My School Visit Strategy, as a counselor
Behind the Scenes: What I’m Looking for When I Visit College Dance Departments
One of the questions I get asked all the time is:
“What are you actually looking for when YOU visit college dance programs?”
The answer is: some of the same things dancers and parents care about—and some very different things too.
As a college counselor for dancers and a career and mental health counselor working in the dance world, my job isn’t just to read websites or watch promotional videos. It’s to understand what life actually feels like inside a department. That’s why I visit as many programs as I can, in person.
While dancers are looking at programs asking “Is this somewhere I can see myself?” I’m there asking “What type of student would thrive here?”
Here’s a look behind the scenes at how I experience those visits.
I Go in Person Whenever I Can
Facilities matter—but not in the glossy way brochures suggest. Newer isn’t automatically better.
I visit programs because photos only tell part of the story. Being there in person tells a much more honest feeling and ability to talk about the program with my clients. I’m paying attention to:
What the floors are actually like
How the studios feel after hours of use
Changing rooms, common spaces, and traffic flow
What surrounds the dance spaces day to day
These are the rooms students will spend most of their college career in. And photos don’t give a felt sense of the space.
I Pay Close Attention to Faculty Energy
Often I’m reconnecting with colleagues. Sometimes I’m meeting faculty for the first time. Either way, I’m listening closely.
I notice:
What faculty are excited about right now
How they talk about students
Whether they’re thinking about dancers’ futures beyond graduation
What they prioritize in dance education.
Faculty culture shapes so much—from curriculum to casting to how supported students feel when things get hard.
I Love Meeting Undergraduate Dancers
Some of my favorite visits happen when I’m teaching a workshop—often on mental health for dancers or career strategy.
Those days let me:
Work directly with students
Meet juniors and seniors in transition moments
Hear what they’re actually experiencing at school
Those conversations are often more revealing than any formal presentation.
When I can, I Take Class
When I can, I’ll jump into:
Pilates
Somatics
Ballet barre
Taking class gives me insight into:
Teaching styles
Class culture
The physical expectations placed on students
I Wander the Campus—On Purpose
I spend time just walking around campuses. They can feel so different and I want to tell clients what I know beyond the dance program.
I’m noticing:
How dancers move through campus compared to the general student body
Whether dancers seem to have a distinct “bubble” or blend in easily
The general energy of the student population
There’s no right answer here—but the feel matters. I always visit a library and a coffee shop.
I Look at What’s on the Walls
This might sound small, but it tells me a lot.
I notice:
What posters are up
What events are being promoted
Whether student work is visible
Signs of collaboration, activism, or community
These details reflect what a department values when no one is trying to impress a visitor.
And Yes—I Check Out the Food
Because dancers ask me about it!
Food access affects:
Energy
Mental health
Budget
Sustainability
So yes, I look at dining halls, nearby food options, and what students are actually eating between rehearsals.
Why This Matters for You
When I write about a school, it’s never just pulled from a website. It’s shaped by:
What I’ve seen
Who I’ve met
How the spaces feel
What students are navigating in real time
My goal isn’t to say “this school is perfect.”
It’s to help dancers and families understand what kind of place it really is—and whether that aligns with their needs.
Final Thought
Every visit adds nuance to how I help dancers build college lists, ask better questions, and choose programs that support both training and long-term wellbeing.
If you’ve ever wondered what goes into my recommendations—this is it.
And if you want help translating what you notice on a college visit into meaningful decision-making, that’s exactly the work I love doing.