Hi everyone, I’m a high school student, looking to do a undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering. However, I have been learning ballet for 13 years and would like to continue this at an advanced level without having to obtain a degree in dance. Any suggestions for colleges/universities? Thanks in advance:)
I know you’re not looking for a degree in dance, but the dance major forum has threads that will be helpful. Also, there’s a web site called Ballet Talk for Dancers that has a forum on colleges with dance programs. They’re somewhat dated but it at least will give you an idea. I’ve been doing some preliminary research for my daughter, whose background and interests are similar to yours. Looks to us so far like the best bets for strong ballet & science are women’s colleges and former women’s colleges (Barnard, Smith, Vassar), the tippity top schools like Stanford, Harvard, Princeton, and a few of the big research unis like USC, WUSTL and Duke. We’ve also heard good things (but are a little less sure about) the Claremont schools, Case Western, Dickinson and Muhlenberg. Lastly, we may consider schools that don’t have their own dance program but are in cities big enough that she could find a dance studio nearby.
My niece was looking for the same combination. Her top 2 choices were Columbia and Duke. She went to Columbia and danced in various groups there.
Our student took an intro to ballet class at Wash U while a Freshman in a STEM track and really enjoyed it. It sounded like there were additional opportunities to pursue dance as a minor at least. Definitely worth checking out!
@Curiosa @cellomom2 @Parche Thanks a lot for the suggestions!!!
Michigan is excellent in biomedical engineering and dance.
People always laugh when my daughter says she wants to major in math and continue to dance at a competition or performance level in college, good to see there are more artistically inclined STEM girls out there. I know Carnegie Mellon has an extracarricular dancers symposium that looks very interesting.
Connecticut College has a strong dance program as well as strong in the sciences
@rjkofnovi @socalmom007 @wisteria100 thanks!
USC
http://academics.usc.edu/
has the Glorya Kaufman School of Dance
http://kaufman.usc.edu/
and a fantastic Biomedical Engineering program
http://bme.usc.edu/about/
wow, thanks @menloparkmom
@biodancegirl – came across this article on WUSTL’s home page – sounds right up your alley!
https://pages.wustl.edu/billtjones/events
Performing arts: http://pad.artsci.wustl.edu/
and dance specifically: http://pad.artsci.wustl.edu/dance
There is a Dance Major and Dance Minor available – in fact, my daughter joked about minoring in dance. As mentioned above, she is a sophomore STEM major and is doing research at the Medical School.
I encourage you to check it out!
Best of luck!
Check out this University of Rochester page. There’s a video link “Blending Biomedical Engineering and Ballet”
wow, thanks @Parche, WUSTL sounds awesome!
Northwestern is actively looking for you: http://admissions.northwestern.edu/globalwildcats/documents/NW_recruitment%20book_0815_r2.pdf
Thanks @stencils, Rochester sounds like a good option!
So tell me if I’ve got this right. If I’d like to dance, outside of a major/minor, as well as pursue a science based degree, my choices would be:
USC, Carnegie Mellon, Connecticut College, WUSTL, U of Michigan, Columbia, Duke, Case Western, Northwestern, Dickinson, Muhlenburg, Barnard, Smith, Vassar.
Does this list sound about right?
Depending on how selective you are aiming for.
U Cincinnati also has a very strong dance program and has biomedical engineering. There are likely other schools, I would think many large state universities would have dance opportunities as well as biomed engineering.
@cellomom2, I’m definitely not looking to apply to the Ivy Leagues. But I would like an academically strong school. I have a 4.0 GPA and a score of 1540 on the new SAT - So I think my choices are pretty open?
Yes, you certainly have excellent stats and qualify for admission just about anywhere, I’m sure you’ll do well 
Just remember as is said on CC often, make sure you have a few safeties or likelies that you would be happy to attend and can afford. The more selective the schools you apply to the lower their admission rates are which means they are rejecting a lot of students that have stats and qualifications just as good as the students they are admitting. Also, make sure to find out how open the dance departments are to non majors.