<p>Hey guys, I've been researching these 3 amazing schools for the past month and comparing them to see which one of them is the best. (opportunities, student life,...)</p>
<p>Here's what I've come up with:</p>
<p>CalArts: </p>
<ul>
<li>Pros: Semester in Scotland; One on One Mentoring; Amazing Weather; Relationship with Disney; Collaboration with other schools within the campus; LOTS of performances every year; Showcase in BOTH L.A and N.Y.</li>
<li>Cons: Limited On-Campus Housing</li>
<li>Theaters/Venues: REDCAT Theater (250 seats); Acting Halls and other venues</li>
</ul>
<p>Syracuse:</p>
<ul>
<li>Pros: Semester in London; Sorkin Week in L.A.; Summer in L.A.; Tepper Semester in NYC; Relationship with Syracuse Stage; Guaranteed Housing</li>
<li>Cons: Location; Weather; Limited number of students selected for the Showcase; Showcase only in NY</li>
<li>Theaters/Venues: John D. Archbold Theatre (499 seats); The Arthur Storch Theatre (250 seats), The Loft Theatre (65 seats); Shakespeare Globe Theatre in London (over 3000 seats)</li>
</ul>
<p>NYU:</p>
<p>Pros: Opportunity to train in 1 or 2 of the amazing studios affiliated with NYU (Meisner, Adler, Strasberg,...); LOTS of opportunities because the school is in NYC (need I say more?); Opportunity to study abroad (London, Amsterdam, China,...); many internships with professional companies and agencies
Cons: No Showcase???</p>
<p>I'm not actually sure if NYU has a showcase for undergraduate actors. Any of you care to help with more info on these schools?</p>
<p>Which one do you think is the best? I am talking about OPPORTUNITIES and CONNECTIONS.</p>
<p>Hope you guys can help with more details (especially about NYU cz I feel I missed a lot of info about the school)</p>
<p>Assuming that your academic standards measure up and that you get accepted to all of these, the one that is best is the one that’s best for you! There are so many factors that go into this that you have to decide for yourself. All three have great programs. One has a traditional college campus, one has a city campus, and one is a very small school. You just have to visit them all and see where you would want to live.</p>
<p>The problem is that I’m comfortable with any sort of training and any sort of environment. I love experimental training as much as I love traditional training. However, you should keep in mind that I am international so I will have a problem with the working VISA in the future. Which is why I want to know which one of these schools provides more opportunities and connection to make things a little bit easier for me.
This is why I’m also asking about the NYU showcase. I need as many connections as I can get.</p>
<p>FutureActor: I’m also an international student and heading to CalArts this fall. As for “limited on campus housing”: that is not exactly true. First year students are pretty much guaranteed to get on campus housing if they turn in their forms on time. I’ve also been told that it’s very rare that someone that wants on campus housing doesn’t get it. The thing is, people usually choose to live off campus in the nearby suburbs because the apartments are super cheap and sometimes it’s even cheaper than on campus housing.</p>
<p>As for work opportunities, I know a girl from my country that is graduating now and she said she already has work for the next year at least (and if you get work after college, you can extend your visa for another year) - and she got the job even before the showcase.</p>
<p>Anyway, it’s hard to get a work visa/green card if you don’t have a steady job. If you get cast in shows, you’ll probably need O-1 visas or something like that. I do know that CalArts tries its hardest to help international students, especially considering some of the teachers are immigrants themselves.</p>
<p>Also just so you know: the semester in Scotland got discontinued, but they’re looking for new opportunities for studying abroad. But current students have told me that if you find something that pleases you (like if you want to study in Moscow for a semester) the faculty will do whatever they can to help you.</p>
<p>But many students travel abroad for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival or to a number of countries to present original work.</p>
<p>Thank you for the info about CalArts milkshakespeare, I really appreciate it. The O-Visa can be a bit tricky for actors but I’m sure that which ever school we decide to attend, we’ll do everything we can to get it.
Plus, the NY vs LA thingy is hard for me. Is it easier to get a steady job in NY or LA? Who knows! Maybe LA because of the dominance of TV shows and Movies… I might be wrong though…
Ugh!!! I hate making choices!!! My life depends on it!</p>
<p>Futureactor, I believe a showcase from NYU is not as necessary as it is for other more remote schools. Casting directors and agents come to NYU performances all the time looking for talent. In fact some of the shows each year will actually state that the “industry” will be in attendance.</p>
<p>Thx MOMMY5! Appreciate the help. I’ll hopefully make my decision this week after I’m sure I got all the info about the 3 schools.
It’s hard to turn down some of the best schools in the country lol</p>
<p>I know that New York managers, agents and casting directors are exposed to Tisch kids in many ways not only via showcases. They guest teach classes and see shows. So many people now working in the theater, film and TV industry in NY have gone to Tisch that the network is very large.</p>
<p>And I think that part of your visa concerns could be worked out by a studio if you are hired for a production. My son has worked in other countries and we never have to deal with the work visa’s.</p>
<p>I vote that you go to CalArts and hang out with Milky, look at how awesome she is! You can’t go wrong. Seriously, have you visited all these schools? Each one has its advantages. Wherever you wind up going you will investigate your options and put yourself in the best position to manage the visa issues. In 4 years things will probably change regarding student visas since immigration issues is in a state of change in our political picture right now.</p>
<p>Tisch does have several Departmental showcases that are audition based. When I was there they had one each semester, and they are very very competitive. That said, as others have mentioned, there are so many opportunities at NYU to be seen. There are over 50 productions a semester, and many are attended by working professionals in NYC. In addition each studio tends to have their own way to show off their students. And each studio tends to have its own set of pretty amazing connections. That said it is a large program with many talented students. I know a lot of Tisch grads who would say they didn’t get the connections or leg up they thought they would from such an acclaimed program. Personally I think its mostly what you make of it. I have been able to use the connections I made really well, but it depends on how much effort you put into it and a little bit of luck.</p>