I’m about to start my senior year and despite what everyone keeps telling me, I still haven’t figured out even what I want to do, let alone where I want to do it.
All my life, I’ve been a dancer. I started dance at 3 years old, and I’m heading into my 15th year dancing. It’s definitely a passion of mine. That said, I didn’t do intense training or anything and there’s no way I could become a professional dancer. I also don’t want to be on a college dance team because of the crazy practice schedules and public appearance aspect of them. I want to minor, or double major but preferably just minor I think, in dance, so I need a college that has that option for me. While I’d love to work at or even own a dance studio one day, I realize that isn’t a very practical career path. The good news is, I’m also really strong in academics. I have a 4.4 weighted gpa and an unweighted gpa of 3.95. Generally at my school, the way things are weighted are most dual credit classes are on a scale of 4.5 and most ap are on 5.0. I’ll also be transferring with a lot of credit. I’ll have dual credit for one semester Of college algebra, one semester of trigonometry, two semesters of us history, two semesters of calculus, two semesters of calculus two, two semesters of acp English, Four semesters of french, one semester of communications/speech, a semester of us government, a semester of us econ, and two semesters of earth space science. As far as APs, I’ve taken calculus AB, English Language and composition, us history, and physics. I got a 5 on calculus and English, a 4 on us history, and a 2 on physics (it was a struggle all year. I understood physics really well but the teacher taught ap physics the exact same she taught regular physics so we weren’t well prepared for the exam.) this year I’ll be taking Calculus BC and fully expect to earn ap credit for it. I’d be absolutely shocked if I didn’t. I’m really good at math. I’ve taken french all four years of high school, and I feel like I’m doing decently well in it. I took algebra one as an eighth grader, and doubled in algebra two and geometry as a freshmen, so I’m one of only five people in my entire school taking calculus BC this year. That’s the only way we can get to that level. I’m also a strong writer. I’ve won awards for it at school and I’ve been told by multiple English teachers that I write really well. I took a regular biology class my freshmen year and really enjoyed that a lot; it was very fun and interesting for me. I also really enjoyed a psych/sociology class my sophomore year. When I graduate, I’ll be graduating with an academic honors diploma.
As far as my other activities go, they’re pretty varied. My freshmen year, I was in art club. This is my third year in NHS. As stated above, I’ve been a part of the varsity dance team for four years. Last year I was on prom committee. I also worked with a project called greene county rocks. We painted rocks and hid them around the community for people to find to brighten up their day. I really enjoyed the creative aspect; I like painting a lot. I also have played the viola for going on 7 years. This year is the first time since sixth grade I haven’t been in my school’s orchestra. It just couldn’t fit into my schedule. I hold two state titles for dance; one for a first place senior duet and one for a first place school variety dance.
I also attended hoosier girls state this year. While I was there I won the staff award, which was an essay contest that I got $100 for winning.
I have an ap scholar award, for averaging 3 or better or 3 or more exams.
Although I don’t know yet, my PSAT score is likely to qualify me to be a national merit scholar. I won’t know for sure until later this fall, but my math teacher told me it’s really likely. I believe I was in either the 98 or 99 percentile.
I took the sat once, and I got a 1490 on it. I did not do the essay portion.
I live in Indiana, but I’m also totally open to going to an out of state college. My parents are not going to pay for any of my college, but it’s likely their income will qualify me for aid. I live with my dad and my brother, and he makes around $50,000 a year. My sister lives with my mom, who makes under $5000 a year currently and is on food stamps and had to draw unemployment at one point. I’d really prefer to go somewhere I can qualify for both needs based and merit based aid. I don’t really have a college fund but I do plan on working in college. I do know that I don’t want to go to IU bloomington because I want to go further from home than that.
I’m worried that I won’t be able to use both the math skills I’m really good at/enjoy and the high levels of creativity I have at the same time. My English teacher last year told me that she thinks I should pursue a liberal arts degree because I’d be too bored if I didn’t use my creativity, but I’m not sure that’s a good idea because I want to go into a field that will guarantee me a job/career. I have a boyfriend who will be living with me when I go to college. He’s deciding between either transferring his associates degree to a college and starting at the same place as me, or spending time in the military while I’m in college and then going back once I’m done. He will be helping support me, since we’ll be living together. I want to go somewhere we can get an apartment together that won’t be too expensive for us. I did visit iupui last year, and I liked their campus. However, I’m not sure how comfortable I’d be living in Indianapolis. I would prefer a college with a campus/town similar to IU bloomington, but I’m also willing to go somewhere bigger or smaller. Campus size and location are not a deal breaker for me. However, the college I go to has to have a dance minor program I can do. That is a deal breaker for me if they don’t. I don’t want to waste all my academic potential, but I really want to continue dancing. I feel like a dance minor will really help me stay sane/enjoy my time in college, and I’m hoping to be able to use it to get an extra job as a dance coach or at a studio.
I know I cannot go into a medical field where I deal with diseases and stuff because I’d get grossed out too easily by infections and wounds and I just couldn’t handle that every day.
I’d also prefer not to live in a climate that is cold year round. A temperate climate would be ideal, but I’m also totally fine with living somewhere I will experience all four seasons as long as it is not extreme or constantly winter year round.
I do want to find a higher paying job if at all possible.
Anyway, I’m sorry this was so long, tha j you for reading and thanks in advance for your help and suggestions!