Hey all!
So I’m applying to colleges this fall and I’m currently trying to narrow down my list of schools. I’d like to one day pursue a career in screenwriting or even a fiction-writer but I’m not sure I want to major in screenwriting or creative writing in college since many people say they’re useless majors and it’s much more beneficial to just find film internships to learn about film and make connections in the industry or to just practice writing on my own if I want to be an author and not spend thousands on a degree for it. So my current plan is to major in something like business (because I know that can also be helpful in the film industry and it’s also useful if I don’t end up pursuing a career in film or writing) and then potentially minor or double major in screenwriting/ creative writing/ film production.
So does anyone know of any colleges that would allow me to major in business and then double major/minor in screenwriting/film without having to send in a film portfolio? Or any suggestions for schools with good creative writing minors/ double major options?
Also I’d appreciate suggestions for schools that give good financial aid or scholarships too because my parents and I can’t afford to pay full price for most schools and I’d rather not graduate with a ton of debt.
And one more thing-- if I only minored in screenwriting or film or creative writing do you think I’d still be able to easily find opportunities for film internships?
Thanks so much for any help!!
Really, you need to define affordable first, as a number. Your stats, and your state. Will your parents pay for your university? How much?
SAT I: 1420 (700 R, 720 M)
SAT II: 770 world history, 750 bio, 710 math 2, 700 french
GPA: 4.0
state: CT
my parents are willing to pay $15K and I’d have to cover the rest with work study or loans.
Can you afford your local uni? Can you commute? Work study and a direct loan might add up to another 8K for your first year, so you need to look at local affordable options first, then you could look at at the auto merit options.
Yes, I’m applying to two local colleges which I could definitely afford, though I’d like to find college options that aren’t in CT too.
Fifteen thousand dollars a year in contribution from your parents would require a lot of financial aid from most of the out-of-state colleges for which you would be a match academically. I’m guessing they would have to make <100k a year (combined) to be eligible for anywhere near that much need-based aid and you would have to do quite a bit of searching for enough merit-based aid to make any of the others affordable. You need more information about their income.
Yes, my parents make less than 100k a year combined so I’m hoping for good need-based aid from most schools. Does anyone have any suggestions for schools that might also give good merit-based aid to someone with scores like mine?
This is the sort of question best posted on the Film Major/Visual Arts forum, but, I’ll give you my two cents:
Internships in the entertainment industry are highly sought after and successful candidates nearly always have received help from family contacts. If yo are lucky, you may be enrolled in a program with good alumni networking, but, TBH. if you are an alumnus of XUniversity and you worked your derriere off to graduate as a film major, why would you give an edge to someone who only minored in it? The word, “Minor” has a whole other connotation to it than the word, “Major”. IMHO, a minor in a subject is a signal to the word, that you were interested in it, that you enjoyed studying it, and you took enough courses to form an intellectual familiarity with some of its core values - but, not enough to make it a calling.
ok thanks for the advice. I’ve just heard most people say a film major is useless so I wondered how people who didn’t major in film (and didn’t have family contacts in the industry) got the opportunity to work as an intern on films.
Check out Susquehanna. You would get an excellent merit package and maybe FA as well. With subsidized loans, summer job earnings, and work study, you might be able to swing it. Strong in business and creative writing, and they offer a film minor.
I’ll definitely check it out; I haven’t heard of that school so thanks so much for letting me know about it!