@sleepymom To answer your question, no we did not pay for more than one year upfront. In fact, part of my D’s college bill (not all!!) was/is paid via loans, which I am still paying for even though she graduated 7 years ago. So, it is not like I was able to pay for it all upfront in any given year. So, the option to pay for more than one year would not have applied to us.
However, it may be a good idea for you to do it for the first two years, if you can, to lock in the rate. @uskoolfish mentions a good point about senior year. and saving money part time in the final semester. My D had a few friends who graduated in 7 semesters, not 8, from Tisch and they saved money that way. My D never was interested in going that route since she had already done HS in 3 years and wanted 4 full years of college and was young and so even with 4 full years of college, she graduated Tisch at age 20.