<p>Hello- my daughter is a junior this year in high school and we are beginning our college search. She does very well academically and has strengths in math, science and visual and performing arts. She would like to apply to schools with both a strong academic reputation and great visual/performing arts programs. We would appreciate some perspective on Harvard"s art departments and programs. Thank you.</p>
<p>Harvard proved to be the perfect balance for our daughter. She is studying physics in one of the world’s best physics departments while dancing in the Harvard Ballet Company. HBC is strictly an extracurricular activity, but it is similar to all of the performing arts at Harvard in that it is conducted at a very high level. For example, three of the kids this past year have gone on to land dance jobs with American Ballet Theater, Boston Ballet, and Ballet Austin. I would bet that most BFA programs could not claim that kind of placement record. There are numerous EC dance classes that she takes as well as rehearsals with HBC. ECs tend to be taken very seriously by Harvard students so it is not surprising that the various ensembles in the arts are all pretty impressive. And while there is no dance concentration (major), there have been some dance related academic courses. Feel free to PM me if you have more specific questions.</p>
<p>Probably the #1 college in the U.S. for both a first rate studio art (and art history) program and top flight academics is Williams (rated #1 college by both USNWR and Forbes). Of the Ivies, Yale would come closest in this regard.</p>
<p>^^^Haha, you’re a one-man Williams PR department!</p>
<p>I call it like I see it… Yale’s ok too.</p>
<p>Harvard had MANY dance companies, encompassing all dance forms, Ballet, modern, Jazz African and especially ballet. At one time they had 25 or more dance companies. Yale, not so much Can’t comment on other areas but dance is VERY STRONG at Harvard.</p>
<p>If you are talking specifically about visual arts, you might want to post your question on CC’s “Visual Arts & Film Majors” forum, as there are several regular posters who have offspring similarly interested in both top academics and solid studio art programs. </p>
<p>The most frequently lauded schools that have that unique combination seem to be Williams and Wesleyan among LACs, Yale and Brown for the Ivies.</p>
<p>Agree with worried_mom.</p>