<p>How are the dance classes that are offered at W&M?
And the dance team?</p>
<p>Here's a recent thread on this topic:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-william-mary/639101-dance-team.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-william-mary/639101-dance-team.html</a></p>
<p>My d is a freshman dance minor, so I have some reliable second-hand information for you. The concentration is in modern - the ballet offerings are only up through the intermediate level (no pointe). My d had 4 years of experience in modern at her home dance studio, and thinks that the modern classes at W & M are excellent - much more demanding than anything she studied before. There are 4 levels of modern offered; classes meet 2 or 3 times per week, with evening rehearsals for members of Orchesis, the school's modern dance company. The dance faculty is composed of three teachers who are also serious choreographers. </p>
<p>The dance minor also requires academic courses - for instance, this semester my d is studying the history of dance. This has finally given her an opportunity to learn about the various schools of modern, something her previous modern teachers did not address at all. So, she recently said, she can now tell you the differences between Doris Humphrey and Hanya Holm. Last year she could have told you who Martha Graham was, and maybe Isadora Duncan. </p>
<p>There's an emphasis on choreography in the dance minor, and minors are required to create pieces for the annual spring performance. There's also a fall performance for which the professors do all the choreography.</p>
<p>The dance team is called Tribal Dancers. Some very strong dancers with impressive ballet and other experience participate (per their website), but I haven't seem them perform. As the thread above indicates, there are many dance opportunities at W & M. My d misses a challenging daily ballet class, but she always knew she'd be moving on from that eventually. She's dancing 10-12 hours per week, and she wouldn't have time for much more with her academic schedule. Hope this helps!</p>
<p>Hey Frazzled,
Did your d's dance background help her get accepted?
Does anyone know what it takes to get into William & Mary these days?</p>
<p>daaad, this thread from last year’s admissions cycle might be helpful::
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-william-mary/477391-official-rd-decision-thread-class-2012-a.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-william-mary/477391-official-rd-decision-thread-class-2012-a.html</a></p>
<p>Also, this link to W & M's common data set:
Common</a> Data Set</p>
<p>And this link to an article about the admissions process from the 2007 alumni magazine:
<a href="https://alumni.wm.edu/magazine/spgsum_2007/feature_5.shtml%5B/url%5D">https://alumni.wm.edu/magazine/spgsum_2007/feature_5.shtml</a></p>
<p>As to what it takes to get into W & M these days - well, admissions are quirky there, especially for OOS students, but high SATs/ACTs with a strong GPA and a rigorous curriculum probably get the applicant a serious look. If you look at the results threads above, you'll see that some students with sky-high stats are actually waitlisted or even rejected, while others with slightly lower scores are admitted. </p>
<p>As an OOS, unhooked white female, my d's chances weren't especially good. I don't think her dance background, and the DVD she sent as a supplement, hurt in any way. But W & M's dance department isn’t especially strong compared to schools like Vassar, Barnard, Skidmore, etc.; I doubt that admissions accepts many kids just because the dance faculty likes their dance videos. </p>
<p>In my d's case, I think her biggest selling point was applying ED, combined with SAT scores above W & M's 75th percentile, a strong curriculum, and strong essays. She also did the optional summer interview, which I highly recommend to any rising seniors who really like W & M. Applicants can usually sign up for interviews beginning May 1st. There aren't enough slots for interested students, so it's important to sign up early.</p>
<p>This quote is from the alumni magazine referenced above:
[quote]
There's a baseball analogy in the committee for this: "all bases covered." In admission baseball, there are five bases: biology, chemistry, physics, calculus and four to five years of a foreign language. This is just one measure of whether a student has completed a competitive courseload in high school. They also talk in strange numbers, often saying something like "4-plus-2," which apparently is not "6" I later learn this to be the combined number of Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses taken in the student's senior (4) and junior (2) years, respectively.
[/quote]
My d’s experience proves that this isn’t an unyielding standard. My d had 5 science credits, but no physics (instructor issues at our hs); also only 4 years of a foreign language, though her hs offers a fifth. So admissions really does look at each applicant on an individual basis.</p>