<p>Some of the posts on this thread underestimated DePaul University while not seeming to really know much about the place. A former collegue whom is a Northwestern alumna and who has relocated back to Chicagoland related a very positive impression of DePaul. The school has made great strides in recent years with a reportedly very contented undergraduate student body.</p>
<p>You really can't beat DePaul for location. I don't know much about the school, but I've heard it has a hardcore theater program, so your daughter would fit right in.</p>
<p>I don't think your daughter would like Chicago, simply because students are committed to academics the way your daughter is committed to dance, and booking yourself a double-commitment doesn't work unless she really wants it.</p>
<p>try northwestern</p>
<p>if she writes a good essay, then she may have a good shot at NW.</p>
<p>If she raises her ACT score to at least 31, i would say that would make her chances for NU much greater.</p>
<p>She was debating if she needed to take the ACT again. Maybe it's not a bad idea. If nothing else, she might get more merit money at the schools that are not as competitive. We just got her report card, and she crept up into the top 15% of her class. I don't think she can break the top 10 % next year tho, and even if she did, it might be too late if she starts applying to schools in the fall before 1st semester grades come out.</p>
<p>U Wisconsin has both a good comm and business school and a very good dance program--not just a dance team but a dance major. Actually it was the first college dance program in the US. Madison is also a lively town with a good arts scene and several dance companies.</p>
<p>I think it's worth a shot to take the ACT one more time...at worst, she loses one Saturday morning, and at best she increases by a meaningful amount and make herself more competitive. Sometimes--oftentimes, perhpas--practice and experience even without any additional prep provide test score increases. Higher rank is always better, and for regular decision schools, those 1st semester grades and rank <em>would</em> come into play. Also, you would be surprised...even by 1st semester of senior year, kids are already starting to slack off. I don't know if she could get into the top 10%, but if she stays committed and gets very strong grades next semester, I think that she would have a good shot at moving even further up in class rank.</p>