Okay so heres the problem. I am a freshman and just started colorguard this year. Our marching season is over but I love doing the competitions and performing in general. Well I am seriously wanting to go to DCI or go to college to become a tech. I can find any website that has like basics of what I need to know to get in a good college. Can anyone tell me basics that people in colleges are looking for so I can do what I want with my future?

Well, I'm not a girl, but I can answer your question. You don't need to go to college to become a tech. You just need to get yourself into a good guard for a few years. Personally, I prefer my techs to have some dance training, too. But if you want to teach, you should definitely join a world-class guard (either DCI or WGI). If you march with a really good team for a few years, you will find it easier to get jobs. Most college guards are not competitive, and they won't necessarily help you get a job as a tech (although there are a few exceptions).

What Panic said

and if you only want to get into a college guard, just make sure you have your basics down pat and you might want to start a little dance training too...it depends on what college you want to get into...like for USF, you need to have all the basics and a lot of dance training, but for some schools (like Middle TN State University) you barely need any flag training. I know that Purdue doesn't expect the people auditioning to have had any practice with flag... i think they may have changed that in the recent years, but for a while no training was required, they would teach you...

Like everyone said, you don't have to go to college to be a tech. It helps to be a part of a respected program somewhere and that will help get a job somewhere. If you have never danced before then take dance classes and work your way up into a good guard. Even if you aren't in a really good competing guard or drum corps it's still good to get the experience! Also, it helps to start off teaching somewhere to get teaching experience as well.

If you are interested in doing stuff in college that will pertain guard maybe think about trying for a dance minor or if you are really experienced in dance then try out to get into a dance program somewhere.

Since you are a freshman though just enjoy high school while it lasts and decide what you want to do for college your junior and senior year. If you stick with guard you will get a lot of experience over your next 3 years that you have left. A lot of techs work as a side job with their full time job or in my case a job that you use to help you work through college!

You should probably join a DCI or WGI group to gain more experience. North by Northwest is the group closest to me, and they were the class A World champions last year I believe. I recently saw them perform at a NWAPA drumline/guard show a few weeks ago and they were amazing. I hope to some day join them, but I have not even done my freshmen year of guard yet. (I got to be in the high school marching band color guard as an 8th grader this year)

Laurusan wrote:

You should probably join a DCI or WGI group to gain more experience. North by Northwest is the group closest to me, and they were the class A World champions last year I believe. I recently saw them perform at a NWAPA drumline/guard show a few weeks ago and they were amazing. I hope to some day join them, but I have not even done my freshmen year of guard yet. (I got to be in the high school marching band color guard as an 8th grader this year)

What school do you go to? My instructor marches at NxNW! And yes, they took gold at WGI last year in the Independent A class, although under the name Cascades Independent. This year they are an Independent Open group. I remember thinking they were amazing last year, but this year their show is so INSANE. I love it.

everyone has given you great advice. North is really good, i saw a few of their videos. if anything, make sure you really now the basics, and definatly learn a little bit of dance. all i've ever done is musical theater dance, and that was enough. so learn some form of dance and you should be set.

If you want to be able to teach you need a good background in dance, jazz modern ballet, as well as a good colorguard resumé. Eventually you will wanna march a world class Winterguard as well as a finalist Drum Corps. The more years of these kinds of colorguard experience you have the more likely you are to get a job. I recommend you start taking several dance classes now and stick with them for the next few years. As far as college goes, they dont look nearly as good on a resumé as a world class guard does.

Ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern, and lyrical for dance.

Never hurts to have a little acro too.

And, might surprise you to know that baton twirling can be a foundation for guard too.

Many high schools no longer have twirlers who often find themselves nowhere to go until they discover its cousins, marching and color guard.