<p>Hi Guys,
I'm from Holland, and I just got acceptance emails from these three schools, which I'm over the moon about. However, I have a difficult time deciding, because I can see myself in a smaller city like Syracuse with a campus as well as exciting NYC with not really a campus. I don't really know what living on a campus for a college experience is like, because I've only lived in big cities. I know what the schools are about, but I was wondering if any of you have had good or bad experiences with these schools, campus or big city, what the reputations of these schools are in the US, and if you could help me with any other inside scoop!</p>
<p>All three are great programs with great reputations in the U.S. Syracuse is the only one with a traditional college campus in a college town- not a major city. It’s very pretty up there though! It would definitely introduce you to college sports and school spirit. I can only attest to NYU- my son absolutely loves going to school there. Not only is he getting great training, but he is constantly getting free tickets to Broadway shows. When they’re not free, he only pays $10. I also love the Washington Square area. Good luck with your decision!</p>
<p>Congrats fromholland! That is very exciting and those are great schools. If you are going for straight theatre ( not MT) then I would just concentrate on Syracuse and NYU. Pace is good too, but does not have the same reputation as the other two. I’m sure people on cc will pipe in and disagree with me, but I speak the truth, and I’m just trying to help you.
My daughter goes to NYU and she applied to Syracuse and we visited, so I can tell you a little info.</p>
<p>Both are great for acting, both are large schools- but you would be in small classes. Both, I think, are the best of both worlds because you get to experience a large school with lots of different people, majors, etc. but you will have the security of a small program. Even at Nyu, your studio classes will be 12-18 kids max. And you will get to know them intimately well.</p>
<p>So I think it comes down to location. Do you see yourself in the version of college with a real campus, a quad, huge sports teams, lots of school spirit and a Greek life that is very present? Syracuse is in a small town and it is all about the campus there. It is cold and it snows a lot. It is about 4-6 hrs drive from new york city. There are all different types of people there, but it is probably not as global as NYU.
Or do you see yourself living in New York City which is totally different. There would be more culture and arts, theatre, restaurants, shopping, etc. but you would not have the “classic American” college experience. Both schools are liberal, NYU more so because there is a large gay population there. Which my daughter loves! </p>
<p>One difference I would say is the academics. At NYU you would be taking more academics than at Syracuse and the level of academics would be a little higher. So that is something to look into. If it was possible to visit before deciding I would highly recommend it.</p>
<p>You’re welcome! Great assessment Mommy5! Also, my son loves the public transportation available in the city. You don’t need a car at all! My son is also an RA in the LOL Explorations floor. He is constantly taking his floor to shows. This week, they are seeing Matilda. The people on his floor are from all over the place. NYU is really great at helping their students acclimate to the city.</p>
<p>Once you find out which NYU studio you’re in, you’ll have a better point of comparison. You can look at the curriculum, the performance opportunities, the faculty-- and you can talk to students (I assume you’ve joined ‘the Allied’ facebook page? There are lots of students from all the schools there who can tell you about their programs.) </p>
<p>Syracuse is not much of a city. I think you might find it discouraging. It’s not just that it isn’t New York-- it’s cold and gritty far from almost everywhere. On the other hand there are lots of advantages to being in a smaller program, and Syracuse’s relation with Syracuse Stage is a big plus. Look as closely at both as you can–it’s such a personal decision.</p>
<p>Hello, fromholland!
I think you’ve received good advice here. I attended Syracuse myself, and can attest to its standing as a genuine “classic” big university in the US. It is cold and grey, but if that doesn’t bother you, you’ll be attending a great school with an excellent reputation. </p>
<p>Both NYU and Syracuse will satisfy you intellectually; if you are academically inclined. I don’t think you’ll find the same level of academics at Pace.</p>
<p>My daughter fell in love with NYU’s program, and while it’s an exclusive school she found the personnel to be very welcoming and warm. The school provides strong conservatory training with equally challenging academics. It’s certainly in the “Ivy League” of acting programs.</p>
<p>You have received excellent feedback so far. My S attends Syracuse and likes it very much. We are from a cosmopolitan city and Syracuse the city is not much to look at - however, the surrounding area is very lovely. In winter, it receives quite a bit of “lake effect” snow because it is situated just under one of the Great Lakes. However, snow removal appears to occur speedily. As other posters have noted, Syracuse U offers a “traditional” college experience - the campus has a large college green lined by university buildings. There are fraternities and sororities. Syracuse has a well known basketball team that made it this year to the NCAA Final Four college basketball team. That means that there is huge school spirit - Syracuse students are said to “bleed orange” - and partly as a result a strong alumni network. The drama program is strong - and one advantage is its association with an equity theater. The drama students are a close knit bunch and the program makes an effort to get them to bond, eg, by assigning an upperclass drama student to be a buddy to a freshman drama student. Syracuse offers drama students the opportunity to spend a semester in London or a semester or summer in LA. Most drama students spend their final semester in NYC at Syracuse’s Tepper semester. NYU offers advantages too. It has an excellent academic reputation as well as drama reputation and is located in a terrific part of NYC. It has an urban campus. Students attend classes at assigned studios and the program in terms of number of freshmen drama students is much larger than Syracuse’s. Not sure if you will be able to visit these schools before you have to decide, unless you have already seen them. Hope this info is helpful and good luck in helping you make a decision.</p>
<p>Hi Fromholland! I’m a current freshman in the Drama Program at NYU in the Strasberg studio, so I hope I can offer some insight into the program!</p>
<p>I agree with what a few of the other people have said in that if you are going for straight acting, I would focus on NYU & Syracuse; Pace is a fantastic school for MT (and acting too, don’t get me wrong) but is not nearly as well known for it’s acting as it is it’s MT.
I don’t know much about Syracuse, but I do have a friend that goes there and really loves it.</p>
<p>But that being said, I LOVE NYU and I really could not imagine a better place to be. NYC is center of the acting world (theater wise)- there is so much going on here at all times, and just by being in the city alone you will meet some of the most amazing people who will change your life. Your professors at NYU will be people who have worked in the industry and have taught some of the top actors and actresses working today. (Some of my professors have taught Alec Baldwin, Adam Sandler, Claire Danes, Lady Gaga, Scarlett Johannson, and Kelli O’Hara… just to name a few) I know in the other studios, Alice Ripley, Norm Lewis, and Anthony Rapp just showed up for a day to grade their midterms, and Michael McElroy is a regular professor.
I mean NYU is a top of the line education- they take full advantage of being in the city and they want you to as well.
Not to mention that NYU draws people from all over the world (such as yourself) and you get to befriend people you never would’ve had the chance to otherwise.
I really truly love NYU, and I think it’s one of the most amazing experiences you could ever be offered.</p>