<p>Hi all!
I was recently admitted into Ithaca's BFA acting program as well as Tisch's. Tisch was always my "dream school" but finances seem to make it almost unreachable. From any parent with a child at Tisch or any student enrolled, do you think the investment and connections would be worthwhile? 60k versus Ithaca's 35k is such a huge jump. Also, any thoughts on the quality of the programs? Do you think that Ithacans are just as bound for success and connections because the class size is 22 vs the almost 200 Tisch acting students? Just looking for some input before I make my decision. I'm sitting in on some classes at Ithaca this week and am excited!</p>
<p>Gritting* Damn iPhone.</p>
<p>When my daughter was in a somewhat similar situation last year, she was told by someone you are lucky, you have two good choices…and you have time, a month to get more information to make an informed decision. Visiting both places again will help. Stay open, and ask, and meet people…enjoy this time, it is very special, and now you are in the driver’s seat…</p>
<p>I know a mesmerizing, and pretty successful, young actor who graduated from Ithaca. I think there’s a lot to be said for the savings-- of course the difference between the cities of Manhattan and Ithaca is, well, notable. I think sitting in on classes and talking to faculty and students will help immensely. And enjoy-- it’s wonderful to have two great options.</p>
<p>Ithaca has a great program; NYU is a great school too, but I personally wouldn’t recommend spending an extra $100,000+ – particularly for training in a profession which is precarious to begin with.</p>
<p>I would recommend that as soon as you receive your Tisch studio assignment, you phone the studio and try to make arrangements to visit and talk to people there in person. Generally, you will not be allowed to sit in on studio classes, but you could ask.</p>
<p>Last year when my son was trying to decide between Tisch/Adler and another program, we visited the Stella Adler studio one weekday morning and had a long conversation with a recent graduate who works there. This was extremely helpful to my son in his decision making process.</p>
<p>Ksologist, I’m not sure anyone can tell you if it’s worth it or not because I don’t think that there’s any way to quantify that. 
My D is a Tisch grad and it was the perfect spot for her but NYU is a ridiculously expensive school. If attending would put you, or your family, in huge debt, I wouldn’t advise anyone to do it. My advice would be the same for any school, actually. </p>
<p>I don’t think the size of the class has any relation to a student being “bound for success”. Some students will be successful and able to earn a good living but most won’t. It’s the nature of the business. I second the advice of NJTheatreMom to await the studio placement and allow that to be a part of your decision-making process. Which studio is your preference? They can be very different so make sure you’re informed in that regard. </p>
<p>Good luck with your decision!</p>
<p>as an aside, my son went to Ithaca for film at the Park School there, and Ithaca was the right spot for him, and he is now working in the field, not a great job, but is in the field.
We loved Ithaca, small but has a lot going on…</p>
<p>Hi, Just thought I’d put my two cents in. I graduated from Ithaca in theater( a long time ago). The program then was great and the networking was amazing. I worked in Theater professionally for 10 years and met my husband there. Now, I have 2 sons. Older son went to NYU Playwrights Horizons as a directing major. It was his first choice school, and we were lucky enough to have the means to send him there. He graduated in 2005. It was an amazing experience for him, and the contacts and friends he made there will be with him for the rest of his life. My husband says that you pay for the contacts you make. He has done amazingly well, and is now in grad school for directing at Carnegie Mellon. Son #2 is in the Park school at Ithaca. He was a theater kid inHS, but decided that TV was what he really wanted. Ithaca was his first choice. He will gradute this spring. He has also made great contacts, and seems to have some options for after graduation. Remember a school can offer contacts but you have to take advantage of them. If you need to speak to someone at Ithaca my S has loads of friends in the theater school. PM me and I would be happy to give you his # or Facebook page. Good luck, the great thing, is that I don’t think you can make a bad decision!</p>
<p>Both schools are, of course, great. There are clear differences between them, none making one “better” than the other but all of which impact on which is a better fit for you, a question only you can answer. Certainly, once you get your studio assignment at Tisch, visiting again, even visiting Ithaca again (and perhaps sitting in on some classes) will go a long way in helping you decide which is the better fit. And even then, you are left with the question of if Tisch is the better fit, is it worth an additional $100,000?</p>
<p>You raise an issue, that of finances, which should not be overlooked as a material and significant factor, perhaps even a determining factor where a student is presented with 2 fine choices but is not in a position to pay cash for college costs. I don’t know your family’s financial position. However, if that $100,000 difference is going to be made up of student loans, under the current rules for unsubsidized Stafford Loans (6.8% over 25 years), that comes to about $695 per month (actually more since interest, if unpaid, will accrue while in school). Add that to what ever other loans you will be taking even before the additional $100,000 and figure out what your total monthly nut will be.</p>
<p>Pursuing one’s “dream school” at any cost, in my view, is not a prudent decision, particularly if entering a field where steady employment is rare. Upon graduation and entry into the work world, a graduate will already be faced with the daunting task of affording housing and health insurance as well as other necessities of life. The “dream” a student has goes beyond the 4 years of which BFA program; it is the dream of performing professionally. That dream can easily be crushed if a graduate is so burdened with debt that it is necessary to find traditional full time employment in a job that does not provide flexibility to audition and perform. In addition, if the monthly cost of living and debt service are so high that the graduate’s life is severely restricted, other important life plans (for example, marriage and family if those are on the radar screen) become a financial impossibility.</p>
<p>I guess my point is this. Have a vision of a life plan that goes beyond the next 4 years, even if its only for the next 10 years. Sit down with your parents and talk about how that additional $100,000 will impact on your longer range life plan. Then make a decision. In terms of training and opportunities, you can’t go wrong with either school. Assuming a huge amount of debt can, however, derail your entire plan. And, in the event that additional $100,000 does not represent additional debt, wouldn’t it be nice to have some of that money available to start you off after graduation? ;)</p>
<p>Thank you so much for the advice, everyone! I just visited Ithaca and stayed with a friend in the theatre arts management program for 3 days. I saw Floyd Collins and it was great! Sat in on classes, met with the chair of the department, and met a ton of amazingly talented and welcoming kids. I’ll definitely be enrolling there in the fall. Ironically, finances aren’t even playing into this decision. I just found that it felt so right for me!</p>
<p>To be at Tisch or not to be at Tisch…that was the $100,000 question! It would have been a totally understandable and valid choice if your decision to attend Ithaca was made based on finances alone! It’s SO much nicer that it was based on fit and your feeling right about it! I’m so happy for you!! Congratulations and best of luck!!! :)</p>
<p>Congratulation on your choice of Ithaca! I will always have a soft spot in my heart for the red rug in the Theater building, and hope you love it too! Cam</p>