MA2596

MPS is more towards learning a practical skills for a certain industry, it's usually taught by industry experts so it works best for people who are set on working in the industry. Grabbed this from Google: " In short, MPS is limited to a narrower band of education with a focus on practical skills rather than research." 

MFA is more open-ended and is concept and research-based, which I think better translated into teaching? Most of my professors from my BFA program hold a MFA, and many MFA students I met went on to work and/or teach on the side. They all have varying strengths and design styles, and all of them have very good critical thinking and research skills, but they do not specialise in one specific area. Teaching MFA requires you to be open, experimental and flexible, while MPS is also experimental but more focused and specialised (i.e. many people applied to NYU ITP knowing that they want to code/program/etc.) 

Not that I'm discounting any MPS degree holders, if you want to teach, as long as you're good I'm pretty sure you can do it with either degree.  But it seems like MFA are preferred.


On another note, still no info on Parsons.......

Haven't heard anything from Parsons at all, weird   How did you guys receive the results?

Also would love to hear more about ITP vs DT. I think the differences I have been told so far are:
(these are coming from my colleagues who were DT grads, and one taught at ITP)
ITP is a MPS, Pass/Fail system The course pushed you to build more physical things, to be more hands-on. Regardless of what route/idea/design you have you will always have something physical to show at the end (hence the Winter and Spring shows)
  DT is MFA, so you can teach afterwards? DT tends to be more abstract and open-ended, the work that came our of this course can range from physical models to concepts to screen-based media. Both MFA and BFA candidates in DT that I have met told me that you have to come DT with some sort of interest or direction, which will help to drive your projects/thesis. Since it's more open, a lot of people can just presented more abstract concepts or ideas (with or without the intention to create it or finish it), which ... may work for some and not for others? It's easy to get lost or confused in this setting.

Reputation wise both are similar, courses are also similar. But I have been told that the good DT profs have all left, not sure about the current lineup.

I have a BFA from an art school and was naturally drawn to Parsons because of its conceptual background, but I'm not sure if I want to graduate with more "concepts" in my portfolio. But I also severely lack the physical computing/coding/etc. skills so going to NYU ITP will be quite a stretch on my ability ... But maybe that's what grad schools are for?

Please let me know if you guys have any thoughts, and feel free to correct me as well!

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.

@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.

So where I currently work the whole team is now working from home, designers, engineers, the marketing team, product managers etc. And in the last two weeks we have managed to launch a multitude of new products and services in a response to covid-19 and that with the whole team working remote.
So just from that experience I now believe 100% it is possible to make stuff happen remotely. And hopefully come fall, I will be even more used to this new way of life.
I think you bring up all the same points I wound in terms of how it could work - and I definitely see Parsons studio courses, the summer bootcamp, and any physical computing courses to be the biggest challenges.
Lets say we have to continue social distancing in the fall (highly likely) I think it will depend a lot on what rules and regulations are set around that etc. Eg. what is the maximum number of people who can gather at once? Will it be 2 or 5? And will the school be allowed to use its facilities if there are less than X number of people there at a time and with certain other measures in place. For instance at ITP, I believe that most of the first semester will be the tier 1 foundation courses for us, and of those lets say physical computing is the biggest challenge. If ITP was allowed to use their facilities if there were no more than 5 persons there at a time, and the space was reserved only for very specific courses requiring in-person collaboration on physical object, maybe it would be possible to form small groups that could use the space for a designated few hours each week? haha I don't know, I get a bit sad just writing this, but its the reality we have to face now.
I also think a lot here is on the professors - to find new formats for their classes. They can not take the in-person studio-based class and try to mimic that via Zoom, they have to fundamentally change how the class is taught - with Zoom as the medium. I honestly hope they can find inspiration in that challenge and accelerate online-learning to a level that we otherwise would not have seen in 2020.
 

hahah geeeeeez this seems to be a mess for everyone. Regarding the students wanting their money back, I dont think I am on their "side" on that issue to be honest. This is an unprecedented global emergency that is 100% outside the control of any of these schools... If was in that position I would rather look to my insurance to see what they cover.. But even that I wouldn't be to hopeful about.
I think scholarships are a big part of the business model at Parsons for sure - it is baked into the full-cost tuition. I do however think that this is the case at any school, but even more so Parsons. They even phrase it as a discount in the offer, "XX% off tuition", lol. At the company where I work now, discounts to various customers are absolutely 100% part of our business model, I dont think the schools are any different ? But I have the impression that NYUs scholarships are less part of a business-model, and more funded through donations. I base this on 1) You can see their scholarship fundraisers on their website and social accounts and 2) the fact that their scholarships are need-based as well as merit - and that's really important in any case.
Regardless of their business-model though you can of course get an equally amazing education both places, I am by no means doubting that. But I think the way the school does business might impact what actions they take during this pandemic.
 

@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.

@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. 
 

I, unfortunately, did not apply for NYU. I didn't know about the program back when I was applying. I now wish that I had known. But I would anyway absolutely love to connect with everyone and learn about their decisions and why they are choosing one program over another. 
In fact, if everyone is comfortable, then we can perhaps take the discussion off gradcafe to a more instant messaging platform such as Telegram. Gradcafe is also cool with me if everyone is comfortable here.   ?
Thank you. Congratulations to you too on your acceptances and of course the scholarships! I was honestly surprised to find out that I had been accepted, let alone offered a scholarship because I applied very late and Parsons said that they can't guarantee anything since I was applying so late. So I am extra grateful.
I am also planning to appeal to Parsons for more money. Btw, their webinars are coming up, one of which is on financial aid. Do you think I should attend the webinar before shooting them the financial appeal or should I appeal anyway and just see what happens in the webinar?
 

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/

@MA2596 - it seems they have much smaller class sizes (7-15 in one year?) and I'm assuming because of this reason and being in LA their network is smaller. It does seem like people get jobs from their alumni page. I spoke to a recent alum from the program who enjoyed it, but she was keen on staying in LA so didn't consider other options. Will try to speak to a few others. 

I have also received acceptance letter from ArtCenter MDP. 
One strange thing is the what was written in the acceptance letter saying "Places will be reserved on a first-come first-served basis and often fill very quickly. Your place in the class is not assured until you have received our written confirmation that we have received these items and can reserve a place for you".
Did others who got accepted to MDP also have this written in the letter?
+ Also did anyone offered a place with fundings?
So for now, I have to decide between ArtCenter MDP/ Parsons DT/ NYU ITP.
MDP is quite different from DT and ITP, I should start researching!!  
 

For anyone wanting to share thoughts and discuss ITP vs DT (or just general thoughts about each program for those who is not considering both) @MA2596 created a new topic here:

@yona @verynervous @taketwo @ciwy13 @A Bawa @Sids @met4 @hiesther @huthuhle @sapphirelake +++ anyone else!

Currently my top two choices are Parsons DT and NYU ITP, with ACCD Media Design Practice also in the run. 

I'm an international and is in need of financial support, and Parsons offered me a much higher scholarship. I also went to an art school for my BFA and Parsons' environment and teaching style seems to suit me better. NYU ITP is quite a stretch for me, both financially (they offered 5k/year) and skillset wise (I have very little knowledge in coding/physical computation/etc., and I'm also not intensely passionate about it, but am willing to learn!), but it's also a Pass/Fail system that seems to welcome experimentation, and I definitely want to challenge myself throughout my Master.

For mer it's whether I want to go to another art school with similar line of thinking and training vs a different environment that going to challenge me

Hi guys!

Congrats everyone for their acceptance!

Just opening this topic so we can all talk about the classic battle between Parsons' Design Technology (DT) vs NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP) for upcoming Fall 2020. Other schools/options are welcome as well.

If you are also in a similar dilemma, would love to hear about:
Your decision making process and why ITP or DT? Your background and skillset? What are you looking to achieve through the program? Any knowledge/information/tips/thoughts you have on each program and their respective facilities/faculties/curriculum/networking/etc. Some personal stats like scholarship, funding, are you an international/domestic student, etc. (optional) How is the school going to respond to COVID-19? If they're going online for Fall 2020, will you still attend? Other general questions

@sapphirelake Thank you for sharing your list and insights!! Super helpful and very much appreciated! 
@MA2596 I am starting to feel more and more certain about ITP for each day that passes but I think it would be a great idea to start a separate thread on this DT vs ITP topic so we can keep each other updated on our reasoning? It is of course an individual decision I find it very interesting and helpful to hear everyone’s thoughts and would love to share my own with you all as well ?

I got into Parsons DT and NYU ITP,  both with 50% merit scholarship. ❤️ Congrats to everyone who posted above, and thanks for sharing your thought process of which program seems the right fit!
They both seem to me like the programs in this interactive tech/design space (in nyc) most geared toward open-ended exploration of emerging tech across disciplines, as well as critical thinking of social/ecological impacts. I've decided to accept the offer from NYU ITP, for a few reasons (and gut feeling): 
1. NYU has a robust network of schools/disciplines and room for extensive collaborations outside of the department itself (for example, the Department of Psychology)
2. There is particularly a lot of room for collaboration with Tandon (School of Engineering) which runs the Integrated Digital Media program on the floor below ITP and has sooooo many amazing research labs I've heard ITP students can get involved with (https://engineering.nyu.edu/research/labs-and-groups)
3. The ITP alumni network is vast, and ITP apparently has a standout reputation in the interactive tech/design scene
4. The courses from previous semesters sound uniquely diverse, critical, in depth, cutting edge
5. The classes being pass/fail really encourages risk-taking and freedom with projects
6. NYU has an incredible entrepreneurship track record (https://entrepreneur.nyu.edu/resource/leslie-elab/)
7. Brooklyn is poised to be the next Silicon Valley (https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-oped-silicon-valley-should-envy-new-york-city-20191114-cqxmz7vcrrb25plooe3prmbp3y-story.html)
8. The new floor ITP moved to is beautiful, and the whole building at 370 Jay Street is filled with great programs, from the Tisch film program to electronic music production to Tandon Future Labs on floor 7
9. The building is installing a state-of-the-art volumetric capture studio
10. Mindful NYU seems like a leading mindfulness effort in academia: https://www.nyu.edu/students/communities-and-groups/student-diversity/spiritual-life/mindfulness.html
11. (my top reason lollllll) All NYU students have access to free 11-week language classes: https://cas.nyu.edu/content/nyu-as/cas/speakingfreely.html

Huge congrats to everyone for the Parsons acceptance! Just got the notice as well, accepted with merit scholarship

MPS is more towards learning a practical skills for a certain industry, it's usually taught by industry experts so it works best for people who are set on working in the industry. Grabbed this from Google: " In short, MPS is limited to a narrower band of education with a focus on practical skills rather than research." 

MFA is more open-ended and is concept and research-based, which I think better translated into teaching? Most of my professors from my BFA program hold a MFA, and many MFA students I met went on to work and/or teach on the side. They all have varying strengths and design styles, and all of them have very good critical thinking and research skills, but they do not specialise in one specific area. Teaching MFA requires you to be open, experimental and flexible, while MPS is also experimental but more focused and specialised (i.e. many people applied to NYU ITP knowing that they want to code/program/etc.) 

Not that I'm discounting any MPS degree holders, if you want to teach, as long as you're good I'm pretty sure you can do it with either degree.  But it seems like MFA are preferred.


On another note, still no info on Parsons.......

This is very individual, but for me I think the fact that DT is an MFA degree with more focus on art and not just design + programing is a plus, because that's the environment where I feel most comfortable. In the group interview at ITP it really seemed like 50% had a background in engineering/computer science majors and 50% in art/design. That combination of people seems really unique to ITP, or at least even more "extreme" than at DT - and I think that's really cool. I do have the impression that the environment and relationship between the students and with faculty is better and more personal at ITP, but I have no real basis for saying that.
I think for me it would have to come down to the courses. Go through each course offered at both schools and choose the one where I am the most exited about the highest number of courses offered.

Hi, congrats to all who got accepted to NYU ITP! I also got an offer yesterday and is pretty excited.

I want to ask about scholarships. I applied to the secondary deadline and did not expect any scholarships (since the competitive deadline was Dec 1st), but did receive some scholarship in the end, which I'm grateful for! I'm waiting for Parsons DT and see if they have better offerings, but is considering to appeal for more funding since I'm an international student and has already undergone a pretty expensive undergrad. How's everyone doing in term of funding, and can you give me some tips or advices on this? The FAQ section said you can only appeal if your main financial support (parents, etc.) have undergone a change and need more support. But I also understand that as more applicants confirm or reject their offers, many of the scholarships get re-awarded as well?

 Would really appreciate any help!