<p>I know this is a complex question without an easy answer, but I would be curious to get the input of any others that might be wrestling with this question. My S is down to two colleges (unless some miracle school comes in over the next two weeks) - Ithaca and Ball State. We got our Ithaca financial aid package today. Ithaca is roughly $10,000 more a year. This does not include loans at either schools as our goal is ZERO loans in this field of work. The other caveat is that Ithaca price includes grant money based on FAFSA, so depending on annual income that grant amount could change if income goes up at all (and our ability to pay more may not increase at the same pace). Ball State is offering merit scholarship that equates to paying in-state tuition for all four years, so that is unlikely to change dramatically other than annual tuition increases. My S is sold on the fact that Ithaca is a stronger program and therefore worth the extra money (easy to claim when you aren’t writing the check). I’m not sure what to think as $40K, and potentially more, is a lot of money…and my husband (who hasn’t been involved in this process beyond financially) says go with the cheaper school. Any pearls of wisdom on this front would be greatly appreciated! I’m sure others have made these hard choices, be it at Ithaca or elsewhere.</p>
<p>Congratulations on having two good choices. That’s about all I can contribute here, but I hate to see threads with no replies. What we are all looking for is the magic combination of excellent training and a good fit, and cost is part of the fit. Maybe a very detailed pro/con spreadsheet would help? Are you visiting both schools before decision time?</p>
<p>My daughter is in exactly the same boat, with Ithaca costing roughly 10K more per year than her second choice schools. Ithaca does seem to have a slightly stronger program in her area of interest, but 40K over four years–or more likely 50K, with annual tuition increases–will be a huge strain on our finances, especially as she is one of 3 kids we need to put through college in the next few years.</p>
<p>I don’t want her to regret not attending Ithaca but I don’t want her choice to attend Ithaca to limit her younger sister to community college in our home town.</p>
<p>When you solve this Gordian knot, please share the solution with me!</p>
<p>Congrats! well its up to you really. If Ithaca has a stronger program thane go for it. In the end what you are going to get out of the program will help pay for any debt that you might have or get. i’d say go with Ithaca but thats just my humble opinion.</p>
<p>My son has the same choices with a few other schools thrown in to complicate things.
For us it’s an easy pick, he’s headed to Ithaca unless he gets a miracle phone call in the next few days. Ithaca is a fantastic place to spend your college years. it s in a gorgeous setting with a well educated, interesting local population. We live in a very similar college town and it provides a certain quality of life that is hard to beat. If it’s doable, I’d say go for it.</p>
<p>actsandsings, you and I have talked about this, so you know how I feel. But here’s how I think about it: you are not only making an investment in your S’s college (the next 4 years), but in his future. I think you need to ask your son where he thinks he will be happiest, and then you need to ask where you think he will get the best training for his ultimate goal (whatever that may be). It’s not just the money…it’s what he will accomplish at the different schools (training, contacts, experiences, etc.). Sounds like he thinks Ithaca is the place for him. Maybe you can call the school and find out about other methods of bringing tuition down (work study, being an RA in sophomore year, etc.).</p>
<p>We can relate - as my D has a couple of options with scholarships reducing the cost significantly. Then we have Ithaca with no scholarship. But she is pretty sure that Ithaca is a better program for her. I have (sort of) jokingly said if she went to the cheaper program, we would put some money in a savings account for her to start off her “starving artist” life. Haha! Ithaca has such a great reputation, and there are a number of actors coming from there lately on Bway. I don’t know much about Ball State, but I think you have to weigh all the options together - after seeing the program first hand. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks for the input all. We are weighing, pro and conning, grappling, nail biting…I mentioned to monkey13 I think I’m looking for an answer that simply doesn’t exist I think. We are going to have to take the leap either way and have faith it will all work out.</p>
<p>I do not know anything about Ball State … I went to school in Ithaca and my son was accepted and visited IC a couple times so I some thoughts on Ithaca College. Three things about IC stood out for my son … 1) he loves Ithaca as a college town (although there is not much right next to the IC campus) … 2) the medium size of IC was a big draw … 3) the number and variety of schools for a college it’s size is unusual and creates a much more eclectic student population than most schools it’s size. The more my son found out about IC the more he liked it.</p>
<p>Here’s another tidbit about Ithaca. According to a trusted voice coach we know, Ithaca students can also audition for Cornell shows so they have even more opportunities for theatre roles. I had not heard that before and will be asking about it from the school to learn more. I have talked to a number of staff at Ithaca and have been overwhelmed with their generosity of spirit about the school, the MT program (with profound congrats) and a general sense of how much they love the school.</p>
<p>I was particularly struck at audition day by how professional, bright, articulate, and kind the current Ithaca students appeared to be. They spoke to the waiting parents during the entire audition period, answering questions and volunteering stories, and they were extremely impressive. The facility is great, and we loved the area. I’ve only heard wonderful things about Ithaca and will echo the earlier comments about visiting and (if possible) seeing productions if you can do so. Ithaca bounced into his “top tier” when we visited on audition day, and he was thrilled to learn he was accepted. We would have found it to be a financial stretch, based on the aid my son received; as it turns out, he will be going elsewhere, but if this had been his first choice, we would have made it work, I think.</p>
<p>Hello, I am doing my research right now and trying to compare Elon to Ithaca. Any thoughts on them ? Except for the fact that Elon has much better weather. Lol. Is anyone trying to choose between those two ?</p>
<p>I think you would find a very different overall environment–college and general surroundings–and also quite different student body/school culture (in and out of the theater programs). Have you visited?</p>
<p>i go to a performing arts high school and more than a few people are considering elon over ithaca strictly because of dance. money may also be a huge factor! we would all like to go to the school of our dreams but the sibling thing is more important.</p>
<p>actsandsings, I see you have made your choice! Best of luck to your son at Ball State. </p>
<p>I think Ithaca’s dance program gets a bad rap b/c they don’t have a dance portion of the MT audition. But they actually have four levels of ballet, jazz, tap, and MT dance, and they also have a dance minor for the MT majors. I have not talked to anyone there recently who is unhappy with the dance program.</p>