As D receives academic acceptances, in some cases she is getting invited to apply for Honors College. In reading up on these programs, it seems like the benefits include things like schedule and residence hall priority, the opportunity to study abroad in some cases, all with the requirement of having to maintain a much higher GPA.
On initial review, it doesn’t seem like a path worth taking for a MT student. And unless I am missing something, I don’t see it tied to additional scholarship money either.
Any feedback on the value of Honors College is appreciated.
@Bogeyw, I agree with you. My D was asked to apply to the Honors colleges, and in some cases, after she refused to apply, was waived in. It was impossible for her to fit in the Honors College requirements and do what she had to do for a BFA. There may be some schools where it is possible to do both, but I know it is not realistic at others.
It’s probably best to talk to those in that specific program and any who do the BFA and Honors College to get a handle on it as it differs from school to school.
While not quite the same as “Honors College,” when my D was in her BFA program at NYU/Tisch, she was also selected upon admission (didn’t apply for this and didn’t even know about it until we got the letter) to be a “Tisch Scholar.” This was a very small program for all of Tisch (not just drama). There were approximately 15 students chosen per year (this program is no longer there now). This did involve some extra time. It didn’t have to do with academics/coursework, other than having to maintain a 3.5 or higher GPA to stay in it. The group met on certain Friday evenings to attend various arts events and also for discussions and so on. That itself was a little tricky if one had rehearsals. There also was a requirement to do some sort of community service related to the arts and so there was fitting that in too. However, one year, a bunch of them put on a show of various acts (my D’s act was writing a VERY short musical…her first) and this project actually counted as service. But other times she had to do stuff out in the community. Yes it was tricky fitting these things in. However, there were some big benefits. She got to go on a free trip freshman year to Appalachia and work with an arts colony there (with the other freshmen Scholars). In sophomore year, she got to go on a free trip to Brazil with other Tisch Scholars and work with various people in the performing arts there too. So, it was well worth being in this program!
Much of the money my son has been offered is Honors College money (for tuition and learning abroad). Particular GPA threshold must be maintained and some additional academic responsibilities are required including a substantial senior thesis.
My daughter’s scholarships were not tied whatsoever to being a Tisch Scholar. They were entirely separate. Tisch Scholars was an experience. The scholarships were simply monetary, but not connected to being a Scholar.
As an aside, since you mention a “thesis,” none were required of my daughter. However, she chose in senior year to do what is called an Independent Project at ETW studio at Tisch. For this, she wrote her first musical which was performed (she played one of the leads). She considered this in many ways to be a thesis! And it was such a great experience to do in college and it eventually became professionally produced after college. College can be a great place to do such projects in senior year!
Just trying to point out that even if a thesis is not required, some may wish to take on a big project in senior year, if their school allows it. That experience for my D turned into something way larger after she graduated and led to more opportunities and awards in a professional realm. She originally just meant for it to be a senior project but now it has become part of her career.
My daughter is in a BA theater program at Drew and is an Honor’s scholar as well. Most of her tuition is paid because of this. She has to maintain a 3.7 GPA and take one honor’s class a year. She has found this very very challenging especially during the fall Mainstage show she was cast in but somehow she made it work. Depends on the kid and how hard they want to work.
My daughter chose to ignore any honors college invitations or applications when applying to schools. We kept reading about MT kids rehearsing all evening and then having to tackle homework into the wee hours and then get up for early dance classes…so the decision was just wanted to focus on the training and her health - which includes sleep (which she still doesn’t get enough of). At her school there are a few non-monetary advantages, but there is also more work in non-BFA-related classes. I guess it’s just a personal choice if you think the advantages (which are different at different schools) are worth the extra work you’ll have to put in. Some kids are super-motivated and organized and thrive on pressure; my kid really needs some down time.
@calliene’s D’s decision is a practical one. My S is in honors program, but as of 2nd semester of freshman year has yet to find an honors class that actually fits into the crazy BFA schedule. He is assured that it’s OK, and that in reality the theater kids can just do an honors project in senior year to get the “certification” - but then what’s the point of being in honors if you don’t get the “honors” education throughout your college years? Fortunately, merit scholarship is not contingent on being in honors.
Thanks to everyone for the feedback. You all pretty much confirmed what I thought. If Honors College isn’t going to help pay for college and it’s not going to give D any advantage getting a job when she graduates, I don’t really see the need for the added pressure.
It really is an individual choice. While Honors College or other Honors type designations may not be tied to scholarship money (as in my D’s case, scholarships were a separate entity) or have any advantage in terms of career options, there are other benefits to some of the experiences that some schools may offer and the connection with other students and so on. I think my D did benefit from the gatherings with Tisch Scholars, creating shows with them, doing service projects, and going on all expense paid trips related to the arts in other cultures. I don’t solely think of college in terms of being about what job you get when you get out, but about the experience itself and things that might enrich the experience.
As an aside, I notice that when my daughter, now a professional artist, has to write an extended bio for various situations, she includes that she is a University Scholar alum of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and so I guess that experience has meaning for her.
My D is in Honors College and it generally means she has to take one additional Honors College class a semester. adds a bit of stress, and many other students (MT kids and not) elected to drop out their sophmore year because they didn’t feel it was worth the added course load to have an Honors College distinction. My D has not done so, as there are financial advantages to being in the college, but it is something we as parents have recently discussed, and we may advise her to drop it as this semester her schedule is inssane, and it may not be worth the added stress.
Should she stay in she will have to do a senior thesis project, and she is thinking about directing a Cabaret night or doing a solo performance.
In the campus overview at Texas State , they say that the MT dept has more honors students than any other major, excluding engineering, so it must be possible there
One thing to consider is that many of the fine MT programs are not located within academically selective universities. Those who want a BFA in MT have to go where the programs are. If your child is academically strong, and doesn’t end up at a BFA program within a more academically selective university, one way to find the appropriate level of academic challenge would be to enroll in the Honors program at the less academically selective university. Texas State, mentioned above, is an example.
Both my D’s were Steinhardt Scholars at NYU. Older D was a VP major (MT.) The Scholars program met twice a month on Fridays and my daughter loved it!. Like soozievt’s D, she was able to take advantage of incredible travel opportunities over vacation breaks that were mostly financed by NYU. Through Scholars, she traveled to Austin, TX, Mexico and Italy for about $400 each in total.
Younger D (a current studio art major) recently traveled to Cuba and Paris as part of Scholars. Both girls agree that the best part of the program was meeting students (and getting to know them well) who were outside of their majors. Both studio art and MT are small, tight knit programs in which the students take many classes together. While that is a definite plus to both their programs, they loved meeting others and expanding their horizons. Sometimes my D’s wanted to talk about other things than just art or theatre. This provided that opportunity more than a regular class would and the closeness of the Scholars allowed them to form real friendships.
Yes, dorm preference, and in some cases preferential registration are other bonuses! But consider time involved over all, since BFA programs are already time consuming. Some of this is knowing your own kid – if you have the type of kid who wants the most intellectually stimulating coursework offered and is good at time management, then by all means go for it! I know at both my kids’ schools, they love having performing arts kids in the Honors college because they were bright and outgoing students. Best of luck!