<p>Hi. I'm a senior in high school right now (09!!)
I got into USC for Fall 09 as a Business major, and then I got into Chapman for Fall 09 as a Screenwriting major. The reasons that the majors are different is because I would only like to minor in Screenwriting, and have a Business major, however, Chapman does not have a minor in Screenwriting.
I love both schools, and I'm definitely confused on what to do. They are both offering me around the same amount of money (18,000), so that doesn't help me decide. I love the small, intimate campus Chapman has, but then again, it is so small that the amount of opportunities might not be as great as USC. I love the spirit of USC and how everyone is involved with everything, however, it is a larger university, which I would think would lead to bigger classes and less individual attention.
So if you could offer me any words of wisdom/advice, that would be amazing. Any opinions on either school would be great!
Thanks so much for your help!</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure at USC you could minor in screenwriting, if not in creative writing.</p>
<p>I think the obvious one here is USC. USC's business major is top in the so cal area at the undergrad level, Plus the connections =your chioce.</p>
<p>Yes, USC has a screenwriting minor. USC</a> Cinema - Programs » Undergraduate Minors » Application Procedures You can apply antime.</p>
<p>If you want small classes and one-on-one tutorials with your professors, apply to the Thematic Option Honors (TO) program. (USC's honors GE curriculum.) My TO classes have between 9 and 14 students, tutorials every other week with professors, and USC pays our way to many cultural events throughout the year. It is an amazing program.</p>
<p>Trustee Scholars, Presidential Scholars and admitees with over a 4.0 and 2250 SAT or 34 ACT are invited to apply. If your 1/2 scholarship is NMF and not Presidential, you can request an application and you would likely be admitted. Thematic</a> Option</p>
<p>If you like both about equally for different reasons, i.e. you "fit" at both well, then there is no comparison.</p>
<p>There are of course many capable students who would choose Chapman over USC, among possible reasons: neighborhood, a love interest also attending Chapman, a better scholarship at Chapman, a mentor at Chapman, you need to be near Chapman to dispatch a daily responsibiliyt (child care, elder care) etc. But in your case it sounds like the fit issue is a push.</p>
<p>To be honest with you, I thought Chapman was a junior college. You will have to deal with that apparently undeserved top-of-mind reaction every time you tell an acquaintance, colleague or interviewer that is not really up on small schools.</p>
<p>Make sure you read this thread.</p>
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Then the aspiring filmmaker should learn what it truly takes to get there. It is highly possible that filmschool is NOT the right choice and not necessary at all. There are valuable things that can be learned by a higher education, but very few jobs in the film industry require a film degree. Cast and crew typically are never asked "where did you go to school?" or "may I see your film degree?" A film degree just doesn't matter. Ever. BUT, if a "filmmaker" wishes to be a Producer or an Executive of some sort, a Business and/or Legal degree very well could be a much better choice. Knowing the process of film production is indeed important, but getting that film degree is usually not necessary for anyone who actually makes a living doing this.
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<p>I do believe USC has a minor in screenwriting. So USC is definitely the better choice here.</p>
<p>I do echo tocollege on the TO Options for small class size. It's an excellent program. It helps my daughter's writing tremendously. She is already a strong writer and USC is fine tuning it.</p>
<p>The student/faculty ratio at SC is 10/1. The opportunities at SC are just so much greater than at Chapman. Even though SC is a larger university the students appear to find their niche by making friends in the dorms, forming a study group or joining one of the 600 club/organizations on campus. Also, there are strong religious groups which offer a "home away from home".
Since you have received one of the scholarships attend the Explore SC weekend and give the university a second look. This will also give you the opportunity to meet some of your possible classmates. A Facebook group, USC 2013 has been formed. Perhaps you could make contacts there. Use a moniker to protect your privacy.
Best of luck.</p>
<p>This is a no brainer: Go to $C.<br>
And I say that as a Bruin. That should mean something ;)</p>
<p>Thanks all. (Especially a pro-USC comment from a Bruin.) Anyone have anything to say pro-Chapman?</p>
<p>I'm not sure if recent posters have the right school in mind, as well myself.</p>
<p>Which USC school?
I can think of a few like University of South California, Universty of South Carolina etc...</p>
<p>University of Southern California.</p>
<p>Probably USC, I may have to add a few schools located by the Pacific to my list as well.</p>
<p>Thanks. Any other comments, anyone?</p>
<p>You don't need any other comments. Go to Chapman or UCLA. Comparing USC to chapman is ridiculous.</p>
<p>Chapmans great (its one of my top choices too) but i'd have to side with USC for sure</p>
<p>For the same money, 'SC is a no-brainer.</p>
<p>This is coming from someone who's both parents are hard core USC alumni. My dad got his Master's at the Marshall School of Business, so I would say that I have some pretty strong ties to USC. However, that being said, I was in the same situation. Choosing between USC and Chapman is incredibly hard because they are so different. In the end however, I chose Chapman. I felt, for me, Chapman is a much better fit. The small class sizes and individualized attention you can get at Chapman really would help put your career in motion. My friend goes to Dodge and she thinks its amazing. Don't put Chapman on the bottom end of your decision. It may be a small school, but hey. You are going to have a hard time finding someone in the Southern California area who hasn't heard of it. Chapman is really going places.</p>
<p>I guess it just depends on what you like. It really comes down to this; what do you really want to major in, and what do you want out of your college? :)</p>
<p>In today's economy I would not major in screenwriting. Columbia Student has it right. Go back and read the thread about job realities on the Hollywood set. To spend the money to go to Chapman and come out with a degree in screenwriting makes no sense.</p>
<p>I should have specified 'Why?" in my earlier post. In business, like education and government, pedigree matters. The Marshall school is highly ranked, and while I'm a BIG fan of Pres. Jim Doty (who has worked wonders at the up and coming Chapman), Marshall wins easily. Moreover, in business, contacts matter, and being a member of the Trojan family means a lot, particularly in SoCal. Finally, IMO, Chapman is more of a commuter school than is 'SC, i.e, a LOT of kids tend to go home on weekends.</p>
<p>OTOH, until the Spielberg wing gets built at 'SC, the Dodge school has much finer facilities, and a great rep.</p>
<p>
[quote]
In its way this institution long known for close ties to Hollywood’s movie and television business is demanding its place in the academic tradition.</p>
<p>A formal unveiling of the school’s new home is set for March 29. But last month students and faculty members quietly moved into the first phase of a giant complex of classrooms, soundstages and production buildings that, not by accident, look as if they might be an extension of the sprawling entertainment empire built by George Lucas in Northern California.
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<p>
[quote]
In today's economy I would not major in screenwriting. Columbia Student has it right. Go back and read the thread about job realities on the Hollywood set. To spend the money to go to Chapman and come out with a degree in screenwriting makes no sense.
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<p>I'm not suggesting not studying this major. My own kid is majoring in something similar so I do keep an eye on what she really needs to succeed in this business. She might become a lawyer to provide her with a background to be a producer/director, but who knows at this point.
But I just want to reiterate that in this entertainment business, it's not what you know but who you know. Many successful Hollywood bigwig's children are attending USC film school so you can get some career advice/connection from them that way too.</p>