Many teenage dancers enroll in college dance programs for many reasons. How about you?
- Are your parents making you attend college?
- Do you want to get away from home?
- Do you want to study dance at a particular school?
Well, it’s definitely smart to get a college education. And whether you are already enrolled in a college dance program or thinking about it, here are three, quick tips to help you with your decision.
Are You Majoring in Dance?
Many college students diminish the importance of other students who are studying the “arts,” especially dance. Some may think that all you do is take dance classes all day and then receive a diploma at the end of four years. They couldn’t be more wrong.
In truth, dance majors, and those studying the arts, actually tend to work harder than students studying other fields.
Why?
Not only do you need to take the required classes and exams other students need to take in order to graduate, but you also have to attend classes for your art, rehearsals and school performances.
You may even be doing performances outside of school! Basically, you have twice as much work as other, college students. Plus, you are working on both physical and mental levels!
With this in mind, be prepared to work hard with a major in dance as there will be many responsibilities to fulfill. However, the good news is that you will get to immerse yourself in dance every day while at school – and be with other dance students who have the same passion you do.
Another option is to major in another field that you find interesting and take dance classes at the university or an outside school. This way, you’ll be obtaining a college education while still pursuing your love of dance. And this brings me to my next point…
Get Ready for your Back-Up Career
One of the most important results of working hard to obtain a college diploma is to have a back-up career. After all, even if you become a highly successful dancer, you will not be able to dance full out your entire life.
Then what? How will you pay your bills?
O.k. so many dancers marry wealthy or rely on their parents for support, but wouldn’t you rather have your independence? After all, what do you do if something happens to the people who are paying for your survival?
Now, if you take the four to six years it takes to earn a college degree, you will have a much better chance of obtaining a job that pays above minimum wage once you graduate. After all, you will need some kind of work to pay your bills while you audition and wait for your “big break.” And even if you don’t, you can relax knowing that you have a degree just in case you injure yourself, are unable to dance or decide to change careers.
How Are You Going to Pay for a College Dance Program?
College is very expensive. And maybe you are one of the lucky ones who received a scholarship or have parents paying for the entire experience. If not, I have good news for you. You will have more drive to finish, and your education will mean that much more to you.
As someone who worked her way through UCLA, I can tell you that even today, it’s one of the accomplishments I’m most proud of achieving.
Yes, it costs a lot of money. But there are ways to pay for it. Talk to a financial counselor and research loans, grants and scholarships. Find a job that will help you pay the bills. Search for low-cost housing and responsible roommates.
If you want to attend college, you can.
It’s just a matter of finding the information and helpful resources you need to make it happen.
Don’t give up!
Are You Ready?
If you are ready to go out into the world and study dance at college, make it happen. Do your research, write down what you want to accomplish and how you are going to make it happen.
Hang out with positive, supportive people and focus on your craft. By earning a college degree in any field, you’ll be ready to start your life with an education you can use to earn money and be proud of the rest of your life.
Need Help?
Here are some resources to help you plan your college, dance life:
CollegeBoard.com, http://www.collegeboard.com/student/pay/
Kiplinger, http://www.kiplinger.com/reports/paying-for-college/
US News, “Paying for College,” http://www.usnews.com/sections/education/paying-for-college/
Sallie Mae, CollegeAnswer.com, http://www.collegeanswer.com/paying/content/index.jsp
SavingForCollege.com, http://www.savingforcollege.com/
Got questions? Feel free to write to us at info@dancefullout.com!
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