<p>Heyyyy ok so I found out that you were accepted at Tisch and Columbia as well. I’m a theater major so I think I might be able to help. </p>
<p>First and foremost, at ivies you will be getting minimal practical training in acting. Most classes will be based around theory, literature, and intellectual inquiry. Only at Tisch will you get true conservatory style training. </p>
<p>That said, Brown is considered one of the theater hot shots in nyc. If you ask random actors in new york where they went to school, if they didn’t go to a conservatory chances are quite high they went to either Yale or Brown. There’s a reason for this. Brown has great extracurricular theater opportunities and it also has a drama school that you can take advantage of. This means some of the top young actors in the country naturally congregate there, thereby providing students with a talented community to work with and grow from while pursuing extracurricular endeavors.</p>
<p>The benefit of Columbia would be New York. This means access to broadway-level acting/singing/dancing lessons are just a few subway stops away. Although they can be extremely pricey (trust me, I know), if you can afford it, it’s arguably better than any training you’ll get in a conservatory (or at least equal).</p>
<p>Honesty, it’s quite frustrating at times not being at a conservatory, especially when I have friends who are and who are taking classes in acting/singing/dancing (ESPECIALLY when I have real homework like 2 papers to write and TONS of reading). However, I’ve spoken with many prominent actors/directors/and theater artists in new york and many of them place far more value on those who have a liberal arts education. I can also say that while I love acting , it’s nice being able to talk something other than theater with people who you aren’t constantly competing with.</p>
<p>I want to stress that going to an ivy means having A LOT of homework, so you’re not always going to be able to throw yourself into your craft as you would be required to at NYU. But the advantage of going to a school where not everyone is acting is that your chances of getting cast in shows is significantly heightened. I have friends at Carnegie Mellon, NYU, and Elon going for BFAs who haven’t been cast in any shows yet (preference is usually given to seniors). I, on the other hand, have gotten great roles (even leads) in six shows - I’ve worked on even more backstage.</p>
<p>Weigh your options carefully and feel free to contact me if you have any more questions.</p>
<p>P.S. My friend was in Three Sisters with Emma Watson last month. Only at Brown :).</p>