rossji

My daughter's scholarship money came with her acceptance, but I don't know if everyone's does.

MTgrlsmom

It is my understanding that the amount of scholarship money you get is what comes with your formal acceptance letter (not the postcard that invites you to the different events).

NotMamaRose

Well, that's handy!!! A lot of schools send a formal letter of acceptance and the financial aid stuff follows in a separate mailing. It is my understanding that Tisch awards merit scholarships based on NEED. In other words, they would not, for instance, heap scholarships on a really talented student whose parents' FAFSA shows that said parents can pay for the tuition as is. Is this correct?

soozievt

NMR, I do NOT believe that is correct. I recall reading on CC over the years, students who were awarded merit scholarships who DID NOT APPLY for financial aid (need based aid). My D DID apply for need based aid. When she won a sizeable scholarship, I inquired about what it was based on as I was unaware at the time that NYU had merit scholarships. I was told that it was a MERIT scholarship but that the AMOUNT of the scholarship, took need into account, thus it was tied. But as I said, some have posted on CC that they got a scholarship and were not a FA applicant. So, for those that ARE a FA applicant, the scholarship amount, if a merit one is offered, may vary depending on the need. But you can win a scholarship with no need presented and never having filed a FAFSA for that matter (according to others who have posted that they got on in such a situation).

MTgrlsmom

NMR - FWIW, although I think that most NYU scholarships are strongly tied to need (in fact most of the ones posted on the NYU website ask for financials one way or another), academic achievement also plays a key role. In some cases other factors such as community service, leadership, and/or being a minority come into play. All this is unlike some other schools where one is able to get a 'talent scholarship' mostly prompted by the audition and regardless of financial need.

Even the girl that received a 20K merit scholarship from NYU earlier this month, and when asked about the nature of the scholarship, said herself it was not a talent scholarship, but one she qualified for because of academic achievement and financial need. You could argue that this is "academic talent" however .

soozievt

You are right that the merit scholarship is not simply artistic talent but the overall package of artistic and academic (and other things).

I believe that the girl I know (to whom MTgirlsmom refers) who got into NYU this year with the same amount of scholarship my D got....but my D got a Trustee Scholarship...but this other girl got one by another name that is earmarked for strong applicants from NYC (she lives in Manhattan).

Again, NYU told me when I had inquired that it was a merit scholarship (that takes into account both artistic and academic merit and other factors like leadership, etc.) and that the amount of the scholarship varied as need came into play in determining the full amount.

Again, I will reiterate that I have read students' posts on CC (and not just the MT forum) who have received merit awards from NYU and who were NOT Fin. Aid applicants and who filed no FAFSA.

Also, it makes sense at NYU/Tisch for merit awards to take both artistic and academic talent into account because after all, their admission process weighs both equally.

The girl you are talking about (since I know her personally) has both academic achievement AND artistic achievement on her record. She excels at both. She has been a finalist for MT in the NFAA, has been on Broadway, and has played leads many times, for example, at a summer theater intensive among a very talented pool of peers.

NotMamaRose

I am just glad that need comes into the mix when they decide what to award and to whom. For some kids, getting that kind of help will mean that they can attend a school that would otherwise be out of reach.

soozievt

NMR....believe me, I am VERY glad that need comes into it. I am SO grateful for the financial aid and scholarships my children receive. I still have massive loans but these scholarship offers have definitely made a big difference. My older one is just receiving her scholarship offers (for arch grad school) and while the full price tag is daunting, it surely helps and makes a difference to get scholarships. My kids know lots of full pay peers but those peers have no financial need whatsoever. That simply is not our situation and so we feel very fortunate at whatever offers a college makes. Every bit helps!!!

NotMamaRose

Amen to that, sistah! I am praying fervently that the Gods of Financial Aid will grant a blessing our way soon, so that my kid will be able to attend the school of her choice. Are you listening, gods?

rossji

My daughter got a scholarship for 9K a year and I was told it was a mix of academic/talent, not need. It is a Tisch scholarship, and I was hoping when the Giants took the Superbowl, she'd get a free ride, lol! No such luck....

rookiemom

If your financial award package includes a Tisch Scholarship, does that mean you are accepted into their Scholars Program? or is that separate? Does anyone know anything about the Trustees Schloarships?

soozievt

All scholarhips are ENTIRELY separate from Tisch Scholars. Tisch Scholars is not a scholarship. You can get a scholarship and not be in Tisch Scholars. You can be selected as a Tisch Scholar and not win a scholarship.

For example, my own child got a Trustee Scholarship. This came with her financial aid package. I don't know if Trustee Scholarship amounts vary. I don't think there are a lot of them. Hers is for $20,000/year.

In a completely separate mailing, she also was selected to be a Tisch Scholar. Again, this has NO monetary value and is not connected to scholarships. They select approximately 18 incoming freshmen for ALL of Tisch (drama, film, dance, recorded music, dramatic writing, etc.) as Tisch Scholars. This is a PROGRAM, whereas scholarships like Trustee Scholarship is just a money grant. Tisch Scholars are selected based on a combination of factors including academic, artistic, leadership, and community service and as future leaders in the arts. Tisch Scholars meets every other week and has speakers and attends events and each scholar is involved in projects in the city, etc. each year related to the arts. Also, Tisch Scholars, as freshmen, go for nine days to an arts community in Appalachia, called Appleshop. Then, during one of their three remaining years, they can go on one Tisch Scholars trip overseas, which is with the group and heavily organized to work with those in the arts in that country. They've gone to places like Viet Nam, Brazil, Cuba, Ghana, etc. These trips are entirely paid for by Tisch Scholars. My D went to Appalachia in her first year and to Brazil in her second year, both amazing experiences all expenses paid. The kids in Tisch Scholars are some amazing kids who are movers and shakers. Last year, she created a show with other Tisch Scholars that involved all areas of the arts in Tisch (her personal part was writing and performing her own short musical) and she is currently working with some fellow Scholars on a street performance in the city which they got permits for, etc. Many work in various community service projects and internship type things in the city in the arts.

If you get into Tisch Scholars, there will be a separate letter about that and it will describe it and I know that in my D's year, there was a special reception and buffet lunch and presentation for Tisch Scholars held the same day as Saturday in the Square, although I am not aware of what the arrangements are for Scholars in this cycle but I would imagine some sort of invitation to something about it. With only about 18 chosen per year to be a Tisch Scholar and the fact that they come from each department within Tisch, there are not TOO many per year from Drama/MT.

As far as Trustee Scholarships....I do not know how many get those.....I don't think a real lot but I honestly do not know the numbers.

The two are quite unrelated.

NotMamaRose

Thanks for explaining this, Susan. I am sure many people were wondering the same thing, as you had spoken previously about your D being a Tisch Scholar.

rookiemom

Thanks Soozievt, your really explained it well and answered a lot of questions.
Sounds like a great program to be selected for

beachmom24

Well, in the vain of "it never hurts to ask", my son sent a letter today asking if there was any more scholarship money available. He has been awarded a talent scholarship, but he has been offered much more at other schools and Tisch is by far the most expensive so he figured he would ask. Hope it is not unheard of to do this??? And please don't get me wrong...we are very, very thankful for what he has been offered (did not expect it at all), but just a little more would make the decision much easier.