help us find strong communications/arts schools?

Parents Forum
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<p>A friend has asked for some suggestions for her d, a junior. She’s a very talented dancer and pianist who (at the moment) would like to major in communications, particularly journalism. However, she’d still like to pursue her musical interests (performance and composition) and be able to take classes in a strong dance program.</p>

<p>Not sure about her stats, but she’s a very bright, articulate kid who earns mostly As. I’m sure she’d probably be in the top 10 percent of a not-terribly-strong, smallish hs that offers few AP options. She’s been accepted at two of the most selective ballet summer intensive programs out there (Chatauqua and ABT-NY). Despite her very strong dance talent, she isn’t planning a career in it.</p>

<p>Eastern half of the US, nothing huge. I did a collegeboard search, but it’s hard to find something with communications and music majors that allows students the freedom to pursue both. Any suggestions appreciated!</p>

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<p>how about Ithaca College. It’s strengths are the Park School of Communication and it’s music depatment. Also, it has a strong theater program.</p>

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<p>emerson is an option</p>

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<p>Elon University is known in part for it’s great Communications program. They also have a well respected Musical Theater program so probably lots of dance/music classes available but don’t know that for sure.</p>

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<p>Thank you, folks! I’ll forward these suggestions to my friend. PackMom, Elon does have terrific dance options - another friend from my d’s studio is a MT major there, and very happy with the level of dance classes. </p>

<p>Any other suggestions?</p>

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<p>I would second the person who recommended Emerson in Boston. My D is a freshman Marketing Communications major there and absolutely loves it. She said it is “the perfect school for me.” She speaks so highly of the courses and professors.</p>

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<p>How about BU? Students have been known to double major, although it might be better to major in one field, say communication, and take music courses on the side. There’s also a great dance department.</p>

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<p>IThaca College is strong in music, theater, musical theater, communications…but my niece there says that dance is the weak link. I’m not sure whether she is commenting personally on her priorities or on the program.</p>

<p>Consider the Five College Consortium with any one of these fine institutions that let students pursue performing arts within a highly academic, LIberal Arts setting: Smith College (strong in ballet), Mt. Holyoke (modern dance), Amherst College (theater), Hampshire College (opportunity to pursue many arts, including some film). The fifth college is the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, flagship state college, which might not offer her much special from out-of-state, but does add another 25,000 students to the valley, so in all these 5 colleges comprise 30,000 students with a free bus shuttle connecting all, and opportunity to enroll in courses on another campus. Note that Smith (almost 3,000) and Mt. Holyoke (pop #?) remain all-female and were formerly 2 of the “Seven Sisters” to Ivy Colleges. Amherst College, which was all-male until the l970’s, became coed. Standards are very high, with Amherst extremely selective numerically with just l800 pop total. Hampshire College has a strong creative emphasis and was founded to have students take advatnage of the other 4 institutions; they also conduct their own courses on campus, of course. Ken Burnes, documentary filmmaker, started out at Hampshire. In any of these 4 private colleges, you get the best of both worlds, small within large, because of the 5-college consortium that includes U. of Mass.</p>

<p>Syracuse U in upstate NY has a great school for communications and journalism, I’ve heard.</p>

<p>Columbia U in NYC was famous in journalism back in the day; I don’t know the update for today.</p>

<p>Emerson College also came to mind.</p>

<p>Study the threads over in the CC area called “Arts Major” or “Musical Theater” in case there’s wisdom there for you. To find it: Click on “Discussuion” (top left this page) and scroll down the page until you see the section on other majors. </p>

<p>How about New York University? Probably has the range she seeks…</p>

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<p>You need to check Elon carefully. When DD was applying (she is a musician), she asked if she was able to take music lessons and perhaps play in an ensemble, and she was told (and not very politely, I might add) that these were for the music MAJORS only…not other students.</p>

<p>I would suggest you look into Ohio University. They have a highly regarded school of journalism…and they used to have a some dance programs as well (this is very old info…but worth checking). </p>

<p>What about Goucher?</p>

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<p>Look on cc under “arts majors” if you haven’t yet.</p>

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<p>Perhaps Florida State?</p>

<p>See: [FSU</a> Highlights](<a href=“Rankings | Florida State University”>Rankings | Florida State University) for dance and
[FSU</a> Highlights](<a href=“Rankings | Florida State University”>Rankings | Florida State University) for communications.</p>

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<p>If your daughter wants to participate in musical ensembles but not major in music, she may be better off at a college that only offers a liberal arts-type music major, not a professional-level music major. At such colleges, the number of music majors tends to be small, and students majoring in other subjects are gladly welcomed into the performing ensembles.</p>

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<p>Perhaps Sarah Lawrence and Bard.</p>

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<p>Marian is correct.</p>

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<p>Indiana University for sure.</p>

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<p>frazzled, you’ve been given lots of good suggestions here but one thing comes to mind. Let your friend know that at many colleges, classes in the arts - drama, music, dance, studio art - are often reserved for majors only. Some, like NYU, have an open arts curriculum which allows non-majors to take a class in the arts but these classes, in most cases, will not satisfy students who will have studied their area of interest extensively, as it sounds is the case with your friend’s D. They are more a ‘let’s try something different and new’ type thing. I know that NYU is not the only place where this is the case so that is something which needs to be explored carefully if she truly wants to continue her dance in college. I know of two very talented dancers who majored in other areas at Columbia and Barnard, but who were very happy with the dance classes they were able to take while there.</p>

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<p>Goucher. They have a very strong communications department as well as a great creative writing department. And from what I hear, a huge program.</p>

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<p>Thanks again, all, for being so helpful! I’m putting together a list for my friend, and I’ll be sure to include these suggestions. alwaysamom and thumper, you’ve raised an excellent point - my friend’s d may not be able to study all the fields she’s interested in at many schools, because music/dance courses are often reserved for majors only. This seems particularly true at schools with strong departments. Indiana University, for instance, has one of the very best ballet majors in the country, but it’s insanely difficult to get in, and only majors are allowed to take classes. There may be lower-level options for non-majors, but I doubt they’d be challenging enough for my friend’s daughter. </p>

<p>As Marian suggests, this student may be best served at a LAC. Or, as paying3 suggests, a consortium would offer the options and flexibility she’s looking for. And I thought my kid’s college search was tough! :)</p>

<p>Emerson’s communications program looks amazing, but after a closer look, I didn’t find general music or dance classes. Goucher seems like a good bet. One last question - can anyone think of West coast schools that might fit her interests? My daughter thinks this girl may be more interested in spreading her wings than her mom realizes. ;)</p>

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<p>Two suggestions…University of Miami…they have the Frost School of Music, theater and a good communications dept.</p>

<p>SUNY New Paltz…excellent theater, music and communications.</p>

<p>Two very different schools though.</p>

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<p>Another option: Northwestern University-School of Communication. BA program that can with some work allow a second major. DD in theatre and may add poli sci. Her friend is music and engineering. Quality BA program IMHO.</p>