What should I do?

College Majors Musical Theater Major
1

<p>I just went on a HUGE college search across the whole Northeast and visited the following schools.</p>

<p>NYU
Yale
Wesleyan
Tufts
Emerson
BU
BoCo
Brandeis
Syracuse
Carnegie Mellon</p>

<p>I'm very interested in theater with a focus on directing. I loved (and intend on applying to) NYU, Yale, Tufts, Syracuse and Carnegie Mellon (NYU and CMU had the best directing programs - however, I thought Carnegie Mellon looked very depressing and not a very pretty campus).</p>

<p>On this thought, I decided NYU is my best bet - I did a summer program at CAP21, am friendly with some of the faculty in Tisch (plus some students), have a good family friend who has a high position in the Tisch School (don't know exactly what role but something administrative). Anyway, NYU seems like the right school for me and I love New York City and I live pretty close so it seems perfect. My question is, should I apply early decision? I have good grades and I think the audition process won't be completely terrible, I may have a good shot at the school going for regular decision. I'm just not sure - If I were to apply early, would I still get the same financial aid as I would if I did regular decision? That's a big thing for me considering NYU is a good $50,000.00 a year EASY -- I know they say "it doesn't matter when you apply, you still get the same" but still, if a kid applies early decision, wouldn't that be some indication that he/she REALLY wants to go there and does not NEED financial aid in order to make the student commit? ANSWER BACK PLEASE!! THANKS! :-D</p>

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<p>Good question, Matty b. I'd like to know the answer myself. My daughter's first choice was NYU and she applied ED for CAP21. She did get $9K a year, even though on paper we don't "look" poor. However, I'm wondering if we would have gotten more had she applied reg. decision. Does anyone else know the answer to this/ Thx!</p>

3

<p>I'm not really sure whether applying ED vs RD has any bearing on financial aid. I will say that NYU is pretty notorious for being pretty bad about financial aid, though. For me, personally, I got ZIP from NYU, but I got 15K from Carnegie Mellon, which is a higher ranked school with a much more competitive drama school...</p>

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<p>We have visited 3 schools on your list - NYU, CMU, and Syracuse - all of which are impressive. They are also all expensive, and NYU definitely has a reputation for giving the least amount of financial aid; however, some on the forum this year have gotten good scholarships, and there is much discussion about this on another recent thread - maybe under scholarships for MT. From my discussions at the schools, I don't think financial aid is decided at all based on early or regular decision. They need your FAFSA in Jan. or Feb. and make decisions at that point. Some of the schools may notify about merit scholarships (not based on need) earlier without the FAFSA. (I know OCU, for example, said they give merit and talent scholarships with the fall audition acceptances.) </p>

<p>If you like several of the schools, going regular decision won't hurt. One of them may give you an excellent scholarship package. To put a plug in for CMU, we had a great visit to Pittsburgh. It seems to be the perfect college town - I agree about CMU campus not being as pretty as the next door neighbor - U Pitt, but the entire area is so nice with all the colleges and hang-outs for students. We were very impressed with Pittsburgh. Also, we know a happy current student at CMU in drama.</p>

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<p>"(NYU and CMU had the best directing programs - however, I thought Carnegie Mellon looked very depressing and not a very pretty campus)"</p>

<p>Well - I agree that CMU has the best directing program, but I didn't really think that it looks like a very depressing campus! I was actually very pleasantly surprised at how nice the campus actually is, and its in a great area of Pittsburgh. But truthfully, that didn't really matter to me - I was going to go to the school that had the best training program, the best reputation, and the most prestige, regardless of the campus!!</p>

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<p>Matt, while Ericsmom is correct that schools make decisions on financial aid after getting the FAFSA forms and all, the point is that once you get admitted ED, you HAVE to attend the school whether or not you are pleased with the financial aid package because of the binding commitment. The rule of thumb, therefore, is if your decision of where to attend college is going to be based at all with financial need figured into the equation, it is best to not apply ED because you won't have that financial aid award to weigh against other schools. ED is best for those who do not have to take that into their decision making. Also Early Decision should only be done IF you are POSITIVE one school is your first choice and you want to go there more than anywhere else and you don't think you will ever waiver on this decision. Remember you still have the chance to be admitted in the RD round. Neither of my kids opted to do ED anywhere as they were not fully ready to commit. They had faves but not one clear favorite that they wanted to be locked into at that early date. My theater kid loved NYU and thought of doing ED there because the chances are improved but she was not ready to commit as she liked another program just as much and decided to just see where she got in and then decide. Yeah, she gave up the "easier odds" (by no means EASY overall) of the ED round and she saw many of her friends get into NYU in the ED round and be done with the whole deal but she never questioned her own decision to wait until RD because this was right for her. This way she fully explored all programs and waited to weigh her options and the decide. Ironically she is now going to NYU/Tisch and you could say she could have had all that done months ago but she would not have regretted this. She came full circle back to NYU but it is now based on having truly explored all programs, gotten into several and figured out which of her options were the best for what she wanted. The fact that it is the same school, is just how it turned out. She did not "give up" a chance to go to NYU by not applying ED, she just gave up knowing earlier (or some increased odds) but kids do get in RD and she gained other things in return....she now KNEW this was the best option for her given her choices, even though she truly loved other programs too. Waiting to apply RD does not mean you can't go to NYU but only that you have to wait longer and you gain other options and you never know how your thinking and preferences might change over senior year. Plus if your parents want to figure in the various financial aid packages, you can only do this if you apply RD, otherwise you are locked into what they give you. </p>

<p>By the way, I went to Tufts and one of my kids was accepted there (though did not opt to attend....but LOVED it and it was one of her first choices) and I also interview for Tufts so if you want to know anything, just hollar, ok? </p>

<p>Briarbrad....every case is different but just to say in the scenario you gave between NYU and CMU....my child got $20,000 scholarship/grant to NYU and $13,500 to CMU so both offers were good in my book. Most of her schools were in this same range as far as scholarships and grants, except PSU which was much lower. That is just one kid's story, however. While I had heard that NYU does not give much, they gave a bunch and so we were surprised. I admit I was surprised and thankful that most of the other schools did as well. </p>

<p>Matt....only do ED if you are POSITIVE you prefer one school above and beyond the others and IF your parents are willing to accept whatever financial aid package you get from that school as you can't weigh it against other packages. Remember, you can still get in and still consider the school for RD....so it is not like ED or not at all. Kids DO get in RD. ED is nice, however, for those who do it and get in because they are all done in Dec. and I know when my D saw kids done in Dec., she was for a few seconds wondering why she had not made it easier on herself and possibly been done with it all too but then she reminded herself why she had chosen to just do RD and knew that was the right thing for her. It was a long winter and a long wait til spring but well worth it to go through the process. I am glad my other D did too.</p>

<p>By the way, my D applied/auditioned to several of the schools on your list so we know a bunch now if you ever want to ask a question. Also I have a child who applied to Yale and we have done two visits there, if I can help in any way...know theater kids there as well. </p>

<p>Susan</p>

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<p>I have mixed feelings about ED. </p>

<p>I think it can show seriousness for the school and program, but on the other hand for MT it may be that they like to see/audition all that is out there before admitting. I agree with soozievt, be sure that your ED school is your final decision.</p>

<p>I know for Syracuse they said if you have a great financial need NOT to apply ED, although I think I got a decent package, and they also stated that only 15% of those that apply ED are accepted, I am not sure if that applies to the University in general or the MT/Acting program (my notes don't specify and I don't recall exactly). And actually the only way out of an ED contract IS because of financial reasons.</p>

<p>I applied ED after visiting many schools as a junior and a few more in the summer and Fall & I am happy to say that I am going and am very excited!!!!!</p>

<p>PS
I am with you, my surroundings (i.e. campus, dorms ect..) were important to me ALONG with the program. Why not have it all if you can?</p>

<p>Good Luck.</p>

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<p>Heyy Matt!! I, too, went on a bunch of college visits this week with the folks. I visited Yale, Columbia, NYU, (and previously had visited) Cornell, Brown, and Vassar. Of these, I KNOW I'll be applying to NYU, Cornell and Yale- and will PROBABLY apply to Brown and Vassar. I didn't like Columbia at all. I think that whats interesting about your list is that NYU, Syracuse and CMU are B.F.A.s while Tufts and Yale are B.A.s. It seems like your still sorta undecided about that, (as am I- but I have a feeling NYU will be the only B.F.A. I apply to because it allows you to double major in english). I also think that since you are an incredible performer in addition to your newfound passion for directing, a B.A. MAY serve you well as a more general theater education where you can go on to get an M.F.A. in either directing or performing. At the same time, NYU offers that double major choice and is a great option. I just think that since you have all the elements needed to get into NYU as it is (even though it's a reach for ANYONE based on the numbers) and are still undecided about a few factors (WHICH IS PERFECTLY FINE) you SHOULDN'T apply E.D. just for the sake of improving your chances. I think you'll have a good shot regardless, but I also think that you shouldn't tie yourself down when you still really liked and plan on applying to totally different programs with totally different theater philosophies. I think E.D. is for someone who knows that NYU is their ONE AND ONLY first choice.Anyway, good luck and I know you'll make a great choice, whatever it is. And WHEN ARE WE GOING TO HANG OUT?!?!?! xoxo, Dani</p>

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<p>Matt, I must say that Dani's advice is sooooo good and so mature (I think highly of her anyway but this is just one example). She has been weighing these options and factors for a while. I agree with her that you have both BA programs on your list (Yale, Tufts, Wesleyan, Brandeis) and BFA programs. These are two distinct options. I think it is good that you are looking into both. However, because you ARE doing that, it implies you have yet to decide if you want to go the BFA or BA route. And because you are not yet firm on that (which is totally fine and good even), it is another reason to not yet committ to a BFA program. Let these choices simmer next year as you visit and learn more and think about what you want (kids do change as the year goes on in this respect). That way, you still have options. Further, I agree with Dani that the BFA at NYU is one that kinda merges both things you might want. I also think theater is great at Brown, Yale, Vassar and Tufts for a kid like you. I know other kids heavily involved in theater who opted for those schools and are doing lots there. Best to you.
Susan</p>