i've heard that cal arts' undergraduate program focuses on animation. is this true? How is SAIC? Also, what's the pros and cons of going to an art focus school versus a university, ie. syracuse and chapman. besides the obvious such as only art classes. thanks.

well, universities usually have more classes (like general education stuff) that you have to take before you start your intended major and there are more people at a university than an art school (traditionally). Art schools (as you already know) usually (depending on how liberal arts the school is) start you off in art classes.

I've looked at the School of the art insititute of Chicago, and after viewing a bunch of work that has come out of there, and some talks with professors, the main focus of the school is on experimental filmmaking more-so than hollywood or independent filmmaking.

Where does emerson fall into play? is it considered an art school or a university? does it focus more on media based teachings? same goes for syracuse, is it media based? thanks.

Being an Emerson student, I can say that it is considered an art school. There are only about 3-4 thousand people that go there. And yes, its primary focus is on media based teachings (of film, television broadcasting, broadcast journalism, etc.). I hope that answers your question, if it didn't just keep posting.

How are the facilities at Emerson? I higly doubt I could get into NYU or USC, cause my grades aren't exactly admission preferable. The 3 main schools i'm looking at are chapman, syracuse, and emerson. Would you be able to say which of the 3 would provide me with the best tools and teachings? thanks a lot for all this help.

Emerson has excellent facilities (in my opinion), the schools most popular major is film so they do have all the resources and good professors to teach it (haven't really heard of any bad film professors so far). I can't really give you an accurate answer as to whether or not Chapman or Syracuse would be better because the fact that I go to Emerson would make it biased. I have heard good stuff about the Syracuse program, but the not so good stuff about its environment surrounding.

If I were you I'd try to visit the schools and talk to some of the professors about the program. Then make a choice based on a number of things like whether or not you'd be comfortable in New England, the Northeast, or the East Coast (for Chapman). Location, student-body, and education are the three main things you'll want to analyze before choosing the right school.

Hope that helps and good luck. Feel free to ask more questions.