<p>Can anyone out there chime in on the pros and cons of these programs? S accepted to them and now totally confused. He also fell in love with UT Austin and their new actor training progam. Haven't seen Northwesten or Michigan yet but has toured NYU and loved it. (We're from NY iso he's very familiar with NYC). He has omitted a couple of other schools and has been slapped around silly by the usual suspects. So he is down to four great options. chime in if you can. Much obliged!</p>
<p>Has you son made a decision yet ? Is it his choice ? He has better options than most. Northwestern is a very intellectual and lacks the fun school spirit that Texas and Michigan offer. I have heard horrible stories about NYU. I don’t know if they are totally true, but they do accept a huge number of students and arbitrarily place you in a studio with one method of acting. I don’t know if that is a good way to go about this. Also, Northwestern does not offer a BFA. Have you consulted a dramatic adviser ?</p>
<p>Wow! That’s a lot of misinformation about NYU!</p>
<p>The only accurate statement in actorfactor’s post is that NU does not offer a BFA, otherwise every sentence is false. I’m sure that Muttle1 knows that but it’s important to state so others will know.</p>
<p>Ok so my S and H are heading to NU this weekend for wildcat days. He will be well informed when he comes home (I hope since May 1 is right around the corner). NYU is out simply because my S wants to go away to school. So it’s back to NU or Texas. Two very different schools, both with excellent theatre programs and strong academic reputations. He loved Texas and now he will see NU. Then he will go with his gut!!! Why does it always come down to the gut for everything in my family???</p>
<p>Muttle - it comes down to the gut for almost everyone, you’re family is not unusual in that respect. Like buying a house or a car, you research, ask questions, and then decide with your heart regardless of what the facts show!</p>
<p>Make sure you ask lots of questions about the Theatre curriculum at NU. It will be quite different from what he would experience at NYU or UTAustin. Not good or bad, just different.</p>
<p>My daughter is absolutely loving NU. But honestly this is such a personal decision. I completely agree with skewlcounselor–you need to ask about the theatre curriculum because each are very different. One thing we both love about NU is that you get to observe the acting professors at the end of your first year and have a voice in whom you feel you’d work best with. My D is excited about that. She’s already had several acting classes she’s loved, for instance in movement and voice, and one intensive on Shakespeare. She is exploring Sociology and Psychology too and probably will minor in them. She loves the intellectual challenges at NU. My older son went to NYU, although he left midway through his second year (for complex reasons not having to do with this question). However, as a basis of comparison ONLY, I do have to say the academics at NU Freshman year are much more rigorous than academics at NYU; also there is much more academic freedom of choice at NU than NYU.</p>
<p>As far as ‘fun school spirit’–well, that’s really personal. I’m sure Texas fun would be different from NU fun, but NU is a Big Ten school so if you’re into football games, for instance, you’d have plenty of opportunity to enjoy.</p>
<p>I think alot of your questions will be answered by your visit. I’d encourage you to make sure to see at least one faculty produced show if possible, and to sit in on at least one class.</p>
<p>wow yeah definitely a lot of misinformation going on about NYU… and I think our alumni list can speak to that…</p>
<p>I’m a current freshman in the drama department at the Strasberg studio and I absolutely love it. The studio system at NYU is unique and actually one of the most personal and best ways to handle a student’s education. They place you based off your audition and interview, and 95% of people I know think they were 100% place in the right studio. It’s going to be that 5% that was placed in the wrong studio that doesn’t like NYU- and so it is very important that once your son finds out his studio placement, he does a lot of research on his studio. But like I said, most of the time, it’s nothing to worry about. </p>
<p>And as far as only learning one method of acting… well it depends on the studio… but that’s usually what you are SUPPOSED to do. If you’re learning more than one it’s so that you find the one that suits you and you use it. For example, in Strasberg, we do method acting. Some other studios like New Studio and ETW do a range of styles and do a bit of Meisner or a bit of Method, etc. </p>
<p>as far as academics go, your freshman year, your courses are laid out for you. It’s your studio course, into to theater production, intro to theater studies, and writing the essay. However, after your freshman year, your options become far more open and you can take any general education class, just keeping in mind what you need to graduate.</p>
<p>I could go on forever about NYU, but it really is the place to be if you want a top notch education and want to be in the best city in the world. It’s the perfect place to be for theater as well, and I can’t imagine spending college anywhere else. You’re surrounded by the most fascinating people and you’ll never run out of things to do. You’ll have professors who have taught and worked with Scarlett Johanson, Alec Baldwin, Kelli O’Hara, Adam Sandler, Lady GaGa…
Alice Ripley, Norm Lewis and Anthony Rapp will come to judge your midterms.
Lin Manuel Miranda will come to see your production of In The Heights.
You’ll get to meet Stanley Tucci and Vanessa Redgrave; actors you’ve idolized for years.</p>
<p>NYU is full of opportunity. I wouldn’t pick anywhere else.</p>
<p>I agree it is a very tough (and lucky) decision to have to make. Have you sought professional opinions ? I have seen both UT and NU. Great campuses. We used a dramatic advisor who met and auditioned our S. they really knew a lot about each program without the bias you naturally get from some alums or current students or parents with students. They also helped to match the program to the student</p>
<p>I never even heard of a dramatic advisor. We have been just doing everything on our own. My son applied to colleges, worked on his monologues on his own and went out and did his best. He is a talented actor and a terrific student. He got into several excellent schools and was rejected by several excellent schools. I now know so much more about the complexities of the audition process that thankfully I didn’t know before or I would have been nuts about all of this for a longer period of time. I’m sure an advisor would be helpful but I think after he sees NU he will be able to make a decision. I have been enjoying reading about other people’s experiences and stories. They have been very informative, helpful and entertaining. I give any kid who subjected themselves to this process so much credit. Regardless of who got in where, they have demonstrated maturity and perseverance and guts!!! Good luck to all!</p>
<p>I’ve never heard of a ‘dramatic advisor’ either, actorfactor. Maybe you could detail exactly what this individual did to assist your son, and you, in making the decision? What qualifications would someone have to be considered a ‘dramatic advisor’?</p>