Congrats on Clark! I’ve heard so many good things about that school. I wanted my son to apply but he was out of gas and was just done at that point.
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There are more extensions this year than usual due to the LA fires. We are in LA and some schools are extending apps specifically for the LA zip codes. I would imagine some schools that typically get a lot of California apps are just extending for everyone.
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I know, but I’ve been attempting to dissuade him from this path, which seems needlessly expensive and kind of disruptive (you leave your classmates just before senior year and then attempt to go integrate into an entirely different school, albeit maybe a year behind in the curriculum. Seems tough to me.) He’s getting into some great engineering schools (e.g. Minnesota, WPI, Mines, Union) and if he knows he wants to go that way, he should probably start out there. I think the Oberlin thing was an impulse (and I understand it. I felt a pang when we decided to let go of Oberlin and Kenyon…but I’m feeling guilty about Mac and St. Olaf given his likely focus on a subject that they don’t offer. It feels…greedy, maybe?)
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Oof, the mama in me is hurting for him. I’m sorry. I really wish he were having a more rewarding senior year, especially considering all that he’s given to this program. Nice to know that college will be a fresh start, anyway.
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@OctoberKate , I’m so sorry. I was thinking of your S25 on my drive with D25 and will continue to so now–that he still finds energy, that he surprises himself, that he makes some positive memories of today.
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Not greedy at all- don’t feel bad. It’s good he has options and kids change their minds so much between now and May. You just never know where they will end up.
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My kid got into her first in-state school today. I’m like maybe she will stay in state, maybe, maybe, maybe… 
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Well, not the ending we were hoping for. He’s so tired he decided to scratch. He tried a few practice starts and was tripping over himself he’s so tired. Poor kid. This is probably the end of his indoor season because it’s unlikely his coach will put him in for districts or regionals with the times he has had.
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How many schools did your son apply to? As I recall, he has many wonderful choices ahead of him 
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He applied to way too many, but we do not regret the application stress now. Since I am a struggling single mom, we must weigh merit and financial aid packages. He does have some great options, so we are feeling fortunate.
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Hi - first time posting to this thread! My D25 is deciding between academic schools as an academic major with dance minor (possible dance team) and schools offering a dance major or BFA options. She’s heavily leaning towards a traditional academic major and keeping ballet/dance in the mix w a minor and possibly supplementing with classes at nearby professional company studio if she lands in a city (as is her current preference). She doesn’t aspire to become a professional ballerina (5 days out of 7 
but still toys with the idea of company auditions and continuing her training at a level that may make that possible. Anyone’s student at a similar crossroads in deciding between dance and more traditional academic route? Good luck to all other parents helping their students navigate these big decisions.
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@AnonMomof2 Daughter just went through this. Started at Hamilton, switched to St. Olaf and much happier.
There is an active forum on FB with a good file with breakdown of schools. My daughter is also considering dance options in her final choices. (being UDA weekend is making it harder for her to let go of dance completely before sending in her acceptance deposit).
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that sounds so hard!
Not really the same, but somewhat akin in the “school will determine choices” angle.
My kid is trying to decide between 2 major/career paths (both academic) and few colleges have good programs for both (some schools have “good enough”). We will be trying to sort out where they attend, at same time may be seriously limiting their ability to switch from interest to interest. It is super tricky.
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Paging @illneversaynever whose daughter is also weighing her options vis-a-vis ballet and academics.
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Thanks, @goldbug
We’re in that same boat with dance and academics. In fact, I’m closing my computer after this post to head to a college BFA audition. Weighing academics and dance priorities has been and continues to be a challenge for her. As stated upthread, we’re waiting to see what her options are come April and then will do pros/cons, pray, and let her make a decision for what feels like the right fit for her. There will be compromises however she decides; no school has it all and she isn’t sure she wants to be a non-traditional student and start college x number of years from now to fully pursue the trainee/2nd co/company option. This is probably true for everyone, but I find it exceptionally true for high academic dancers who want ballet at a high level.
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Popping in from 2022…
My d22 is equally passionate about dance and chemistry, and finding her the right fit was incredibly difficult. She truly wants a dance career before pursuing her PhD in chemistry (probably organic focused). Even schools that claimed to make it possible scheduled labs at the same time as dance classes all the time.
Bur she did find what she wanted. She joyously takes (her choice—this is not required for her double major) 21-22 credits a semester, performs all over the place, does research, and occasionally costumes.
You’ll find it!!
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D18 was a very strong student and is now a professional ballerina. She did a BFA and BS at a strong ballet college and was fortunate to get a full ride (academic merit) scholarship. Its now very rare (at least for girls) to get a paid position without 2-3 years unpaid in a second company role. And most don’t stick it out that long because of finances. She’s incredibly lucky to be able to use her 529 money to support herself.
So if you are looking at dancing professionally it’s really important not to spend too much on college and certainly not to take on debt, as you’ll probably need to spend another $50K+ just on living expenses before you can become self-supporting.
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It is hard to find exceptional ballet with enough hours outside of a conservatory to pursue ending up in a professional company. My daughter trained with a pre-pro company affiliated school for many years, then went to boarding school for two years and expanded her genres. She didn’t want to become a dancer because she has a chronic injury and also she wants to make money 
. It was REALLY hard to research schools with decent programs for non-majors. She found out the hard way and spent a semester at a school with a less than stellar program. However, she transferred to St. Olaf this fall and it has been amazing! She a math major, takes one dance class a semester and joined the dance company and the dance team. Dance team is going to D3 nationals, and most of the cost is covered. She was in a senior thesis piece this fall and a guest choreographer piece this spring, in fall she danced around 15 hours a week. You can really do as much or little as you want. She was also just awarded a $7k a year dance scholarship on top of her $26k academic and 3k housing (as a transfer!). She likes that it is a dry campus and people are not so focused on partying as they were at the other school - it is much more chill and if people want to party they go to Carleton parties. She has found a lot of friends, dance friends, dorm friends, class friends- so different than her other school.
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Thank you so much! I recently joined the FB group. It is easy to get overwhlemed in this process for sure. My dancer is our oldest so we are navigating the 1st time college application stuff alongside the pre screens, auditions and back and forth between strict academic route and arts route.
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This! My daughter has struggled on and off with hip issues for the past few years requiring weekly PT at times so injuries and chronic toll on their bodies is definitely something we have been discussing in the decision process. When we research careers for dancers, even those lucky enough to make it professionally, often we are finding salaries less than the costs of tuition to train which can be so disheartening as well. Ultimately, I think my daughter seems to want to keep dance as more of a joyful hobby than replacing any other main academic focus right now but as you said, it is very hard to distinguish which programs and offerings may offer training and experiences that will be worthwhile.
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