@ilikeacting When you start a phrase with “the industry” you are probably about to get yourself in trouble. Especially when you are still in high school. I don’t think you have any life experience that would allow you to make such a statement. And the irony is that if you did have life experience, you would understand that no one person speaks for “the industry.”
@ilikeacting- I understand. As you can see above, I deleted the comment about you not liking NYU immediately after I posted it- I went back and read your post and realized that it was not, in fact what you said. I apologize for that error. And of course you are welcome to any feelings about any school that you might wish. If you don’t like NYU - don’t apply. That’s the beauty of all the different choices in the BFA process.
You seem to have very strong opinions - I might recommend that you maintain an open mind about schools and their admissions as you go through your own BFA process next year (you are finishing your junior year in HS- correct?) You are making very broad statements, and I don’t know where you are getting your information. Many studios at NYU (including Adler) have studio specific showcases, there is the Tisch showcase, and industry professionals are invited to performances. Frankly, I would say NYU kids (along with other schools in NYC) have the BEST chance of being seen by industry people- b/c they are in the center of the action. I know (or know of) a number of kids who pulled out the BFA at NYU (temporarily, though some may become permanent) to take professional gigs (bway, tours, tv, really good jobs). I would love to hear some “evidence” that the BFA program is not respected. The MFA is incredible, don’t get me wrong - but that doesn’t’ mean the other isn’t great too. It would be like saying that b/c Harvard medical school or law school is so famous, that their undergrad programs are unworthy. If you have specific information please share.
Just found out he got into Stella Adler so the choice just got tougher. That was one of the studios that he likes. I guess we will see how the accepted student day goes this weekend. Thanks for the great input. It seems like he has two great options.
Congrats! If you have Adler specific questions I would be happy to answer
@uskoolfish actually I do. I am family friends with one of the biggest Young Adult Agents in “the industry”, my friend’s dad is an academy award winning director, and I know a prominent casting director pretty damn well. I’m just saying what I’ve heard from them and actors that I know. You don’t know whether or not I have “life experience”.
@toowonderful hey I didn’t mean to bash NYU I just have a few problems with it. I know it’s not a bad school, but I think because of its size of the program it is sometimes looked down upon. It’s all what you take from it. I know Atlantic is great, and have heard great things about Meisner and Stella Adler. The rest I am pretty much skeptical of, just based off of my own personal reading about acting techniques. And I just don’t know the percentages of students signing with agents after, if anyone knows that info, it would help me a lot. The MFA i know is much more prestigious but than again the only programs comparable to the MFA are juilliard and yale drama.
I agree with you that the MFA is among the most prestigious in the world- but the BFA is great too. At least that is my opinion based on 2 years of research before auditions, a year of experience in the program, and 20+ years as a part of theater in every possible capacity. Again, if you don’t like aspects, or feel it’s too big, or worry about connections- don’t apply. My kid loves it. There are schools people talk about on this forum all the time where I wouldn’t send my kid if they were paying ME- and some of them are famous schools. It’s all about fit. Again, I have no idea where you are getting your NYU info/ideas- perhaps from inside info, perhaps not. And I have no idea where you are in your own college search- but I would STRONGLY recommend that you approach ALL schools with an open mind, and do tons of research, and visit, rather that relying on what “people” say - even the good people of cc.
@ilikeacting You are right. I absolutely don’t know you, the experience you have had, or the people you know and their opinions. What I am saying is that your combined opinions don’t speak for the entire industry. So you are always better off saying what you personally think and not speak for an entire industry, since your “life experience” doesn’t make you a spokesperson for anyone else. I can also say that most people that are agents or do casting don’t care much about the school someone has attended. What they are interested in is the performance they see at an audition. I do think that NYU brings in a pretty good turnout of agents at their showcases. Really, being seen is the first step. Being signed is the next step. But the most important part is whether you are sent out to audition once you have an agent repping you. Good luck to you as you begin the audition process next year.
Can you tell us a bit about it–the acting style, class sizes, showcases, etc.
I visited both U of M and NYU campuses. I personally liked NYU campus a lot - guess I am city person. I declined U of M admission (because I did not get into Ross) and currently debating between Cornell (Dyson) and NYU. Good luck to you.
@kobitheevee - Sorry to get your thread dragged off track in earlier posts. One of the 1st things to know about NYU is that it brings out strong opinions! (And not always positive ones) I attribute it to the fact that the school is very different from most other BFA programs- and that can confuse/distress people. But it wouldn’t be on virtually EVERY “best theater schools” list (take those with a grain of salt- but still) if they weren’t doing something right.
Anyway- Adler is a Stanislavsky based style. Class sizes are under 15 in each cohort (My D’s current group is 12) and cohorts mix every semester. That’s one of the things I like about the “bigness” of NYU - you are not with the same 20 people every day for 4 years. My D went to a PA HS where she was always with the same kids (In class, in shows- they spent the majority of their waking hours together) They loved each other- but it also got claustrophobic- and occasionally unpleasant. That shaped my D’s college process, she wanted to make sure that she was able to have broader experiences. In the end- 3 of her “top” schools where all ones who take larger numbers (Boston, Northwestern and NYU). Adler has a showcase senior year. Frankly I don’t know too much about it (since this is only freshman year!) but as I understand it is a series of opportunities- and all of the students are highlighted well. My understanding is that Adler does a particularly good job (within the NYU system) of highlighting their graduating students. Again- NYU as a whole brings industry into multiple venues (shows etc) rather than one “big shebang” all or nothing shot. Being in New York means kids have a lot more chances to be seen.
@ilikeacting So, if not NYU, what undergraduate programs are your industry contacts suggesting you seek out?
excellent question @arwarw - I’d love to hear as well.
First, ask yourself - How will the answer to this off-topic question aid the original poster.
^The OP was accepted to several top acting schools and is trying to decide where to go. Perhaps @ilikeacting 's contacts have opinions on those schools as well. If not those particular schools, it might of interest to other parents or applicants. I’d be curious about an agent, casting director or director’s opinion on specific undergraduate programs. Even if it is secondhand. That’s why I asked.
To the OP’s original question, there was a Wall Street Journal article a while back ago touting U of M and CMU as feeder schools to Broadway.
Caveat to WSJ article from 2012 (google “How do you get to broadway WSJ” if you want to read it) - it is primarily discussing MT at Michigan and CMU. I know that Acting and MT are very integrated at CMU - I have no idea if that is true at all other schools (e.g. Michigan) At the end of the article there is a list of schools- all MT programs except for Julliard (which is a whole different animal 
)
@arwarw The industry professionals I know look for Juilliard, Yale MFA, NYU MFA, CMU, BU, UNCSA, UMICH, CALARTS, on a regular basis
At TIsch many of the instructors are working professionals in NYC, and i know that students sometimes make relationships and get involved, whether as an actor or in other capacities, in work that way. Some of the studios also promote devised work – which means the students create their own projects and set up their own ventures. Once a person is in the city, you get a sense of all the ferment that goes on, and ways to be creative in developing relationships and finding performance opportunities.
Also, as other posters suggest, the bigger size and crossover between studio training that is available in junior and senior years allows students to create bonds with other creative folks with whom they might ally later on.
@ilikeacting - I don’t think anyone would disagree with the excellence of the schools you list (although the MFAs are a moot point for the OP and most others on this site right now who are focused on undergrad). However, there are LOTS of other schools out there with fabulous reputations/connections/track records. What about Purchase? Rutgers? Minn-Guthrie? Syracuse? Northwestern? DePaul? Pace? Emerson? Fordham? I would call training at any of those schools stellar - and there are so many more out there…
My point to the OP (hi @kobitheevee ) - and anyone else who cares to listen is to focus on the school that is right for YOU (and/or your kid) rather than worry about what others perceive a “the best”. I love to see my kid’s school on the top of a list of “best colleges for…” as much as the next person (especially when there are tuition payments to be made- sometimes I look up lists then just for the comfort) but the reality is that every person is different and so is every school. Living your life to impress someone else is a waste of time. Find the best fit- train as hard as possible- and then head into the real world.
I agree with what has already been posted on this thread by those who responded. Both are great programs. Visits and talking to current students and alums will help. Comparing curriculum will help. The settings are very different and a preference may emerge. Keep in mind that the student can change studio placements after the first two years at Tisch. Most students end up falling in love with their studio once they are in it.
As a point of reference, my own kid is a graduate of NYU/Tisch (CAP21 and ETW studios) and is working professionally in NYC. She loved Tisch. Many of former classmates are working in the field, some at the highest of levels. My niece is a graduate of the BFA Acting program at U of Michigan. She is just one anecdote and so this is not indicative of all graduates by any means. She graduated 3 years ago and has not pursued any work in the field. She did love the program though. One successful graduate I can think of is Darren Criss, currently on Broadway.
By the way, my D was able to sit in on a couple of classes in her preferred studio at Tisch on a campus visit, but arranged privately through a friend in the program who asked her teachers for permission to have a guest who was a prospective student sit in.