<p>Hi everyone. My whole life I have been training pretty extensively to be a professional ballerina but have recently decided while I want to continue dancing at a high level I'd really rather go to college than join a company. I'm in a bit of a complex situation because while my academics are good, I don't have any ECs but ballet as I've had to dedicate my whole life to it, however do I participate at a very high level but I don't know if admissions will recognise that. </p>
<p>In terms of academics: I have a 4.0 GPA. My school doesn't have any AP classes so I don't have results from AP tests but my school is competitive and sends lots of students to ivy league/top 20 colleges every year. My SAT score is 2300 (800 CR, 760 M, 740 W) and I scored a 780 math ii and 750 us history on the subject tests.</p>
<p>In terms of ballet: I attend arguably the most prestigious and selective pre-professional residential ballet program in the US (kind of like a boarding school where you dance for a few hours a day and then work school around that) but have no idea if an adcom from the non-ballet world would know this. I have won a medal twice at the Youth America Grand Prix Competition, the largest ballet competition in the world (again I have no idea if an adcom would know this). I have participated in multiple prestigious summer intensives (competitive ballet summer programs).</p>
<p>What I want in a school: Good dance program and strong academics. Preferably close (within a few hours drive) to a big city. I want liberal environment and would prefer very little greek involvement but otherwise I am totally open to anything.</p>
<p>I would appreciate any advice as to where I should be aiming for as I have no idea how admissions will look at me as I am only involved in one activity and if they will understand the rigors involved. </p>
<p>The schools I'm looking at now are Columbia (#1 dream school), Barnard and Vassar. I'll take any suggestions for other schools or advice. Thank you!</p>
<p>UC Irvine has an excellent program (Anthony Tutor taught there every spring semester for years and years), also check out Northwestern University.</p>
<p>I was going to suggest Barnard and Columbia, both of which would give you access to the kind of high-level classes in NYC it sounds like you would require to have a satisfying experience. It is difficult to find a school with really serious ballet in the first place, much less one where you can participate without being a dance major. The Tisch School at NYU, which is an audition program, would enable you to major in dance and take academic courses, but I donāt think you can do it the other way round. Of course, NYU would also enable you to have access to ballet resources in the city. But with your stats, I would be looking at Columbia and Barnard unless you actually wanted to major in dance.</p>
<p>I have a niece who majored in dance at Tisch, took a substantial number of academic courses, and is now a professional dancer in NYC. She was also a ballet student, had done summer programs at NYCB, took company classes at Hubbard Street in Chicago, was admitted to the San Francisco Ballet school but chose to pursue academic HS instead.</p>
<p>If you were interested in classes with a company like Hubbard Street, you could conceivably go to the U of C or Northwestern, I suppose. Similarly, if you could take class at San Francisco, you could go to Berkeley. I guess that Miami is the other standout ballet company, but Iām not seeing the academic options as particularly suitable.</p>
<p>If you are willing to drop way down in the level of dance, your academic options will be much broader.</p>
<p>Iād also look into Fordham (Lincoln Center) ā specifically the Ailey/Fordham B.F.A. dance program. Although Fordham is a Jesuit school, the LC campus is quite liberal.</p>
<p>Thank you for the replies! @katliamom - I hadnāt even thought of the UCs, I will definitely research into it! </p>
<p>@Consolation - Iām glad to see Iām on the right track with Columbia and Barnard as they seem to be the best schools to take advanced classes without having to earn a BFA. Taking class at a company is actually very appealing so I will definitely start researching schools like UChicago, Northwestern and Berkley. </p>
<p>@happy 1 - Funnily enough I had never even considered Fordham despite the fact that it is in the Lincoln Center with me and is literally about a 4 minute walk from my dorm. Ailey worries me because theyāre a modern company but I will definitely look into it on the weekend. Do you happen to know anything about their rigor of academics?</p>
<p>If anyone else has any suggestions I am totally open.</p>
<p>The Duke program sounds great. If you consider it, you should definitely visit and try to take, or at least observe, a class. Regarding the ācompany classā idea anywhere, checking into the feasibility of fitting it in, given transportation issues, will be a biggie.</p>
<p>pointegirl95 - warblersrule was kind enough to quote me above, but I would like to add some more. Harvardās ballet program is strictly extracurricular (there are a few academic classes, but no major/minor), but you can continue to dance a lot and develop further if that is your desire. You would not be the first SAB alumna to go there and in the past two years Harvard graduates have gone on to join Boston Ballet, American Ballet Theater, and Ballet Austin. My daughter probably averages three to four hours a day in the studio between regular technique classes, periodic master classes, and rehearsals for various performances. She did also look at Barnard via Columbia and thought that would also be a good fit. She did not look at Princeton, but it looks like it would also be one that you should look into.</p>
<p>All of these schools are very difficult to get into, but no more so than SAB. Your academic and dance profile certainly make you a viable candidate. Good luck!</p>
<p>Re Fordham: My S graduated from Fordham (he was at the Rose Hill Campus) and I can promise you that the academics at the school are impressive. I wasnāt sure if Ailey would be too modern for you based on your initial comments, but it may be an option worth considering. I do believe that applications are due early for that program because both dance and academic qualifications must be met. [B.F.A</a>. Program | The Ailey School](<a href=āhttp://www.theaileyschool.edu/BFA]B.F.Aā>http://www.theaileyschool.edu/BFA)</p>
<p>About Berkeley: when I went there - ions ago, obviously - it didnāt have a particularly good dance program, but that might have changed. But in case the dance scene at Cal isnāt what youāre looking for and youāre considering commuting to SF to danceā¦ know that the ride over the bay can be a drag. Yes, you can take Bart (train), but the commute will be a considerable drain of your time - hour and a half for round trip, maybe more. So if you have options (and with your great grades/stats you do! congrats!) pick a school that has great academics and great dance options right on/near the campus.</p>
<p>Penn has admitted high-level dancers. Thereās no dance program, but itās a short bus ride to Pa. Ballet. Adcoms will understand why you werenāt part of the French club and the highway cleanup and wonāt care. A strong commitment to ballet and high-level achievement will be terrific.</p>
<p>Perhaps I idealize SAB too much, as a longtime subscriber to NYCB , but I would think that it would be virtually impossible to find that level of ballet in any regular college program, especially a non-audition college dance program. Which is why Iād think you might be better off with a NYC school (Columbia/Barnard) or the situation described at H.</p>
<p>I really donāt think that you need to worry about ECs. Or awards. You have both in the bag. :D</p>
<p>Good luck, and please do let us know what you ultimately decide to do.</p>
, but I would think that it would be virtually impossible to find that level of ballet in any regular college program, especially a non-audition college dance program. Which is why Iād think you might be better off with a NYC school (Columbia/Barnard) or the situation described at H.</p>