The details of a typical day for a dance major will vary by school. To get a better idea, most schools have programs set up where potential new students can shadow a college student for one or several days. This way you can get a feel for classes, dorm life, nightlife, and a reliable source to answer all your questions.

You will have to decide when you sign up for classes what kind of schedule you prefer: Would you rather your classes be spread out or right in a row? Have many classes on a couple days or fewer classes on every weekday? Generally, you will take between four and five courses per semester and have two or three classes per day.

It’s no surprise that as a dance major, the majority of your classes will be dance-related. This may mean a technique class, a repertory class, an improv class or a more academic dance class like dance history or pedagogy. You will probably also have one or two liberal arts classes per semester to fulfill core requirements.

At night, you will probably have homework (even for your dance classes!) And dance majors also must remember that, in addition to class hours, you may have extra rehearsals for upcoming performances on nights or weekends.

At a conservatory, your day may be more intense and you will have more dance-related courses and less liberal arts credits to fulfill. You may have classes and rehearsals that start at 8am and don’t end until at least 10 pm.

In the words of Joan Finkelstein, Director of Dance Programs for NYC Department of Education; “Kids, it’s a thirteen hour day when you’re a dance major in college!”

Check out this video from “Kids Café Goes To College” where school representatives discuss a typical day in the lives of a freshman dance major.

See “Should I Attend a Conservatory or a Liberal Arts Program?” to see if conservatory life is right for you.