I cant choose which program is best for me!

<p>Im a high school freshman, I know that I have a long way to go before I am in college but I am just trying to weigh my options so that when the time comes for me to choose the college I would like to go to, I will have learned all I need to about it. If any dance majors or parents of dance majors or dancers that want this to be their major, if you could help me the process I would be extremely greatful.</p>

<p>What kind of dance do you do? Can you give a little more background?</p>

<p>I can suggest the Dance magazine College Guide (I forget the exact name, but you can look it up), a book called “Creative Colleges,” and maybe a Peterson’s Guide to the Performing Arts.</p>

<p>You can go to a conservatory, go to a college or university for a BFA, go to a college or university for a BA or BS in dance, go to a college or university for a BA in something else and either minor in dance or dance as an extracurricular, you can apprentice or join a training program, and you can “just dance.” Lots of different paths.</p>

<p>Some schools are more ballet-focused, some more modern or jazz focused, some focus on world music and dance, etc.</p>

<p>My kind of dancing style would be more centered toward modern, hip hop, jazz, tap, and ballet. I"ve only taken dance in middle school so they didnt teach us much on each kind of dancing style.</p>

<p>What does BA BS and BFA stand for?</p>

<p>iemo… BS stands for bachelors of science, BA is a bachelor of arts BFA bachelor of fine arts. The difference between a BA nd BS tends to be college and program specific and will frequently depend on the general education requirements.</p>

<p>As for style of dance- most college programs are modern dance based, then the next most are ballet and a few have a serious jazz component. I don’t know any that are tap or hiphop focused. Most programs will expect that you have several years of serious training in the style of interest when you audition.</p>

<p>Thank you now this makes a little more sense. So if I’m going to try and become a forensic scientist I can earn up to a bachelors in science or I have to have a bachelors in science all ready.</p>

<p>A BFA is for all performing arts such as theatre and band…etc, right? So how many performing arts graduates are able to find jobs or high paying careers? Also which colleges have a good or exceptional performing arts program.</p>

<p>my knowledge of dance programs is very limited, but I have been applying to MT and acting programs this year…i randomly went to this board and opened a few threads lol.
Anyway, the things is, BFA’s are usually either a conservatory or conservatory style program. It’s not like it’s “for all performing arts such as theatre and band…etc, right?” as you posted…it generally is mostly concentrated on your form of art. In your case, dance. </p>

<p>In my experience with BA/BS vs. BFA’s–<br>
The difference usually comes down to the amount of liberal arts/gen ed. (humanities, sciences, math, etc.) classes you take and the amount of major related courses you will take. So for dance, it will come down to either 2/3 or 1/2 liberal arts for a BA or BS and usually 1/3 or less liberal arts for BFA’s…there are quite a few BFA’s even where 90% of your time is spent doing things relating to your craft. </p>

<p>I have no idea about being a forensice scientist…it is quite unrelated to what I plan to study in the future, so can’t answer that one. My question for you is why do you want to pursue a dance degree if that is your career objective…it would make more sense if you pursued a double major in a BS/BA Dance AND another major that will help you become one after you graduate. My advice is to research what is necessary to become a forensic scientist, education-wise.</p>

<p>And your question about BFA grads…a job upon graduation is never guarenteed. The life of a performer is very unstable. I have some friends pursuing dance BFA’s, but they have hopes of opening their own studios later in the future to teach…but that can be unstable as well since managing your own business can be difficult. Graduating from “top” programs will give you better “odds” of finding work, but it still doesn’t mean anything…you should only go into it because you really really want to.</p>

<p>You wrote earlier that you have only taken dance in middle school. I don’t want to be any sort of Debbie Downer, and someone correct me if I’m wrong…I have a feeling that most people who go to college as a dance major have been dancing all their lives. To be ready for the collegiate level, it seems that you will need to have very good technique that can only come with many many years of study. All the kids I know applying/auditioning for dance programs, have been dancing since they’ve been able to walk…so if this is something you want to pursue, I’d recommend you get yourself to a dance studio ASAP and dance pretty much every day…I mean that’s what kids who are pursuing dance after high school do already, and they’ve been dancing forever too!</p>

<p>Sorry for this long post! It seemed necessary to get everything I needed to say out!</p>

<p>It’s okay. Long posts are helpful to me. In resonse to what you said i want to join a dance studio, but at the current moment I cannot and im being forced into sports, such as football and basketball, which I really dont wanna do, but i digress… and yeah I do dance every chance i get, which isn’t much, but it is all that i can do…dance is practically my life… my mom wants me to try and get a band scholarship but i’m striving more toward a dance scholarship…btw what school do you go to?</p>

<p>I’m not in college yet.<br>
I just finished auditioning for schools and am waiting to find out where I’ll be attending in the fall.</p>

<p>Cool, this info is very beneficial for me. My program director just gave me a packet that is for freshman students that take connections( i dont take connections i’m just in the LTI program) that is supposed to help me find out which college i want to go to. I think it is used to make you see what certain colleges have to offer me and then give you a definate area of which college you want to go to and which courses you want to take. I think it will help.</p>