Navigating the College Application Process with Brown Ballerina Ambassador Gabrielle Skyles
When it’s time to apply for colleges, which is typically in your Junior year of high school, do you know where to begin? Do you know what you should consider when searching for a college to apply to, or what to expect once you’re ready to apply? If not, the following interview with Brown Ballerina Ambassador Gabrielle Skyles may offer you some useful information.
Photo: Derrick Davis
Gabrielle is a 16-year-old ballerina from Maryland. She’s been dancing since she was 2, but didn’t fully dedicate herself to dance until she was 9. Although she began her dance journey solely practicing ballet, about three years ago, Gabrielle began exploring other styles of dance such as modern, contemporary, hip=hop, and Bollywood. Currently, Gabrielle is a Level 6 dancer at the Maryland School of Dance (there are 8 levels in their ballet program).
Related: Applying for College Scholarships with Brown Ballerina Ambassador Morgan Cruise
Gabrielle’s College Prep Status
I am a rising high school junior this year so I am starting to look at colleges. I have visited a few local ones just to kind of dip my toe in, but I am excited to fully dive into this process this year. I plan on studying something that has to do with English because that is my favorite subject. Maybe I’ll minor in French because I have been studying the language for a long time.
Resources for Researching Colleges
A resource I have found helpful is a website called Niche. The website provides helpful rankings for different schools, which can be very helpful when trying to find a school that fits all your needs. You can also enter your GPA and SAT/ACT scores to see what schools will most likely accept you based on that. The website provides all of these tools to ensure that you find the best school for you. That’s why I love this resource.
What to Consider Before Applying
First, I consider whether the college offers majors I am interested in. Since I will be continuing my academic career, that is something that is important to me. Another thing I consider is how far it is from my hometown. I don’t mind traveling outside of my state but I would like the college I attend to have easy access for me to be able to get home if needed. Lastly, I would consider whether the college has a good dance program because I do want to continue dancing in college.
College Challenges and Expectations
The most challenging aspect of applying for colleges so far has definitely been COVID. It is harder to schedule tours and visit campuses due to the pandemic. A lot of the research I have done so far about colleges has been online, which is harder because I can not get a feel for what the college is really like.
I am looking forward to experiencing something new. I’ve always lived in Maryland and in the same town my whole life. So, I’m hoping college will give me an opportunity to meet people and explore new places. I am most nervous about leaving home. I’ve never lived on my own away from my parents so that will definitely be a new experience for me. However, I am excited to take on a new chapter in my life soon.
Other Tips and Encouragement for Dancers
One tip I have for dancers applying to college is to try to stay calm. This process can be very stressful so try to remain cool, calm, and collected during this process. Yes, college is a big deal, but the school you choose does not define you. Keeping that in mind will hopefully calm some nerves.
Don’t give up on your dreams. People will always try to tell you no, no you can’t do something. But, yes you can. If you are determined to do something, then you can. And you never know unless you try.
Follow Gabrielle’s dance journey on Instagram!
Our Brown Ballerina Ambassador program is designed to create opportunities for young dancers in training to be seen as leaders and to eventually become mentors to other Brown Ballerinas in Training. To find out more about our ambassador program and how you can support it, visit our Ambassador/Mentorship Program page.
Be sure to check out our Brown Ballerina Blog, where we feature spotlights on our Brown Ballerina Ambassadors, updates from our organization, useful tips for ballerinas, interviews with dance professionals, and more!
Note: This interview has been edited for concision and clarity.