Jayimess-

You know, the more I've researched and looked into schools, the more I realize that when you get your heart set on a school, it's hard to get it away. Money will always be a concern, but loans and debt will (hopefully) be paid off eventually. You'll never forgive yourself for not going to the school of your dreams.

While admittedly I am extremely biased when I talk about anything USC, it's something to think about. When I applied to UCLA and Chapman, I knew they would be fantastic programs offering a great education. However, I have had my heart set on SC from the beginning and I've come to terms that, if given the opportunity to attend, it would probably take George Lucas himself telling me not to go to USC for me to attend anywhere else.

Of course, it doesn't make your decision any easier. But just know we're all here for you

Some weeks have gone by, (and I have not been an active participant of this valuable forum), so glad to see all you filmmakers getting into great schools be it OC, LA, Austin or NYC.

As for me folks I have really done a lot of thinking and weighing about which program to go for and.....

[beat]

I don't know, I don't know, I don't know!

I can't make a straight decision. Its Columbia one day, USC
the other! And it doesn't help when I saw LA set Million Dollar Baby on Saturday and Taxi Driver on Sunday!


Which program will make me a stronger director (working with actors and translating script to scene)> Which program will allow me to develop my independent creative voice (and I don't mean indie film by independent but 'my' vision)?

I wonder where our sister, sa, is goin?

Jayimess-

USC is the king of film schools... the connections you stand to make are unimaginable, and in the end, after talent, it's all who you know. USC has thesis year scouting events where people come straight from the studios to recruit new talent... beyond that the directors and producers you'll meet will definitely become your future collaborators.

I'm happy with going to UCLA, and yes, with instate tuition and the fellowships i recieved, it's practically free, which is absurd for going to one of the top film schools in the nation. but if i'd gotten into USC it would've been a no brainer. seriously. i would've gone in a second, exorbitant cost or no.

incidentally, my husband is going there, for the jazz studies MFA program...

Jayimess - Congratulations on getting into USC! I've been away from the forums for awhile (crazy busy!), and this is an exciting development!

RE: money situation at SC... It's true that they pretty much don't give fellowships, etc. to incoming grad students. We all have to apply after at least a semester of study. It's stressful, but on the positive side, I think it's sort of more fair that way. Everyone comes in on equal footing. Everyone has a chance to work hard and prove their merit, and the money will follow.

I thought you were really excited to go to UCLA, and I think you'd have a great experience there too, but it seems that USC is where your heart is. From my personal perspective, I think it's worth it to take out more loans that first year to go where you really want to go. (For me, as a CA resident, UCLA tuition/fees would be about $10,000 a year less than at USC even without any financial aid...and you know the choice I made.) Of course, I don't know your full financial situation, so I can't presume anything, but unless UCLA is essentially offering you a free ride, the overall cost difference probably won't end up being that big.

Which school has more classes and professors that excite you? Where do you think you'll feel more inspired and supported while pursuing your specific goals? On the hard days--when you have writer's block and haven't had more than three hours sleep all week and are trying to juggle your classwork and your internship and your independent passion project--where are you most likely to still feel like it's all "worth it"?

For me, the answer was USC. If it is for you too, then I really hope you'll be my classmate come fall. I honestly don't think you'll regret it in the end. But either way, you'll end up where you're supposed to be and do great.

UCLA is way more well-known for screenwriting than USC, whereas USC is more known for production. Lew Hunter's Screenwriting 434 is the industry standard for learning the trade. I would pick UCLA's writing program anyday. You might be infatuated with the idea of USC, but I think UCLA is really where to go for screenwriting.

Wow, everyone, what a great pile of responses to come back to. Thanks for the sweet words.

MattyMac,

You summed my situation up perfectly. USC is the dream, and I can't let it go now that I'm off the waitlist.


Lily,

I really appreciate your post, as you and I have been in similar situations. I thought you got into USC, since you got in everywhere, so I was really curious as to why you chose UCLA. The USC network is a huge draw, as is First Pitch, and the other industry integration.

It's hard to let go of UCLA's generosity, but I think I'm going to have to.

surlymonkey,

I was really excited to go to UCLA, and I still would be honored to go there. I'm lucky to be choosing between the Harvard and Yale, not the Harvard and an online degree factory advertised on late-night TV...

I'm going broke no matter where I go. The cost of living near UCLA evens out the tuition difference, though the fellowship helped a lot.

USC is where I want to be, I gotta say. I had never directed at the time of the application process, and while I don't think I would have applied as a director, say if I didn't get in as a writer, I thoroughly enjoy directing. I'm excited to see that USC not only requires courses in production, directing actors, and editing, but the school also provides a writer-director track, where at least one film is made as part of the thesis package...I'm nearly certain that's the path I will take.

UCLA's feature focus, and new Showrun track are not as appealing...in my interview, they flat out said it's writing, writing, writing...which is fine, but now that I have the choice, I think I'm going to USC.

Several of their faculty teach at both UCLA and USC, which I found interesting.

It's a win-win, no matter what I do. I wish it wasn't so hard to turn down the money.


I'm rambling.

Hey, I bought a car last night, and my brother and I bought his one-way ticket home from LA last night too! Looks like I'll be leaving Ohio on July 31st or August 1st, for the road trip of my life.

Truth? I'm happy you're leaning towards USC-- gives me one more freiend at one more school to network with-- Plus its a lot closer than UCLA to come and play at.

Wow! Looks like we are gonna have one more "stupid" Trojan!

I say go to USC. Money comes and money goes. The cost difference will never stop the voice in your head from asking you "what if ..."

I was on an airplane to Washington, D.C. from Phoenix. On the seat next to me was an older gentleman with a laptop. He was enthralled in his writing. Eventually I had to know what he was doing. He was in his second year of the screenwriting M.F.A. at U.S.C. Needless to say, when I got off the plane my entire life altered. In less than a six week time frame, I studied for and took the G.R.E.s and wrote all the application essays and materials. I applied to one film school: U.S.C. Unbelievably, I was accepted.

I am walking away from a lucrative career as an attorney. I am not going to consider the cost differential between making partner and going into debt for another degree. Sometimes you meet a stranger and the entire direction of your life twists.

There is no considerations for cost when jumping off a cliff. Just jump. Your parachute will either deploy or it won't.

I hope to see you at school. We can all free fall together.

Kristin

Jayimess -- Totally agree that the production education/opportunities are a big plus. My friends at USC right now (in the Production and Producing programs) say that the 507 production class that everyone takes first semester is a blast. You get to know people across all the different divisions, and get down and dirty with a camera. (And as an interesting sidenote, my producer friend said that the screenwriters often had the best films because they were the best storytellers.)

Kristin -- So excited to (virtually) meet another future classmate! When are you coming out here?

We'll all have to get together before school starts if schedules permit...

And feel free to message me if you have any specific questions about L.A.!

Does USC Screenwriting take spring applicants? Due to some current schedule delay and personal plan, I have accepted Production spring offer directly; however, I don't really know how those courses are arranged. Questions like how can I apply to those scholarships offered every spring and do I have equal opportunity to cooperate with students of other SCA divisions are really annoying. What's worse is my growing concern of my connection to classmates from other divisions. I'm sure the main program (in my case is the Production MFA) is the "exactly" the same -- some spring students even claim the spring program better. But what about other aspects? Any further suggestion?

Kristin,

That is an amazing story.

Well, I've made my decision...USC it will be. I am SO EXCITED.

Yc1911, Screenwriting is for fall only. I can't help you on any of the other stuff. I say just roll with it.

hey Jayimess congratulations ......good to know that the dilemma is over.....catch you in USC....

take care

To ease my possibly nonsensical anxiety, I'm reading Wendy's USC diary, again and more seriously.
Thank god! She is a spring student. phew~
Good to know you're released from your dilemma, J....welcome you sxxxxd Trojan gal~
See you all in USC.

Oh! and Kristin, your story is beautiful. Dramatic things happen all the time, but you SW people just has the gift to dig out the deep feeling. I think it is you changed your life. May I ask more on how you end up making such decision?

Jayimess-
First, congratulations on putting in the time and effort to earn the luxury to be able to choose between the "Harvard" and "Yale" of film schools, that says a ton right there...Secondly, welcome to the family, we're glad to have you aboard. I'm sure when we see each other again we'll be far less anxious and sweaty then we were waiting outside of the AFI interview room..and number C, here's to you, You Stupid Trojan!! Salud.

Slev,

We'll be pals, I know it. Where are you going to live?

F AFI.

(sorry LATex)

LOL F AFI... now you know how I felt about UCLA. lol.

Jay,
I'm not sure yet. I called the admission's office last week to try and squeeze some info out of whoever picked up the phone as to when possibly, maybe, hopefully I would or could come off the fall waitlist. They said they sent out the first wave of offers and they'll be sending out smaller and smaller waves until they have the entire class filled. I would like to start in the fall because I'm already so amped and want to start getting my hands dirty in that cardinal and gold soil... I say all that to basically say that I don't know where I'm going to live, because I don't know when I'm going to start!! I'm back in Boston but when I was living in LA I was downtown. I think that's where I'll be looking again. I'm not at all the commuting type, I like to roll out of bed and be where I gotta be, so I'ma look for something near the Staples center around Figueroa (like 5 min. away from the School of Cine Arts). It's a lot different when you're waiting to hear "when" you're going, as opposed to "if" you're going, so I can't REALLY complain either way. I'm going to start looking for places this summer so if you tell me where or what you're looking for, if I come across anything I'll pass it on.

Oh yeah... F&%K AFI!! But congratulations to anyone who did get in, it's an inside thing only us rejects understand...