by Kate Pirtskhalava, NJDTE Alumna
It’s COLLEGE PREP season for our juniors and seniors (and forward-thinking sophomores), and amidst the Nutcracker excitement, we know you must have questions. Where should I apply? How do I prepare for auditions? What do I even want to study? What if I love performing, but also find myself drawn to the science lab or art studio?
Today, we tackle that last question head-on. Here at NJDTE, dancers are not only given the technical skills they need to succeed on stage, but also the guidance and confidence to choose the higher education path that is right for them. Double majors are on the rise across the country, as more and more high school seniors seek to combine, rather than choose between, their passions. Dancers are no exception. In fact, most Bachelor of Fine Arts programs now offer dual degrees or minors in nearly any field you can think of: business, the sciences, visual art, communications, English, history, and more. Versatility and collaboration are keys to success in any field, and dancers who graduate with a second degree are poised to make an impact as professionals both on and off the stage.
If you have found yourself wondering how you could possibly “do it all” in college, three recent NJDTE alumni -- Abigail Frasco, Gabrielle Garruppo & Nicole Killmer -- are here to share how they're making it happen:
Today, we tackle that last question head-on. Here at NJDTE, dancers are not only given the technical skills they need to succeed on stage, but also the guidance and confidence to choose the higher education path that is right for them. Double majors are on the rise across the country, as more and more high school seniors seek to combine, rather than choose between, their passions. Dancers are no exception. In fact, most Bachelor of Fine Arts programs now offer dual degrees or minors in nearly any field you can think of: business, the sciences, visual art, communications, English, history, and more. Versatility and collaboration are keys to success in any field, and dancers who graduate with a second degree are poised to make an impact as professionals both on and off the stage.
If you have found yourself wondering how you could possibly “do it all” in college, three recent NJDTE alumni -- Abigail Frasco, Gabrielle Garruppo & Nicole Killmer -- are here to share how they're making it happen:
 | Abigail Frasco just recently completed her training at NJDTE before entering into her first year at the University of Michigan. She is currently a dance major, and is on track to add biology or marketing & advertising to her degree. |
 | Gabrielle Garruppo is a senior at The George Washington University. After completing her study at NJDTE, she went on to pursue a double degree in college. At the end of her time at GW, she will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in biological sciences and a Bachelors of Arts in dance. *Check out her post on the blog about what inspired her to pursue this course of study! |
For whom is a double major the right choice?
“It is definitely not the right choice for everyone. Being part of the dance department and attempting to achieve all the academics other ‘ordinary’ students at the university are doing, will be a challenge. You will have to be very disciplined and determined to make it work, but it will only benefit you in the end.” –A.F.
Do you feel like you can give equal attention to both endeavors?
“What I usually do is try to have my semester schedule pretty balanced, with a few dance and a few bio classes per semester. There's a bit of a strategy to it, but it's nothing too difficult. This lets me pay attention to both of my majors throughout the semester. My time spent in the dance department is in rehearsals, going to performances for classes, and writing papers, while my time spent in the biology department is doing labs, completing homework assignments, and studying for exams.” –G.G.
| What has been your most difficult moment on this track, and how did you overcome it? “I knew I wanted to study abroad, and I had to make sure I was able to work around that. What I ended up doing was taking most of my general requirement classes in my freshman and sophomore years, because they were easier to get into, and taking my biology classes my junior and senior years, with dance classes spread more evenly throughout. When I went abroad to London, I took strictly biology classes, and I ended up coming back with over half of my biology degree completed. I'm not necessarily going to have an easy second semester of my senior year, like most other students will, but I will be graduating with two Bachelors degrees, which makes it worth it.” –G.G. |  Gabrielle Garruppo |
Have you had to sacrifice anything about the “college experience” in order to pursue this path?
“The only aspect that possibly could take away from the "college experience" is the rehearsal schedules, for the dance department has a show every semester and each piece rehearses for four hours a week, but here at GW it barely affects anything that you may want to do as a college student. You can still join student organizations, rush sororities, and get all of your classwork done.” –G.G.
“Michigan is a fun, social school. There is something going on every night! So you have know when to stay in and rest or study. Just know that sometimes you may not be able to keep up with other students because your days are very different from theirs. That being said, Saturday football games are always a must! – A.F.
“Michigan is a fun, social school. There is something going on every night! So you have know when to stay in and rest or study. Just know that sometimes you may not be able to keep up with other students because your days are very different from theirs. That being said, Saturday football games are always a must! – A.F.
What has been your greatest experience so far as a double major?
“My greatest experience so far is probably the fact that I get to merge my two fields of study together for my honors thesis in dance. In the spring, I will be taking research data on the biomechanics of dance and creating a 20-minute long performance based off of the data I found. It's pretty incredible that I have the opportunity to take both of my major interests and work on them in an honors thesis project, further preparing me for medical school and graduating with an honors degree in dance.” –G.G.
 Abigail Frasco | How jam-packed is your schedule? “My schedule is pretty packed, but it's nothing that isn't feasible. I have my classes during the day Monday through Friday, and the lab I am a TA for is on Mondays during the day. I had rehearsals on Monday and Wednesday nights for the piece I choreographed for the department's show, and I would use my Tuesday and Thursday evenings to do work. Throughout my week I would have some rehearsals for the student organization I am involved in, which were often on Sundays this semester, and the rest of my time on the weekends I used to relax, go out with my friends, and finish up any work that I had. While I kept myself busy, I was in a rhythm from week to week, making my semester less stressful. And yes, I still get sleep!” –G.G. |
How has NJDTE prepared you to take on a double major and the challenges that may come with it?
“NJDTE has prepared me in ways I wouldn’t have expected. As much as all the teachers say it, we really are exposed to so many “real world” situations. And in regards to the double major, I have learned so much about discipline from the long rehearsals and all the things that come with that: taking care of your body, resting the night before a long day, getting your schoolwork done before Sunday night after a 7 hour rehearsal. I am so incredibly thankful for this program and all that is has prepared me for my future.” –A.F.
“NJDTE helped me learn the importance of time management and how to stay successful while busy. During my time at the Ensemble I was taking Tuesday and Thursday night ballet classes, along with the rehearsals and classes taught all day Saturdays and Sundays. My rehearsal schedule is lighter here, and since I was able to do well in high school under a full schedule, it is easier for me to do the same thing here in college. Also, NJDTE taught me the significance of dedication to your work, as well as to always do what you love to do. NJDTE was an incredibly inspiring experience for me, and I honestly don't think I would be a double major if I didn't dedicate my time the Ensemble.” –G.G.
“NJDTE helped me learn the importance of time management and how to stay successful while busy. During my time at the Ensemble I was taking Tuesday and Thursday night ballet classes, along with the rehearsals and classes taught all day Saturdays and Sundays. My rehearsal schedule is lighter here, and since I was able to do well in high school under a full schedule, it is easier for me to do the same thing here in college. Also, NJDTE taught me the significance of dedication to your work, as well as to always do what you love to do. NJDTE was an incredibly inspiring experience for me, and I honestly don't think I would be a double major if I didn't dedicate my time the Ensemble.” –G.G.
Don’t feel as though a double major is the right fit for you? Not to worry! Many schools offer students the opportunity to pursue a minor in another area of focus. Many NJDTE alumni have gone on to choose this path. Take a look at what one of them has to say about her experience doing so:
 | Nicole Killmer is a senior at Marymount Manhattan College. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance with a minor in graphic design. |
What do you think the advantage of a minor is over a double major?
"It's definitely a bit easier to pursue a minor than a double major in regards to the amount of classes and school work. When pursing a minor, you don't have to take as many classes in your area of interest and you have less work that needs to be completed outside of class. This allows me to really focus on my dance classes and rehearsals.”
Did you choose your school based on the potential to minor alongside your dance degree?
"When I was looking at colleges, I was looking at schools that had a strong academic program with an equally strong dance program and were located in New York City. Although, I didn't choose Marymount based on my potential to minor. I actually decided to pursue my minor during the fall semester of my junior year.”
Have you been able to find a direct link between your major and your minor? What if a desired minor does not explicitly apply to dance?
"Yes, but I didn't at first. In fact, I don't think it's necessary to pick a minor or a double major based on whether or not it relates to your major. Actually, I believe it's even more beneficial to a student to study something outside of his or her given major. This way, he or she can learn about something new!”
Nicole Killmer
What has been your greatest experience so far with this added minor?
“My greatest experience so far with my minor in graphic design is being able to find new ways of expressing myself. As a dancer, I'm constantly creating and artistically expressing myself through movement. It's really nice and refreshing to explore this same way of expressing myself through a different medium. “
What does your schedule look like?
"Although pursuing a minor instead of a double major does lessen the number of classes I have to take, my schedule is still pretty crazy. Most days classes start at 8:30AM and after dance classes, academics, and rehearsals, I don't get out until 7:00PM, sometimes 10:00PM. If I was double majoring, I would most likely have the same schedule but less dance classes and more academics."
Have you been able to apply any of the lessons you learned at NJDTE to your time in college and your pursuit of this course of study?
"NJDTE has prepared me to take on some of the challenges I face in graphic design by teaching the importance of expressing myself through my art. I've realized it can be difficult to express myself through graphic design work because it's usually dictated by my teacher or a client and we're creating work based on their visual preferences. Whenever I create work, I always strive to somehow add a little bit of myself into the work, even if it's just a small change in color or a font."
As you dive deeper into your research, new questions will surely emerge, and WE’D LOVE TO HEAR THEM!
What do you want to know about navigating the relationship between the arts and college? Comment down below, and we will be sure to offer up an abundance of resources.
HAPPY COLLEGEDAYS!
What do you want to know about navigating the relationship between the arts and college? Comment down below, and we will be sure to offer up an abundance of resources.
HAPPY COLLEGEDAYS!
