Tisch or Steinhardt?/Drama or Educational Theatre?

College Majors Musical Theater Major
1

Hello! I’m currently a junior in high school and I know that NYU is where I’m meant to be. I want to eventually get a master’s degree and then a doctorate from NYU Steinhardt in Educational Theatre because I plan to work in schools (high school or college level) as a theatre teacher. I can’t quite decide where to go for my bachelor’s.

On one hand, Steinhardt’s Educational Theatre program seems to be exactly what I’m looking for. However, a huge part of this major is a liberal arts core, which I’m not a huge fan of since they do require a large number of gen ed courses that I’m not necessarily 100% interested in. I would rather those liberal arts core credits go towards actual theatre and performance classes. I want to be trained in singing and dance at NYU, so I would minor in Music and Dance as well with this major (and maybe even a Producing minor on top of that). They offer specific educational theatre classes that I absolutely love, but I don’t know if the 75% classes I love is worth the 25% classes I’m not in love with, especially with the added stress of 2-3 minors. The pull here for me is that this program does not ask for an audition. I’m very strong academically, so that makes me feel more comfortable in my chances at admission.

Now, everything Steinhardt’s curriculum falls short on for me, Tisch’s Drama curriculum is there to fill in the gaps. Their program is like nothing else I’ve seen and I am totally enamored. However, I’m honestly worried that I’m not good enough to get in compared with the incredible people that I see getting into Tisch. I consider myself to be one of the better performers in my large high school drama club and pretty close to a triple-threat, as I have been training vocally for a few years and have a very classical sound that I think is nice. I work really hard to dance well and acting is something that’s fairly natural and very fun for me. I think I would be a bit happier at Tisch, as every single class is like music to my ears, but I’m scared of being rejected flat-out after my audition. Should I play it safer and go to Steinhardt, or go all in at Tisch and risk being rejected from the only school I can really and truly see myself thriving?

If you read this essay, you’re amazing. Thank you!!!

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Maybe I should apply initially to Steinhardt so that I’ll be in NYU and then apply as an internal transfer to Tisch if for some reason I’m not satisfied with the Steinhardt education

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Hey @annaitem - a few notes.

All programs at NYU will have similar number of Gen Eds. Tisch Drama is a BFA and not a BA so it has a more arts focussed curriculum but it also requires an audition.

Admission to Tisch Drama is 50 percent based on academics so your good record in school will serve you well there.

When you apply to NYU they let you specify a second choice school so you can apply to Tisch Drama and have your second choice be a Steinhardt BA program - if Tisch Drama doesn’t admit you your application will be considered at your second choice college/program.

Transfering into Tisch Drama is no easier from “inside” NYU than applying as a freshman, it might even be harder and you’d need to start as a freshman if you did so you might want to rethink that plan.

If you know NYU is where you are destined to go for grad school you might want to look elsewhere for college and keep finances as your primary concern. NYC living is expensive and NYU isn’t cheap either. Going to NYU for undergrad won’t give you any huge advantage for graduate school admission. So if you’re thinking ahead to grad school already, branch out a bit for college apps - look at your state schools, smaller schools with great financial aid or out of state schools that are generous with merit aid.

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Thank you very much!

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I agree with @CaMom13, if you’re looking at NYU for grad school I would consider other options for your undergrad. Unless you know you can afford both, the tuition for undergrad and grad school might be too much. Tisch accepts about 400-500 students out of 2k-3k applicants (including design and MT majors). I’m not sure what Steinhardt’s statistics are.

While the Gen Ed classes might not be fun, you’ll have to take them no matter what. So far in my undergrad at CC I’ve had to take classes that I’ve disliked. Some I’ve even loathed, but I had to take them for my degree. I promise that whatever you choose, you’ll pull through!