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.
No debt Take that money saved to get yourself started in NYC once you graduate. Many students graduate from universities that are not NYU and have successful careers.
I posted on the MT forum for this same question. Find a school that meets need. There are many besides NYU that have strong programs and connections in the industry. One is your neighbor in Ann Arbor.
Run net price calculators online for schools and see what you may be expected to pay. And remember that most BFA programs are
Four years - transfer or not.
Have you considered taking a summer intensive in NYC to supplement your training? I know Circle in the Square has them and there are others. I agree that NYU is probably going to cost a bundle and having lots of debt will close down your options later on. Chicago is also a Mega-bus ride away from East Lansing – have you thought about coming down for summer auditions (Porchlight’s got one coming up, Drury Lane usually does one around now)? I’m not clear on whether you’re unhappy with the training you’re getting or the connections you’re making but you could supplement both without starting over at one of the most expensive universities in America. (And not to start the whole NYU thing again, but one where many people get less-than-favorable financial aid.)
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.
@2019theatremom - not sure what you mean by “limited focus” on MT at NYU. Yes, there is only 1 dedicated MT studio (and 5 other primary studios) But there are significant MT opportunities there, though I grant you the price tag is steep.
You want to go into a field that is best known for financial instability. The vast, vast majority of successful people in MT did NOT go to NYU. By all means transfer to a program that you like better- but not one where you will have to take on debt- and I can nearly guarantee you that NYU will not be generous enough with you financially.
If you really want to go into MT, graduating debt free and being able to pay for lessons, portfolio materials, early roles that pay little but give experience and build a resume- not to mention rent, food, getting to auditions, etc. is going to do more for your career than going to NYU.
From where you are NYU may look like a shiny star that is a sure shot into the MT world. It’s not.*
*for anybody who thinks that I am being unfair to NYU arts- I’m not saying that it’s not a good program- just that it’s not worth going into debt over, esp for somebody planning a career in theater
Not me, but a brother (career) and a daughter (college). Collegekid was v interested in NYU so a lot of homework was done; she applied and was accepted but ultimately turned it down for another college in the region.
I tend to agree with @collegemom3717. Great school, but as is true with any other great school that is extremely expensive, if you graduate with significant debt and have to work long hours to pay your loans, you’re not going to have time to even audition for roles when you graduate. You could get a job in a related field so that you can network while you work (casting agent office, entry level theater administration job, etc), but remember that if you get a day job, you’re not available during the day to audition, and if you get a night job, you’re not available at night for some pretty awesome low-to-no-pay performance experiences that couldn’t cover your loans.
If you are going into engineering, going to be a medical doctor, or a few other high-paying fields then debt might be worth it. As @collegemom3717 said, this field is not worth it. Go debt-free for reasons listed earlier in this thread. Yes industry connections are important, but school is what you make of it. Work hard and learn. Leverage the connections that are available to you and then build your network over time. Will be much easier without debt payments hanging over your head.
To quote my daughter’s friend who was accepted to Columbia (full ride scholarship) and NYU (no scholarship): “I was really sad that I couldn’t go to NYU, but it would be more sad if I couldn’t live near NYC after graduation because I was so deeply in debt that I couldn’t afford to live there.”
Take that money saved to get yourself started in NYC once you graduate. Many students graduate from universities that are not NYU and have successful careers.