I finally have a minute to catch up. We have the college stuff as my daughter puts it on hold because things are so busy. She did write a few trial common app essays for an English assignment. She really wants to go to school in LA (we don't live in CA). We have 3 weeks left of school with finals. Term papers are done. Projects, tests, recitals, camping trips and performances still going on- then the dreaded finals. DD is a good hard working student, though she is not a very good test taker, fine with essays but terrible with other types of tests especailly standardized tests. We don't have her ACT scores yet as she took hers under special testing at her school and we can only get the results via snail mail. She wants to retake them in June but I don't know if she will be in town enough to do that. We hope to finalize some of our summer plans this weekend inbetween performances.
We have looked at 4 colleges and she has stayed at 2 others for brief summer programs. 3 of them last year and one this year. Here is our what we saw:
University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) as her college counselor has said it is imprinted in every high school kid he knows to love this school when they visit. It has its own beach, lots of vibrant healthy looking kids biking and skate boarding to class, they serve sushi in the cafeteria. The school is known for undergraduate research. It is part of the UC state school system so like other CA schools it is suffering from tough economic times making it hard to get the classes a person needs to graduate in 4 years. It appeared to be strong in the sciences and ok in the arts. It also has a reputation for being a somewhat demanding academic school while also being a pretty heavy duty partying school. If anyone is interested in Dance it is modern based and does require an audition. Theatre department is small. Both programs are BA until you are student for a year and then you can apply for a BFA. All CA public schools have minimum requirements to apply including specific courses and gpas they require. Double majors are allowed. DD will probably apply but it is not one of her top choices.
University of Southern California (USC)- large private school, fairly competitive for admission. DD was a bit overwhelmed at first but came to really like the school for the programs it offers. They offer a pretty top notch film school and theatre school. A new school of dance is opening in 2015. They have a lot of beautiful science, gaming and engineering buildings. Some of the liberal arts like philosophy seem to not have the popularity or money of a department like computer science. Marshall business school is extensive. Has large following for its football team and they just recruited a new coach for men's basketball to try and up that program. We know several students that run track for USC. Athletics are a big deal. Campus is lovely old buildings combined with newer buildings in a middle class area of LA. Some sketchy neighborhoods as you get further from campus. DD will apply but it's a reach for her. Theatre BFA requires an audition/portfolio review, BA requires an interview.
University of California at Irvine (UCI). This is in suburbs. This is pretty close to
Disneyland!!! It has a 1970s feel with some newer style buildings. The campus is a large circle. The dorms are tiny and the ones we saw are a bit odd. The dance studios are excellent as is the dance departments reputation. It includes dance, modern, jazz and has a more mixed feel then one specialty. Appeared to be a bit boring on weekends with students returning home but we could have misread that. Suffers from the same problems as other CA University problems. DD will probably apply. The dance department requires an audition as well as separate admission to the University.
Southern Methodist University (SMU)- a medium size private school in Dallas, TX. Pretty campus, old buildings, religious affiliation is not very strong if it even exists any more. Has a real Texas corporate feel. There is a lot of affiliation between the schools and business looking for employees. The theatre program is narrow and exclusive. They admit 25 students a year and it is BFA, with no option to double major. Highly selective for Dance and Theatre. Not sure about the rest of the school. DD will not apply.
Occidental College- we did not tour here but DD went to a 2 week dance program here two summers ago. The campus is a bit run down, and suburban. The academics are supposed to be very good with a strong liberal arts program.
CA State Northridge (CSUN)- DD went to a program run by the Joffrey Ballet and housed at CSUN. She lived in a very nice suite style dorm for a month. The dance and performance facilities were beautiful and well equipped. It is a large school physically. Not really near anything but about an hour from LA on a good day.
Colleges we would like to learn more about so if anyone has any information on any of the following or any we have not listed we look forward to hearing about your adventures:
Loyola Marymount
CA State Long Beach
CA State Fullerton
Colorado State
Florida State
Tulane
Elon
University of Maryland (DH has his undergrad from here but that was a really long time ago and current info would be greatly appreciated)
American University (current information. I have my Masters from here but it was a long time ago)
I hope eveyone survives the end of school, finals and tears as senior friends move on. Good luck putting your lists together. Lets keep posting about schools even you end up eliminating them. A school that is not a match for your DD or DS maybe for someone elses.
Have a good weekend.