<p>I am struggling with making a college decision. I have been admitted to Tisch for acting, and I am satisfied with my studio placement. I’ve visited, so I know I love the city, the people, the professors, and I understand the good and bad of the way the program is set up, and I am okay with all of it. I WANT so badly to go to Tisch, but the problem is my family is receiving no financial aid whatsoever. My parents can pay for roughly half each year, and the rest would have to be paid back in loans after graduation. The opposite of that is that I have been admitted to the Jordan College of Fine Arts at Butler University, and between academic/theatre scholarships and my parents supplementing the rest, I could potentially graduate from college with no debt. Butler has a good program, but I don’t know if the opportunities at Tisch can be beaten. I talked to a director that is working and living and NYC, and I asked him his opinion. He said for the undergrad program he did not think it was worth it to go to Tisch, but he did think it was worth it for the grad program. He said that basically across the board most undergrad programs will give and teach you the same thing, and even though he has worked with Tisch graduates, he did not choose them BECAUSE they were Tisch graduates. This was the first time I had heard this opinion. I’ve also heard the argument for Butler that if I graduate without debt, I will have more time and money to live in a city like NYC and audition. I understand all sides, but I’m still torn. I still think the connections at Tisch will get me work after school, which would be my immediate goal after graduating, but if they don’t, I graduate with a ton of debt. Thoughts and opinions? Thank you!</p>
<p>I’ve heard exactly the same thing that your director says. He’s not the only one with that opinion!</p>
<p>My son is a sophomore at NYU and it was the best choice for HIM. He could have gone to our state school and probably would have gotten paid to do so. However, the opportunities and connections he has made have been absolutely tremendous. We are not rich by any means and have a daughter who will be a freshman in the fall at a different school- also for acting- the best choice for HER. Yes, we are in some debt but I wouldn’t trade his experience for anything! I think it’s important for people to read the threads here about financial aid at NYU. If you’re a great student, you will get some financial aid but few people get full rides. My daughter knew this and so she didn’t apply to NYU- but not because it isn’t worth it. She wanted a different college experience and didn’t want to be in debt. NYU offers great training for actors and there are many posts about this. The only thing I know about Butler is that it’s an up and coming school with great fine arts- especially dance. So- NYU has a great BFA and an even greater MFA.</p>
<p>Go to Butler, graduate debt free and then come to NYC to get the MFA. I work at NYU, there is no doubt that what the director told you is the truth. It’s a great school but for undergrad go with what will cost you the least.</p>
<p>I see what you’re saying, supportive. I know NYU would be a good fit for me personally. The biggest issue here is money, and we have talked to them. We will receive NO financial aid. My parents’ gross income is too high, but we have a big family with my brother as a senior in college next year when I will be a freshman. We asked if I could appeal next year, but the answer was a firm no. I will have to pay tuition in full all four years unless I get outside scholarships, which I have also applied for.</p>
<p>I understand what you’re saying, too, fnpmom. However, as of now, I don’t intend on going to graduate school to get an MFA. If I am just going for undergrad, would it be better to go to NYU or Butler? I researched and looked for the top undergrad programs in the country, and regardless NYU is still listed in the top, if not within the top 5.</p>
<p>Since you don’t think you would want to pursue an MFA degree, perhaps your undergraduate degree should be a BFA. Is the Butler degree a BFA degree? If you don’t have a BFA school other than Tisch that you can attend, possibly you should consider taking a gap year and reapplying to BFA programs that your family could afford.</p>
<p>Did you ask Tisch whether your attendance there could be deferred until next year, when your family will probably get a tuition break because of your brother?</p>
<p>Hi Pishposh - we are in the same boat but with different comparison schools. S was accepted to NYU NSB MT, as well as OCU MT(BM) and Webster MT (BFA). The latter two schools are 1/3 the price of NYU. We (his parents) would have to take out extensive loans that we would be paying off for 14 years. Would have to make some major adjustments in our lifestyle but COULD do it. So my question is: IS IT WORTH IT? I think that’s the big question and I know the answer is subjective. If you have a kid there now, you understandably will say that it is. I would do the same thing. So we have to take that with a grain of salt, however the inside perspecitive is much appreciated. In my S’s case, he is also not going to grad school, does not care about setting, gen eds vs conservatory, or any other issues besides getting the BEST training, making contacts and having doors open for him when he graduates. We want to send him to the school that will best provide these opportunities. We would mortgage the house if we felt NYU was the school that would do this. But is it?</p>
<p>By the way, my son is a 4.0+ student with high test scores, etc, and he didn’t get one dime. There is no money unless you have a low income. I guess having 2 parents that get up every morning and go to work is a disadvantage. Should have stayed home eating bon bons, then maybe my kid could afford to go. But I digress…:)</p>
<p>Would love to hear all (even biased) opinions as we inch closer to the May 1 deadline…</p>
<p>I have older children, what they think they want to do at 18 can change a lot by 21. Going to college, experiencing new things can change ones interests as well as perspectives on a career in theater. Talent, determination are what will give you success in almost any field. Lots of Tisch kids end up going back to school to be nurses, teachers, what have you, because in reality very few will be able to make a living regardless of where they go to school. Avoid debt.</p>
<p>Just called NYU Financial Aid, and it was definitely a “why you bothering us” attitude - almost like, we don’t care, get lost.</p>
<p>My D is a Tisch grad who has been successfully and continuously employed since graduation, largely in part to her training there and the contacts she made. However, she was fortunate enough to graduate without debt, and I have always advised students to avoid debt to the largest extent possible. This is a difficult career, and most will not be able to earn a sustained living regardless of where they go to college. Graduating with a large amount of debt will make those already long odds even worse. </p>
<p>I don’t know anything about the Butler program. I’ve been to the campus once to visit a friend who was performing there in a national tour, and recall that the theatre facility was nice. Have you visited both? Explored the curriculum? Talked to current students? All the usual research that, honestly, should be done prior to the time that acceptances come out. This is what we mean when we advise kids that there isn’t much time prior to the May 1st response date to be able to get all this information together. Bottom line, though, I agree with fnpmom, avoid debt.</p>
<p>gamera, did you get a financial aid statement from NYU? The chances of them increasing what is initially indicated are slim. Was there a particular reason you were calling them?</p>
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<p>While I understand the FA frustrations, this statement is not true. My daughter went to NYU/Tisch for MT and got a substantial four year scholarship that we were told was based both on merit and need (we also had two kids in college at same time). We were NOT low income at that time. Yes we did take out a bunch of loans as well and will be paying them off for many years for two kids at private universities and one of these also at four years of graduate school. I just want to dispel the notion that one must be low income to receive aid. My husband and I are well educated professionals. We are not wealthy and qualify for aid but are not low income either. Both my kids got good aid as we had two in college at the same time. My NYU kid also received 3 smaller scholarships from Tisch in her senior year there in addition to the four year substantial scholarship. While this may not be the norm, it is also not unique to her.</p>
<p>I cross posted with alwaysamom, but just want to clarify that there is a difference between debt the parents take on and debt a student takes on. I would not want my student to take on much debt, if any. We are not having our children pay for any of it, but we do have education debt for our children as we could never pay out of pocket even with financial aid.</p>
<p>Like alwaysamom, my D has been continuously employed following her Tisch graduation at age 20 (she is younger than alwaysamom’s D and so has only been out for three years so far). She supports herself in the arts, but would not be able to pay off college loans if she had to. I learned last night she got a job offer that pays a great deal of money in fact, if she accepts it. Still, student loans would make her life difficult if she had them.</p>
<p>Same story as soozievt. I would have 3 kids in college by fall - we are not low income nor wealthy - but had qualified for either FA (eldest son an incoming senior in WM did not get scholarship but given financial aid) or scholarships (second son an incoming junior at Nazareth College and D offered in NYU and SU; BoCo did not give any FA despite appeal). Though my eldest son applies for subsidized loans every year, we will pay for it. If need to take a loan next year, will do it in behalf of the the children.</p>
<p>ParadiseMT, along with parent loans, we also had the kids take out the student loans with the intent that we are paying for these but these were just at a very good rate and do not require repayment until they are out of school.</p>
<p>I appreciate all of the responses. I’ll have to check whether or not there are deferrals. So basically what I’m getting out of this is that I should graduate from school debt free. However, if I get more opportunities at NYU, then I would think it would be worthwhile. I talked with my parents, and after all is said and done with how much they could pay (this is also depending on how much I can contribute over the four years and how many scholarships I get from outside sources), I would have $60,000 in debt, which isn’t bad for NYU and not getting any aid. With outside scholarships and my own savings, I could potentially get this to sub $40,000 or even sub $30,000 over four years. In real terms, is it unrealistic to think I could support myself and pay off the debt as I work if I can get it this low?</p>
<p>I agree with everyone saying you should not leave school with an MT degree and debt. It will take you a LONG time to pay off even $30,000 on an MT “salary”.</p>
<p>pish, It is clear to me that NYU is your first choice school. Good grief, if we parents haven’t deterred you on the financial front–and if your own parents are on board with the financial ramifications–I would say “do it.” Give it a go. Perhaps for one year at a time. See how it goes. Some kids land at Tisch and just can’t get into it. Some kids find all kinds of creative ways to make it work, financially and creatively. Even one year among your Tisch peers and in NYC could mean so much to you in terms of challenge and networking. If you had to move on financially or otherwise, you would be surprised at all the good will of those you’ve met. I know my son has had some attrition in his freshman andsophomore class. He stays in touch and continues to cheer on his friends who have left due to finances or–amazingly–industry success. </p>
<p>Talk to your parents. Best Wishes!</p>
<p>NYU Tisch has be known to give deferrals, if that helps your case. Also, NYU and the various studios have many summer theatre classes available to visiting students so you could get a bit of that that NYU experience, I suppose, if you attend elsewhere during the school year.</p>
<p>Actually, if she attends elsewhere, there is a special program at Tisch for students from other colleges whereby they can do a one semester program at Tisch.</p>
<p><a href=“Special Programs”>Special Programs;
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<p>It is oriented toward acting for stage and screen and not so much musical theater: </p>
<p><a href=“Special Programs”>Special Programs;