Super WEIRD Applicant...Do I have a chance?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I KNOW IT’S LONG BUT JUST READ IT PLEASE:

At this point I’ll be submitting all of my applications in just a few days- my schools aren’t going to change. But, I’m wondering if anyone can provide some insight into how my very strange senior year and decisions I’ve made might impact the outcome of admissions decisions come spring.
I’m applying to mostly Ivies and their equivalents (Stanford, UChicago, etc.)
Yes, I do have match schools on my list as well. If worst comes to worst, I received a full merit scholarship to my only real safety school.

SAT I: 1480 (out of 1600)
GPA: My school does it on a 100 point scale; 92.51
SAT II: Haven’t been allowed to take, will try for Jan (see below for why)
AP:
SENIOR: Macroeconomics, US Government, Calc BC, Lit,
JUNIOR: US History (3), AP Physics 1 (4), AP Lang (4… was expecting a 5)
IB: School doesn’t offer
Rank; Doesn’t rank.
State: Midwest nothingness
School Type: Small, really selective private school. I have the strongest academic class the school has ever had. Already, we have over 20 kids going to schools in the top 20 in the nation from ED alone (3 to Stanford, Duke, Yale, Bowdoin, Wash U, Harvey Mudd, MIT, Vandy, etc.)

READ OR YOU WON’T UNDERSTAND:

Extra Curriculars:
BIG ONE (bear with me):
I have trained at a pre-professional level in ballet for the past 15 years. During my first three years of high school, I filled in open corps de ballet roles as a guest alongside a midsize to large professional ballet company. My sophomore year I appeared in a very famous Balanchine ballet performed at the end of the 2015 spring season. During the third quarter of my Junior year, the artistic director of the company pulled me from the company’s affiliate school to perform in a very famous ballet which the company was one dancer short to do. In both of these instances, I was the only student.
I missed the entirety of third quarter to attend daily rehearsals and classes so that I could be in this ballet with the company. During that time a whole bunch of stuff happened, and I ended up going in for someone who got hurt in the middle of a show in a spot that I’d never rehearsed. At the end of my Junior year, I got a contract to join the Second Company as a professional dancer. I took it because I knew that if I said no, I’d never get the offer again. I didn’t want to transfer schools or do online school, so I fought tooth and nail at my school for them to let me miss class every single day. It’s a long story how the whole thing worked out. I have Sundays and Mondays off, so I go to school all day on Monday. Other than that, I go for 50 minutes at the start of each day from 8-8:50, and then drive to ballet where I have daily class and rehearsals alongside the rest of the company from 9am until 6pm. It’s a full-time job and it’s been REALLY difficult.
I miss 8 hours of school each day plus about 4 hours of homework, and it’s up to me to find time to make all of that up. Different teachers treat my situation differently. The only teacher that does AP Calc BC at my high school didn’t want me as a student, and so I’m teaching myself. My school has never had a student try to do this. I’m also the youngest person in the company. Only one other person has joined the company while still in high school, and they just took one online English class. I’m in 6 classes and am self- studying for AP Calc BC as well. The company gives me no accommodations to do anything related to school. I took my SAT I a single time over the summer, when I thought that I would dance professionally for a long time and then go to college like 10 years after high school. As the season has gone on, I’ve had a really difficult time as the lowest man on the totem pole in such a competitive and harsh environment. I’ve given up everything for this and have no time to do anything but go to work every day and then do school. It’s been really isolating and very difficult, and I decided a few months in that I would be applying to college this year with the expectation that I would end my professional career for a few years and dance in a college setting while pursuing a degree. All the dates for the SAT so far have been during performances. One single date was not, and when I asked for 2 hours off to take two subject tests, the ballet flipped out on me and said no. I’m hoping I can just call in sick to take them in Jan…but if not I think that by explaining this it’s not the end of the world. Literally 45 to 50 hours a week during school hours, perform in a huge $500 million dollar theater (no joke), did 35 Nutcracker shows this December while trying to do college apps…it’s a mess. (But also super cool and I’m proud of myself for trying.)

Science Olympiad Team: Made State and placed a whole bunch of times, qualified for Nationals every year but only went my freshman year (placed 14th for an event). Other times, couldn’t go because Nationals conflicted with productions I was in with the company.
Student Council: Secretary-Treasurer (Soph, Junior), Class Rep (Senior)
School Sports: Did Varsity Dance Team as a Freshman, hated it and felt bad because I just didn’t have the time for it to be fair to all the girls who weren’t on varsity
Other: I’m on my school’s student executive board, which is a really big deal. We make all big decisions regarding everything. You apply as a junior and they pick 5 kids; you’re then grandfathered in your Senior year. Have to go to summer camp for it, run a whole bunch of leadership retreats for each grade all the time, present to the head of school and parent executive board on what we’ve decreed should change, blah blah…

OKAY, NOW WHERE I ASK FOR SOME FEEDBACK/ADVICE:

If you’re still here, THANK YOU. I have no idea how schools will see my whole situation. I’m doing something on a professional level and have a career, and I’ve done my very best to still challenge myself academically. I’ve had to give up a lot to do this, and there is not doubt that it’s been almost impossible. For the amount of stuff that I do, I consider me grades to be phenomenal…but they have gone down a bit since my freshman and sophomore year when I was just a normal student. Different teachers treat my situation differently. Lots of people don’t agree with what I’m doing and aren’t willing to help me…I have one teacher who automatically gives me a zero on every in class assignment that I miss when I’m absent 4 out of 5 days. Even if I get a 100 on the tests and quizzes he lets me make up, it’s impossible for me to get anything over a B in the class…and that’s not the only example like that. I worry so much that schools won’t understand. I know everyone works hard and Ivies/ hard schools are reaches for basically everyone, you never know. Can anyone out there provide any insight into if this will simply disqualify me from admission everywhere or not? Will this help or hurt? Am I being stupid by applying to all of these hard places?
HELP. ANY WORDS OF WISDOM WOULD BE SO WELCOME.

-M

2

Are you looking to dance or get an academic degree?

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Academic. I’d like to keep dancing in college in like student companies and shows, but I think that getting a dance degree is a waste of money. If I can get a degree in performance studies or a minor in dance or dance history, I’ll do that. At least in ballet, they don’t really help you…companies just want people with professional experience.

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@ClarinetDad16

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lol this is so long I suck

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I think you’re fine, why ivies though? What do you want to study?

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@Fishnlines29 I want to go somewhere that has the ability to provide really kickass opportunities to dancers (and is academically rigorous). The Ivies have big names and so much money that they attract choreographers from all over the world to come and like teach semester classes and be “artists in residence”…and though choreographers and world famous company directors basically just agree because it looks good on their resume, the opportunity that it gives the serious dancers at that school (hopefully, me) is unparalleled. Plus, I’m admittedly also kinda a sucker for prestige and big name…I understand it’s a long shot for everyone though.

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First, let me say WOW
I’m honestly in awe. What you’ve been doing is amazing. I’m no admissions officer, but I think if you can explain what you’ve done in an essay or interview or something, then you’ll be great. Your grades are good, and when your situation is taken in to consideration. Colleges also like people with interesting backgrounds, and if it seems like you can bring something special to their campus, then that reflects well on to you. If you make known your intention to continue to do ballet at your school, that might help you.

Good luck with your colleges and with ballet! I know a thing or two about inflexible employers… for your SAT, don’t mention it to any one at your company, and just call in sick that day. Dont mention it after, either. It’s the best way to avoid any drama. Again, best of luck!

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You have a lot of information in your post so I’ll try to break down my responses. I am glad that you are in at Loyola and are happy to attend. In terms of highly selective colleges, I think you may have a challenging time getting accepted for several reasons. Much will depend on how the admissions officers view your devotion to ballet at the expense of your academics, especially since you plan to study for an academic degree. Here are my thoughts based upon what you have written in this post and others.

Teacher Recommendations: You state that several teachers are not supportive of your one day a week attendance at school. You will need to have very strong teacher recs as well as your school counselor rec. How do you plan to address this?

Peers: Many of your peers have already been accepted to highly selective schools and your application will be compared to your peers during the application process. How do you (unofficially) rank against them in terms of stats (SAT/ACT, GPA, national merit scholar/commended)?

SAT Subject Tests: You say that you haven’t been allowed to take them but in your other post, you wrote, “my two highest SAT IIs (in Math I and Lit/Eng or whatever) are both 690. I took Math II and got a 540, (I just couldn’t finish the test, no matter how much I prepared) and French with listening sort of as a joke and got a flat 500, which is just awful.”

Grades: Good GPA but downward trend.

AP scores: Average

Core subjects: Colleges, especially top colleges, want to see 4 years of core subjects. Are you taking science and foreign language this year?

ECs: You write that you are on the Science Olympiad team, the senior class rep and on the school’s student executive board. How have you had time to do this (e.g. be fully involved, make meetings, etc.) when you haven’t been at school most days since mid-junior year? Admission reps will want to know.

Wishing you the best and I applaud your dedication to dance.

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I agree with lots of the move stuff lol.

It is very hard for everyone to get into Ivies. Even people who are more conventional “Harvard material” aren’t guaranteed a spot.
I think that if you can explain your situation in your essays and wherever else you can, you will be considered “Harvard material”. I think that admissions officers will see how well you can dedicate yourself to your goals, and they will assume that you can therefore dedicate yourself to your studies at their school.

Good luck

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This is a very unique situation. Honestly, for certain schools like HYP, Stanford, MIT, etc. , mostly anyone has a crapshoot of getting in. For Duke (where I attend), Dartmouth, and others, the crapshoot is perhaps a little less “crappy”…but its bad nonetheless. From what I recall back when I applied, I remember that there was a box in the Common App where we could explain special circumstances. This is probably where you would give the specifics of your situation.

TO be honest though, your grades are fine, as are your test scores. Those alone won’t keep you out (at least for Duke, since I know many people who have similar stats). Just focus on making a proper application, where your writing conveys your passion in dancing, and outlines the unusual circumstances you’ve been in. And try to get the best LOR’s you can. Through this way, I would be fairly certain you can secure at least one acceptance in the top 10.

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OK, your grades and SAT are enough to get your application read.

If you don’t have to send SAT II’s, don’t. If you do, send your two highest, unless the school requires all scores.

Practicing ballet at such a high level should get the attention of the admissions committees. It is evident that you have a passion for it and it should provide good material for your essays. That said, as I’m sure you know, chances are low for any applicant and many who are qualified are turned away.

Your GC will probably provide context for how dance and your academic performance have influenced one another.

I’m sure you know this but Princeton has its own high quality ballet company. I believe Harvard does as well. Wash U’s dance program is also pretty good. I also have heard that Swarthmore understands what a high level ballet commitment involves. I saw from another thread that you are interested in Columbia. If you have time, you might consider applying to Barnard.

Were you in Wheeldon’s new Nutcracker that was reimagined to take place at the Chicago World’s Fair? I would so love to see that.

Good luck to you!

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So what ended up happening?
Edit: @meggieistall55

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Updates? I’m a dancer too and curious to know how the college process turned out for you :slight_smile:

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@Soccer1235 @politicsdancegal

I’m going to UChicago! : )
Stats aren’t everything. I got rejected from a lot of schools (as I expected to be). But clearly, some schools also looked at what I was doing and saw the value in it. Honestly, don’t get sucked into College Confidential and the “chance me??” stuff. It’s not worth your time. Apply if you want to, be realistic with your goals, work hard, and know that wherever you end up, it will all truly work out how it is supposed to- be it a top school, or Community College.

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Wow, congrats!!! That’s so awesome!!

All your dancing is absolutely crazy/amazing- although I dance at a ballet school connected to one of the top companies in the US, I go to school all day and haven’t had to deal with any of the crazy scheduling stuff you have (besides late nights obviously). Your commitment to both school/ballet is so great and honestly inspiring… and it sounds like it paid off!! :slight_smile:

Did you find that colleges liked dancers/the commitment they/we put into the art form? Because seeing some of the admissions results of my classmates has made me feel like the huge time commitment is undervalued in terms of the effects on your life. I’m rambling… but?

Again, congrats!! Enjoy UChicago!!!