<p>i got my acceptance letter to the college of arts and sciences, but i'm waiting for a few more responses from other schools although i'm still considering ithaca. besides the beautiful campus, close proximity to cornell and the greater NYC area...why ithaca? are the programs renowned? will a degree from ithaca considerably help me out in the future? whats the appeal of ithaca? responses from current students would be awesome. what do you love about it, what's not so good...? thanks!</p>
<p>I am a bit curious as to why you applied to Ithaca in the first place, and also if you have a major picked out or not. If you are undecided (at Ithaca, this is known as "exploratory") then IC is awesome because exploratory students get to register first for classes (even before seniors) with the exception of H&S honors students. Also, our gen-ed requirements are much broader than a lot of schools so it allows you more flexibility in choosing your classes. Also, if you do have a major picked out you will be taking classes in that major area your first semester...another great perk. As a side note, no matter what school you are in, you can take classes in any school at IC.</p>
<p>Also, on the academic side of things Ithaca's size really allows for student to comprehensively study alongside faculty. All my experiences with faculty have been phenomenal. Every professor has been more than willing to help (some giving out home phone numbers even and encouraging you to call them there if you need help), class discussions are intellectual and stimulating, class sizes for me have rarely exceeded 25 students, and most classes are very engaging.</p>
<p>What I love about Ithaca the most however, is the community. On campus I always feel very secure and well looked-after. I feel like every member of the staff and faculty at IC sincerely cares about students. It's in the way teachers teach, staff smile, and help and encouragement is generally provided that makes it feel this way. It's hard to describe, but when you're here you will know what I'm talking about.</p>
<p>The community in Ithaca in general has been wonderful as well. There are so many volunteer opportunities and I love that the school really encourages students to get involved off-campus. While participating in service off-campus I have even run into many of IC's professors and faculty that just happen to be working alongside me in these volunteer efforts.</p>
<p>As for students, I say Ithaca is unique because you get to interact with lots of different students which is not something you can say at most schools. Many schools across the country may brag about their diversity statistics, but at Ithaca you actually interact with students coming from more diverse backgrounds. Also, I would say the student environment is welcoming and supportive, not cut-throat or competitive.</p>
<p>I hope this helped. I know I didn't cover everything so feel free to ask more questions.</p>
<p>Our family is coming to Ithaca later this month for my daughter to compete for one of the Parks Scholarships. What things should we see on campus and in Ithaca that will give us the great feel you mention? They tell us there are no activities planned for parents but we want to make our time on campus really count since we're coming from so far away and this visit will decide where our daughter goes to college. Thanks for your enthusiasm about the school.</p>
<p>My daughter is planning to major in cinema & photography with a concentration in screenwriting and minor in theatre. One of her theatre directors has been really encouraging her about choosing Ithaca over other schools my daughter is considering. When I asked the director why she felt Ithaca was the best choice she wrote me the following. "Ithaca is well respected in the arts community far and wide. She will have a better chance of breaking into this weird business by having gone there. So many times in the arts workforce a prospective employer will look at the school where the applicant has gone to make the first cut for further interview. I know that is crazy, but it is so true." I found it helpful to know this.</p>
<p>Okay, just so you know, you probably won't get to spend much time with your daughter while she is here for Park Scholar Finalist weekend. She will be very busy, trust me. However, if you want to explore on your own I highly suggest you take a campus tour - that will give you a good overall feel for the school and help you learn some more information. </p>
<p>Eat lunch in IC Square. This is one of the most bustling environments on campus. If you want to get a feel for what some of the students are like, people-watch here, I always find it somewhat amusing.</p>
<p>Maybe you want to see students more academically focused? Go to the library. It's obvious how seriously students take their work. And how welcoming the college tries to make it for all students to study, study, study.</p>
<p>Obviously Park (that's the school of communications). Take a Park tour. I'm sure your tour guide will probably gush about the school and you will get to see all of the top-notch facilities that students have access to from the BEGINNING of their freshman year! The technology and resources we have there really is unmatched, you will see the respect students have for the school and their professors first-hand.</p>
<p>Depending on what the weather is like there are plenty of things to do in town. You could explore the Commons and/or Collegetown, two of IC and Cornell's biggest hang-outs. There are lots of little shops and restaurants, and I personally find it very culturally stimulating.</p>
<p>Other areas to check out are the various parks, gorges, and waterfalls. Did you know there are over 150 waterfalls in the Ithaca area? Yep, it is very picturesque - a plus for film majors looking for places to shoot their material!</p>
<p>It's kind of hard to see all the things I described from a parent's perspective. I think the qualities I talked about will shine through in a lot of ways from the people you meet, however, some things you have to experience for yourself. I hope this was helpful.</p>
<p>My S has narrowed his choices from 5 to 2: Ithaca and Hofstra. He's visited both and has been offered the opportunity to visit both overnight. As I help him through his decision, what factors would favor Ithaca?</p>
<p>I actually have a friend that goes to Hofstra and have visited him there. I also know several students at Ithaca that have lived around Hofstra in Long Island. The obvious difference is location. Hofstra is close to the city, Ithaca is definitely quite a distance from it and in a smaller town. Ithaca as a college is definitely smaller than Hofstra, however, I think both offer good student attention. The most significant difference though is the type of students at each school. Hofstra is MUCH MORE supeficial. Even my friend who goes there admits it. Almost EVERYONE wears designer clothes and goes out to the city to party and shop frequently, ect. Ithaca is much more cultured, students are active, care about issues and get involved in the community. These things become priority over buying clothes and partying because of the atmosphere of the town of Ithaca and the spirit of the students here. Ithaca has fun too - but we do a lot more than just have fun.</p>
<p>Given your ID, I appreciate your comments about Ithaca are going to be a little skewed in their direction. I think it is very hard to make blanket generalizations about the kids at IC being more socially and culturally aware than Hofstra, or that the Hofstra kids all wear designer clothes and more self-centered. When I visited both schools with my S, I did not have the same experience. </p>
<p>Most importantly, it depends on the individual. From the statistics, both schools are around 50-50 in-state v. out-of state, and have slightly more women than men. What really stands out to me is that IC is a much less diverse community than Hofstra - 86% v. 61% white. Also, about 35% of IC major in Communications and Visual/Performing Arts, as compared to Hofstra, where 35% major in Business/Marketing. Also , nearly 100% of IC first-year students live on campus, versus 75% at Hofstra. So, while on an admissions basis they have similar academic profiles (although Hofstra accepts 62% verses 76% at IC) there are real differences about the character of the schools.</p>
<p>i am also a freshman business major at IC and my choices last year were ithaca and hofstra. simply this is what it comes down to...ithaca is great because professors care and there is a lot of personal attention, BUT in being here, i feel like i just go to high school but live on campus. IC has a very high school type feel with the buildings and classes, etc. hofstra on the other hand, feels like you actually go to college. it has the stereotypical college feel (ive been there many times, my best friend goes there). but of couse the student body at hofstra is extremely different, mostly rich kids from long island. the classes are a lot bigger as well. to be honest, if i could do it all over again, id go to hofstra. i dont hate ithaca, it just angers me when i constantly feel like i never got out of high school. </p>
<p>both are great, just choose the one thats right for you</p>
<p>basically, if you're going here for Park or music, this is the school for you. these programs are amazing. however all the other programs are subjective to other schools. this is where you have to weigh all the pros and cons. </p>
<p>on a side tangent, dont let "IC Square" fool you. its NOT very exciting</p>
<p>My best friend also attends Hofstra. I have visited the school twice. It's not like I'm making comments and I've never been there. Also, my friend that goes to Hofstra backs me up on the comments about the people, and apparently ajp also thinks it is "mostly rich kids from long island"</p>
<p>The overall goal is choosing the school that's best for you. When I first got to Ithaca, I thought, what am I doing here? It's not like I wasn't accepted to better schools...but it grew on me, and now I really do love it here. I don't feel that it's like high school at all. But hey, that's just me...</p>
<p>P.S. I didn't say IC Square was THAT exciting. But it is a hangout, there are often things going on, and if people want to get a feel for what students are like and people watch...it is a good place to do that. You can't deny that.</p>
<p>haha yeah. i love sitting in the pub just watching everyone talk</p>
<p>My D is considering Ithaca for a BA in Theatre, English and Comunications. Your comments on these majors are appreciated. Also, can you tell us about the Honors College?</p>
<p>I am a senior in high school and am a huge theatre enthuast. I have my heart set on Ithaca College so i hope i am able to help you out (at least on the theatre program). From what i have gathered, Ithaca does not have a BA in theatre because Ithaca is a conservatory. A little while back i wanted to major in Musical Theatre but ithaca only had a BFA program. (I dont know if you know about BFAs but they are so intense that you cant double major or even minor in anything else). I asked a lot of people (parents of theatre majors and also my acting coach) what they thought of a BFA and everyone had the same reaction. A: You wont have anything to back you up and B: You don't need a degree to perform in plays/ musicals/ etc. Thats when i created my plan. I want to major with a BA in drama (touches on everything plays involve such as directing, stage maneging, writing, even acting) and minor in theatre to enhance my acting. This way i could try out for plays and if i dont make it out there (lets face it, its a competitive field) i could still work in theatre doing other theatre related things. I hope i have helped. I'm sorry i dont know much about the english and communications (however i have heard good things about communications) and honors programs. Ithaca is a superb college and should not me completely off you list.</p>
<p>PS my bro is a junior in Ithaca's music conservatory and he is loving it.</p>
<p>This is a good thread. Let's keep it alive! Your comments are appreciated.</p>
<p>Can anyone speak about the screenwriting concentration at Ithaca?</p>
<p>Ithaca College offers the following undergraduate Theatre majors:</p>
<p>B.A. in drama, offering maximum flexibility in exploring a wide range of career opportunities in theater; </p>
<p>B.F.A. in acting, offering intensive and highly individualized instruction, with opportunities within the liberal arts curriculum for a broader general education; </p>
<p>B.F.A. in musical theater, offering rigorous, performance-oriented training in singing and acting techniques, with a secondary emphasis on dance; </p>
<p>B.S. in theater arts management, combining highly individualized practical training with a well-rounded liberal arts education; </p>
<p>B.F.A. in theatrical production arts, emphasizing practical theater training and its place in the liberal arts and offering two concentrations -- theater technology and theatrical design; </p>
<p>minors in theater and dance, allowing students with other interests to gain more training alongside their chosen majors. </p>
<p><a href="http://departments.ithaca.edu/theatre/%5B/url%5D">http://departments.ithaca.edu/theatre/</a></p>
<p>Also, the School of Music offers:</p>
<p>Undergraduate Programs
Composition (B.M.)
Jazz Studies (B.M.)
Music (B.A.)
Music Education* (B.M.)
Music in Combination with an Outside Field (B.M.)
Performance (B.M.)
Performance and Music Education* (B.M.)
Sound Recording Technology (B.M.)
Theory (B.M.)
* Leads to initial New York State teacher certification</p>
<p>** Leads to professional and permanent New York state teacher certification</p>
<p>Graduate Programs
Composition (M.M.)
Conducting (M.M.)
Music Education** (M.M., M.S.)
Performance (M.M.)
Suzuki Pedagogy (M.M.) </p>
<p>My daughter was determined to go to Ithaca and major in film and television with a concentration in screenwriting. She was selected to compete for one of the Park Scholarships in the communications dept. We thought she had a very good chance of being awarded one of the scholarships. She had perfect SAT scores and seemed to do very well in the competition. One of her interviewers, who was a prof in the screenwriting dept., commented to her fellow interviewer that she really wanted my D in her dept. My D was an alternate for the scholarship and chose not to wait around to see if anyone would pass on their offer. Based on those who received the Park, it seems the college has ambivalent feelings about film and t.v. being on a par with print and broadcast journalism, which got most of the Park scholarships. We were very disappointed that the college as a whole had a very impersonal approach. D never received a single call from anyone in admissions or anyone outside the Park competition. You'd have thought the college would be interested in attracting her but they showed no interest once she didn't get the Park scholarship. My D decided to attend another smaller college where she got a full tuition academic scholarship. She's now planning to major in English with a concentration in creative writing and double minor in film and photography & theatre. The profs and Administration have a keen interest in seeing her succeed. I'm really thankful she didn't end up at Ithaca.</p>
<p>How cold does it get?</p>
<p>I also want to know how cold it gets, and if IC is worth the money. Don't know how much we'll get, but not expecting a lot. My daughter will probably be choosing between Stony Brook (which we loved and a bargain, price wise) and IC, if she gets in; both have the Occupational Therapy program she's interested in, but IC only takes 20 students into the program as freshmen. She should hear from them soon. Thanks for any advice.</p>