<p>Was looking through my D’s school catalog tonight, and noticed that there are at least two classes that integrate dance and biology; I might not get it exactly right with the wording, but one is the kinesiology of movement, and the other is something like the anatomy and physiology of dance. Sounds like there’s enough of a market to students interested in both to offer these classes.</p>
<p>One nice thing about Muhlenberg, is that you don’t need to be a dance major to take dance classes. They are open to anyone on campus, and the faculty is wonderful. My D can’t stop raving about her tap teacher.</p>
<p>Dance and biology makes as much sense as anything else you might combine. If you want to perform in a community dance company after college, or be in a small non-profit theater production, you might need a “day job” or handy way to make a living because the dancing won’t pay the rent. Perhaps the biology major leads more directly to some kind of B.A.-only required job that will cover your bills, for example: entry-level lab technician, emergency medical technician on an ambulance. These might need some additional training but the biology background would be relevant. </p>
<p>During college, you might discover things in your science studies that are expressed creatively in dance form. Can you imagine swimming across the stage like a paramecium, or hanging onto others to cross the stage together like an amoeba?!</p>
<p>Being creative means you can put two things together in ways nobody would have considered before.</p>
<p>haahahahahahah i got a kick out that last post. :D</p>
<p>One of my sons attended Muhlenberg for a time and was doing a combination bio and music. The theatre/music dept is fantastic as is the bio dept. We’re 5+ hours away but I went there to see one of their musicals and it was wonderful.
There really is a friendly and caring atmosphere there and I think the faculty would support a student who wanted to combine two different fields.</p>
<p>thanks everyone!</p>
<p>OK… I’ve posted several versions of this story in other threads, but having just returned home from my visit with D at Muhlenberg, I have to reiterate it: daughter and I were leaving a CVS this afternoon after picking up a couple of items. As I headed toward the door to exit, about 20 feet in front of me, two young men had exited. When I was about 10 feet from the door (the guys were already outside), one of the guys turned around and headed back toward the door. I thought he must have forgotten something and was returning. Nope… he came back to hold the door open for me and daughter. I thought, “Wow! How nice,” and said thank you very much. As D reached our car, she said, “Another Muhlenberg student.” I asked her how she knew (because I’d forgotten this from previous visits). She said, “First of all, the door-holder’s friend had on a Muhlenberg sweatshirt; second, it’s a Muhlenberg traditions… to hold doors open. We do it everywhere obviously.” </p>
<p>I’d forgotten how she’d shared with me how they have lengthy discussions on what’s the appropriate distance between people to hold doors open for someone behind them. If there’s too much distance, and you have to wait for too long for someone approaching the door, then you risk making the door-approacher uneasy because they’re not moving fast enough, or are holding up the door-holder. And you don’t want to do anything to make the person approaching the door to feel as if they’ve put you out for holding the door for them. So evidently, there’s a very fine science to door-holding, as we witnessed at CVS today. Like I said, these guys were a good 20 feet in front of us, the door had almost shut, then the one guy came back and caught it, and held it open for us. </p>
<p>Nice, nice kids.</p>
<p>^^^^very amusing reflections about “door” holding.
Last year a mother and daughter I know were visiting Gettysburg, and one of the observations she observed was that a small group of girls walking into the student center, very rudely ignored them, by NOT “holding” the door. She retod this incident often. It left an impression.</p>
<p>At the time I thought that just a random moment, and dismissed ths tale.</p>
<p>But, I do see how it makes SUCH an impression, now that
I’ve read your “science of door” holding.</p>
<p>Happy to know that it’s a Muhlenberg Tradition -
I certainly have witnessed this civility at 'berg, often :)</p>
<p>So janemac… here it is, a year later, and I’m wondering what you decided. Biology and Dance sounded perfectly logical to me… and more important, are you a mule?</p>
<p>My daughter just finished her freshman year at Muhlenberg and LOVES it there. Dance is one of her 3 or 4 apparent majors (<em>sigh</em>)</p>
<p>My daughter and I planned a visit to Lafayette and decided to tack on Muhlenberg. Well. I’ve been complaining that she’s disliked every college we’ve visited so far and I despaired of ever finding a college she liked. Went first to Lafayette and she liked it. Boy is that gorgeous. Went next to Muhlenberg without knowing what to expect. You’ll all be surprised to learn that daughter seems to have found her place. Halfway through the Muhlenberg tour, she turned to me and said “I’m going here.” Then bought a sweatshirt with HER OWN MONEY and put the school logo as her screen saver. I’m sad and thrilled all at once. It seems like a lovely school and the people were wonderful, even the students on the tour.</p>
<p>^^^ z mom my D just graduated this year, and my niece in 2001.
Just curious what it was that convinced your D , 'berg is best ?</p>
<p>Zoosermom, that is a parents’ dream (assuming she is going to be or was accepted). Did she give a reason for it, rather than Lafayette, which is also beautiful, being her dream school?
I have been trying to get a handle on their business courses–it is clear their arts and pre-med courses are excellent. I have also heard their pre-med program is very intense; my son would prefer a more balanced workload.</p>
<p>Lafayette was absolutely gorgeous. The campus was just incredible, but the people (except the kind folks in the cafe) we encountered were not so much. The tour guide was efficient, articulate and informative. But the school was the farthest thing from warm, and the fellow “tourees” were just not nice or friendly at all. We went to Muhlenberg and everyone we met was friendly, enthusiastic and welcoming. The tour guide was less polished than the person at Lafayette, but tons of fun and the kind of person daughter would like to hang out with. Lafayette is an incredible school and she is going to apply and would be grateful to be accepted, but Muhlenberg is the first choice and if accepted and we’re financially able to work it out (I think we will be as she’s pretty high in the applicant pool) she will attend. And we’ll be thrilled.</p>
<p>Zooser, I am glad your D found a school that she loves. I hope she managed an interview when she was on campus, conveyed her interest, and might consider applying early decision. Hope to hear great news next spring about her becoming a Mule!
My D will be a senior this year and has loved every minute of it. She does have friends that are business majors, and I know some of them studied in the Netherlands for a semester. They found it to be a wonderful experience.</p>
<p>Thanks so much! She did interview and that pushed her over the edge to certainty. We can’t allow her to apply ED because my job is a little shaky, but I’m hoping that by visiting in the fall to shadow a student and keeping in touch her interest will be conveyed.</p>
<p>Sounds like a plan. Good luck!</p>
<p>2nd the Univ of Maastricht program for business majors. D did it this fall, and one of the best experiences! Congrats Z mom, must feel great to know so early in the process. Yes, Muhlenberg staff and students convey warmth…</p>
<p>Glad this thread has been revived. I’m planning/hoping that D1 will be able to tour Muhlenberg early in their fall term. When I hear all the wonderful talk about the performing arts and bio majors, I do wonder about students in other areas. Can anyone speak about the experience of students in majors besides those (and besides business)?</p>
<p>My niece- political science, phi beta kappa grad 2001, had choice of law schools, now a practicing attorney. Her friends that year, which was a brutal economy, like this year’s sitution, took a couple years to find their niches. The education majors fared well, the communication degrees struggled a bit.</p>
<p>my sister and nephew just went to visit Muhlenberg and they raved about it. Beautiful campus, great facilities, nice kids. The one kid I know who attended was involved in the dance program and said it was terrific.</p>