Some of my former students are making their annual calls to get advice on which colleges they should shoot for. Of course, their lists are comprised of every recognizable top-ten theatre school in the country. I mean who doesn’t want to go to NYU or Juilliard (given that one’s parents have more money than they need). I try to lead them to either schools that really won’t take them out of Florida or ideally schools in the midwest where some SUPERIOR programs simply go ignored. “But what about NYU?” they respond, “aren’t they the BEST?” Truly NYU is one of the finest theatre schools in the country but they are a NAME BRAND. What you are paying for is their esteemed league of alumni who will give you the best list of contracts to pursue after graduation. But do you need the NAME BRAND in undergraduate training? Wouldn’t it be best to get as good of an education for less money – and then – if you feel a name brand would help, pursue that in graduate school. But, consider education like toothpaste – – when it all comes down to it, doesn’t the store brand get your teeth just as clean?