Hello! I’m currently at Michigan State studying Theatre/Musical Theatre and am looking to transfer to NYU; however, I am concerned about the debt.
My family can cover $30,000 of the cost per year, but no more. I come from a single-parent home ($79,000 income) with three children in college. With these stats, I may receive some financial aid.
Being in the entertainment industry, connections and opportunities are very important to success. Currently at MSU, I am concerned with my future success as we do not receive as many opportunities that are provided at other schools. I believe that the possible debt may be worth it on the long run due to NYU’s prominence as one of the top ten schools for Musical Theatre with a large amount of alumni on Broadway.
Don’t do the debt if the aid doesn’t come through. It’s foolish for your situation. If you want to be in NYC or close for connections, find a program that skips the debt. Are you looking at Montclair for example?
There are plenty of students that move to NYC every year after graduation without a ton of contacts either. There are also plenty of NYU grads with great contacts struggling like everyone else to work.
This advice btw is coming from the parent of a recent NYU MT grad. I respect the program but can’t recommend taking on a financial hardship for the reasons you are considering transferring.
I also have a kid at NYU - and feel that the education/training she is getting is worth every penny. But I don’t think you should dig yourself in debt to get it. If you are looking to transfer, you may want to research schools that have strong connections, and are more likely to meet full need
Have you considered university of Michigan? Great reputation in the industry and it is in state tuition for you. If looking at NYU I assume you have the academic stats that would also work for Michigan
There are a lot of schools not located in NYC that still have great connections and help
Grads starting out. Agree with all above that you can move after graduation and no matter where you go to school you have to do the work to get the work. We know Juilliard and NYU grads waiting tables and others winning awards and amazing roles. They are just like everyone else. There is no guarantee for anyone.
I should probably make it clear that I’m unhappy where I’m at. I’m not receiving the training I want as MT is only a minor here. I want rigorous MT training.
Keep in mind not all MT programs allow you to transfer in without basically starting all over. If you need to spend additional time in college, even a fifth year, that should be considered when figuring out the costs.
I was going to say the same thing @Pohsmom. Very few will let you transfer in as a junior or higher.
What I might recommend, if it is feasible for you, is to use your remaining summers to get some of the experience and contacts you feel you are lacking. Some suggestions would include:
Broadway Dance Center Summer Training program - if you need to improve your dance.
Broadway Theatre Project - all around training
The Performing Arts Project - all around training
Broadway Dreams Foundation - all around training
All of the above have some college level training. You will improve your skills and you will make invaluable contacts for after you graduate.
Are you auditioning for any summer stock? There are some apprentice programs you might consider as well, although you’d need to get on it soon. Some of the ones I cn think of include:
Williamstown Theater Festival
Barrington Stage
Hangar Theatre
Flatrock Playhouse
I’m sure there are many more. Some of these you will get to perform in shows while sometimes earning EMC points as well.
Do be aware for all of the above there is often an audition or application process you must get through and then there is a cost to participate in the programs. But I still think that cost would be far less than what it would cost you to start over at a new school.
And I’m sure folks here on CC will add to the list of summer programs you might want to consider taking part in to improve your overall training and contacts.
There are also programs in the city you can take part in should you go ahead and finish school and then move up there that can provide you with both skills training and contacts.
CHeck out The Barn Theatre for summer opportunities in Michigan. I believe they have a school, but also have a well-regarded summer stock theatre. I’m not sure how they handle all there casting, but in the past they have attend the Ohio Theatre Alliance (OTA) unified auditions in January at Muskingum University in New Concord, OH. Getting outside training and on-stage theater experience can be just as valuable as going to an “it” school.
Agree don’t go into debt. It will seriously hold you back when you graduate. There are successful performers who go to all sorts of schools, or none at all. BTW Montclair (the OTHER MSU) does accept transfers and gives in-state tuition to BFA candidates. Very rigorous MT training. My profile picture is of the NYC skyline taken from the campus, if being near NYC is what you want.
Second the no debt vote. Look for schools that are less expensive with still great programs…
Montclair, wright state, schools where you may get in state tuition because of the academic common market or neighboring state reciprocity…
My d attends the MTP program at WMU and you can read the top two threads in the Western Michigan sub-forum to learn why she picked it and some info on current working grads. I will also note that as far as I know, the graduating class from last year was close to 100 percent successful in finding work on National Tours, cruise ships, and regional theatres. There are more working grads on Broadway and National Tours than I have listed - I can’t keep up with them all!
“A great reputation in NYC” is honestly not a thing. One needs to show up for auditions in NYC or wherever ready to grab the work. Which means being talented and trained enough to secure it over everyone else whom is also in the room and nobody will give a lick about where your degree was earned. Some programs get you an express pass to the front of the line but most won’t. I guarantee the OP applied to U Mich already. One doesn’t live in Michigan and miss the fact that their flagship school has one of the best MT programs in the country if not the best.
Look for the really strong transfer schools that won’t break the bank. Montclair, I guess Wright State, and others like that. Don’t go deep into debt for NYU because of contacts. (I could elaborate on other reasons to go deep into NYU but none were expressed by the OP. Contacts? Yes they are there but not a good reason.) Yes… contacts come with a school like NYU but none of it will matter if you are not really ready and able to commit to this crazy field which is hard and mostly will have nothing to do with being talented because it will be a given. The talent that looks exactly like you and can replace you, will line up with you. Or not with you if you are not in line and not really ready to play.
S’s audition coach (who is a Broadway Director) had the opinion that you should avoid debt. You’ll graduate and then have to get a job to pay your loans and then it will be tougher to get to auditions. Fast forward 5 years and you could still be in the same situation. My S was accepted at NYU in the MT studio, but after a lot of thought chose to graduate nearly debt free. You should really consider it!
The subject of “does the school itself matter” has been debated a dozen times on this site…and that’s just the threads I have read. I absolutely think there are schools that have better connections for getting started than others - but I don’t think that lasts very long. Brand doesn’t matter if the quality isn’t there- which after graduation is just as much about work ethic, attitude and hustle as it is about talent. (in fact, like @halflokum, I would argue that talent is the LEAST important ingredient for success, as you can assume everyone else in the line has it too)
OP - to ME - the thing that you want to look for is the best training you can get your hands on, preferably without debt… in Michigan, in New York, wherever - and then hit the ground running when you are done.
