<p>Broadly speaking -- some more than others, and further than that I won't go. There are only so many hours in a student's day, after all, and you should take a hard look at what classes will occupy those hours. Some studios -- and I'm certainly not just talking about those affiliated with Tisch -- ride on their past glories. It's who's teaching NOW that matters, and what.</p>
<p>I really like the studio programs at NYU, but my only deterrent is the cost.
Why do you guys believe that it is worth paying all of this money?
Right now I am interested in applying, but the more I think about the massive loans I'd have to get and the dreadful state of the economy, I end up crushing my own dreams.</p>
<p>Currently I am on a full-ride scholarship, and studying theatre at a unknown school (in the theatrical aspects of things.) I'd rather be at NYU....</p>
<p>What makes each of these programs special and diverse in comparison to those at other universities?</p>
<p>Embroglio, if you are really interested in NYU, you should at least try applying. It is my impression that their financial aid packages might be fairly good for those with great need, though perhaps not so good for others.
In our case, my son wants to attend a BFA conservatory program because of the rigor such programs involve when it comes to instruction in acting technique. There are many good conservatory programs across the country, but he would rather attend a school no more than two hours from home. His three choices are SUNY Purchase (affordable, but very hard to get into), Mason Gross at Rutgers in New Brunswick (also affordable), and Tisch at NYU. Tisch is not necessarily better than other conservatory programs, but there are advantages to being right there in Manhattan, at the heart of one of the centers of the US theatre world.
As many people here have said, with hard work you can be successful no matter where you study. The best of luck to you.</p>
<p>NJTheatreMOM, your son may want to consider SUNY New Paltz. The Theatre program is very strong and the campus is within 2 hours of NYC.</p>
<p>So does anyone have any reasons as to why NYU could be a better option than SUNY Purchase and/or New Paltz, or Mason Gross because of the studio programs? I like the whole idea of being able to change studios after your two years and being in Manhattan of course...but I want to know if there are any other details about the stuios that would be a deciding factor. I don't know very much about SUNY or Mason Gross.</p>
<p>embroglio, I would say that if you are interested in NYU, don't let the price tag stop you from at least exploring the option, at least. Though I was thrilled for my D when she got her acceptance letter, we had a very nervous couple of weeks between the general acceptance letter and the arrival of the financial aid letter, because her heart was set on going to NYU/Tisch and I knew that without help from NYU, that could not happen. So it was a very happy day when the financial aid letter arrived and they gave her a scholarship that allowed her to attend, and she happily does so now. (She just finished her first semester and loves the program.)</p>
<p>Embroglio, you asked about comparisons between SUNY Purchase, SUNY New Paltz and Mason Gross vis a vis NYU. SUNY Purchase is one of the top conservatory programs in the country, and they do not focus on a single type of acting technique. SUNY New Paltz could be an excellent choice if you don't have your heart set on a conservatory program. Mason Gross is a well-regarded conservatory program that teaches a single acting technique, Meisner. If you really like the approach of Atlantic Studio at Tisch, it is the only place in the country that offers that particular type of instruction, so far as I am aware.</p>