<p>I am really interested in The New York Conservatory of Dramatic Arts, but I'm also interested in the drama program at Tisch. I'm under the impression that I'll get more screen acting experience at NYCDA, am I right? I'm also under the impression that Broadway/tv/film casters like the training program aspect more, not so much the degree program. I think that the degree program may just be a waste of time, but I don't really know. I would go for the 'triple threat' program at NYCDA. But, if it would save me money in the long run, I might just consider going to Tisch to save money. This is a difficult decision for me because these are my top two choices. I am from out of state so I am also taking into consideration the out of state tuition cost. Also, I'm wondering which of the two schools tries hardest to get you a good casting call. Thanks!</p>
<p>NYU/Tisch weights GPA/Test scores at 50% and 50% on audition so that may impact your decision–they are very selective academically.</p>
<p>Yeah I understand that but my grades are good enough so that isn’t really a factor…thank you though, it does help! Does anyone else have any answers to my other questions?</p>
<p>I don’t know how much NYCDA costs, but Tisch is very very very expensive, and generally not great on financial aid. Still, don’t be afraid to apply because you never know how your aid package will turn out.</p>
<p>btw, I don’t think a degree would be a waste of time in the slightest–and I think many will agree with me. where did you get the impression that people in the industry favors those with training over the degree? I think many employers like actors who are well-rounded with education.</p>
<p>however, if you’re the kind of person who just wants to act act act with minimal distractions, Tisch wouldn’t be a great fit; 2 out of 5 days a week are spent on liberal arts, and the rest is spent in the studio. there are other BFA programs with a much smaller focus on academics, like SUNY Purchase-- acting training there is very much conservatory-like and very intense and very highly regarded. and it’s MUCH cheaper than NYU! you should look into it. :)</p>
<p>I just was always under the impression that they liked act act act all the time better than the whole education… I will defiantly look into SUNY purchase! Do you think there is as big and great of an acting showcase to agents, and as great of a rep, as tisch? Also, do you think that agents and producers prefer SUNY over NYADA? The cheaper the better, most defiantly!</p>
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<p>I really can’t say what casting agents like. All kinds of people have become working/successful actors. Look at Meryl Streep, who got a BA in English at Vassar and then pursued an MFA at the Yale School of Drama. There’s Matt Damon who (I believe) dropped out of Harvard. There’s Emma Stone, who, as a teenager, simply convinced her parents to let her move to California and start auditioning. Helena Bonham Carter hasn’t even had formal acting training.</p>
<p>What I was saying earlier was that if YOU want to act act act all the time with less emphasis on general education, you can get that training at a BFA theater program like Tisch or Purchase… not just a conservatory like NYCDA. </p>
<p>SUNY Purchase is extremely prestigious and very hard to get into, so don’t worry about its reputation. let me put it this way: if there were an ivy league for theater schools, it would be a member. it’s frequently mentioned in the same sentence as Juilliard. I think over 1000 audition each year, and it only admits… 20-ish? more or less? and yes, Purchase has a reputable senior showcase.</p>
<p>let me also say that as far as Tisch and Purchase goes… you can’t really say that one is better than the other because they’re simply different. admission to Tisch depends 50% on your academics and 50% on your audition-- unusual for a BFA, as most BFA programs (including Purchase) emphasize the audition alone. keep in mind that BFA programs vary in intensity and approach. Purchase is one of the more intense ones. </p>
<p>Other BFAs include…
- the Mason Gross school at Rutgers-New Brunswick: I would think it’s as intense as Purchase. it’s highly competitive… I visited this past spring and they said they accept around 18 kids out of the 700 or 800 who audition? crazy.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Boston University: the BFA students split into two tracks sophomore year, one being more intense than the other. </p></li>
<li><p>USC: good if you’re looking into screen-acting because their film program gives you opportunities to be in student films. and you’re on the west coast, where the film-making industry is dominant.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>these are just a few suggestions-- many more options exist. There’s U Mich, U Minn-Guthrie, U Evansville… </p>
<p>it’s funny because I’m a senior researching colleges myself… and I’m not even interested in the BFA route. I’ve just picked up all this info from having gone through the entire Theater/Drama forum. you should do the same. you might find some of your questions have already been answered in the past. hope I helped!</p>
<p>Awesome information!! Thank you soo much! That really did help me a lot. Do you have any idea if they base their opinion on previous work? Or just mainly work at the audition?</p>
<p>"2. Boston University: the BFA students split into two tracks sophomore year, one being more intense than the other. "</p>
<p>This isn’t quite right. The two tracks of the BFA program at BU are Theatre Arts and Acting, both result in a performance-based BFA, and both are intense and prestigious. They’re just structured a little bit differently and have a few different opportunities and requirements.</p>
<p>msjenna, If you do end up going the degree route (which in my opinion is the way to go, but it’s up to you of course), all of the programs that butterflies mentioned are worth checking out. Also, take a look at Carnegie Mellon, and UNCSA if you’re willing to go a little south. Chapman has a BFA in screen acting. If you’re really sold on NYC BFAs, there’s also Pace, Marymount Manhattan, etc. Best of luck in your process!!</p>
<p>Thank you! I really would like to go to a school that is a true university with business programs and such, bc I would like to minor to have a backup plan. </p>
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<p>sberry fields-- my mistake. wording wasn’t accurate! when I said less intense, I was saying that it allowed for a tiny bit more flexibility, class wise. still a BFA.</p>
<p>msjenna - I just skimmed through these posts, and you said something about what casting agents/directors/etc prefer. Honestly, I think they prefer just the best person for the job, which is based on what they see at the audition. All my teachers, directors, etc always say the “name” of the school doesn’t matter all that much. A music director of mine who used to work on Broadway said that when he looked at resumes (with directors, casting directors, etc) all they got from the school’s name were tiny little details that didn’t really matter all that much. Like if he knew the school, knew the program, had a friend who worked there, it just gave him something else to think about or ask the auditionee about. Like if they went to Yale, he might assume they have a good work ethic, to be able to get into and succeed in such a strong school. Or simply it was a conversation starter, if he knew things about the school’s program or the teachers there.</p>
<p>Long story short, he said the “name” of the school mattered much less than how the school worked out for the auditionee, and how it made THEM into good performers</p>