<p>Hi, I'm a student from Canada (New Brunswick) and I got acxpeted to the music business program at Steinhardt. I was really happy at first, but now I'm starting to worry. I'm an international student, so I received 0 financial aid. I have to pay full tuition, which is like 60k a year. By the time I graduate, even if my parents help I'll be in debt at least 100k and at most 200k. </p>
<p>1) Is the Music Business program really worth all this money? I mean, is it a "legitimate degree"?
2) How much should I expect to make after graduation? Would this number be much higher if I go to grad school? (And potentially put myself in more debt?)
3) NYC is hella expensive... after graduation, can I expect to stay in the village or a good neighborhood, or will I be broke and have to live off Manhattan?
4) What kind of career opportunities will be presented to me?</p>
<p>These are the main questions I have... Please help me!! Ive been so worried lately! I feel like after 4 years of college glamor new York will reveal its true side and my music business degree would not be worth the 200k in debt!!!</p>
<p>IMO no degree is worth getting 100K to 200K into debt.</p>
<p>1)No and maybe.
2) Far less money than you’ll need to pay off $200k in debt. Also, it’s hard for an international with such a generic degree to work in the US.
3) No and yes. Especially because your visa will expire and you’ll have to move back to Canada.
4) Few because breaking into the music industry is hard as hell.</p>
<p>It is most certainly a legitimate degree, but Steinhardt has a mediocre reputation as far as music schools go. It’s considered pretty good, but definitely not at the same level as the country’s more prestigious music schools. If you can transfer to the business part of the Clive Davis Recorded Music program in NYU Tisch, however, it might be worth it IF you can get a scholarship. Ending up with that much student loan debt is INSANE.</p>
<p>Also, this is important: Music business can be a great thing to study, and it can make you a good amount of money IF you’re in the right place and you work hard professionally to make contacts and gain real-world know-how. Your classes will help you learn some of that stuff, but if you want a career in the music business, it’s up to YOU to get out there and make a name for yourself. Your degree will be an asset, but it won’t get you anywhere on its own.</p>