<p>We visited Chapman yesterday and loved it, but I am wondering if anyone can comment on if they feel it is worth the price. WOuld it be better to go to a lesser known school and not get into debt. I know that connections are so important so maybe it is better to pay the money up front to get in to the industry. We want to make a good decision. WE are looking at Chapman, CSULB, CSUN, Colorado Film School, Or Columbia College of Chicago. Any advise?</p>
<p>Well, this is a difficult and highly personal question. There is no right or wrong answer. Our family is extremely debt averse, on principal, and we did not believe it sensible to take on significant/uncomfortable levels of debt, no matter the school. But a small degree of manageable debt <em>could</em> be worth it, in some cases. How much would be tolerable is a highly personal issue and not something that CC folks can really offer guidance with…</p>
<p>That said, I sympathize with your concern and query. We wrestled with a similar dilemma and made the personal decision that USC SCA (where son was also accepted) wasn’t worth loan debt, as compared to taking on no debt at Chapman (given son’s significant merit scholarships). This was a tough decision, but now that son is at Dodge, we know it was the right choice. </p>
<p>CSULB has a solid program. We know two recent graduates and one just finished a very much sought-after internship at Pixar. It took both these hard-working, serious-minded young ladies 6 years to graduate, however, for various reasons (including, but not limited to, problems with class availability, which will likely get worse in upcoming years)–but that is common for CSUs. The CSULB program is good, so if it means no debt for your D and family, it is definitely worth considering. I know less about CSUN, but have read/heard good things about it, too. </p>
<p>Chapman is phenomenal and we are confident our son will graduate in four years, with internships, and Honors College to boot. We couldn’t be happier with the engaged and energetic faculty, world-class facilities, upward trajectory of the program–all of it. But whether it or any program is ‘worth’ a lot of debt–I’d be careful and encourage financial safeties like CSULB (you are in CA, correct?). Perhaps if your D understands that Chapman may not be feasible financially, it is worth applying to see what the school grants in merit aid, etc. Chapman was very generous to us. </p>
<p>Best of luck. Maybe others can tell you more about Colorado and Columbia.</p>
<p>yes we are in CA…and yes you are right about the csu’s. We plan on applying to all and then factoring it all in…I am glad to hear that you are happy with the program at Chapman. I have only heard great things about it.</p>
<p>I just did the financial aid calculator that you suggested and it might not be as costly as I thought. Seems we do qualify for some grants. I also checked out the scholarship part and put in what I think she might be able to do if she retakes the sat and also can slightly raise her gpa…no math this year will help and she might actually qualify for some merit as well…Thanks for the info…we will see what happens</p>
<p>Great news, Bassetmom. We were also surprised when we saw that Chapman Dodge was going to be much less expensive for us than the public U’s (UCSD, for example, where he was also accepted and liked a lot). </p>
<p>It sounds like Chapman shouldn’t be ruled out and is worth pursuing further. And as a CA resident, your daughter has some great options at the CSUs, also. </p>
<p>We are astonished at the Dodge program and Chapman Honors College, so far. Freshman son was just hired to work the front desk/do tours at Dodge, too–a work-study position that he started yesterday and is thrilled with. Consider requesting work study if your daughter applies and is admitted. Son didn’t receive it in the first (already generous) FA package, but in April, after being accepted, son called and told them he very much wanted work study to help contribute to his tuition/dorm costs. Chapman FA called back 10 minutes later to tell him that they’d added a $2500 work study award to his merit scholarships. The rest is pay-as-we-go for the family, but it’s more affordable than the UCs for us (whoodathunk?)! And everyone (son and us) will be loan-free upon graduation. :)</p>
<p>It is a phenomenal school.</p>
<p>Thanks for the encouragement. Do you happen to know if they include the grades from senior year in their calculations…she has a lot of APs right now which could help.</p>
<p>I should add that son’s decision was made easier by the fact that he liked Chapman Dodge better than USC SCA all along, before and even more so <em>after</em> multiple visits to the schools and after spending time with students in the two programs, etc. We did wrestle with the ‘industry connections’ issue–exactly the one you are weighing in your OP, above. But son didn’t like the atmosphere at USC SCA as much as at Dodge, and despite the glorious facilities and reputation as the ‘best of the best,’ he wasn’t as impressed with the students or their animation work (he’s a Digital Arts major). Add to that the fact that one school included large loans and the other (Chapman) was affordable…well, the choice was relatively easy, in the end (and boy were mom & dad happy, LOL!).</p>
<p>It could well be harder for your daughter to say no to Chapman (if she loves it) in lieu of the more affordable CSU’s. So, the most important thing will be for her to know right from the get-go that Chapman could be a financial reach and that her going there depends, ultimately, on the FA package in April. Our son knew that about the privates on his list (USC SCA, Chapman-Dodge, LMU), right from the start. This is key; the kids must know that financial factors will play into the decision, even after the acceptances are in. The process ended up being a very good one for DS. He gained wisdom and learned a lot about making life choices/financial planning.</p>
<p>What year is your daughter in high school? Chapman did not include senior grades into son’s merit calculations. The application for Dodge College is due early (in fall of senior year) and DS received his acceptance/merit award letter pretty early, as well–in late December, as I recall. So, the calculations included grades through junior year only. But they do send out later acceptances, through the spring, and perhaps those do include first semester senior grades.
Note to other CC folks: please correct me if any of you had a different experience…a call to Admissions would provide a definite answer on that one, bassetmom.</p>
<p>My girl is very sensible and she knows our budget…if she wants more then we can afford she would have to pay with loans. She is unlikely to go that route and I agree they need to learn about financial planning and choices.</p>
<p>^Huzzah to you both. Best of luck! :)</p>
<p>yesterday they said only film production is due nov 1 not tv or creative producing but I am going to call just to make sure.</p>
<p>Yes, that’s good idea. Son got his digital arts app in early (mid-October) for the November deadline, but we had conflicting info about whether digital arts/anim apps were due then, or only Film Prod.
Last comment I’ll make about the Q of debt versus prestige/connections: We struggled with exactly this, last year. There are stories in this forum about kids who graduated from public U’s and lesser known programs with no debt and who found success (check out Digmedia’s posts about his son, for ex, if you haven’t already). There are also alumni from the most prestigious and connected schools who are unemployed or unsuccessful in finding jobs in the industry. A talented, determined, hard-working kid can excel in a lesser program and beyond; the higher cost schools offer no guarantee of success. This makes it all quite challenging when it comes time to help our kids make an informed, sensible decision, of course. </p>
<p>Ok, now I’m outa here (off to ride my horse on a special day off). :)</p>
<p>late to this but considering future public tuition increases and odds of more than 4 years to graduate, it is worth a stab at private schools, they typically discount tuition for many. Chapman has a reputation for predictable merit and fairly generous FA, LMU was very good to my D, made it competitive with in state in Washington. Try FA calculators and good luck, large debt for any school is not a good idea for art students of any sort.</p>
<p>Hi Bassetmom,</p>
<p>I spent the past year with my son and paid college counseling service going thru this process of searching for information and determining the best Film & TV Production Universities to attend. I personally went to UC Berkeley so I have no ties to USC, NYU & Chapman U these three (3) fine Universities that my son was considering. My son visited all three (3) of theses universities and started attending Dodge College at Chapman U this month.</p>
<p>Although Chapman U cost the same as USC ($55,000 per year including dorms & meal costs) Chapman U grants are so generous they beat out any other University by 3 times the amount what we received for the other 11 Universities that my son was accepted to. From my research & experience for example USC gives the average student only a few thousand dollars (if you are not in the top 15% of admittees where the bulk of the scholarship & grants money is given to) while Chapman gives the average student approx. $28,000 a year.</p>
<p>That is why many students whom were accepted at both USC & Chapman U end up going to Chapman. Would you rather pay $27,000/years in loans and cash at Chapman or $52,000/year at USC when you live on campus?</p>
<p>For example with the cost per year for Chapman at $55,000 minus the Chapman Grant for $15,000 minus the Deans Scholarship for $15,000 (assuming your child as a very good GPA not excellent) that leaves $25,000 you would need to pay. This price is a $3,000 more than going to a California State University and $4,000 less than going to a University of California campus.</p>
<p>I have determined this past year that it is very important for your child to live on campus during the first couple of years. I did not know this before. The bonding, lifelong connections and friends seem to be cemented in these first two years. Coming in as a Junior to any college is a mistake. At that point most are not living in campus housing but in private housing and it is hard to make lasting connections at that point.</p>
<p>I have never experienced a happier campus than Chapman. From what I have been able to determine you probably obtain a better undergraduate education at Chapman with the small class size and dedicated caring Professors at Chapman. Note all classes at Chapman are taught by professors; no TAs.</p>
<p>From my exploration and research Dodge College @Chapman University has the top most modern facilities that are actually used by the bulk of their undergraduate students, smaller student to teacher ratios and more hands on experience than USC or UCLA. USC is known as the greatest Film School in the world and there is a lot of networking available thru the alumni when getting work after graduation from USC. One may be better trained for work at Dodge College @Chapman University but USC has presently the greatest reputation. Dodge College admits 210 total Freshman each year (only 70 in the Film Production and only 30 in the TV Production/Broadcast Journalism). USCs program major of Cinematic Arts Critical Studies and they accept 75 Freshman each year to this program; the entire USC School of Cinematic Arts school accepts a total of 200 Freshman per year. Although there is a very wide possibility of classes at USC to choose from the program is less directed than Dodge College and relies on the student to choose their classes (@USC). The journalism classes one would take would be at the at USC Annenberg School of Journalism.</p>
<p>Read the following articles as well regarding Chapman U:</p>
<p>[Chapman</a> University Hires Four New Film Professors - Hollywood Reporter](<a href=“http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/risky-business/chapman-university-film-professors-365239]Chapman”>Chapman University Hires Four New Film Professors – The Hollywood Reporter)</p>
<p>[THR's</a> Top 25 Film Schools List Revealed Gallery - The Hollywood Reporter](<a href=“THR’s Top 25 Film Schools List Revealed – The Hollywood Reporter”>THR’s Top 25 Film Schools List Revealed – The Hollywood Reporter)</p>
<p>[Chapman</a>, UC Irvine high in U.S. News and World Report rankings | - News - The Orange County Register](<a href=“Chapman, UC Irvine high in U.S. News and World Report rankings – Orange County Register”>Chapman, UC Irvine high in U.S. News and World Report rankings – Orange County Register)</p>
<p>[Up</a> and Coming Schools | Top Regional Universities West | US News Best Colleges](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/regional-universities-west/up-and-coming]Up”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/regional-universities-west/up-and-coming)</p>
<p>[College</a> Rankings 2012: Most Beautiful Schools (Photos) - Newsweek and The Daily Beast](<a href=“http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/galleries/2012/08/05/college-rankings-2012-most-beautiful-schools-photos.html#slide24]College”>http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/galleries/2012/08/05/college-rankings-2012-most-beautiful-schools-photos.html#slide24)</p>
<p>I’ve read up a lot about Chapman and it sounds ace, and the grants are quite popular, but I’d be applying internationally. Are the grants only exclusive to the state (country even) or can others apply for them ?</p>
<p>Thanks,</p>