Dancer and Parent Guide to College Dance Team Recruitment
APplying to college
Dancers will need to gain admission to prospective colleges on their own merit separate from their dance team recruitment process. It’s best to strengthen your application as much as possible to give you the best chance at being accepted by the college itself and therefore able to be considered by the dance team. It’s best to reach out to your high school counselor, college advisor, and college admissions counselor for advice on college applications and requirements, but here are a few tips to get you started.
Research college admission criteria but instead of solely focusing on minimum admission requirements, search for each college's admitted class profile. This profile provides insights into the average GPA, test scores, and other key statistics of accepted students, helping you understand the competitive landscape.
Ensure that your high school courses align with college admission expectations. If necessary, consider retaking classes to improve your GPA. Look into options like zero hour classes or summer school to strengthen your academic record, if necessary.
Familiarize yourself with the SAT, ACT, and the testing policy for the colleges you’re interested in. Find out whether your preferred colleges superscore test results, are test-optional, or have specific requirements regarding standardized testing. Schedule time to take or retake the tests as needed. More information on the SAT and ACT themselves and a recommended test prep tutoring service can be found at the links below.
SAT https://www.collegeboard.org/
ACT https://www.act.org/
Test Geek https://www.testgeek.com/
You can also seek professional help for essay writing and/or editing to ensure that your personal statement stands out. I recommend the following resources:
Going Ivy https://goingivy.com/college-admissions-consultants/essays-and-personal-statements/
Write the World https://writetheworld.org/