Tisch freshman willing to answer questions

Colleges and Universities A-Z New York University
101

<p>If you've applied to the CAS, there is a Cinema Studies major there. Tisch, as you know, also has a Cinema Studies major, but you have to apply through Tisch (meaning a submission of a portfolio, I think it's about 10 pages) in addition to the application to be considered a Tisch student. This applies to your question in the fact that, if you were accepted to CAS, you wouldn't be able to do a double major in Tisch. Only if you were seen as a Tisch Cinema Studies student (and not a CAS Cinema Studies student) would you be able to do a double major with CAS. Basically, this is because, while CAS is open to all the other "specialty" schools (Tisch School, Stern School of Business, and Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Developement), these schools' classes are not open to CAS students (for instance, a CAS student could not take any of my drama studio classes, but I can, and have to, take humanities and sciences in CAS). </p>

<p>You'd probably want to know what the difference is between Tisch Cinema Studies and CAS Cinema Studies. I've heard that CAS is more writing/history based and in Tisch you do that and more cinema-artistic endeavors (maybe you'd understand what that means more than I do...I'm a drama major haha).</p>

<p>And a Tisch student double-majoring in CAS is fine...a lot of students do it. </p>

<p>If you still want to do Cinema Studies, that's fine, you can do it in CAS. Just not in Tisch, because you didn't apply there. If you don't like CAS's Cinema Studies, you could always transfer next year to Tisch. </p>

<p>If you have any more questions about this post (it may be a bit confusing) or anything else, feel free to ask.</p>

102

<p>Hi Nocca Junior. I think it's really nice of you to take all this time, over the course of so many months, to hold so many nervous hands! Here's one more set of nervous hands: my daughter just got accepted to Tisch. She tried out for musical theater as a first choice and Stella Adler for her second choice but if they put her in Stella Adler, will she have any chance at all to perform musically or is it strictly drama? We're all completely thrilled at the acceptance, never really thought she'd get in (there are so many talented kids!), and I can't imagine she'd turn it down, but I'm just curious how the different programs work, or if they overlap. Also, do most Tisch kids stay in the same dorms at least for the first year or two? I know the lottery system gets a little crazy, but they do make an effort to place freshmen together. Where do Tisch freshmen for the most part room? Thanks for your help. We're really excited.</p>

103

<p>Hey. I just applied to Tisch for photography and I am, as we all are, very very anxious. Due to reading previous posts on this thread, I saw that you passed some judgements on whether we we're fit for Tisch and I was hoping that you can give me some insight as well!!!! I'm a male from Long Island, NY and I attend a very competitive high school. I have many extra c. activities---I am vp of thespian and art honor societies, president of our spirit club, part of a student action movement, and on an advising committee for the principle. In addition, I'm big on community service and student council within the school. I'm very active and have done every school show and am even the art coordinator for the hs. I also belong to many other little clubs in the school. I have about a high 3.8 gpa. The only catch: my ACTs and SATS aren't very great. I only decided to send in my ACT scores. I've come to accept the fact that with all the tutors and studying and prep. I just couldn't successfully take the test. I apologize if I come off as if I gave up, that is not what I intend to convey. Anyway, I've taken them numerous times and have even done well on the SAT 2s. I am graduating with about 7 AP classes. I chose great teacher's for my recs and worked so hard on my essays. I am just so nervous!! Furthermore, when I was going into my junior year of high school I was accepted into Tisch Summer programs for photography, so I know many people there already--from students to professors (I stayed in Goddard--fortunately it was air-conditioned because it gets so hot in the summer). The previous summer I took classes at Yale Drama. Even though acting is a great passion of mine, I really felt that I changed as a person after returning home from my summer at NYU. Each experience was "eye-opening," however I can see myself going down the photography road so much more! I wasn't able to apply early primarily for financial reasons and am constantly scolding my parents! Your opinion would greatly be appreciated. NYU has always been my #1 and the city is my life! Thanks again.</p>

104

<p>Hello! Thanks, I'm quite proud of my CC thread haha. As you know, a lot of kids that audition for Tisch Drama have CAP 21 as their first studio--I believe about half of the annual 2700-3000 applicants. Hopefully, your daughter has been placed into her first choice. If not, there's no reason to reject Tisch all together if she were placed into Stella Adler. There are a lot of musical opportunities (well, maybe not freshman year, because we're not allowed to perform), both within most of the drama studios as well as shows. Every studio has some form of voice and movement requirement--I believe Adler students take Ballet and "Acting a Song" if I remember correctly--although only CAP 21 is the full musical theatre studio. But I know a ton of students (especially at my studio, Strasberg, where half of the students had CAP 21 as their first choice) who are in straight drama studios, had CAP 21 as their first choice, and are musically talented, and love where they are. The recent Tisch mainstage musical, Only Children, had a lot of cast members from straight drama students, not just from CAP...it was a very diverse cast. </p>

<p>Not to mention there are tons of opportunities for students in drama studio-wise. One of the things I really love about Tisch and the studio system is that it's so flexible to one's individual training needs. Regardless if your daughter were placed into CAP or Adler, she would need to complete the first two years in the same studio, after which she has a number of options, including switching to another studio for advanced training, continuing into the advanced track at that same studio, or taking studio abroad (in a variety of locations, including RADA in London, Shanghai Arts Academy in China, or, over the summer, a fabulous and popular ETW experience in Amsterdam). So, if she were placed into Adler and wanted to audition for placement into CAP for musical training, she could. Or she could take the wide variety of options available. </p>

<p>But studio training does not overlap. Each studio is separate from one another, in different locations around the city. </p>

<p>Most Tisch students and students in general do indeed stay in the dorms for at least their freshman year. Some move out during sophomore year, but it's really during junior and senior years that the mass moving out of housing starts. It really just depends on the person...for some, off-campus housing is actually CHEAPER, for others, they have the money for a nice apartment (some of my friends) so, hey, why not? But she should room at NYU for at least her freshman year...it's really how she'll make her best friends here, apart from studio.</p>

<p>As far as freshman dorms are concerned, they are, as you probs already know, Hayden, Rubin, Goddard, Weinstein, Brittany (traditional-style dorms) and University Hall and Third North (apartment-style). I'm going to assume that your daughter applied regular decision; if so, she has a very small chance of getting Hayden, which is about 90% percent ED kids. Hayden is typically considered to be the most social out of all the dorms, though there are definitely a few that will repute that. I'm a resident of Hayden and was regular decision, but got in because I applied and was accepted to the French Explorations floor (your daughter might also be interested in Explorations, maybs)...it's typically easy to get the dorm you want through explorations, though I actually do really have an interest in French culture, being of Creole heritage and from New Orleans. Typically the traditional style dorms are a bit more social, but a lot of drama students actually do stay in the apartment style dorms because they're close to practically all the studios, which are mostly uptown/Union Square area, with the exception of ETW, Playwrights Horizons, and I think Atlantic. I go to Strasberg, and the walk from Hayden is not too too far...only 12 blocks haha. But I love my dorm. I am kind of jealous of those people in U-Hall and Third North that can just wake up ten minutes (literally) before class and make it right on time though. But really, there is no one particular dorm that Tisch freshmen stay in...it's really based on location and room and personal preferences for each individual. Try visiting the NYU housing site for more details on the location/prices for each dorm. Know that there's a mandatory meal plan for traditional-style dorms.</p>

<p>If your daughter wanted to room with someone, she's definitely going to be able to, if her roommate has the exact same choices as she does. I know a lot of people that went to high school together (aka people from my high school) and are rooming together at NYU.</p>

<p>Ok, that post was probably way longer than it needed to be, but if you do have any questions/need any clarification let me know.</p>

<p>Hope that helps!</p>

105

<p>To DM:
Well, as always, I have no idea what they will think of your artistic portfolio...my advice, as always, is to do your best. I can maybe help out on the academic part. Your GPA is really good, and you seem to be very involved in extracurriculars, which Tisch also highly prizes. I'm not exactly sure what your "low SAT and ACT scores" mean, but it's probably not as bad as it seems. Tisch is definitely one of the most competitive arts schools to get in academically wise, but I'm sure they wouldn't reject you based on low-ish SAT/ACT scores, especially with such a high GPA and involvement in extracurriculars and stuff. They look at the whole person in your application, including essay and, in the case of Tisch, portfolio. So if it's just SAT/ACT scores you're worried about, I wouldn't worry at all...and this is based on what I've been told and based on the SAT scores I've heard from some fellow Tischies (some of which have been really, really low haha). It sounds like you really want Tisch and you should be confident that you displayed that in your portfolio. With Tisch, it's always less certain because the arts are very subjective...what's great to one school may not cut it at another. Hopefully your portfolio is what Tisch is looking for. But, once again, they will definitely NOT reject you solely based on your low ACT/SAT scores, especially since you have a high GPA and pretty much other well-rounded qualities. But I can't chance you on your overall acceptance to Tisch...no one on this board can do that haha. I wish you the best of luck!</p>

106

<p>Thanks so much! You have no idea how much that helped to ease my nerves! I guess all there is to do now is to just WAIT!!! A decent amount of people in my school have heard back already from CAS, so I hope that Tisch just sends out there decisions soon! Do you happen to know if NYU releases decisions randomally from the different schools or is each week sort of designated for a certain school?</p>

107

<p>I honestly don't even know haha...I got my Tisch decision last year on March 30. If you get a Saturday in the Square invitation, you're in for sure. Those generally come a week before the official decision letters come out, but even if you don't get one, that doesn't mean you're not in. I didn't get one, though my friend did, and I was freaking out for a week...before I found out I was in anyway haha. But yes...you're definitely going to have your answer by April 1, which is not too long away.</p>

108

<p>haha you read my mind! I'm flipping out because I'm yet to get this invitation and it's taking forever!!!! April 1 is so soon but I've been counting down the days since december...so these next two weeks are gonna seem like a year to me!!!!!! thanks so much though, I do feel relief from what you've told me!</p>

109

<p>No prob. Time passes by fast when you're not thinking about it :-).</p>

110

<p>Hey, thanks so much for doing this. My questions are all regarding the film aspect at Tisch. Is it difficult to get accepted into the Cinema Studies major? I've heard it's a pretty small department so exactly how small is it in comparison to the others? Also, I read that if you want to double major with Film & TV you have to apply for it after your freshman year; do you know what that application is process entails? Is it difficult to double major with Film & TV due to high demand?</p>

111

<p>I'm not exactly sure how small the Cinema Studies department is, but based upon the amount of people I've met that are Cinema Studies majors as opposed to other majors (like Drama and Film and TV) it's really small. I'm not sure though about the acceptance rate nor about the number of applicants and an approximate number; I know that Cinema Studies applicants have to submit like a 10 page paper or something like that describing their cinema pursuits (or something like that haha). It's hard to double major within Tisch (and you can only do it after freshman year) because of the amount of studio/performance hours required. But since Cinema Studies is a BA program (unlike the other Tisch majors, which are BFAs) and the focus of the program is sort of academic in nature, not to mention the loads of free electives that you get with a BA, it's probably the easiest to double major with Cinema Studies and something else within Tisch. And basically, you still have to audition alongside other transfer hopefuls waiting to get into Film and TV. And so you'd be competing against not particularly loads of people who want to double-major within Tisch (it's pretty rare) but rather people who are transferring/switching their majors to Film and TV. And, of course, it's quite competitive. </p>

<p>Hope that helps!</p>

112

<p>How much did you have to pay for Tisch? (off of loans)</p>

113

<p>Well, together me and Mom (mostly Mom haha) put together $4000 this year, and I had to take out $4500 in federal loans. And...that was about it for me. I am poor, but still extremely lucky that I got the money I did.</p>

114

<p>Did you get scholarships? Grants? etc.</p>

115

<p>It was a combination of two scholarships and one grant from NYU, not including the max Federal Pell Grant and Academic Competitiveness Grant, both federal grants. I also got a National Merit Scholarship.</p>

116

<p>Hey, i know its late but I'm freaking out about getting into Tisch. Could someone chance me? </p>

<p>Im going for Musical Theater. So I applied to Cap 21, but I also put down Adler and Strasberg. Im from Chicago. I've been dancing for 14 year, sing and acting my whole life.
I didnt take the SAT, and that worries me.
I have an ACT of 28.
Id ont play sports, but the woman who interviewed me said dance was a sport so...
I've always been involved in theater, out and inside of school.
i know this isnt enough information but please tell me what you can.</p>

117

<p>NOCCA, is there one particular dorm that's best for Tisch students, i.e. close to classes? I started looking at campus maps about three seconds after i got my likely letter and I'm wondering about this a lot (Washington Square vs. Union, etc.).</p>

118

<p>Oh yea. Im half asian, so i know that wont really help me. My GPA is a 3.7.
I got to an excellent school that has turned out many NYU and Tisch students. All of my classes are honors plus AP Calc, AP Stats and AP Bio. I got a 3 on the AP Bio, I'm in Stats and Calc this year so I havn't taken those tests yet.</p>

119

<p>How feasible is it to transfer internally from CAS to Tisch's TV/Film program? I know this has probably already been answered, but I kind of wanted a "chance me" as well:
SAT: 1350 or 2050 (out of 1600 or 2400)
ACT: 30
[I don't even know if they CARE about this; I didn't see anything asking me to send them on the form]
GPA high school: 4.92 or 4.94 (I forget) weighted; 3.9something unweighted
GPA 1st semester of college: 3.92</p>

<p>Clubs in high school (one of the women who reviews the Tisch portfolios just told me to include this, b/c they'd know so little about me since they'd only see 1 semester of my stuff from NYU, otherwise):
VP of a South Asian Culture club (general member for 4 years)
-helped plan a charity show that raised $4,000 for education in S. Asia
Model UN (2 years)
National Honors Society (2 years)
Volunteer at local old folks home (1 entire summer)
Summer employment at a catering company
Co-created/co-hosted/co-wrote/co-produced a talk show for my district's cable access network in senior year (I included a brief description of it too)
Interned at channel 2 programming (local TV station)</p>

<p>Clubs in college:
Write for Washington Square News (NYU's newspaper) blogs (my collumn is about old television shows)
Write another blog with an independent pastry-critiquing group my friends and I have started
Floor representative for my hall's student government
Starting to film a new video (I gave them a short description of it)</p>

<p>I sent in a portfolio that included a documentary I made last month. The woman I mentioned earlier knows my computer broke down and I had to send it in to the company just before making it, but I guess what she doesn't know is that the computer I ended up using had technical issues (that I was able to trudge through) as well. I didn't want to mention that part b/c I didn't want to sound like I was blaming technology so much.</p>

<p>I'll be honest: it's not the BEST film ever, but even in some of my classes at NYU, I've seen crappier looking documentaries. I've been told I have some interesting filler-footage/B-roll sequences and a good ending sequence.</p>

<p>But I was also told that my voice overs for the documentary were kind of fast. I tried to redo them as much as I could, but again, the computer I was using had MAJOR playback/audio issues, so it prevented me from actually hearing the newer version of my voice overs. So I had to just go with intuition that they were at least comprehendable.</p>

<p>I'm pretty confident in the "dramatic essay" I wrote too.</p>

<p>And I'm also an Indian female, if that matters. But I don't think being Asian or South Asian ever really "helps" in the college admissions process. </p>

<p>So... the ultimate question: chance me?</p>

120

<p>To AAdachi:
Not taking the SATs is fine...NYU asks for either the SAT or the ACT, so just as long as you've taken one of them, you're good. A 28 is a really good score, especially for Tisch applicants, because academics are weighed close to 50% of the acceptance. A 3.7 is also a high GPA. So, academically you're totally good, don't even worry about that part. I have no idea what Tisch is looking for artistically, only the auditors know that, but since you have experience it's obviously an advantage (though the majority of people auditioning for Tisch have experience in their chosen art form). But really, the audition can go either way, but as long as you do your best, there's only the pain of waiting for a decision. CAP 21 is a bit more competitive than the other studios (I think like 8% of applicants to CAP are accepted any given year whereas the rest of the studios fall between a 15-17% acceptance rate), but if you're not placed into CAP, they could very well place you in one of the acting studios you asked for. So, if you really just want Tisch in general, it's good that you specified second and third choices. There's a lot of MT opportunities for all Tisch Drama majors, not just the CAP kids, and Strasberg is pretty good with having some musical theatre in their curriculum (I'm there now), though the only full musical theatre studio is, of course, CAP. But yes. I hope I've answered your question...good luck! Post or message if you need clarification/more information.</p>

<p>To Tor-dazzle:
It depends on what major you're in in Tisch. For film students, it would probs be more practical to stay in one of the traditional-style dorms around Washington Square because film classes are in the Tisch building and that general area. For drama students, staying in one of the freshman apartment-style (U-Hall and Third North) would definitely be an advantage since most drama studios are near Union Square (except for ETW, and I think Playwrights Horizons and Meisner). But you'll really find Tisch students in all the dorms, there's no specific Tisch-centered dorm. I live in Hayden, on Washington Square West, and I really love it, even though I do have to get up a lot earlier than my U-Hall/Third North counterparts to get to studio in the morning in Union Square. Pick a dorm based on factors like, "Do I like traditional or apartment style?" or "How close is it to classes?" or "Is it social? Does it have a dining hall?" Stuff like that. Post if you have questions specifically about any of the dorms and tell me what you look for in a dorm/your major and I can make a few suggestions to you.</p>

<p>To superpengwin:
T-rust me, you are good with academics. Tisch admissions officers do care about that, but if you were good enough to get into CAS, you're definitely academically competitive for Tisch. But I can't tell you honestly about the artistic part, only the auditors really know what they're looking for. The Film and TV program is very competitive, but definitely not impossible. People definitely switch from CAS to Tisch frequently. So, it's really all about the waiting for Tisch. At least you can rest assured that your academics are perfect. But if you put your heart and soul in your work, you know you've definitely got an amazing shot. I know this isn't the answer you were looking for, haha, but you can't really "chance" someone for Tisch like you can do the other schools, because the arts (especially acting and film/tv production) are so subjective. I wish you the best of luck and do not hesitate to post any more questions.</p>