<p>How realistic is it to thnk that a Tisch student especially one in MT can also hold down a part time job as a freshman at NYU? My gut says it can be done because work study financial aid awards would require it but I wanted to ask what the experience is from those that have “boldly gone where we’re about to go before”. </p>
<p>How many hours a week are reasonable and what are some suggestions of good part time jobs that can match up with a Tisch NSB schedule. Or am I deluding myself and it can’t be done?</p>
<p>My daughter is entering her second year at Tisch/NSB/MT in the fall. She held 2 PT jobs last year (both NYU work study jobs), totalling about 10 hours a week. She was able to juggle the jobs, her classes, homework and a show. But I wouldn’t recommend it. These kids are in class many more hours than the typical college student. When you spread yourself thin like that, something has to “give”. Unfortunately, we had no choice due to the lack of financial aid.</p>
<p>With regards to fitting jobs into the class schedule…that can be difficult. He/she will be in studio 3 full days a week and in 2 “regular” classes (plus voice lessons) on the other 2 days. My daughter scheduled her regular classes back to back early in the morning so that she would have a chunk of time available for work on those 2 days. </p>
<p>Your D/S could find a job at night (more difficult to find with work study). But that will conflict with rehearsals if he/she gets into a show. One of my daughter’s jobs extended into the evening hours and it was stressful during rehearsal times when she had to ask for time off and/or ask other workers to fill in.</p>
<p>Best of luck! BTW: My daughter is absolutely thrilled with her first year experience at Tisch and is looking forward to returning in the fall!</p>
<p>I would not recommend it if there’s any way to avoid it, especially in freshman year. That isn’t to say that it can’t be done but you have to keep in mind that the hours worked mean that the student is then not able to take advantage of the things that are available during those hours. There are going to be sacrifices that are made and as long as the student knows that, and understands that they will not have the same type of opportunities as those who aren’t working will have, then they can make the choice. It’s not only rehearsals that take place in the evenings, there are a myriad of other things that I know my D was involved in that couldn’t have happened if she had to work in addition to school. There have been parents/kids here over the years who have posted about the difficulty of even attending auditions for Tisch shows because of work conflicts.</p>
<p>I think it would be difficult but it depends on the job. Freshmen year, the student is not in a show but will have to crew two shows. My daughter also had a capella rehearsals. </p>
<p>I recall freshmen year, that my D worked periodically (not consistently) performing musical theater type birthday parties on some Saturdays for a musical theater related company. Perhaps a flexible weekend babysitting job or something like that could be worked out. Flexibility would be key I think. My daughter could accept each job or turn it down day by day as asked. She may have accompanied a children’s MT class at one point too (I am now forgetting some of her jobs). But overall, I would say that once your kid is in shows, and with the Tisch schedule (plus my kid was in a capella and also was in something else that had some commitments called Tisch Scholars), there is very little free time.</p>
<p>Although I know students who pulled it off on occasion, I know my son would not have been able to take full advantage of the Tisch experience (he was in PH) had he tried to hold down a job. His hours were irregular; impromptu rehearsals started at ALL times of day and night, extra courses and workshop opportunities occurred, and he made valuable contacts assisting others. When I weighed what he would be paid in salary against what we were paying for the full Tisch/NYU experience there was no question.</p>
<p>Thank you all for the responses. I was thinking along the lines of 5 - 10 hours a week so there would at least be a few dollars in the pocket for spending money. I don’t know how things are today but for example, in my college days (I admit, I’m a dinosaur) one could work a security desk checking IDs on a weekend evening and study at the same time. Or a morning shift in a dining hall before classes where the only thing it conflicted with was sleep. I was also thinking about the kind of work that you could say no to if your schedule doesn’t allow (like working a party as SoozieVT describes above).</p>
<p>I suppose I’m in for an awakening. I was thinking that there was no way in the world Tisch was going to be a fuller schedule than what she had in the past 4 years in HS where she would be in the pool training at 6 AM, plus meets and rehearsing for whatever play she was in after school until 9 or 10 PM then doing homework until the wee hours and so on. She won’t be swimming at NYU so part of me thought perhaps she might be able to work a little bit. She has asked the same question on the NYU Tisch page and been told she was nuts. But as I said, I can’t believe there are not work study kids that MUST make it work and do. (2incollege123 proves it.)</p>
<p>For the record, I’m not out to torture her and we want her to get as much as she can out of the 4 years. I just want to know if it was possible.</p>
<p>@halflokum - same sentiment for my D. She is determined to avail of the study/work program for some spending money (since she did not get into low-cost housing!). Will see what is available and feasible during the orientation week. </p>
<p>@soozievt - just curious, any commitments required for Tisch Scholars - aside for maintaining a certain grade?</p>
<p>The three studio days don’t give much time for a job unless it is at night. They are pretty much in class from 8:30/9:00 until 5:00/6:00. I guess it is possible to work some hours on the other 2 days depending on how you schedule as you could have a chunk of time available. True, they will not be in any shows their freshman year. I also remember my son teched a show and was very busy for a few weeks at night and the show was not on campus but near. When they had an NYU fair during the move-in day week in his freshman year, I spoke to the Career Center and when I told them he was in Tisch, they said that was different and that it would be tough. I have mentioned this before but if some of you didn’t see it, my son will be an RA this fall and so he gets free room and board. That sort of makes up for the 2 years he didn’t work at school. At least, I’m trying to look at it that way! This year, my son was in a Stageworks show (that was rehearsing during winter break so he went back early) and right after that a studio show. Proud to say he made straight A’s- just stating the facts because it is possible with an extremely busy schedule and rigorous course load. Sorry if I come off a little bragging but he worked his a** off! For you freshman, hard work, professionalism, and respect definitely goes a long way with your professors!</p>
<p>Paradise:
There is a chance you might be misunderstanding what Tisch Scholars is. This is a program my D got selected for when she was admitted to NYU/Tisch, but to my knowledge, this program no longer exists. This is NOT the same as her SCHOLARSHIP. This was a program that had about 15 students across all of Tisch selected per year. If I recall, they met every other Friday evening (and she did have conflicts when in shows) and it also involved cultural activities and commitments to community service. For example, D wrote a mini musical that was put on as a project with Tisch Scholars her second year. Also, in freshmen year, over Spring Break, the Scholars went to Appalachia to work with an arts community, all expenses paid. In her soph year, she went with Tisch Scholars to Brazil and also worked with those in the arts there, all expenses paid. It was a great program. She did have to maintain at least a 3.5 to stay in the program. This was entirely unrelated to the scholarship she won for four years. Are you saying that they have Tisch Scholars back again? Remember, I’m referring to a PROGRAM by selection, but NOT a scholarship.</p>
<p>My son was invited to an honors program this year but he declined it. I can’t remember which one it was but it was definitely an honors program. They even listed classes he could take and they were very esoteric.</p>
<p>Tisch Scholars was not an honors program and didn’t involve classes/academics. If anything, I would say it was more based on leadership in the arts. I believe this program is no longer funded or in existence. It was really great though!</p>
<p>I think it is possible but you, and she, have to realize that it’s likely she’ll be sacrificing something in order to work those ten hours. As long as she’s willing to take that risk, it’s doable. I wouldn’t recommend it because she will definitely be missing out on other opportunities. I think jasmom put it best. With what Tisch costs, you want your child to be able, and available, to take advantage of every possible opportunity.</p>
<p>^^^I completely agree that for what it costs, it would be fantastic if she chooses to squeeze the life out of every opportunity. I was thinking though that there could be 5 hours a week of random socializing that perhaps could be offered up. However, if all they can spare per week for socializing is 5 hours, then no, I’d not want that either. Part of the experience should be the people they meet and the places they go. It will be interesting to watch how it unfolds.</p>
<p>halflokum- just plan on eating rice and Ramen noodles for the next 4 years! I hated to do it but I had to take out loans so my son could get the full experience and sometimes, I had to “force” him to take advantage of it all. He was always worried about the cost and sometimes held back. He did always manage to get free tickets to a lot of shows through his friends. He’s great at that!</p>
<p>Let me add the following. Last year my D was a freshman in NSB/MT. one of her acting teachers asked the class to attend a performance that he was directing. Some students did not see the request as “mandatory” per se and did not attend, and some had work commitments and did not attend. When the class next met the teacher was very upset with the kids that did not attend and questioned their dedication to the program. My point here is that while we all wish the kids could work and make some spending money etc, it just is not practical because there are programs the kids need to attend that are outside of their scheduled classes.</p>
<p>I’m currently a freshman Drama major, and fully intended on working part time. (I worked at an Urban Outfitters back home and was in the process of transferring to one up here.) But honestly, once I got here, I really didn’t have the time.
I was going to work to have extra spending cash, so I didn’t NEED the job, but if you want to have any sort of social life and maintain your grades, you really can’t have a PT job and be a drama student at Tisch.
You’re in studio from 9-6 three times a week and then you have your other classes the other two days, and then you’d be working on the weekend. Plus you’re exhausted from studio, and the homework from your non-studio (and sometimes even studio) classes adds up.</p>
<p>Though it may not be the same thing, it does create conflict when my son tries to take commercial auditions. He isn’t really available for theatrical auditions much during the school year because they would pull him out of school, but commercial auditions (voice over, on-camera, even print) can put dollars in his pocket and help with college costs. Very competitive, however. And time consuming. So I think it sort of counts as a “job” to take these auditions and hopefully book something. Always a balancing act, however. BFA commitments are huge at Tisch and good luck to anyone who can work a scheduled job. Lot of kids have commitments in a work related sense, however. Especially RAs. But the clothing boutiques and coffee shop jobs require a commitment to a legit work schedule that I think most BFAs can’t do. Just my 2cents.</p>
<p>During D’s first two years - at Playwrights Horizons - work would have been very, very difficult. I know some did a little work study, but after 30+ hours a week in class, plus about that much out of class, there was very little time to sleep. I do think you could manage 5-10 hours especially at the Library or a Reference Desk, where you might study. Depending on studio, however, you will have some evening commitments that are a must. This year, D is in a different studio for advanced and does have a 15-20 hour job. She will be in a production each semester and will have to scale back nights worked for rehearsals and then take almost 2 weeks completely off for Hell Week and performances.</p>
<p>Yes, I agree with writestuff54. My D is in her second year at NSB and she is only able to get a job at the help desk at NYU answering phones. It is only a few hours a week and she can do homework when not on the phone.</p>