I just wanna say, yes I had qualms about going to Chapman because of the OC. But regardless of the plastic-ness, and the shallowness that people "talk" about I'm sure that every place has it's own charm. New York can be pretty blase and Hawaii ain't great all the time either. I like to operate on philosophy of "live as many places as I can and experience as many cultures as possible." (Blondes and breast enhancements included) So I'm looking forward to living in the OC. It really is just a state of mind I think. At the very least you can say you did it eh?

"...is neither blonde nor Breast enhanced...neither are any of her friends...maybe she is out of place?"

I've found Orange very different from the "OC," a decently high population of filipinos, hispanics, homosexuals, the list can go on, none particularly clawing to be a part of white america. Decent amount of hobby shops. Game stop. Can't recall them all. Can't think of arcades but then-- I was never an arcade type. Choose to do my gaming at home.

Also, not mentioned is everything 15-20 minutes East-- you can hit my old tromping ground of the slums of downtown Pomona. I'm sure the S&M parlors and prostitutes are there like ants on Candy. =P

They have a cute little artist colony known for art walks every 2nd Saturday with gallery showing and musicians galore, occasional obscure theatre pieces. The starving artist types.

I lived on a Hippie farm down that way. It's a little cultural mecca-- with people choosing to cling to their roots rather than conform to American suburbia.

But this is a moot point. If you have a prejudice about an area, no amount of argument from others will change your mind. the only thing that will really make a difference is choosing to be open to experience it for yourself. Change you own opinion.

I definitely recommend waiting to reapply to UCLA. It sounds like that is where you want to be, and regardless of what the OC does and does not offer, you won't be happy here.

I can't speak from personal experience, just what I've heard from friends at USC and what I observed when out in L.A. for a visit earlier in the summer... but most film students seem to work so hard, there's not a whole lot of time for partying anyway! Meeting up at diners at 1 am for a very late dinner seemed to be the status quo. Of course that could just be my friend and his L.A. friends (he and I DID spend most of our college years hanging out at the local diner til all hours )

The fun and frolic vary depending on workload...I had more time my first semester than many of my classmates, but second semester, I was completely scheduled every minute of every day due to my class schedule and their various deadlines. I don't think I went out a single time, and I never saw my roommate. Most weekends I never left bedroom and my laptop.

Either way, grad school, especially film school, is not the time to party it up.

Wait & re-apply to UCLA.

That gives you time to figure out your financial situation. Also, if they reject you again, you'll feel confident that you did your best to get in (twice).

Oh, get used to fake people and jerks ASAP.

It's rather ridiculous how fast this year has blown by. I feel like the dust has barely settled on my last round of apps, probably because it has, and here I am again prepping for my next round. I don't worry so much about fake people and *******s. They sprout like weeds and the only thing I envy them is their ability to BS their way through situations. I'm cursed with an unerring honesty about myself and my current abilities that's probably done me in more than a few times. I'd like to think in the long run it's positive to always be open and speak plainly but I have the sneaking suspicion its probably not.

It's probably TMI (there is that horrible honesty thing again) but at it's core my line of questioning has everything to do with myself and nothing to do with the school at hand.
Logistically I decided against Chapman for other reasons. The timeline for me was just not something I could make work. Whether I want to be or not I have to be a surefooted goat and can't just jump into situations and hope to sort the rest out later, so even if another chance at film school never arises I'm okay with my decision.

I think in the end my questions stem from a concern that I'll arrive and not find a comfortable place for myself in this tight knit group you get tossed into with this type of thing. I don't take it on faith that I'll arrive and love everyone or assume they'll love me. That level of optimism has done little else than bite me in the ass over the years so I'd feel pretty foolish trying to manifest it now. I work to be clear minded, highly competent, and dependable, but I won't ever be a giant bag of fun and hugs. Some people can take that the wrong way and take it personally before they get to know me.

So all things failing I'd prefer to have a simple way to step away from school. Even if it's in the wee hours of the morning after I've been shooting for 14 hours. 2am omlettes at diners sounds as good an option as any.

I'm not worried "where's the party?".
I'm worried that at the end of the day it's gonna be me trapped in a room with a bunch of people i want to strangle becuase they've broken into their second chorus of kumbaya with not so much as a comic shop i can sneak off to for minute.

Ah well.
I've got a personal statement to get to writing.

I'm applying to both UCLA and Chapman. Is it correct that you can't apply for the UCLA film school until your Junior year? That scares me a little. Anyone have any thoughts on how much that should weight into one's decision?