<p>I know a friend who goes to Syracuse. She got cast in the “West Side Story” national tour which started its run in October and will last until July, 2013. Being that there are shows almost ever day, she took an entire year off from Syracuse to pursue the tour.</p>
<p>I was wondering if anyone knows if NYU would allow the same thing to happen, if anybody has ever asked or if anybody on here knows anyone that did take a year off or semester off for whatever reason.</p>
<p>My son had an opportunity this past year to consider a year long tour and he knew it wasn’t right for him. Not the show – which is fabulous! – but stepping away from his training. It’s not just about whether or not the college will allow it. It’s about what it is you are committed to with your training. He felt it was better to stay put and finish what he has started. His training and his college life is important to him. </p>
<p>As to whether NYU will allow a gap year – or semester – I’m pretty sure any college will allow an approved absence. However, it is a bigger question in terms of potential loss of scholarship, should you have one. And school loans have to be looked at closely. Like everything else in life, it’s all in the details.</p>
<p>Life is a balance. A professional life in the arts, even more so. NYU has many artists who have moved on before graduating. The list is substantial. The question you are posing, however, is: Can I leave and come back? For some, yes. Absolutely. For others, the temptations of being out in the professional world, in combination with the cost of coming back to college, may preclude a return.</p>
<p>Talk to the artistic director and trusted faculty. They are your best advisors. Make sure you have an understanding before you depart. Best of luck.</p>
<p>Some directors might not cast you if you are in school for acting/MT. We have a friend who was at NYU and attended a casting call for Rent. He made it to the last cut as one of two guys. Then they asked him if he was still in school. He said yes, and they said sorry but we won’t cast you because we want you to finish. This guy is now on Broadway in Wicked. YMMV…</p>
<p>My daughter went to NYU. She did not audition for work that would take her out of school while in college, as she didn’t want to do that. However, I know of some of her peers who did get cast while in college and took a leave and returned to NYU to finish their degrees after their runs. </p>
<p>Walker, by any chance is the boy you refer to have initials of FMH? My D’s former BF at NYU is now in Wicked on Broadway. Just wonderin’.</p>
<p>My D is graduating from NYU (not MT–dramatic acting) a semester early because she is so excited to start auditioning and already having some success (and having to turn down things due to school which has always come first). At the moment it’s just featured extra work on TV and movies, but they are casting her from her headshot and resume so it’s a start! So here we go come January! PS - I remember coming to these boards when she was in high school and auditioning to get into college and we had so many questions. Where did the time go?</p>
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<p>That hasn’t always been the case. I know several Tisch kids who have taken a leave of absence when cast in a show, including in Rent!</p>
<p>Ccsmom, does your daughter feel the nyu tisch on her resume is helping her get those jobs? Or is it just simply she has the right look for what they need?</p>
<p>Good luck to D of CCSMOM! Break a leg! My D is only a sophomore in MT so she still has a way to go!</p>
<p>I think for a lot of these on camera opportunities if the “look” matches what they want you will get the call, but I also think NYU on the resume is a nice credential that implies a certain level of training and experience, and perhaps especially for projects shooting in NYC because they know you can physically get there with very short notice. (She decided not to pursue MT because she is quite tall and did tell me that some of these casting notices are very specific about height and actually state, for example, that they want someone over 5’8" or 5’9", etc.) I actually was prompted to write on this thread since people were asking about taking a year off to just say that graduating early was another option. She went two summers and that allowed her to finish a semester sooner. She did a summer in Florence and a summer at Stonestreet. Let me just say again how fast it goes so enjoy every minute!! She has a good head on her shoulders about the challenges of this field and how it may be several years before anything pops. I am the one who is going to be the nervous Nellie!</p>
<p>Thanks ccsmom! That’s all good to hear. Congrats on your daughters graduation!</p>
<p>My daughter had to take a medical leave of absence from Tisch a year ago March. She is still not able to go back. The school contacted her just recently and she told them she is hoping to return Jan 2014. They were very nice, and told her that would not be a problem. She will keep all scholarships and financial aid she had. They have been nothing but nice and cooperative with our situation.</p>