Could someone offer some guidance? (NYU, MMC, UA, SCAD)

College Majors Theater/Drama Majors
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<p>Hello everyone! I've reached the point where I've learned of all my acceptances, and a final decision must be made. There are so many of you parents and students with experience on this board that I would love to get your perspective on my current situation.</p>

<pre><code> Fortunately, I was accepted to all four schools to which I applied: NYU (BFA Acting), Marymount Manhattan College (BFA Acting), University of Alabama (BA MT), and the Savannah College of Art and Design (BFA Performing Arts). I'm thrilled to have options, but everything seems to boil down to money.

I thought I was dead-set on MMC, but I did not receive any artistic scholarship as I had hoped for (I did receive the $8,000 Academic Scholarship), leaving me with about $52,000 in loans after graduation. I do not want to start a career search in the expensive city of New York with so much money to pay off (and yes, I realize this is minimal compared to other schools).

Then I found out I was accepted to the University of Alabama's MT Program (the only MT Program to which I applied). They only accept 8 people per year, and I feel like I would be crazy to pass up such an opportunity. When I visited the campus, I fell in love. My gut told me: "This is it." There is so much talent at the school and I know I could thrive in their Arts on Campus Living-Learning Community. However, the degree is a BA in the Musical Theatre Track. My dream has always been to conquer the BFA--a notoriously difficult feat to achieve. I want to fully immerse myself in theatrical training, and the BFA would allow me to do so, but I feel like accepting the BA is giving up on my dream. Additionally, I have always wanted to be MT (I've done more musicals in school and the community than straight shows), but when I auditioned, I felt acting was the safest route for me because I have no formal dance training. Acting is my strongest suit, and I want to be a great actor above all else, but I want be a well-rounded performer...even if I continue on to an MFA Acting program, I'll at least have a foundation in MT. Another benefit of UA is that I can save money to go to a great MFA program. Tuition is the same as MMC (~$34,000), but I received a GI Scholarship due to my Dad's military status, so I had $22,000 shaved off of my total tuition at UA compared to the $8,000 at MMC.

Another MMC vs. UA comparison: MMC is in NYC (the city of dreams, of course) and UA is a beautiful, traditional college campus. I feel like NYC has so many more learning opportunities outside of the school, so am I giving up something truly important in regards to networking in the city for my future career choices? Are internships really that important? I would be happy at either school, but the ultimate argument is: a BFA degree in New York City vs. a BA in MT at a more affordable school.

Then comes NYU. I received the "special invitation" today, and I am thrilled. I have dreamed of NYU Tisch since I was in the 8th grade, and I have had my heart set on going there for years. I love the school for its professional studios, its BFA status, its prestige, its great NYC location, and the rigor of its academics. I want to challenge myself, and I know NYU is the way to go. However, I have not the money (and many are in the same boat, I know). I know one of you whose daughter attended Tisch, loved the experience, made great connections, and found work after graduation. She, obviously, is on her way to pay off the college bills. I don't want to miss the amazing opportunities NYU could provide, but I also don't want to risk it all, graduate with $182,000 in loans (which is what my dad and I calculated assuming I receive no scholarships), and not find work. How is that even a sane option? To have a house payment after graduation with a degree in theatre? If you don't mind my asking, what are some of the methods that made NYU financially possible for you? Is it wise to let my dream fade for a more financially-safe option? I could get training at UA in MT and get many chances to perform...but I don't want to give up on NYU. If I attend UA, I plan to save, save, save, so I can pursue my MFA at NYU, or some other prestigious institution. Oh and I live in Virginia, so closeness to home really isn't a concern for me.

Then comes SCAD, and I decided that I don't want to attend an arts-only school with an emphasis on visual art for my college education. I want the academics because "A smart actor is a better actor." SCAD is out of the question.

Does anyone have words of advice? I know my post is long and unorganized, but if you can make sense of it...do you think UA is a wise choice for me? Should the money issue ultimately take presidence? I know only I can answer this question, but I would love to hear some thoughts on my situation. Could I make NYU work? My parents can contribute $14,000 per year...the rest is up to me. Any wise words would be appreciated. Congrats to everyone on their recent successes, and thank you to everyone for making CC such a spirited and helpful community for us theatre students!
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<p>--Billy :)</p>

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<p>If I were you I would visit Alabama, NYU, and MMC again, look closely, and talk to as many people as possible, and listen to my gut. The money gives Alabama a great edge-- I know a recent BA theater grad from Alabama who has been as or more successful than others, equally talented, with BFA’s from NYU, Boco, etc.-- he made connections at Alabama that changed his life, and the small size of the program meant he had many opportunities there. Of course you could get an amazing education at NYU and maybe at MMC too…but if you really feel a connection at Alabama, consider it carefully. If you’re not paying off massive loans after you graduate, you’ll be more free to get started on your career.</p>

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<p>Hi Billy,</p>

<p>I second the above advice that, if possible, it never hurts to give the schools another visit (although I recognize traveling from Virginia to Alabama to New York is pretty expensive tour and and more than likely out of the question). In most instances, the gut is always right in decisions like these, and reacquainting yourself with that feeling might make you more confident in your decision.</p>

<p>However, you say in your posting that you felt exactly that–a gut impulse–when you were in Alabama. You list not only the highest number of reasons for going, but also the most concrete out of the other schools on your list. I think this is evidence coming directly from you for what your top pick should be. That is worth listening to.</p>

<p>However, I was moved to respond to you because I thought my own perspective might be helpful. I graduated from a top BFA program two years ago and have been living and working out of New York for the past year. In the fall, I’ll be pursuing my MFA in Acting, also at one of the top programs. I share this info with you because it seems like you have very similar goals. I’ve had the opportunity to meet and work with many graduates of many of the different BFA and MFA programs, and I’ve also been in the nitty-gritty of pursuing an acting career in this crazy city. Because of all this, and taking your personal situation into account, I just felt I needed to caution you against NYU. Taking on that amount of debt is simply unwise considering the situation you will be entering post-college. This is the old song and dance everyone re-hashes, but speaking from my current situation, I can assure you that it will only hamper you in your pursuit of your dreams. As a beginning actor in New York, you will more than likely not be making a living in the field. You will have to hustle. You must have enough free time (and money) to audition, take class, network, attend theater, etc. I know many a person who came to NYC to pursue their dreams, only to spend all of their time trying to simply stay afloat. Acting had to take the backseat.</p>

<p>There’s also the fact that living in a city like this takes more out of you than living in another place, especially if you come here as an eighteen-year-old undergraduate. You’ll be doing a tremendous amount of growing over the course of your experience, in addition to your training. Many of the people I know who went to school here (not just at NYU) experience NYC burnout at the end of four years. They finish training and instead of being ready to dive in to the profession, they simply want to get away. Of course, this has a lot to do with your individual maturity level, but I think this is something that’s not often brought up in these discussions.</p>

<p>Finally, I have to say that in my view the graduate training at NYU is far, far superior to the training in undergrad, and if we’re talking bang for your buck you’d be much better served to pursue an MFA there (or at any of the other strong programs, which are far more likely to give you financial assistance at that level) than a BFA. It is not my feeling that the quality of training received at NYU undergrad is commensurate with the expense of attending. This is my personal opinion and I certainly mean no disrespect to other people on this board who attend NYU undergrad or are fans of it. Frankly, I doubt that ANY program is worth $182,000 in debt. There are no guarantees that you will ever make that money back in the profession for which you trained.</p>

<p>That was a very long post for a relatively short point, but I just wanted to share. Best of luck with your decision!</p>

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<p>While I strongly disagree with the poster above regarding the quality of the undergraduate program at NYU, I do agree that you should not go that deep in debt for ANY school.
In my opinion, and I am a current student at NYU/Tisch, yes the training here is excellent and the city does provide valuable connections, but it’s not like going to NYU will guarantee you a job after graduation that will lift you out of your debt. And I don’t think that the difference in training/connections between Alabama and NYU is worth that much money. You can always save that money for when you actually move to the city, and even use some of it to get supplemental training if you feel that you did not get enough at Alabama. </p>

<p>Now it’s been a year since I was doing the whole college audition thing, but I remember that NYU sends out its financial aid package along with its acceptance letter around April 1st. I mean, maybe NYU’s financial aid package will be better than you expect?</p>

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<p>Gwen Fairfax, thank you so much for responding! That bit of information about the Alabama graduate finding success and making connections is extremely helpful information. This size of the program is also another plus for me. See? Everyone’s advice has been right so far: the student must find the right fit for him or herself. Alabama seems to be the best fit for me. Sure, I would love to dive into NYC and attend the prestigious NYU, but I can’t financially handle that. Landing a job doesn’t require a BFA and over hundred thousand dollars in loans! I am considering it carefully, and I think my heart is leading me in the UA direction. Thank you.</p>

<p>gc03, thank you for affirming that the “gut” feeling is usually right. I do have more “right” reasons to go Bama than any other school I listed. And thank you for the wise words against taking out so much debt. Hearing it from a BFA graduate in the city really affirms my concerns, and I thank you for that. You can bet I will be applying to NYU’s MFA program when the time comes. Do you know if they offer more scholarship/aid to MFA students? Also, I can’t comment on the level of undergraduate training at NYU, but doing a cost-benefit analysis leads me to believe that the level of training compared to Alabama is not valued at $182,000.</p>

<p>claydavisdbc, you are so right. NO school is worth that much debt. I can get great training elsewhere, and for much less. My plan is to save, save, save while at Alabama to prepare for the city. And by choosing UA, my parents have agreed to help save money for when I move to the city. I recognize that Tisch is an amazing program, but I simply cannot afford it. Also, thank you for the glimmer of hope. Financial Aid is on its way, but we’ve all heard the NYU financial aid story.</p>

<p>Thank you guys again. Honestly, getting another perspective from you all is extremely helpful for me. It’s putting me in the correct frame of mind, and I truly appreciate it. I think a MT Degree at UA with a minor in Arts Management, and a future MFA at a place like NYU, CM, or NCSA is a great plan for me. I’ll be able to afford my education this way. I will update everyone with my final decision, and hopefully let everyone know how I like Alabama!</p>