I’m about half-way towards an associate’s in chemistry which I intended to put towards a solid pre-med foundation. However, I keep reading that undergrads should choose something fun for their major since once they’re in medical school they won’t have time for anything fun until they retire (haha). And while a chemistry degree might give me a tiny leg up in chemistry, there are so many other disciplines in medical school that it would basically be like a drop in the ocean.
I’m twenty-five years old. I’m very passionate about ballet, which I’ve been taking twice a week for about six months. I had always wanted to take ballet classes growing up but was too shy to ask my dad. After years of wishing and wishing, I’m finally doing it and I love it. I’m aware that twenty-five is ancient for starting ballet and that there is no hope for an actual career as a professional dancer.
My question is will I look like an idiot auditioning for a four-year ballet program. (I was looking at the University of Utah, which is strictly a ballet program which would be my preference). In the event that I decide to audition, I would discuss it with my teacher and update my current regimen to be far more rigorous for about the next 12 months or so.
I know how monumentally stupid it sounds to be going to all this trouble to pursue a degree in something that I can’t use professionally, but if you’re a dance major you know how much dance means to you and I promise it means the same to me.
And for those of you about to say just ask your instructor what she thinks, she’s really intimidating so I thought I’d ask here first before I made a huge fool of myself.
Well, you would need to complete extensive medical school prerequisites, particularly in math, biology, chemistry and biochemistry. Could you continue in these courses while pursuing the dance program at the University of Utah? Beyond questions such as this, your interests do not seem “stupid” in any way.
Stated slightly differently, dance would serve as a perfectly acceptable major for a student with medical school ambitions. However, you would ordinarily need to pursue this major in the context of a curriculum in which could continue in the sciences, social sciences and humanities for nearly half of your courses in order to meet the expectations for medical school admission.
I imagine it would make my application stand out, along with a strong MCAT score. Minimum degree hours is 122 and minimum major hours is 77-92… I know it can be done, but finding a window in my schedule for the labs especially might be really tricky. I really appreciate your support by the way. It’s so so good to hear that you don’t think it’s stupid.
At some point you can consider your prerequisites more specifically (calculus, stats, organic chemistry, etc.). With a plan, you goals can be reached. Ask for further help in the forums as needed. Some of this stuff is actually pretty simple in principle, though at the moment it may still be unfamiliar to you. As for your goals in general? Definitely, not stupid.
The University of Utah’s ballet (BFA) major requires an audition. A male dancer with 6-18 months experience would be in with a shot, but female dancers will generally have 10+ years of experience and have been dancing 20+ hours per week in high school. It’s also pointe based classical ballet, typically you would have been doing that for 5+ years. Without years on pointe (assuming you are female?) you wouldn’t pass the audition. Some programs elsewhere are non audition and are focused on modern/contemporary ballet without pointe classes. That might be more practical (unless you are male?).
Note also that they do have a summer intensive (mostly for high schoolers but first years also attend), you could sign up for the audition tour for that program in Jan/Feb if you want to see the standard.
I was going to say what Twoin18 said. Any audition-based ballet program will have female dancers auditioning who have been dancing 6 days a week for years, including pointe. They have also likely been attending summer intensives since their early or mid-teen years. The competition will be very fierce for you. You won’t know unless you try, but do go in with a realistic view of your chances, given your background thus far. I also agree that it might be worth exploring the BA programs out there where you could continue to dance without having to audition.
I agree with the comments above. Search out a BA program in dance or consider majoring in something else related to your ultimate goal and minor in dance.
Minimum degree hours is 122 and minimum major hours is 77-92… I know it can be done, but finding a window in my schedule for the labs especially might be really tricky. I really appreciate your support by the way. It’s so so good to hear that you don’t think it’s stupid.