NYU ITP versus Parsons Design & Technology

[please]

I recently found out about acceptances from NYU's ITP program and Parsons Design & Technology program. I received a scholarship from Parsons that covers about 1/3 of all admissions costs and nothing from NYU. My background is in dance will little tech training. I hope to work on gesture based gaming concepts and projects that develop kinesthetic awareness. ITP seems like an exciting but unruly place with little focus, which is intimidating to someone with little training outside of dance. Parsons I know very little about and am hoping to go on a tour of later this week.

Are there any students, alumni, professors or industry professionals that can help me get a better feeling of each of these schools reputations and specialties?

Anything would be so helpful- I need to respond to NYU in two weeks!!!

[appliqed]

I cannot speak for Parsons, but from my experience of visiting the NYU ITP program, their primary focus is in augmented reality/designing wearable devices/installation. When you visit, you'll see the students' workshop where people build stuffs with circuits and other hardware. They seem to have a bit of storytelling aspect going on, but it is not as strong as other more game-focused programs. Also, a few months back, Eric Zimmerman started the Game Center program that concentrates on game design/studies, but it is still very new and to me the department seems to think of itself more of Tisch design program than a game design/studies program.

I hope someone who is actually in the program could provide more insight for you. This is coming from someone who went to the open house last year. Good luck!