<p>Ok, so I’m currently a freshamn at Vassar. I’m feeling a little claustrophobic here, and I realize it’s a little early to be thinking of transferring. However, I’m not seriously thinking of it yet, I’m just exploring some options and waiting until after winter break to make any decisions about trying to transfer. </p>
<p>I was just wondering about Barnard (which I plan on visitng during my spring break if I’m still considering transferring). Ive read many of the posts on here and feel I have a good idea of all your opinions on the college, and it seems like a great college.
Does anyone have any information on the theatre program? My career goal is to be a working actress for the stage. Anyone know how alumnae have done with drama majors?</p>
<p>Also, I know the city is expensive. I come from a middle-class family who would need a lot of financial aid. I know Barnard fulfills 100% of determined need. Also, at Vassar a tleast, I haven’t needed to really go out and buy anything. (I have my parents send it or I bring it from home). So I don’t think I’d need to really buy anything in the city (ever, hopefully, but if not, then not much) I haven’t bought anything here at Vassar (haven’t been to a store). And if I buy a meal plan from the college, I wouldn’t need to buy anything. My question is, if you are a senior living in an apartment, does the college let you apply ur financial aid to buying food? Also, what do people do on the weekends for fun? If you can’t spend any money, will you not have a social life? I could afford to go to a broadway show maybe once a semester, or spend some money every now and then, but not regularly. Is living in the city still exciting and worth it if you don’t have money? What types of free things do people do? I know there’s central park, window shopping, etc., but is living in the city still worth it?</p>
<p>Too busy right now to answer the subjective stuff, but, on need:</p>
<p>The money they expect you to spend on food and entertainment comes from work study, loans, or your family contribution. You get full loans and work before they'll give you grant money (unless you have outside scholarships), and then grants to cover the rest of your need for stuff that shows up on your official bill. You have to live in dorms if you're on financial aid, or they treat you like a commuter student and cut your housing allowance- EXCEPT for during your senior year, when you can apply for this program that lets you use your housing grant for rent on an apartment. Since apartments are expensive, though, the allowance might not cover the whole cost. And you'll still have to use your work, loan, or parental money for food. Hope that makes sense.</p>
<p>But there is SO MUCH free or super cheap stuff going on in NYC (and on campus, if you don't feel like going far), I never had a problem, and Barnard's really good about providing discounted movie and theater tickets.</p>
<p>I didn't go to Barnard, but grew up in the City and return often.</p>
<p>Living in New York City is worth it even if you haven't got much spending money. As primefactor says, there are plenty of "cheap thrills" available. This summer we attended an experimental theater festival--if you worked in their ticketing-information office for some hours, you could get free tickets to a play. You can go to NY Philharmonic rehearsals for $14. Sometimes TV stations will invite you in to watch pilots of new shows and give your reactions. You can wander in and out of art galleries for free-- all over Chelsea and elsewhere. You can ride the Staten Island Ferry and see the greatest view of NY Harbor, the skyline and the Statue of Liberty. You can get fairly cheap and very good Chinese food in Chinatown and watch Chinese NewYear parade with dragons or any number of almost weekly ethnic parades on FifthAvenue--not to mention the Macy's Thanksgiving extravaganza.</p>