I spent nearly two hours a couple of days back trying to get my list of film schools together...

Some of the questions I had to ask:
*Do I want to live where there are no beaches?
*What are the networking possibilities?
*Who are the instructors? Do they work in the industry? Are they supportive?
*Does the student own their films?
*What degrees are offered?
*The cost, and financial aid possibilities for being a Cal resident?
*What are the graduate opportunities?
My list currently {after a couple of schools were taken off}:

*NYU {Spike Lee is one of the faculty members!}
*UCLA
*USC
*CSU Northridge
*CSU Long Beach
*CSU Fullerton
*SFSU
*SJSU
*UC Berkeley
*UC Davis
*San Diego State
*UC San Diego
*UC Santa Cruz
*Loyola Marymount

It still needs to be down to 6-10 schools, then I have to watch my grades!

I like the Bay Area, and would like to build a film culture here...so that is why SFSU and SJSU is lingering...{along with a couple of UC's}.

Other than that, it's just doing research.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Joel2007,

Check out Emerson.

quote:

Originally posted by Josh:
Check out Emerson.

Ah, yeah...I heard about Emerson.

I think Denis Leary is one of the faculty members {as well as an alumni}.

I'll check them out.

Is it hard to get into emerson, say with a low SAT score for some reason?

quote:

Originally posted by Goodkat:
Is it hard to get into emerson, say with a low SAT score for some reason?

I didn't take a look at the admissions requirements, but you may want to speak with the Emerson admissions office.

If grades or SAT scores are low, usually a community college will better your chances for transfer or admission if you do well.

go to capilano college its aweosme

quote:

Originally posted by Poplar Park Films:
go to capilano college its aweosme

I had to look Capilano up. {That's a Canadian college}.

From what I understand Canada takes good care of their filmmakers, but I think coming in from California, I may have some minor issues with the tuition. {Something I'm considering with out of state schools}.

*****

My choices have come down to these schools, as they offer graduate studies {either M.F.A and/or Ph.D degrees}...

*SFSU
*Loyola Marymount
*USC
*UCLA
*NYU
*Chapman
*UC Berkeley
*UC San Diego
*Columbia {New York}

I'm excited!

quote:

Originally posted by Goodkat:
Is it hard to get into emerson, say with a low SAT score for some reason?

Newsflash: every good school is hard to get into with low SAT scores.

Not saying it's impossible. But it is hard.

quote:

My choices have come down to these schools, as they offer graduate studies {either M.F.A and/or Ph.D degrees}...

Are you looking for undergrad or grad then? Be careful where you post your forum, that's why they split the college ones...

quote:

Originally posted by techie1902:

quote:

My choices have come down to these schools, as they offer graduate studies {either M.F.A and/or Ph.D degrees}...

Are you looking for undergrad or grad then? Be careful where you post your forum, that's why they split the college ones...

Both actually.

I'm thinking of an undergraduate degree in either a foreign language: Chinese, Korean, or Japanese...{or even Vietnamese via Asian Studies}...then a graduate degree in Film...

cool...you're like me then (minus the language part)

Are you already in college? What year?

quote:

Originally posted by techie1902:
cool...you're like me then (minus the language part)

Are you already in college? What year?

Hello techie1902:

I'm attending a CC actually in Fremont, California: Ohlone College; my first semester here. {I'm actually coming from a 4 year college, where I had a bad experience}.

For what you want, it sounds like UCB would be a good fit. Their language programs are awesome and they have undergrad film studies classes that would prepare you well for an MFA. Not a whole lot of production though, so be wary. I'm a senior there looking to apply to MFA programs at many of the schools you mentioned.

quote:

Originally posted by EMDelMar:
For what you want, it sounds like UCB would be a good fit. Their language programs are awesome and they have undergrad film studies classes that would prepare you well for an MFA. Not a whole lot of production though, so be wary. I'm a senior there looking to apply to MFA programs at many of the schools you mentioned.

EMDelMar:
I think the only thing that has me wondering are the production classes...{However, as you attested, the production course seems to be pretty good}...

Good luck with that MFA. It'll definitely pay off...

well, the undergrad production courses are closely tied with the art department and they are expanding. go to schedule.berkeley.edu and search for "film studies" and you can see what's offered. The quality of instruction is very high, and they are adding new equipment all the time. It's a great place to be a filmmaker.

quote:

Originally posted by EMDelMar:
well, the undergrad production courses are closely tied with the art department and they are expanding. go to schedule.berkeley.edu and search for "film studies" and you can see what's offered. The quality of instruction is very high, and they are adding new equipment all the time. It's a great place to be a filmmaker.

It definitely sounds exciting...!

Well good luck to you all...

I'm only a senior in high school but I've been looking at a lot of the same schools too...

USC is my number one but we'll see how that works out...

quote:

Originally posted by techie1902:
Well good luck to you all...

I'm only a senior in high school but I've been looking at a lot of the same schools too...

USC is my number one but we'll see how that works out...

Keep those grades up, and be sure what you want...

Make sure you have some other schools in mind as well, and do your research...{You might find a good, cheaper school where you can study film}.

Good luck, techie...

That reminds me. My current film school choices are, {now that I was able to get my goals together}:

*UC San Diego
*UC Santa Cruz
*UC Berkeley
*UC LA
*SFSU
*SJSU
*CSU East Bay {This one may or may not remain on my list}...

Again, I want to study a language and get a BA in that language, then go for my MFA and/or Ph.d in Film.

The cool thing about my choices is that I'm in the still in Bay Area, with two schools a bit further down south.

Another cool thing is that the SFSU rep is coming to my school tomorrow! {So I'll get an idea of the admission process}.

Thanks Joel...

Yeah I'm in that process right now...I'm glad your having sucess with your choices...

My biggest piece of advice is MAKE SURE YOU LIKE THE SCHOOL ITSELF. Find out as much as you can about each: read reviews, visit the campus, ask around. Do not just apply for the film program. While the program may be amazing, college is realistically much more than that.

Can you see yourself at these schools? Can you imagine what you'd do? Does the general atmosphere make you happy? Are the academics to your taste?

As for film, are there connections avaliable? Opportunities? I'm sure you know all of this, but what I had to deal with when choosing schools to apply to is managing my priorities.

If UCLA is your dream school, for instance, don't forgoe it just because of the difficult-to-get-into film major. However, if your dream school involves rigorous film education, look elsewhere.