<p>We're in the decision making phase of this process now so I guess it's time to try to compare the departments for the probable :) majors. We visited this summer and liked the overall campus environment but didn't really get a great read department by department. If any students or parents know anything about this your input would be most welcome
Thanks</p>
<p>I too would like some insight on this. I know Rochester is a great school, I’m just a bit weary regarding the focus/benefits/value of its film studies program. </p>
<p>If you don’t mind me asking, what other colleges did you apply to as a film studies major, NEValu?</p>
<p>My son (I’m just the helicopter mom 
) applied to Vassar, Carleton and Colorado college which denied him. Rochester was sort of the middle ground school and he’s accepted there.
The safety round included Denison, Muhlenberg and Montana State Univ. All those three have offered substantial scholarship assistance and thus far, we haven’t heard back from UR yet on that front.
I know that he is interested in production more than just “film studies” of genre and history. Some of that is good but, it looks like in the catalog, that this might be the dominant aspect of their degree program but, we’d really like to hear from those more in the know.
We visited campus this summer but because of the distance and cost probably won’t get to go this month prior to making the decision. When we did our summer visits we concentrated more on looking at the campus and facilities…the standard tour, info session and interview stuff.
How about yourself?</p>
<p>I was accepted into Emerson College, New York University, Northeastern University, and UR. I’m finding the least amount of information regarding UR, so I still want to know more about UR’s program before I make any decision. Contrary to your son, I am more interested in the theoretical/critical aspects of film. But if I remember correctly, one of their “clusters” focuses solely on production. I plan to schedule some sort of meeting with the director of the program to get an in depth look at what they offer.
I understand you are further away than I am (PA resident), so I would be happy to ask questions on behalf of your son when/if I get a chance to visit.</p>
<p>we would certainly be interested in your impressions of their program. Isn’t NYU kind of the gold standard for film? My son talks of perhaps doing a graduate program there but really wants a small, non urban liberal arts kind of experience as an undergrad. Congratulations on all your admissions success.</p>
<p>Well, unfortunately, our UR visits are only by phone but, what we found out in discussion with the film studies department is that the emphasis is definitely not much on production although they do offer some classes that deal primarily with that.
Hmmm.</p>
<p>NEValu, sorry for the delay, but I just visited UR yesterday and took a look at the program. I asked the director of the program (Sharon Willis) the emphasis of the major and she more or less implied one which focused on theory and criticism. However, I asked about production and she said many people do go the production route at the university, even mentioning a required production course. The courses seem to be very diverse and interesting. But once again, aside from the production courses, almost every other course deals heavily in writing (more expository than creative). If you have any questions, I’d be happy to help you out.</p>
<p>Thanks for thinking about us in asking questions and posting your responses. Do you think you will go to UR or one of your other choices?</p>
<p>At any college you go to film studies is going to be a joke major with no real application to the real world. - its basically an elective</p>
<p>Ruthless, what will your major be?</p>
<p>Political Science and Economics</p>
<p>I almost expected that you would say pre-med so this makes it more interesting because just, perhaps, compared to curing cancer, let’s say, there might be some validity in your brashness. If you expect to go anywhere in politics, unless of course you want to be the O’Reilly/Limbaugh type of commentator, it might be best to consider your words before being quite so flip in your responses to other people, even if you do feel that the anonymity of the web affords you the right to do so.
Film is no more a joke than political science. As a matter of fact, said son who was considering UR is looking at this a double major. My other son is an economics major in a prestigious program and spent very worthwhile time studying the economics of the arts.<br>
The take away message here is that your input was neither requested nor helpful in this situation. Just because something is not of interest to you personally does not make it more or less worthwhile, or difficult or engaging. Snarkiness might have been a useful attitude in a high school setting but trust me on this, it really doesn’t take you all that far in the adult world.
Good Luck to you at whatever institution you study at.</p>