 Acting gradually became a passion for Hoffman : " I loved the camaraderie of it , the people , and that 's when I decided it was what I wanted to do . " At the age of 17 , he was selected to attend the 1984 New York State Summer School of the Arts in Saratoga Springs , where he met his future collaborators Bennett Miller and Dan Futterman . Miller later commented on Hoffman 's popularity at the time : " We were attracted to the fact that he was genuinely serious about what he was doing . Even then , he was passionate . " Hoffman applied for several drama degree programs and was accepted to New York University 's ( NYU ) Tisch School of the Arts . Between starting on the program and graduating from Fairport High School , he continued his training at the Circle in the Square Theatre 's summer program . Hoffman had positive memories of his time at NYU , where he supported himself by working as an usher . With friends , he co @-@ founded the Bullstoi Ensemble acting troupe . He received a drama degree in 1989 . 
