<p>My niece is a very strong science student interested in pursuing chemistry. I just read the article from 2006 “A hothouse for female scientists” about Carleton’s women in science. It was very impressive. She is also a serious dancer and interested in being near a city. She wants a nurturing but academically rigorous environment. She is a junior so we have time but I would love any insights/thoughts. [The</a> Chronicle: 5/5/2006: A Hothouse for Female Scientists](<a href=“http://chronicle.com/free/v52/i35/35a01301.htm]The”>http://chronicle.com/free/v52/i35/35a01301.htm)</p>
<p>Carleton does offer several classes in dance - here’s a link to the offerings for winter term: [Carleton</a> Registration Information](<a href=“ENROLL | Carleton College”>ENROLL | Carleton College)</p>
<p>In addition, there are classes in ballroom and swing dancing offered through the PE/Athletics department. There are several dance clubs, including Rugcutters (swing), Ebony II (modern), and hiphop. Every February, Carleton puts on the Midwinter Ball, which offers different styles of dancing/music.</p>
<p>My D danced in HS with its Repertory Dance Co. and now as a sophomore at Carleton just danced in the college’s Semaphore Co. fall show. She’s one of 13 dancers and is thrilled to be back dancing. In fact a parent in the bookstore asked her about being happy at a smaller school and she replied that the student body was just cool enough to not get irritating and she can dance here.</p>
<p>Your niece should look at Barnard in NYC. Academically challenging, with a great dance program.</p>
<p>Second Barnard. Sciences are excellent and the dance department is really outstanding. D attends.</p>
<p>I am a ballet dancer and someone interested in science. I have looked at several schools, including Carleton. Carleton has a very small dance program and, from what I can tell, has not generally had a strong tradition in the performing arts (my Dad taught there many years ago). This is, I believe, something Carleton is now attempting to change.</p>
<p>In the same town as Carleton is St. Olaf with a much stronger dance program. St. Olaf is not quite the academic powerhouse as Carleton (which is a bit like Amherst/Williams) but it is a very good school with a phenomenal chemistry program. My cousin from New York is applying for next fall because of the dance and science programs. St. Olaf defines nurture.</p>
<p>I support goldiefish and mythmom on Barnard, though it is technically a women’s college, not something that appeals to me. </p>
<p>I would also look at Vassar (decent ballet) and Williams (beautiful new performing arts complex). I thought I wanted to be near a city, but fell in love with Williams.</p>
<p>Of the well-known schools, Princeton and Stanford have very decent dance programs, as does Duke.</p>
<p>BTW, mythmom helped get me started on my college journey. </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>BalletGirl, you are correct that Carleton is strengthening its art programs. Recently, Carleton purchased the nearby Northfield Middle School (a classic 1920s era school building) which will be converted into an arts center (including dance studios). I’m not sure of the expected date of completion, though.</p>
<p>"I support goldiefish and mythmom on Barnard, though it is technically a women’s college, not something that appeals to me. "</p>
<p>For what it’s worth :</p>
<p>This did not appeal to my daughter, also a dancer, either as she contemplated colleges. However, posts I read last year like the following, from a current Barnard student, made me,for one, feel better about it:</p>
<p>“Sorry, but I always find it ridiculous when a prospective student tells me she doesn’t want to apply because Barnard is all-women. If they would do a bit more research and talked to current students, they would realize that Barnard is only all-women in name. Barnard can be anything you want it to be – an all-women’s college or a co-ed college. But I can tell you that if you only want it to be an all-women’s college, you’re going to have a pretty hard time doing so. Columbia students are everywhere on campus – they’re in our classes, our dining halls, our student center, and our library. In fact, I think Barnard is the least “womanly” of the seven sisters. When you have 100% access to a co-ed, research university and to the most exciting city in the world, you can hardly feel as if you’re going to an all-women’s college. It’s just not possible.”</p>
<p>Anyway my daughter did apply and is attending, and is having a great experience so far. On the social front she’s apparently dating someone from Columbia, it seems. She’s also been seeing some guy she met on the subway last year; it is NYC after all, your experiences need not be confined to some isolated campus. All other ramifications of the all-girls school thing seem if anything to be a positive.</p>
<p>She reports her dance classes are great, as well as the others. One happy customer, here, so far.</p>