<p>In a moment of insane clarity I decided to apply to Interlochen Arts Academy under the Comparitave Arts major. I will apply for financial aid there. Since they have rolling admissions, I'll recieve a decision very soon and go from there. Anyone know anything about this school? I've been dancing for eleven years now, and I also am a writer.</p>
<p>And a quick question: should I write about my eating disorder (and recovery) for the app essay? The prompt is to talk about an event in your life that challenged me, and I know I could write a very good essay about that experience. But I know EDs are a huge problem in boarding school, so I don't want the school to think I would be a "problem child".</p>
<p>it’s a pretty good arts school, i know some girls who are fabulous piano players that go there, I think interlochen is only good if you are VERY serious about going into arts-related industries in the future, because its academics is not strong, for example they only have 2 AP classes, and both of those are art-related (art history etc). I’d say that admission is pretty competitive, if you haven’t thought this through carefully, i strongly suggest you wait and apply next year, but that’s just my opinion.
GOOD LUCK!
PS. is ED really a big problem at BS, just curious?</p>
<p>The new comparative-arts major is meant for people like you, who have an interest in multiple fields. </p>
<p>There are ALOT of people who graduate from Interlochen and attend Ivy League schools for non-arts majors. All the courses are AP level, so Interlochen can administer any AP test you want to take. Although they do only offer 2 “named” AP classes, I took 4 AP’s and scored 5’s on all of them (English Lang, English Lit, Euro Hist, and World History). </p>
<p>Write about whatever you want…if you show that you are completely healed and ready to move forward, they will probably trust that you really are ready. </p>
<p>The head of the program William Church is truly an amazing person and teacher. Good luck! I hope you get to attend such a magical place.</p>
<p>EDs are a difficult topic, but if you manage to pull it off, then that’ll make for one hell of an amazing essay</p>
<p>their academics… i mean, i’ve heard that they have good classes / teacher ^ (view above: AP scores) but some kids who are totally into the arts really aren’t motivated academic-wise, so exciting, profound classes (like the ones you’d find at a school like exeter, per say) - i think not…
if you’re really dedicated to the arts then i’d say go for it.
good luck!</p>
<p>It’s funny because before I went to Interlochen I came from a very prestigious college prep school in FL. The classes were very rigid and strict and traditional, all the students did the work for the grades not for the “joy of education”; and all the knowledge gained was lost after tests and after the class was over.</p>
<p>But I found that at Interlochen the way the classes were structured lent themselves so much more towards lifelong, ingrained knowledge. No class is bigger than 10-12, and we sit at big round tables and discuss all the topics rather than get lectured at. The teachers also approach our education from a very holistic perspective, so we’re never studying something without considering its place in the world, in history, and as an artist. </p>
<p>Not all of the classes were “exciting and profound”, I don’t see how calculus or trig or chemistry could be haha. But all of the classes I took in history and literature and psychology and a bunch of others were extremely fascinating and profound. They were also seeds that were planted in my head of subjects that I wanted to continue to explore in college and beyond. All the classes I took were harder than any of my college classes now. Most of our grade was based on essays and tests. We had to turn in a 15-25 page paper every three weeks, and the day it was due was also our test. Senior year there is a senior thesis class, where you write one 65 page paper. </p>
<p>Bamagirl, you should visit and sit in on a few classes before you decide about “rigorousness” of the classes and motivation level of the students :)</p>