now, she hopes to double major in dance and biology, environmental science, or public policy and wants to go into conservation work someday. She’d like to stay in the mid-Atlantic and would need significant merit aid to go out of state. Any recommendations?