<p>My son is choosing between these two programs, and he's quite confused. He loved BUSTI and knows that BU would give him great training in a warm, supportive atmosphere in a fun college town. However, he's worried that the transition to real life in NYC as an actor after college will be harder coming from that program compared to NYU. He's heard great things about the Experimental Theater Wing at Tisch, and NYC is a big draw as well. There is something to be said for learning from teachers who are currently working on Broadway as well as finding your way in a city you'd like to work in eventually. He visited and was really falling in love with NYU until he talked to a couple of students at ETW, and he felt like they seemed sort of fried. They appreciated the program they were in, felt like they were getting excellent training, but they seemed rather stressed, whereas the students at BU seemed so much more joyful. It could be the particular kids he spoke with. Who knows? But if anyone has advice for him, I'd love to hear it and pass it on. Thanks!</p>
<p>Soozievt’s D spent part of her time at Tisch in ETW. You might want to email her and ask for some input. Two great options, congrats to your son!</p>
<p>We just came back from a visit to BU this weekend. My daughter and I were extremely impressed with the program. We met with 2 BFA students there, who were both very articulate and enthusiastic about the program. They, and another faculty presenter, stressed that BU is in deed a very positive and supportive environment for students. I can’t speak to the comparison with NYU, but I can say that we were both bowled over by BU.</p>
<p>When my son visited both BU and NYU following his acceptances at those schools, he got the impression that the NYU students were stressed also. He ended up choosing BU and was very happy there.</p>
<p>Our D loved everything about New York City (she was admitted to Fordham, and very, very seriously considered attending). But in the end, she decided she wanted a more “traditional” college experience - with a traditional centralized campus, lots of interaction between students of all different majors, and a more budget-friendly environment to enable her to live off-campus after her freshman year. She will be attending University of Minnesota/Guthrie next year. </p>
<p>In the end, her decision (and of course every kid has to weigh their own preferences, and make their own choices - which are all valid!) was that if she was in a program where she would receive the level of training she was wanting, she would be perfectly fine with going to college somewhere besides NYC, and would gladly make plans to move to NYC (or Chicago, or LA, or wherever!) after college, and live her big-city dreams then. </p>
<p>New York isn’t going anywhere and kids of all majors make that transition every year. Many actors decide to stay local (it’s not like Boston is a shabby city with no theatre!) to begin their career and then move on to NY. If NYC was eliminated from the equation where would he choose? Good luck!</p>
<p>I would safely assume that the particular kids your son talked to at BU were more joyful than the ETW students he spoke with at Tisch. A different sample could have flip flopped that data much like randomly getting a great college tour guide at one school and a dud at the other. His BUSTI summer program, like most summer programs, is designed to be fun and supportive so of course that data also works in BU’s favor. </p>
<p>That said, (and I have a kid at Tisch in NSB), if your son felt more connected to the vibe at BU, I’d send him there in a heartbeat. I would joyfully have sent my daughter to BU too if that was what she wanted. It’s a great school in a fantastic city. You can’t go wrong and as others have already said, NYC will still be there when he’s ready. But if he feels he really wants to tackle it now, ETW is a cool studio. Best wishes.</p>
<p>YardleySisa - my freshman son participated in the April 12 Open House at BU. He said that all of the accepted kids who were there were great kids and he’d love to see them join him at BU next year. So, your kid is going there . . . LOL! </p>
<p>Just chiming in to agree with others who have said that your student should go with his gut as to how he feels about each program. Boston isn’t NYC, but it isn’t a backwater either. Remember that the Huntington Theatre Company - BU’s in-residence theatre - won the Tony last year for Regional theatre!</p>
<p>Soozie’s D did Advanced Training at ETW, as did my D. There is devised theater / self-scripting at ETW, so perhaps the anxiety associated with that came through? I suppose that when a student needs to come up with something of their own making there can be a pressure that is different than performing a piece created by someone else, so if your son is not interested in that form of creative tension, perhaps it is not for him.</p>
<p>From what my D has said, and from what I experienced visiting, I would say that there is a tremendous amount of camaraderie, support and excitement at the Studio. </p>
<p>I would agree with the others who say that this decision should not be based on some future fear of adapting to NYC. Tons of people do it all the time! </p>
<p>Sometimes an easier transition into NYC is through Regional Theatre. Though it is a little harder to imagine or appreciate unless you have insight into a Regional Theatre scene, there is quite a prosperous connection between NYC and Regionals. Many Regional theatres lay the ground work for shows heading to Broadway. Regional Theatre is also a great place to slowly enter the professional performance world and gain Equity credits. This being said, Boston is one of those cities that nurtures a tremendous Regional Theatre community with many ties to NYC connections and beyond. All of the prefessors at BU are working artists in this Regioanl scene and nationally. </p>
<p>I would like to clarify my post: there is traditional scene study work at ETW; it’s not all self-scripted, just in case I created that impression.</p>
<p>Thank you all so much for your input. My son is actually quite interested in writing and composing in addition to his first love, acting, so I think ETW is a fabulous fit for him. And being in NYC is not just about the easier post-college transition. It’s also about the tremendous amount of theater and opportunities going on right there as well as learning from Broadway professionals. It’s impossible to consider NYU without considering NYC! That said, BU also has so much to offer. Truth be told, I think my son will thrive at either of these fabulous programs. We were just thrown by the stressful energy we felt at NYU from a couple of the students. I’m going to put that out of my head and support whatever my kid decides. Thanks all!!!</p>
<p>I think location is very important. Proximity to NYC and all it has to offer is a huge plus. </p>
<p>I think your son knows from doing BUSTI, he will have plenty opportunity to write and create his own work in the BU curriculum so I wouldn’t have that factor dissuade you both from BU. </p>
<p>I will say, I had a master class with a teacher who graduated from ETW and had a very rough time finding work in NYC after graduation (only one acting job in six years) and didn’t really start to work in theatre consistently until she moved to Philly after six years in NYC. That said, I have a friend in the program (ETW) that LOVES the training there. </p>
<p>Like most have said, either schools would be awesome choices and I can’t wait to see what your S decides on!</p>
<p>@josh703 the teacher story you are describing unfortunately describes what happens to most actors after they graduate. It isn’t a program specific thing. It’s really a tough business and it takes guts to give it a go and stick with it. </p>
<p>Meanwhile there are stories like SoozieVT’s daughter who not only found work after ETW, she also created her own work and is now getting pretty amazing recognition and notice because of it which is leading to great things. She’s a very uniquely talented gal whom I don’t doubt would have done extremely well anywhere but she is also an ETW success story. The details are not my story to tell but it suggests to me that for the right kind of creative student, ETW can be a really great studio to exercise and stretch multifaceted talents. </p>
<p>It really does come down to fit. Don’t discount the gut feelings you get on your visits. My D is finishing her freshman year and did not apply to schools right in NYC. She just said to me a month or so ago she was glad she didn’t have the distraction of NYC. Being away from the city has allowed her to concentrate on her training and not get distracted with all NYC has. She loves the city and knows it would have competed for her time and when you are taking 18 credits, working having rehearsals and such she wanted to devote that time to college and avoid the distractions. She gets a flavor of the city when artists and agents come to school.</p>
<p>Hi itsthejourney,</p>
<p>I know the second I say this someone will disagree with me, but I actually do think that Tisch kids tend to be fairly stressed. I know I was when I was at Tisch, and I think most of my friends were too. Don’t just dismiss the vibe you got assuming it’s just a couple students. Like many of the conservatory programs, Tisch kids are juggling long studio hours, intense emotional and physical training, a rigorous academic schedule, and many, if not most, are also in several productions a semester. It’s a lot to take on, and you do find yourself stressed and exhausted a lot, but I also found that given the chance to slow down, none of us took it. I think the kind of kids who end up at Tisch and choose to stay there are the kind that thrive on that stress and intensity. That said, I think one of the great things about the studio system is that you have a lot of support through your classmates, who become more like a family, and there are a lot of teachers and support staff who get to know you really well and who are always there to help you navigate all of it. Most of the ETW kids I knew loved their program, so I would say think of it as joyful stress. And it does prepare you for the real world. It’s definitely not stress free to be juggling a day job, any theater work your luck enough to get, and auditions/interviews for your next projects. So basically i’m saying it is stressful, but thats not necessarily a bad thing, it just depends on what your son is looking for. </p>
<p>Wow, SM2010, you make Tisch to sound very appealing! </p>
<p>Thanks for your honesty @SM2010. My son is currently leaning toward NYU, but we will see what he decides. </p>
<p>My son went through a similar experience choosing last year. He also was placed in NYU’s ETW. He ended up choosing BU and loves it there. Perhaps the thread I started last year might provide some info:
<a href=“BU, NYU, UCLA, USC decision - Theater/Drama Majors - College Confidential Forums”>BU, NYU, UCLA, USC decision - Theater/Drama Majors - College Confidential Forums;