<p>I was interested in the film program at Washington University in St. Louis (transfer admit for the fall) and I had even posted a thread on that school's forum about my interest. After taking an intro class at another college to quell some of my doubts and having received an A, the professor suggested that I might look into NYU's program. He had done his MA there. (I'm not sure if that's different from an MFA in film, but that's another issue.) This professor is a multiple time nationally nominated and regional emmy winner. </p>
<p>To be brief, he said that WUSTL's program is not production based and really hefty writing wise. He didn't seem to particularly care for it (in terms of leading to a fruitful engagement with film) and repeatedly suggested I apply to NYU--I'm pretty sure he meant Tisch. That's really where my problem starts, because I had decided on WUSTL and I really am not sure about moving to New York and all the difficulties that might be involved in that. There's also the question of having to wait for more deadlines--Tisch having its own unique ones from the regular university and likely having to attend a summer session before joining as a full student.</p>
<p>Anyone been in a similar situation or want to comment, feel free. In the past, I actually had corresponded with some NYU student transferring to WUSTL for film, but that was the extent of it. Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>If film is just a hobby or something you like but don't plan on making into a career than go to WUSTL if that is more to your liking. If you are passionate about film and definitely want to make a career of it, hands down go to NYU. If you are not really sure and are kind of in between, than think hard about it but if you can't decide than go to WUSTL because it is not as film intensive and you have more freedom to change your mind and WUSTL is a better general school. However film at NYU is going to be a lot better in a career oriented way b/c you will definitely get much better production experience and make significantly better connections. I'm not a transfer but I hope that helps. Basically just decide how important film is to you, if it is real important go to NYU.</p>
<p>Thanks for your reply, ATLien. I really appreciate it. Now, to answer more specifically..</p>
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If film is just a hobby or something you like but don't plan on making into a career than go to WUSTL if that is more to your liking. If you are passionate about film and definitely want to make a career of it, hands down go to NYU.
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<p>I don't think I would do anything in the creative arts as a hobby. Just isn't me and plus I don't think that leads to much of anything 'cept disappointment. So, film isn't a hobby for me really.</p>
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If you are not really sure and are kind of in between, than think hard about it but if you can't decide than go to WUSTL because it is not as film intensive and you have more freedom to change your mind and WUSTL is a better general school.
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<p>Right now I'm not really sure and I am thinking hard. :)</p>
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However film at NYU is going to be a lot better in a career oriented way b/c you will definitely get much better production experience and make significantly better connections. I'm not a transfer but I hope that helps. Basically just decide how important film is to you, if it is real important go to NYU.
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<p>It seems to be becoming more and more important to me... as time passes. My work in the arts in general has started to take a film look/feel, which is why I ended up transferring from my first school (top LAC) because that school had neither the arts nor film. </p>
<p>I'm not looking forward to a major career in Hollywood, but films by international-ish artists such as Mehta and Nair appeal to me and I would like to make similar cinema or so I feel.</p>
<p>I'd like to get that production experience which is probably going to best at a place like NYU and that's really why I'm worried about my current WUSTL decision.</p>
<p>i agree with ATL
NYU is a very recognized school for film and being in Tisch, it just isn't very flexible or favorable when it comes to changing your mind. If you're determined about film and want to get the best of what film has to offer then I'd say hands down, go to NYU. WUSTL is a very good school, liberal arts-wise. But also to become a film maker, you don't need to go to Film school. Many film makers who's made it big went to NYU Tisch for Grad. Personally, I think Liberal Arts is the foundation for any career and an undergraduate degree should be focused on liberal arts, but if you want to jump-start your career and skip the whole scholar-grad thing, then NYU will definitely help you do that</p>
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But also to become a film maker, you don't need to go to Film school. Many film makers who's made it big went to NYU Tisch for Grad. Personally, I think Liberal Arts is the foundation for any career and an undergraduate degree should be focused on liberal arts, but if you want to jump-start your career and skip the whole scholar-grad thing, then NYU will definitely help you do that
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<p>These facts aren't lost on me and make me feel better about my long term prospects. Still, I would like to just run with film if that's what my medium is. At any rate, I hope that my talent will sort everything out if I don't apply to NYU for now. Hopefully it won't be too late.</p>
<p>Thanks guys.</p>
<p>*Supa-mat, if it was that easy, I'd already be there ;p. But I appreciate your sentiments. Any other film people or anyone else, feel free to share.</p>
<p>Just comparing the two programs, it's pretty hands-down to say that Tisch has a better film program than WUSTL (which, I'm sorry, I haven't heard of in regards to film at all even). However, transferring to NYU film from an outside school, I would think, would be very, very hard. And I'm assuming you will be at least a junior by the time you got there, assuming you got in. There are a lot of course requirements so in addition to having to start at NYU during the summer (which is a requirement for film transfers), I think it would be incredibly doubtful that you would graduate at the end of your fourth year of college. </p>
<p>Because of this, and because you aren't entirely sure film is what you want (and as has been said, NYU film is very intensive, so if you go there, you pretty much already know you're gonna stay there and work your ass off to go into film as a career), I would suggest staying at WUSTL. As micheeatsfish said, if you really decide you want to come here, there's always grad school. I'm not a big fan of the whole do liberal arts now, what you want in grad school philosophy at all, but if you are undecided as to what you want to do in life, I agree that at that point, something along those lines is probably the best suggestion.</p>
<p>"if I don't apply to NYU for now".... INCONCEIVABLE! Meh, you should apply anyways : P But in any case, if you happen to write up yourself a common application (which I'm pretty sure many people did; yours truly included), you might as well apply to NYU too... 'Cause, brotha, what's there to risk?</p>
<p>Well, for one thing the application season has passed, although that's not too much of a headache, Supa-Mat. </p>
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Just comparing the two programs, it's pretty hands-down to say that Tisch has a better film program than WUSTL (which, I'm sorry, I haven't heard of in regards to film at all even).
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<p>Yeah, scrapnel, it's a film and media studies major which has some production angle but not tremendous lot. You can choose screenwriting, production, and some other track within the major.</p>
<p>There is one Hollywood screenwriter prof., one filmmaker who's been to all sorts of different film schools--taught and what not, and other people including adjuncts who have degrees from Stanford, Harvard, and what not... but not exactly filmmakers.</p>
<p>I was attracted to WUSTL in general, because I knew it was a strong school with a variety of programs that were good. My dilemma arose when I took this film course at a different university and I began to feel (along with the Prof's comments) that I should be at a film school now. </p>
<p>May I ask your relationship to the film program at NYU, if any, and what core requirements are exactly needed to be fulfilled. I could not find anything substantial on the Tisch site.</p>
<p>To the op-
If your not sure, go to Wash U figure yourself out, learn your theory and find the production if you want it (it's there. you just have to look for it). Then if you decide it's not enough, consider film school at NYU or USC. Honestly, WashU has some amazing professors (I know which one you are talking about, I met him when he came to speak at my hs during sophomore year).
Also, if you decide you want to do some production, wash u has it, you just have to the initiative (which if it's something you really want a career, you will find). Also, I know some washu students have secured some awesome opportunities in the industry. For example, one student took a year off to work on the set of the two pirates of the caribbean sequels.</p>
<p>Also if NYU Tisch isn't as flexible and I'm under the impression that it is hard to transfer into the program.</p>
<p>So I would say WashU and then maybe grad school once you straighten out your goals. good luck</p>
<p>I can understand your situation college-ish because I had to make a similar decision. Although I will be a freshmen film major at NYU next year I also had to decide between NYU and USC. Now I did not get into film at USC but I did get into my second choice major, creative writing, which is another interest I have and also would be extremely helpful if I decided to ultimately go into film instead. I figured at USC I could start out in creative writing with a minor in film and then transfer to film if I wanted to my junior year. Obviously I choose NYU though. I reccomend you tell yourself that you are going to WUSTL and see how you feel about not being able to study film intensively. For me I decided that I didn't want to lose those two years and possibly more without a film concentration b/c deep down I knew that it was my greatest interest and I saw no reason not to pursue it while I had the chance. Tisch is also open to double majoring or minoring in writing if I choose to. </p>
<p>The decision for you is clearly a tough one and since nobody knows just how important film is to you, nobody can make this decision for you and don't listen to anybody's opinions more than your own.</p>
<p>Also, i'm not sure if you have looked at the application yet and I do not know what the requirements for transfers are but for freshmen undergrad it is pretty long and requires a creative submission. Just something else to think about.</p>
<p>For my two cents though if you are not 90%+ sure about film I say go to WUSTL and explore film and every other interest you have and really figure out what you want because it is easier to go from there into film than from film back to the drawing board. Especially since you would be a transfer into film. </p>
<p>My last piece of advice is once you think you have found what you really desire, do it and don't look back. I am sure you will be happy with either option and if you aren't, there is always graduate school so don't take the decision too seriously, its not the end-all or be-all decision of your career. Good luck</p>
<p>I'll be a freshman this next year. So I don't have any hands-on experience at NYU, but it was one of only two schools I applied to (I knew I wanted to go there if I got in) so I researched up on it a lot.</p>
<p>Here are the requirements for a film/tv degree at NYU, both gen ed and film-specific:</p>
<p>There used to be a page that said what courses fufilled which requirements, but I can't find it at this moment. I'll look more late and try to get back to you on that.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone for your concern and support. I am glad that there are still people in the world who can lend a hand on tricky subjects such as this one and not even ask for anything in return.</p>
<p>I've come to the decision to attend WUSTL, figure out my path (and waste least amount of time), and then hopefully grad school in NY. </p>