Columbia University Dilemma

<p>Go to UT since you don’t like the feel of NYU. But just know that the odds of transferring are likely less than for Frosh admissions.</p>

<p>It is a bummer to confront the truth that you cannot do something you fervently desire to do. </p>

<p>But that is part of life. </p>

<p>I suggest you view this thread as a part of the grief process over your loss of NYU. You obviously need some time to work through those feelings before you can really leave the NYU dream behind and move on.</p>

<p>When you do, then you’ll be ready to enthusiastically dive into all things Plan II and UT and Austin! Opportunities for creative intellectuals like you abound here. Writing, acting and filmmaking are a big part of the culture. I get the “extension of high school” concern–but that will quickly become a non-issue as long as you take the initiative to get involved within your new groups, whether dorm, Plan II, acting troupe, filmmakers studio, etc.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>I don’t fully understand CUs policy. But if it is like what I think, you can consider it. You might not apply for need-based FA this year, so no available FA is for you. However, you could apply for it as continuing student next year or you would deserve schorlarship. Therefore, your situation would be different. Just find whether this way could be applicable in CU. </p>

<p>Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using CC App</p>

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<p>This is your big dream, your goal. College is an experience in its own right, but it’s also a path towards that goal. Students aiming at creative careers shouldn’t have to start off life with massive debt. </p>

<p>Your posts in this thread show that you’re well aware of the pros and cons of each school. You’re aware of the debt that your parents (points for recognizing it’s on them, not you) would be taking on. </p>

<p>Two cents from a California parent who is a big fan of Plan II: focus on the big goal and go to Plan II. I know that you want Columbia and more than 110 like-minded classmates, but Plan II has a core curriculum. It has resources beyond what’s available to the ordinary UT student. Yes, many Plan II students go off to grad school, but there are also career and job resources. There’s no film department per se, but there is a bridging disciplines film studies program that would integrate well with Plan II–plus, you’d be able to spend a senior year (if you stayed at UT) producing a creative senior project that would be a springboard for your post-undergrad career. </p>

<p>If you haven’t already, talk to the Plan II people and ask what opportunities would be available for film studies type work in the program. It won’t be common, but sometimes being someone a bit out of the ordinary has benefits.</p>

<p>Best of luck with your decision.</p>

<p>Umm. Former president George Bush has twin daughters; one went to Yale, the other to UT. Very much a personality, environment issue. When it comes to big state schools UT is right up ther. </p>

<p>Tisch tends to require their students to take courses in other disciplines is what I understand. But it’s the end of May, and you still have all of these options open? What the heck are you doing?</p>

<p>"Oh! Please don’t try to figure me out so fast. I’m not “sneering” at plan II. I just feel that an institution that has a few “honors” kids, and then everyone else, seems a lot like high school. I never intended to go to UT for four years, so the fact that plan II may be “UT’s Ivy” doesn’t shower me with the inspiration to go there. And do you know why your friend (or the kid you heard about) gave up Harvard. His or her situation could be completely different from mine. I have an actual friend that is giving up Yale, Stanford and Columbia for UT out of financial reasons similar to mine, but not out of an idealistic and righteous desire to attend “UT’s Ivy”. Don’t get me wrong. The truth is I’m going to exploit every available opportunity at UT to discover and develop my passions and skills. But UT isn’t comparable to Columbia, Yale, Harvard or Stanford.
Also, In no way is a person who desires to make it in the arts forcefully subjected to “waiting tables or doing other things” while hoping for a “big break”. Education, intelligence, exposure and the exploitation of opportunity go a very long way. "</p>

<p>I think you are still sneering about Plan II but its your life. I guess Dustin Hoffmann and Gene hackman just walked right into movie roles but wait they must have been unintelligent, unexposed and could nt find that opportunity that beat them with a bat.</p>

<p>[Dustin</a> Hoffman - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dustin_Hoffman]Dustin”>Dustin Hoffman - Wikipedia)</p>

<p>[Gene</a> Hackman - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Hackman]Gene”>Gene Hackman - Wikipedia)</p>

<p>^Just a minor quibble with SlitheyTove’s otherwise great advice, there is a highly regarded film department at UT. Not sure how you will access it via Plan II, but the beauty of being a Plan II student is the flexibility to add other pursuits.</p>

<p>If you research beyond campus, you’ll see plenty of ways to become involved in one of the hottest filmmaking scenes in the nation (and internationally–just check out this year’s Cannes reports for all the Austin connections, beginning with Terrence Malick’s latest creation). If you’re earnest, you will get involved with the Austin Film Society, SXSW, follow craig’s list opps and get on more targeted lists of area shoot technical and acting gigs, learn about the Slacker 2011 project to get ideas, etc.</p>

<p>Similarly, there are tons of performing acting groups around town to complement the on-campus drama scene. </p>

<p>So…just saying…if you use Austin to your advantage, you will find abundant avenues for being a part of meaningful art projects.</p>