Help with decision: Early Education major/minor with dance

Hi, we are down to the wire and can’t decide! DD is classically trained ballet dancer who ultimately wants to be an early ed/elementary school teacher and be involved in dance at night/weekends as a teacher, director, etc. Doesn’t think she has what it takes to dance professionally but doesn’t want to give up dance. She got into BFAs at Point Park (eliminated because it’s too far from home), Towson (eliminated - too big), and top schools where she was accepted are Adelphi, Rutgers Mason Gross School of the Arts, Stockton University and also looking at Rider University which does not have auditions (I think until you get there?). They all have good dance programs and good education programs. The pros/cons:

-Adelphi - Excellent dance program, excellent education program. Can’t really do both there unless she minored in dance, but would lose her scholarship. Did talk to someone who said they could work with us to do the BFA and try to work in the education major but would be tough. Loves the school and campus.

-Rutgers - she can get a BFA/Ed.M. there but the Ed.M. is in dance teacher certification - ultimately wants the early ed/elementary ed certification. Talked to someone who said she could do this route and go on with additional classes to get that certification. Likes Mason Gross, concerned about the size of Rutgers, and mostly modern focus. She is interested in learning more modern but wants to keep the ballet too.

-Rider - loves Rider and has a great education program and can major in education and dance but we don’t know much about the advanced dance classes. They are taken at Princeton Ballet School which I know is a good dance school but it’s 20 minutes away from Rider.

-Stockton - “safe” school. Dance program is too modern for her.

Tried to keep this short LOL! Any advice or insight greatly appreciated as we are at T-25 days!

Where does she ultimately want to teach?

Adelphi is a good program for education and its grads get hired locally. My D considered it but ultimately wound up at a SUNY school where she majored in early elementary education with a music concentration (as a vocalist, so not as time consuming as dance). Her masters is in special ed. At least in NY, to teach in public schools, you will eventually need a masters. Perhaps she could take some classes in education and then get a masters. When I toured Adelphi with S17, we were told that people who got an undergrad degree there got a break on their masters tuition. The tour guide who told us this was studying accounting but she said it was school wide. That might be an option for you.

My D wound up leaving teaching after one year so I was happy I had not invested tons of money in her education. She thinks about going back for music therapy but right now is happy working in educational technology and doing music on the side.

Good luck.

Thank you! Great point about where to ultimately teach - we live in NJ so I think it’s best to get certification in NJ so if she doesn’t get a job straight out of college she can live at home. I’ve heard (forget where I heard this) that Adelphi will work with you to get the NJ certification as well. Rutgers also told us that the undergrads get a break on the masters tuition.

hey @jrsygrl my daughter also is interested in Adelphi for dance. It is now between Towson, Adelphi and Montclair (in state tuition!) Did your daughter make a decision yet?