<p>D is a HS jr, and interested in Tisch. We made an appointment online to visit through the admissions office site, for the general NYU info session and campus tour. I remember reading on here that you could also schedule a Tisch info session (SoozieVT, was that you?), but I didn’t see any way on their website to arrange that, or a specific number to call. Anyone know how to go about lining that up?</p>
<p>Have you tried the "Tisch" website? It gives you all the info about visiting.
<a href="http://undergraduate.tisch.nyu.edu/object/prosUGFAQ.html%5B/url%5D">http://undergraduate.tisch.nyu.edu/object/prosUGFAQ.html</a></p>
<p>Yes, as Imaty showed you, there are Tisch Information Sessions that you can line up in advance. As well, when I lined that up, I asked if there were any CAP21 students with whom we could speak and they lined up a student in advance to meet with us for a half hour one to one prior to the Tisch Info. Session in the lounge on that same floor. In fact, it appeared that so few realized you could do this that while we were chatting with this student, other parents and students were waiting for the Info. session and so we invited those who wanted to join our conversation with the student. My D also spent the night in a dorm with a theater camp friend and also got into see two dance classes at CAP21 through another theater camp friend in the program who was able to get permission in advance. However, you cannot call the school to line up observations of studio classes, though you could see Arts and Sciences classes if you wish. Talking to current students is very helpful. The Tisch info. session was a reasonable size and allowed for questions too. We also did the general NYU Tour and Info. Session.</p>
<p>Thanks to all for the info on visiting Tisch. My D (also a hs junior) is <em>very</em> interested in Tisch/CAP21 (and has been for about five years .... someone even bought her an NYU tee shirt for a birthday a few years ago! :)) and we plan to try to visit in the spring. One thing I find puzzling, however, is (as soozie tells us) prospective students in performing arts are <em>not</em> permitted to sit in/observe most of the performing arts classes, which (frankly!) are the classes that most prospective musical theater students would be most interested in seeing. (I realize that even the MTers who matriculate at Tisch want good liberal arts classes, but sitting in on an English class, however interesting! won't tell them much about everyday life in the acting, voice, etc. classes.) I have been in touch with at least three other very prestigious MT college programs and each one said it would be no problem for my D to sit in on a variety of performance classes; all we had to do was let them know in advance which she had chosen. Soozievt, anyone else, have you any idea why they do it this way? Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>NotMamaRose,
I totally understand your question. My D did sit in on some classes at a few other schools. I do not speak for Tisch and you should ask a rep directly. Their website says that you can't observe studio classes due to the participatory and creative nature of the studio classes. I understand their point as well because in these classes, the students are taking risks and so having an audience of people they don't know watching each day isn't conducive to that process. Then, of course, one could say ,"but they do that at other places". I am GUESSING, however, that the sheer number of visitors to Tisch, or let's just say CAP21 itself, would be HUGE, probably daily. If 1500 audition for CAP21 and even more likely visit than actually audition, that is a humongous number of visitors in these small studio classes in and out on a regular basis. I imagine that is part of the issue but I am just speculating. </p>
<p>My D did watch two dance classes arranged through her friend in CAP21. I imagine watching an acting class or a voice class is a bit different than watching a dance class as to what is going on in class that is conducive or not to a stream of observers. Frankly, by talking to current students (my D knew many), she had the information she needed to make her decision about her program. Observing classes was not crucial to her thorough exploration of each college, even though it is a helpful tool (then again, you see one class and it is not always indicative of the other classes). For example, on her audition day at Syracuse, when her audition was over, she had a friend who was a freshman in the MT program who was able to get her into their vocal class to observe. If she had judged the program on that one class, it would have been too bad because she liked the program, but the class was so so. The kids in the class kept telling her over and over again, "please don't judge our program by this one class...the teacher is just so so...etc." It was like a choral class and the teacher was going over such basic things that would have been below my D's level of understanding of music. But overall, I am sure other classes may have been better. So, just like you can't judge a program by talking to just one person in it, you can't judge an entire program by one class or teacher you observe. She observed a ballet class at BOCO and the kids were so so in it but it wasn't the highest level class. She saw their musical and it was great. So, you have to gather so much information to make an informed decision (let alone be admitted, no small feat). </p>
<p>Anyway, observing classes can be helpful but not crucial. Talking to students and teachers and administrators really helps. Examining the curriculum side by side with other schools' curriculum also helps. Spending the night in the dorm and meeting many of the kids is helpful too. Seeing a show would be great, though we unfortunately only got to see shows at two schools, BOCO and Penn State. </p>
<p>Anyway, I don't speak for NYU/Tisch and don't know the rationale behind their policies but just shared my thoughts. It is best to talk to the source. </p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>Thanks, as always, soozievt. I am guessing that you hypothesis -- that NYU gets SO many visitors that accomodating them would be a nightmare -- is the reason for the prohibition on visitors to studio classes. I think the overall point here is that students thinking about college need to fit together a lot of pieces of info in order to make a judgment: they should talk to current students (more than one or two); visit campus; talk to teachers (if they can); watch productions, etc. etc.</p>
<p>NMR, I think the main reason is probably a logistical one. The studios at Tisch are scattered all over lower Manhattan and coordination between the Tisch office itself and each individual studio, let alone each class and instructor would be more difficult to effect than if the classes were run in the actual Tisch building on Broadway. Most other programs with which I'm familiar, have classes 'on campus' and so it's probably easier to facilitate. The sheer numbers may also have something to do with it, although I'm not positive about that. I do know that that is the reason that NYU itself does not offer interviews to prospective applicants (not counting the artistic review interviews).</p>
<p>If kids who are applying do know a student at Tisch, though, it is often possible to have that friend arrange for an applicant to sit in on a class or two. My D did that when she was applying and I know she hosted applicants herself on more than one occasion through the years. </p>
<p>As much fun as it is to visiting actual classes, and it is fun!, I honestly don't see it as all that important in the process. Most of the schools discussed here on CC are going to provide fairly similar information and experiences in this regard to prospective students. Talking with as many current students as you can will probably be more fruitful in terms of giving you a sense of what the programs are like, and what everyday life is like there. :)</p>
<p>xposted with both of you but looks like we're all on the same wavelength!</p>
<p>Thanks so much, all!
lmaty, I had not yet navigated to that particular page, so thanks for pointing it out. I'm still figuring out each school's site's unique features.
Soozie, I will definitely ask about them lining up a current student to meet with. Great suggestion, as always!</p>