How to Stay Organized in the Pandemic-Era College Dance Application Process

November 19, 2020

The college application process can be, well—let’s be honest here—downright maddening (#IYKYK). But for dancers, there’s an added layer of stress: College dance applicants not only have to get into a school academically, they must also be accepted into its dance program. There’s twice as much to prepare for and, on top of that, 2020 has, to say the least, been trying it—are we right?

Fortunately, you can alleviate some of that compounding stress by staying organized. Here are some tips to keep your college-application life in order in an especially hectic season of senior year.


Create a hub for account info

While you’ll be able to apply to many schools through the Common Application, know that some schools still use school-specific application software, so chances are, you’ll be creating and signing into a bunch of different online accounts. To keep this information organized and easily accessible, create a note on your phone or a password-protected document on your laptop. As you start each new college application, jot down usernames, passwords and pin numbers. By keeping all this information in one spot, you’ll spare yourself the anxiety of having to memorize it. (And don’t go full mom by using the same password for every. single. account.)

Be clear on the application materials you need for each school

Each of the programs you’re auditioning for will likely have different methods for assessing your dancing. Some will prescreen, which means you’ll have to submit a photo, usually standing in a ballet position that is specified by the school, or a video—before you’re offered the opportunity to actually audition for the dance program. Others may ask for a specific or additional essay that relates to dance. And some—because 2020 has spared no aspect of our lives—have implemented completely new COVID-era protocols.

For the same reasons you should create a hub for all your log-in info, consider making one to establish which application materials you’ll need to produce for each school. You can make one spreadsheet for all the schools you’re applying to or, in a more tedious but ever-effective move, create a separate checklist for each school. That way, you know you’re not forgetting to submit important parts of your application package.

Just imagine how good it will feel to get that coveted acceptance letter. (Getty Images/eyecrave)

Keep photography and filming simple

If a school requires you to submit photos or videos, take the directives about filming seriously. And be sure to respect any creative parameters a school might put on your submissions. The best rule of thumb: Keep it simple. Put on basic dancewear, pull your hair back (no whispies!), photograph head-on, and film without making any edits or adding special effects.

As a bonus, if you keep your videos relatively simple, you may be able to reuse some footage for different applications. Double-check the filming parameters, and see if there’s anything you can repurpose for multiple schools.

Know your deadlines

Once you’ve established a list of schools that you’re going to apply to, create a separate spreadsheet for the deadlines of each. (Yes, another spreadsheet!) But remember: As dancers, you don’t just have a deadline for the application; you might also have a deadline to register for your audition and even one for submitting photos and videos for prescreening, so be sure to allocate space in your spreadsheet for those important deadlines, too.

Don’t wait to ask for recommendations

Your teachers, both dance and academic, are overloaded with work in these crazy times, and on top of that, have students upon students requesting recommendation letters. Try not to be among the students who wait dangerously close to a deadline (you know who you are!) to ask for a rec letter. Instead, consider asking for yours early in the school year (that’s right, now). By reaching out early, before mobs of other graduating seniors start asking too, you reduce the likelihood that the person writing your letter might rush through it or write something generic.

Ask someone you trust to read your essays

You’ve written tons of essays throughout your high school career. But writing a college essay—in which your every word feels like the difference between getting into a school or not—is a whole separate beast, so don’t be afraid to have someone you trust (a parent, dance teacher or academic teacher, or maybe even a close friend who’s an avid reader) look over your essay(s). In addition to finding grammatical or punctuation errors that you may have missed, they’ll, hopefully—and more importantly—be able to tell you if they think your essay genuinely speaks to who you are, because they, more than most people, really know you.