Do not apologise for lengthy posts and when compared to some that you will see yours could be considered a mere snippet! It is the content that is important and the process that you undertook in selecting the course will prove helpful to others I am sure. What we are trying to avoid is simple statements like “I chose xxx because the program looked cool”. At the end of the day that doesn’t help anyone. You may get someone ask you more specific questions but at least your post gives enough for people to work with. For example, you have discussed cost (although, how did the others compare) and the fact that you will now get a degree as opposed to a diploma.
Other things like class size is important (which you have commented on) and I would be interested in knowing what the class sizes are at LIPA. Sometimes small classes can indicate that there is a lack of interest in that component of the course or it could just be that the program only offers a few spaces with the aim of ensuring adequate exposure to all facets of the course. For example, 3 people doing LX will have ample opportunities to get a lot of hands on experience. The other thing to consider is how many intakes per year and the duration of the course. Lets say it is 3 years with 2 intakes per year. This means that at any one time there are 18 students doing LX. Something to consider when the productions are on. Did you look at the teaching staff at all?
Thanks again for providing this info and keep us informed as you progress through your course.
Cheers,