Final Decisions; BACKGROUND, Class of 2018

College Majors Dance Major
1

<p>Hi everyone, the MT and Acting forum on here do something like this so I thought we should too. I think it would be helpful for future applicants to see how we each made our decisions and what we were looking for when we applied as well as what we learned from this process. May 1st is approaching and I know some people have made a decision or are close to making one! Take your time making this big decision!</p>

<p>Applied to:
Accepted to:
Waitlisted at:
Final Decision:
Training (type of studio,performing arts school, etc):
Summer Intensive(s):
Why We made the decision we did:</p>

2

<p>I would love to read about why you chose the school that you will be attending. My D is a junior so we are just starting to visit schools with dance programs. Thanks and good luck to all of you graduating this year!</p>

3

<p>Applied to: Long Island University CW Post, Marymount Manhattan, Pace, Point Park, Roger Williams, Rutgers Mason Gross, Non audition/audition for scholarship: CUNY Hunter, Hofstra, Muhlenberg, University of Maryland</p>

<p>Accepted to: Long Island University CW Post, Rutgers Mason Gross, CUNY Hunter, Hofstra, Muhlenberg, and University of Maryland for Spring 2015. Academically accepted everywhere, received merit scholarships and accepted into honors programs as well.</p>

<p>Waitlisted at: N/A</p>

<p>Final Decision: Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts</p>

<p>Training: Went to a studio since I was 2 that can be seen as more recreational, but being a part of the company and competition team offered me more opportunities even though we aren’t that competitive of a studio. I took advantage of being close to the city to take drop in classes and worked a lot at home. </p>

<p>Summer Intensive(s): Joffrey Ballet School’s Jazz and Contemporary Summer Intensive 2013, Studio Intensives</p>

<p>Why We made the decision we did: I started researching schools in my freshmen year and it took me awhile to realize what I want and what I was looking for in a dance program, even until the very end. My list changed a lot from the beginning until it was time to apply senior year, some schools stayed on the list, but some of my top choices were added late junior year. I generally wanted to stay close to home and be close with the exception of Point Park or close to or in a city, and I was looking at schools that had jazz available in some way. I did not want a conservatory because academics are important to me, I work very hard in school, I’m an honors/AP student and I didnt want that to disappear. I wanted schools where I could double major or have a minor. It was important for me to have non audition safeties because that’s truly the only safety, no audition programs are safeties. I wanted to have choices if all went wrong. I also wanted to have a variety of different types of schools to choose from because I’m indecisive and if I changed my mind. Even though I havent had much experience with modern I was very open to it, adapted pretty easily, but this also hindered me.
There was a lot ups and downs with this process. There was one week where I basically got rejections from majority of my schools and I was looking at schools I passed on before to audition late, but the next day I got an email from Rutgers Mason Gross that a decision was available. I honestly thought this would be another no, but was ecstatic when it was a yes and that I was accepted. It was one of my top choices. I say one because I tried hard not to get attached to any one school, I ranked them with either a 1,2 or 3 and I had four 1’s and I was accepted at 2 of them. Rutgers Mason Gross and Muhlenberg and artistic rejections from Pace and Point Park. Point Park I had a very bad audition where I fell and it just wasnt good, Pace was a heart breaker where I didnt make it past the prescreen and the program just seemed perfect for me. Anyway, a school below the radar, Long Island University CW Post was a school close to me that I decided to audition for. I really enjoyed my audition there and liked how well rounded the program was with opportunties to study jazz, tap, modern, ballet, and African dance. The students were friendly and the faculty was nice. I thought this could be a real contender, but after going to watch a class I changed my mind. The students acted and dressed very unprofessionally and were fooling around the whole time. They werent as friendly either, this really turned me off from there which upset me. It ended up being between Rutgers and Muhlenberg as many of you know. Both great schools with great programs, but very very different. I chose Rutgers because of the diversity, BFA program as well at the 5 year Ed.M program, close to the city, large school with school spirit, but being in a small dance program, and so much more. When I went to the Open House event, it really solidified that this was the right choice for me and I finally committed today!
The only things I would change about this process were things I couldnt change really which was ultimately my training. I notice major improvements within myself every year and this whole audition process really opened my eyes and definitely improved me as a dancer. I got to really experience auditioning and seeing a lot more teaching and dance styles. Ultimately finding my fit and learning more about myself. For future applicants, definitely apply early and to a good amount of schools. Spend time on SAT/ACT prep to help with merit aid and other perks. Spend time early on working on essays, supplements, audition materials, etc. Be organized with audition dates and with what each school wants because every school wants something different. Start as early as you can. Expect the unexpected, fake it to you make it, best of luck to everyone who embarks on this crazy process! If I was just applying for a “normal” major like my friends this would’ve been much easier, but my passion and drive for dance is much bigger and I know it is all worth it. So excited for the fall, except that I dont know what to do now because the process is over.</p>

4

<p>@JDancer…thank you so much! You really gave a wonderfully detailed response, which is so helpful. Congratulations to you! I hope you find much happiness at Rutgers!</p>

5

<p>Thank you so much @Isfdancemom! I would like to do anything I can to try to help others and offer insight on this process! I appreciated all the help and research I found on great websites like this one! </p>

6

<p>Applied to:U of Alabama, SUNY@Buffalo, Oklahoma City U, Pace, Muhlenberg, Barnard</p>

<p>Accepted to:
Academic acceptances at all but Barnard
Dance acceptances at all but Pace</p>

<p>Waitlisted at:N/A</p>

<p>Final Decision:Muhlenberg</p>

<p>Training (type of studio,performing arts school, etc): 14 years of training in all disciplines at a strong competition studio</p>

<p>Summer Intensive(s):Rockettes SI, OCU Broadway Bound, NYCDA and Dance Awards national conventions, drop in classes at Broadway Dance Center.</p>

<p>Why We made the decision we did:
Strong academics were very important, along with a well rounded dance program (high levels of tap class available),with opportunities to work with guest choreographers, and also participate in the Musical Theater program. She is also looking forward to the study abroad program in Italy, as languages are another passion for her and will be part of a double major in some way.
She turned down a full ride at Alabama, but got an excellent scholarship/financial aid package from Muhlenberg. SUNY@Buffalo was a close contender, but the cost of attendance was going to be higher there.</p>

7

<p>My DD wanted both academics and a strong dance program so we looked at schools that had both. Vassar College, Barnard/Columbia & Harvard allow students to make arrangements to take classes. She loved all three colleges but thought that Harvard has the very best ballet classes of the three. These were the only schools that we looked at with high tuition because these schools also offer substantial academic scholarships & grants. She did not apply to colleges such as Tish/NYU or Marymount Manhattan due to the high tuition and very little offering in the way of FA. She did apply and audition for the Alivin Ailey/Fordham BFA and really loved the facilities and the classes but she did not want to focus on modern and she also wanted to be able to take physics and science classes which are not available at the Lincoln Center campus. As it turns out, she did not submit her Fordham application due to problems with the Common App, but she would not have chosen that school anyway.
I read a lot of information on College Confidential that was very helpful, in fact, <a href=“What to do now, after all the rejections? - #16 by sopranomom92 - Dance Major - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/dance-major/685205-what-to-do-now-after-all-the-rejections-p2.html&lt;/a&gt; gave us insight to the fact that a a very good dancer could find themselves with no acceptances!! So we made sure to apply to a variety of schools. My DD applied to three in-state schools because they are the most affordable, and she applied to a few out of state, hoping for a decent FA package. This turned out to be a very stressful but successful application/audition process for her as she was accepted to almost all of her colleges and was accepted to her dream school with a very good FA package.
In preparation for this dance audition/application marathon, I would suggest to start early by visiting colleges and taking classes where possible. Also, a very solid ballet background with summer intensives geared to technique over performance would be very helpful. I think auditioning for a wide variety of summer intensives can also help prepare a dance major for the college audition experience. As noted by many here, each college has different requirements for their audition and it’s a good idea to make a list of the dates and the requirements to give yourself an idea of planning and being ready with all materials at the time of audition. Some colleges will require pre-audition materials to even be considered for an audition, such as Alvin Ailey/Fordham and Pace.
Finally, I think a dancer has to know what dance genre they want to focus on, commercial dance, ballet, or modern, as this will help to narrow down the choices.
Good luck to everybody, this has been an unbelievable ride!!!</p>

8

<p>Glider 17, where did your daughter decide to go?</p>

9

<p>Applied to: Mason Gross (Rutgers), University at Buffalo, Muhlenberg, Goucher, Towson
Accepted to: Goucher, Muhlenberg, and Rutgers as a BA not BFA
Waitlisted at: N/A
Final Decision: BA at Rutgers (hopefully will transfer to BFA)
Training (type of studio,performing arts school, etc): Um. Well this is awkward. I went to a really good studio with a strong ballet and modern emphasis, barely competed. But anyway then we lost a lot of money and were dancing on karate mats and I didn’t really improve so. I don’t think I should talk about it haha.
Summer Intensive(s): None. I could never afford them. But I take a lot of open classes at BDC, Steps, and at my home studio which is now being redid.
Why We made the decision we did: I love Rutgers. I like that its close to NYC and it’s close to home! I can work when I don’t have class and there is a lot of opportunity there! The teachers seem incredible and I know people personally who graduated Mason Gross and had great success in their dance career. Hopefully I can get transferred into the BFA because I love the fact that I can get my Masters in 5 years since I want to teach dance and own a studio (after having a performing career haha). If that doesn’t work out I’ll just stick with the BA and take more classes at BDC and Steps since there is a train station on campus. I also hate the small school feel which both Muhlenberg and Goucher had so the choice wasn’t that hard. I love that I can still get great dance training and the full college experience.</p>

10

<p>It’s April 30th! Would love to see and hear about more people’s decisions!</p>

11

<p>Applied to: NYU, Fordham/Ailey, Pace, SUNY Purchase, SMU, TCU, Butler, Oklahoma, Dominican/LINES
Accepted to: many!
Waitlisted at: Dominican/LINES
Final Decision: NYU Tisch Dance BFA</p>

<p>Training (type of studio,performing arts school, etc): used to be a competition dancer with very successful studio, but after soph year transitioned to small ballet-only studio and greatly increased # hours of ballet and pointe, and took Horton modern at another area studio, with a little jazz/contemporary from time to time at 2 other studios; also took master classes and mini-workshops from other area or visiting teachers whenever she could</p>

<p>Summer Intensive(s): Perry Mansfield, New York City Dance Alliance Summer Dance Intensive, Generation IV, Burklyn Ballet Theatre, Alvin Ailey Professional Division, ABT Collegiate (this summer)</p>

<p>Why We made the decision we did: The faculty and Dance chair at NYU seemed to really want her and made her feel so valued and welcome when we visited after her acceptance. She got a Tisch artistic award too. We felt NYU was her best academic option, and she liked that it was a bigger school with many options for minor, clubs, etc… plus it is in a good area of NYC.</p>

12

<p>Applied to: LMU, Chapman, U of A, Pace, Marymount Manhattan, Cornish, Univ of Colorado
Auditioned at: LMU, Chapman, U of A, Pace
Accepted to: Academically - all; Dance - LMU, Chapman, Pace
Waitlisted at:
Final Decision: Pace
Training (type of studio,performing arts school, etc): competition studios since age 5; current studio has strong focus on technique; strong in contemporary. Summer classes at The Edge (several summers), numerous master classes at her studio and other local studios, many conventions, private ballroom classes.
Summer Intensive(s): None.
Why We made the decision we did: Pace was DD’s number one choice all along. The commercial dance program is unique and she feels that it will be a good fit for her. Once we visited there, it was clear that some others that she was initially interested in fell by the wayside (which is why she ended up NOT auditioning at some). Pace offered a nice academic scholarship and grant. NY is a 4 hour plan flight for us, but we are excited for her.</p>

<p>Congrats to all on your acceptances and best of luck to the class of 2018! </p>

13

<p>Applied to: University of the Arts, Shenandoah and Point Park University</p>

<p>Auditioned : UARTS, Shenandoah, SUNY Buffalo and Point Park University</p>

<p>Accepted to all artisitically, but did not complete academic application to SUNY Buffalo(did not feel the dance program would be challenging enough).</p>

<p>Final Decision: Point Park (jazz major)</p>

<p>Training: Very strong competition studio, with additional ballet and modern training at a consveratory type of studio. Also particpated in a number of dance workshops and assisted a number of industry dancers through Excel in Motion for two years (Alex Wong, Kent Boyd, Ade Chike Torbert, Twicth and a few others). Attended the Alvin AileySummer Intensive</p>

<p>We were looking for a triple emphasis program, with a strong reputation for training quality dancers. Point Park offerered tickets to a show during the same weekend as the aduition. We were blown away by the caliber of dancers and my daughter felt that she would be most challenged there. In addition, they offered the best financial aid package. </p>

14

<p>Applied to:
Western Michigan University
Marymount Manhattan
Point Park University
Fordham University - Alvin Ailey
NYU - Tisch School of the Arts
Juilliard</p>

<p>Accepted to:
Western Michigan University
Marymount Manhattan
Point Park University
Fordham University - Alvin Ailey
NYU - Tisch School of the Arts</p>

<p>Waitlisted at:
NONE</p>

<p>Final Decision:
NYU - Tisch School of the Arts</p>

<p>Training (type of studio,performing arts school, etc):
Local studio for 10 years taking all genres of dance, extra ballet at a ballet school and at a college for senior year, tons of conventions and master classes.</p>

<p>Summer Intensive(s):
Leon Dance Arts NY
Grand Rapids Ballet School
Misc. others</p>

<p>Why We made the decision we did:
NYU was one of the top choices for us - everything we have heard about is everything we were looking for. Also received a very nice scholarship!</p>

15

<p>Harvard and most likely the other schools mentioned by Glider do not offer academic scholarships; scholarships are entirely need-based, just to clarify.</p>