Her list is VERY top heavy. The benchmark you speak of is 1500 on SAT? She loved Barnard and I think it fits her well. Haven’t heard of Clark, so thank you. Will take a look.
If you’re looking for good biology and dance and merit - take a look at University of Richmond and Case Western. My daughter applied EA to both and was a Richmond Scholar Finalist before withdrawing her app. Case offered her about $30K in merit and also invited her to audition for an additional dance scholarship. Both programs have extensive dance options without requiring you to major. Tulane is another one to explore, although my daughter didn’t end up applying. She was more research university oriented than LAC. Good luck. If she’s open to modern, she’ll have tons more options. My daughter really wanted to continue ballet and specifically pointe, so that really limited her. St Olaf has good biology and dance as well - but modern focused so it came off my daughter’s list. Good luck.
Barnard and Vassar sound like good possibilities. Thinking of schools in or near NYC since she seems to like that option.
For me, I wouldn’t spend that kind of money on a private school no matter how much I had in the bank. A $300,000 bachelors degree is a tragic waste of money. That’s twice the cost of most medical schools, and unless that degree had M.D. next to it, I would stay far away. It’s hard to go wrong with your home state university, because if something goes financially wrong, she can still complete her bachelors on student loans.
Another vote for The College of Wooster! They provide generous Scholarship/Merit Aid/Financial Aid. Our experience with COW has been excellent so far!
She could look at Smith and Mount Holyoke—in a 5 college consortium that would allow her to take a few courses at Amherst.
Did I miss your annual budget for her college costs?
Not prepared to give any suggestions until I know your price point.
Seconding @Darcy123’s recommendations. I took my dancer S to look at Skidmore and he was impressed by the flexibility of the dance options. You could minor or just take classes or join a club or audition for shows or drop it for a semester and come back… basically they were willing to meet you where you were at. Few merit options but there is a scholarship for science majors.
Vassar was impressive in a more structured way. Has its own audition-only dance co with regular required classes and rehearsals. Our tour guide was kind enough to introduce us to the director of the program and he seemed great. Vassar’s a tougher admit for girls than guys, as I understand it. All need-based aid.
My dancer D (a microbiology major) had Barnard, Smith, USC, Case Western, Wash U. and Emory on her list. She sat in on a class at Mt. Holyoke and the dancers were very welcoming. Also heard good things about Muhlenberg, Goucher, Oberlin, Rutgers. Connecticut College has a dance co. too but I believe it’s more modern-based.
may i ask where she ended up?
I was going to suggest Davidson. Would she be miserable at UF or a huge university? What about SMU? Good arts programs there.