A Bawa

Wow, did they really? Thats amazing.
I think its a good idea to ask their plans -- I wouldn't worry about it drowning in other complaints, but maybe its worth waiting a couple of weeks to see how the situation is developing in NYC? Given that we are just at the beginning of the curve, I am assuming they can not even give an answer yet. ITP changed the deadline to May 1st and Parsons to June 15th, so maybe in about two weeks time will be a better time to ask? We will all know a bit more and we will still have time to make a decision after hearing back?

This is suuuper hypothetical and out there, but let's say we have to take first semester online. How do you think you will do it? @A Bawa @voxpop I can imagine the lectures being online, and the crits (oh god 5hr zoom calls for crits) are also doable. Coding/screen-based work can be shared and critiqued online.

But what about collaboration? A big part that both NYU ITP and Parsons promised is collaboration. Like yes we can call each other, but I can't imagine working on group projects via zoom for a whole semester? (assuming we still have to perform some degree of social distancing then) And for NYU ITP which have courses for physical computing, it's gonna be difficult. It is possible to work on it alone in your room, but I know I'm gonna sucks at it (haha) and I would love to work near/around people and have the chance to learn from my peers.

Same! @A Bawa it definitely helps having someone to discuss with, even more so now that everything surrounding the fall semester is so uncertain.
Also: on your point on them possibly postponing the semester, from a revenue-perspective I don't think they could ever do that, but agree that for us it would of course be ideal.

@A Bawa I agree, a physical classroom is still my preferred option (it's sad to say that considering that was the norm up until recently) delaying it to Winter or Spring is a good idea. still, I think that's highly unlikely.

I have been lurking in the TNS Accepted Student Facebook group, and many current students, particularly internationals, are furious at how Parsons is handling the situation. I doubt Parsons will treat us incoming students any differently (unless there's a state-wide declaration or ban). Right now I'm just trying to wrap my head around starting online school in the Fall and see how it feels. Some days I'm ok with it, some days I just wanna bail out and defer to next year instead.
It's also interesting to see how the schools are dealing with crisis, because it says a lot about their management system. To be fair, no school is well-equipped to respond to such a pandemic. Still, getting accepted and having to decide between schools amid this chaos is very difficult, especially for international students who have so many things to consider.

@voxpop Even I agree and appreciate what you wrote. @MA2596 I was also not in favour of online classes due to a lot of factors what you mentioned. I'd still request them if they can start this course in winters i.e January 2021. What we can learn there physically in classrooms with internship and working opportunities cannot be done remotely. So I agree to what you are saying but I'd still prefer physical classes over remotes lessons. 
 

@voxpop Even I agree and appreciate what you wrote. @MA2596 I was also not in favour of online classes due to a lot of factors what you mentioned. I'd still request them if they can start this course in winters i.e January 2021. What we can learn there physically in classrooms with internship and working opportunities cannot be done remotely. So I agree to what you are saying but I'd still prefer physical classes over remotes lessons. 
 

Thanks for creating the topic @MA2596 !
I will post some of my thinking later but first I just wanted to chime in on one of your questions:
How is the school going to respond to COVID-19? If they're going online for Fall 2020, will you still attend? At this stage, I think it is a very high likelihood that at least the first semester, or at the least part of the first semester in fall 2020 will be online / using alternative methods for teaching and learning. I have been preparing for this mentally for a while, and am also prepared to be agile and keep an open mind. Most likely, starting school this fall will not be what we had originally envisioned. Even though, heartbreakingly, NYC in currently the city in the US hardest hit by the pandemic it is important to keep in mind that this is affecting just about every person, school and business across the globe.
Most schools, and particularly private institutions such as Parsons and NYU, are dependent on their incoming students to stay in business. The economic impacts of Covid-19 will be severe, and even more so if students like us choose to postpone our education. For that reason, I rather want to be part of keeping as much of “business as normal” going - and then adjust to any new form the university needs to take. As an international student I am of course depending on the US to issue visas, but it is too early to make any guesses around that because it will depend on how the situation evolves over the summer in Europe vs in the US.
I am of course glad that I am entering a 2-year program, meaning that we will most likely be able to have a “normal” academic year at least for the second year of study. I also hope you will not take this post as pessimistic, but I do find that being a "realistic optimist" and preparing mentally for a variety of outcomes really helps me stay positive.
This all being said I did really appreciate the statement that Midori at ITP wrote in her last email to ITP accepts:
“We are ITP, the Interactive Telecommunications Program, and our amazing faculty have been jumping through hoops to figure out creative ways to stay in touch with students, figure out workarounds for a lot of our more difficult classes that require fabrication and equipment and the like. ITP is filled with some creative and inventive thinkers and doers. We will get through this.”
In some ways, I think ITP (or Parsons DT) could potentially be the best and most exciting place to be next year. When I wrote my applications I had a very clear idea of the topic and challenges I wanted to focus on during my studies - but I am realizing now that this might naturally have to change. The world is changing, people’s habits are changing - and some of those new habits might prove to stay with us forever. Businesses will fail and new ones will arise. The world will have a brand new set of challenges to respond to. I think ITP will be an amazing place to tackle such new challenges and opportunities.  
(In a strange way, the ongoing pandemic has actually played a part in what is drawing me more towards ITP at this time, given its hands-on “making stuff” vibe…)
Also, this article was an important read for me in terms of preparing mentally for what could be coming: https://www.technologyreview.com/s/615370/coronavirus-pandemic-social-distancing-18-months/

@ixdmfaplease @MA2596 @Sids @voxpop congratulation everyone! i got into nyu itp with scholarship and parsons dt with no scholarship. I think I might still go with parsons though. I dont have any cs or coding bg.
 

@ciwy13 @A Bawa i will probably go towards NYU, ITP feels more techy to me, there are quite a lot of coding related subjects that I really want to take considering my CS background. DT does seem more artsy which is not bad but I think I would struggle with using my full potential at the program.

I haven't heard anything from Berkeley, it's the last school I'm waiting on and totally understand how you feel!

@yona thank you! I am super excited about the program -- just received admission for UW HCDE and Parsons DT (didn't get an email from Parsons, just checked portal) as well. I am currently debating between Parsons and NYU and would love anyone's thoughts on the differences between the two!

@voxpop @ciwy13 and @taketwo even i got an acceptance from tip! congratulations! :) Waiting for parsons. Rejected from SVA IXD :(

@voxpop @ciwy13 and @taketwo even i got an acceptance from tip! congratulations! :) Waiting for parsons. Rejected from SVA IXD :(