Is NYU worth the sticker price?

halflokum
Mon, 27 Jan 2014 22:41:00 +0000

Well I’m not down the road, but I’m in the road. My daughter is a sophomore in the MT program at Tisch.

I think “is NYU worth the sticker price” could be the wrong question if by it you mean, “in comparison to other MT and Theatre programs out there.” Because if that is your question, the only way to say “yes” is if in your gut you think it is the best fit for you and you can pay for it without going into major debt.

NYU is expensive because NYC is expensive. Which means real estate is expensive. Which means housing is expensive. Which means salaries for the faculty have to reflect all of that. Now is NYU more expensive than some of the other schools like Pace that is also in NYC? I think maybe a little bit but not a ton (4-5k ish?). So what is the difference that allows NYU to charge more? I don’t know really. I only know about NYU.

I will tell you what I believe we have “purchased” at NYU:

1. amazing faculty. The credentials of some of these folks would blow you away

2. the chance to study theatre in the theatre capital of the world (my opinion anyway)

3. academic selectivity. The chance to live and study with students that had to have demonstrated academic capability in order to be there. (Not just talking about the theatre students.)

4. reputation. And please folks don’t jump on me for that one. I’m not comparing it to any other school and I also don’t care if people think that Tisch’s reputation isn’t what it used to be because I don’t know anything about what “used to be.” I’m describing what WE thought we purchased. And WE had heard of NYU/Tisch. And WE thought it had a great reputation for teaching theatre. And WE, really thought it would be cool if our daughter ended up there. And WE still do.

5. Contacts. It’s a big program. Big peer group. Large number of faculty that one comes into contact with.

6. The chance to crack the code of surviving NYC early. It’s not easy.

7. Academic options. The ability to minor etc. My daughter was always an excellent student and wasn’t ready to go entirely “all in” on theatre. (Actually that is wrong… maybe we weren’t ready. In any event, she’s all in now.)

8. Studio system. It’s pretty cool to think you could do MT for 4 years or do MT for 2. Then do classic studio, or film tv studio or any combination… or do semester of that and then return to MT. It’s hard to know as a freshman what you will feel like you need more of by the time you are a junior or senior. It’s cool that there are options at the end to mix things up if you want to and many do.

9. The degree is a BFA in drama. Acting is front and center.

OK that’s it from me. I admit I do a big gulp every time I write the check but I know our daughter is in the right school for her. No regrets whatsoever.

Best of luck!!!