<p>My niece just asked for "help". Put me in , coach. I'm ready to play.</p>
<p>She's a junior. 5'6". An Aries. She likes long walks in the moonlight and wishes for world peace. ;) Oh....wrong forum. Sorry.</p>
<p>Will qualify for a substantial FA package from generous schools. (Only one wage earner with W-2 income only, little to no cash, small home equity.) </p>
<p>Interested in theatre but mostly behind the scene stuff. Did an NYC program over the summer. No idea what she'd want as a major other than "something arty without great employment prospects". Big EC's . 2 AP's this year. 3 AP's next. Assume a "Very good" but not "Excellent" GPA, probably top 25% of a well-regarded suburban Texas public. 189 no-prep PSAT, with maybe a 650-640-600 split (Not sure. Somehow she didn't have it memorized. ) I think she can do 2000-2100 on the real thing. She's a creative writer. I have zippo idea what happened on the "writing" when it doesn't even have an essay.???? She'll prep a little for the ACT and take it soon to get a benchmark for it. </p>
<p>Likes the idea of NYC. </p>
<p>I've got some thoughts and I've given her some names with a variety of selectivity. Wouldn't mind hearing the initial thoughts of others. (Without divine intervention I don't think Columbia is much more than a pipe dream, and we're probably not talking tobacco either. ;))</p>
<p>NYU comes first to mind, although their financial aid isn't the greatest. And, although it's not NYC, Emerson in Boston is great in the arts. No idea about its financial aid though.</p>
<p>Barnard would be perfect if she qualifies for need based aid. Their creative writing program really is tops.</p>
<p>Others have said Fordham gives strong merit aid. That wasn't our experience, but it's definitely worth a shot.</p>
<p>Mt. Holyoke has merit aid & history of writers and does Smith and history of writers.</p>
<p>Need based aid: Sarah Lawrence, Bard, Kenyon, New College Florida (less expensive -- public). All great writing programs as does Iowa (Iowa writing program has some trickle down to undergrad.</p>
<p>Also suggest SUNY Purchase (a stone's throw from NYC) with excellent writing and journalism, not as competitive as music, theater and fine art for admission. The liberal arts major is more accessible in terms of admit stats.</p>
<p>However, I feel like I'm bringing coal to Newcastle in trying to advice the coach of all coaches. Still any help or ideas I have I'll send along to you. I see you suiting up for your coach's role (fun aint it?), and with you in her corner (boy how many mixed sports metaphors can I use? Sheesh!) my money's on her.</p>
<p>Does it have to be Manhattan? Fordham is nice, Manhattan College, as well, and believe it or not, Wagner on Staten Island has a very nice theater program as well as a nice liberal arts program, is 20 minutes away from Manhattan, has one of the most beautiful campuses in America. It is also VERY generous.</p>
<p>BTW: SUNY Purchase is also less than a 1/2 hour from NYC, public transport. The kids are very creative. Many actors, writers, musicians and artists.</p>
<p>but mythmom. How different can two peas from almost the same pod be? LOL. My math/science geek and Ms. Artsypants. This is truly uncharted territory. In fact, it's YOUR territory. ;)</p>
<p>zmom. She mentioned Wagner, too. Good to hear they could be generous. I've mentioned Smith and MHC.</p>
<p>Doesn't Fordham have a program in Manhattan? I think so but it's tough to get , I hear.</p>
<p>And as y'all might have expected, with the family connection my W has with Barnard, and my own respect for the place, I was on that like a duck on a junebug.</p>
<p>zmom. She mentioned Wagner, too. Good to hear they could be generous. I've mentioned Smith and MHC."</p>
<p>Curm, I know from personal experience that Wagner is very generous to even kids with lesser stats AND loves non-local students.<br>
I would second SUNY Purchase, as well.</p>
<p>Muhlenberg, maybe? A great theater scene and kids go in to New York often. Very good merit money available and she might be attractive geographically also.</p>
<p>Also maybe Lake Forest outside of Chicago? There is a lot of local theater there that kids can get involved in.</p>
<p>The Manhattan campus of Fordham is not difficult to get. Some complain that it has less community atmosphere than Rose Hill campus, bit it does have glorious Lincoln Center location. We ended up paying less at Barnard which was more desirable to us for many other reasons as well.</p>
<p>Not NYC, but a city - Pittsburgh. I know someone who got great Merit aid for behind the scenes theater (costume design) at CMU back in ~2000. I don't know much about how they meet need.
And Catholic U in DC has the 'city' and well regarded theater. They can be generous and like the geographical diversity.</p>
<p>Vassar may be a reach depending on her final scores/GPA but geographic diversity could be a plus. Also depends on if her ECs are a fit. They give good FA. Theater stuff is all there and NYC is accessible by train. Could be worth a look.</p>
<p>I know an artsy person at Eugene Lang; its like a new college at the New School (the New School used to be more typically older people who weren't necessarily getting degrees). Anyway, it is in NYC and I think they have dorms. The college is pretty recent.</p>
<p>curmudgeon, I wholeheartedly suggest The New School University, in NYC. Not a "first name school" that pops off your tongue however well respected in the city, and I even know a top-rated Professor of Anthropology who was able to share quite a bit about this school's history and background. </p>
<p>There are actually a number of schools under the "umbrella" of The New School. And yes, I know someone who goes there (my D transferred there after a year at well-known, respected LAC in a rural environment - she's never looked back). Good FA, also not stellar in GPA but her ECs were strong and diverse. </p>
<p>Great suggestions , folks. I told Ms. A(rtsypants) and my sister about this site so.... who knows? Maybe they'll post here themselves when they get home and I can remove some maybe's.</p>
<p>I'm going to suggest "Ms. Artsypants" and "Cat-Eyed Glasses" for screennames for my niece and sister but somehow I don't think those are going to fly. ;)</p>
<p>Forget Purchase...it's campus facilities and surrounding area are downright depresssing and poorly maintained.</p>
<p>Vassar is a BIG reach unless she pulls off really high SAT's and a final GPA of 3.7 or over... NYU is more realistic and has some great programs for writers...The school for the arts @ NYU, Tisch, is highly competitive though but even at the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) ,there is a great English Department, a creative writing program and a chance to transfer over to Tisch's writiing program if she does well...</p>
<p>Fordham is also within reach if she finishes HS strongly...certainly not a cakewalk entry like it used to be, the average GPA of incoming Freshmen is now 3.6-3.7 and acceptance rates are below 50% but SAT ranges are much more forgiving than somewhere like Sarah Lawrence, Barnard or Vassar. They have writing programs as part of an English Major at the Lincoln Center and Rose Hill campuses...certainly a quality school that's within reach and in NYC, definitely worth a serious look. Good Luck.</p>