<p>I am curious as to how much could a dance tape, a vocal recording, or a portfolio of artwork can work towards your advantage when you are applying to say the college of arts and sciences at a school? I mean it is not like I am targeting for Juliard or any particular school of music or dance but colleges like DUKE and BOWDOIN ask you to send additional materials if you would like and thus ask for such things as a tape or portfolio. Thus, I am curious as to how much it can help you?</p>
<p>In my opinion, it can help a lot. Most colleges are looking for students who can contribute to the total campus communities and that means talented artists, musicians, dancers, actors, writers. Even if you don't intend to major in the arts, your potential participation in an arts related EC, like an a capella group, the marching band, a theatrical performance, the campus newspaper, would be generally considered a plus. Also, many selective colleges like multifaceted, creative kids for no other reason than the postive energy they bring to the table. So. . . if you've got it -- make sure they know about it.</p>
<p>It helps a lot! We made the mistake of thinking you had to be Juilliard level of talent and you don't. In fact, when I spoke with my son's reader after he was waitlisted at H, she said the one thing he should have done differently was send in a tape of his singing and performance.</p>
<p>It does vary by school. Stanford, for example, makes VERY clear that you should only include such items if you are WORLD CLASS in your instrument/sport/art. As you say, "Juillard" level. I think they are somewhat rare in this point of view. As you have done for the schools you mention, check their website/application materials to see what their policy is before you send anything.</p>
<p>For a little chuckle: the Stanford adcom at our info session drove home the point by telling of the applicant who sent 32 (!) supplementary items, including a letter from his dentist saying he had great teeth :p!</p>
<p>In our experience sending in a performance CD had a huge impact. D at that point below her "Juilliard" caliber due to injury. The CDs weren't very showy, just school performances, but she was accepted where the CDs were part of the application and waitlisted elsewhere except the UCs where she was accepted but they don't ask for anything.</p>
<p>IMO universities do want the diversity of talents on campus just to enhance campus life, but they also know that a kid who has already had an experience of the interrelationship and dependencies between hard work and talent is ready for all kinds of high level work.</p>
<p>Jmmom,
I have to disagree slightly. I think the bar is set high to discourage anyone who thinks they have a talent - my guess is that there are probably few at the Juilliard level and thousands at my son's level. He would have done well at any of the schools he applied at. I heard the Harvard glee club sing recently and they have great voices and some outstanding individual talent but nothing so out of the ordinary that it requires Juilliard level - I can't imagine that Stanford is any different. I think they set the bar high to make it easy on themselves and in the process they discourage some talented individuals. If an applicant is at a high school that has a noted program in their talent or if they are at all-state level, I think they are good enough to submit a tape. Harvard, to their credit, understands this. It was the fine print at Yale that led us to waffle and not send in a tape to anyone. I don't remember Stanford's but I think "world class" is a bit extreme and if there is any question I'd error on the side of sending in a tape.</p>
<p>My daughter is planning on sending both a slide portfolio of her art and a supplemental letter of recommendation from her art teacher. I think the letter of recommendation is important as not every admissions person is going to be competent to judge artistic or musical talent - a tape plus the letter may work together better than either on their own.
Any tape/samples should reflect your BEST artistic/musical ability, in my opinion, and it should be brief --- no need to send a tape or portfolio showing everything you've ever done. Edit for the best.</p>
<p>When it comes to dance, a DVD should feature a solo, a piece that choreographed by her, or a group piece that features her prominently. You can use a duet or trio... but make sure you always send a letter telling which your daughter is (costume, hair style, etc).</p>
<p>If your daughter is just looking to dance recreationally, and isn't one of the nation's leading young dancers, I don't think sending a group piece is worth it... </p>
<p>DD will only send supplemental materials where the schools indicate they will use them. Some of her schools are very specific...they will review nothing that is not required in their application. One school suggested that any supplemental information be sent to the appropriate department with the university and NOT with the admissions packet. SO...check and see what the schools allow and where they prefer this supplemental "stuff" be sent. It varies quite a bit.</p>
<p>D (age 14) this pass winter auditioned for and was accepted to Juilliards summer ballet intensive program. She turned down the acceptance for 2 other programs that offered her substantial scholarships and wanted a commitment before she received Juilliards acceptance. Hundreds of dancers (mostly 17 or 18 y/o) around the country auditioned they only accept around 40 each summer. When sending in a supplemental tape would you mention this acceptance? At this pointe D is planning only a minor in dance.</p>
<p>Tututaxi, I must say I gently disagree with soozievt regarding not mentioning the scholarship offer by Juilliard.</p>
<p>In the "activities sheet" your D will prepare for her college applications, I would certainly mention all the scholarships. (My D is also a ballet dancer who originally began as a double major in biology and ballet.) </p>
<p>For dancers, these scholarships indicate a certain level of talent. Since dance may likely be the primary extracurricular for your D (if a serious dancer), they are a testament of her success in her field. It is the athletic equivalent of being named the MVP of a team, or given some other honor in another endeavor. It will certainly be meaningful to a college who is looking for strong dancers.</p>
<p>I have to agree that Stanford, although it accepts extra material, makes it very difficult on the submitter. My recollection was that the deadline for sending in a tape, CD, etc. was quite early on in the application period. </p>
<p>Stanford also doesn't do on campus or alumni interviews. Extra stuff is not their bag.</p>
<p>curiouser, Im sorry I didnt make it clear; but D was accepted to Juilliard for this summers intensive dance program. Juilliard does offer financial assistance to students, but only after you accept their offer to attend the Juilliard program. The scholarships D received where from other programs based solely on merit, not financial need. It was because of the substantial scholarships offered by the other (equally prestigious) programs that she decided not to attend the Juilliard program. Also Juilliard waits until the end of their audition tour before they send out the acceptance emails. D had already committed to 2 other programs, whose dates over-lapped with Juilliards.</p>
<p>If you do want to send supplemental materials, make sure you check the application instructions carefully: Some schools (including Stanford and Amherst, as I recall) have earlier deadlines for those materials than for the overall application.</p>
<p>When it comes to the advisability of sending these materials, Michele Hernandez's advice in A is for Admission makes a lot of sense to me: "My general recommendation is not to send materials unless you are extremely talented and are planning to use that talent on campus." As the book explains, many colleges will forward such material to experts in relevant departments--music, dance, etc.--and it will take an extremely favorable report from those experts to have any positive impact. To quote Ms. Hernandez once more: "As you might imagine, these departments get tons of supplementary materials and have very little patience for inferior work...."</p>
<p>what about sending in poetry? I think Im good; iv been published a few times and have won 2 national awards. But I also dance ballet quit a bit; yet think id be better of showing them my writing skills. Would sending in a poem be advisable... maybe two..three? OR would a ballet tape be better considering that its one of my main EC's</p>