12 Tips to Start Your College Search

Here you are:  determined to be in the dance field. 

You may see yourself as a performer on stage with a well-known company, or you may have decided to get a degree in dance in combination with another area of study. There are endless possibilities! Whatever your interests are, here are a few recommendations:

1. Consider all types of schools: four-year, two-year, and community colleges. There are approximately 4,500 colleges in the United States. You WILL get into college if you want to attend.
2. Look at well-known institutions, but also look at state and local schools.
3. Research the application process for each school.
4. Check out the Common Application, Universal Application and the Coalition Application. In addition, there are also individual applications through the college, which are sometimes free of charge.
5. If you want to read about the college search, start with the Fiske Guide to colleges.
6. Ask people how they got into their field of dance. Did they attend college?
7. Talk to others about their college dance programs - you can always ask an admissions officer if you could be connected to a dance student.
8. Investigate your favorite performers and look at their background.
9. If available, experience different forms of dance, so you can be sure what styles you want to pursue.
10. Consider a gap year - but make a plan for it. For example, think about attending a one year dance course in Europe to learn another style of dance. Or a Foundation Year course in the U.K.
11. Make a list of what is important for you to have when you are at college (A place where you can cook, a favorite restaurant, good shopping, being able to walk in the woods, etc.).
12. Sign up with Role Call. It’s FREE!  =)

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Photo Credit: Jackson David