<p>Both Chapman and UCLA offer 2 week summer programs. The Chapman one requires an essay and some other application material while the UCLA one has no requirements. I got into the Chapman Summer Academy and I'm trying to decide on which program I should do. I've been taking video production at school for a year and did 1 week of Digital Media Academy. I am a Junior and planning on majoring in Video Production.<br>
Additionally, would going to Chapman's program help me get into Dodge next year? Academically I am more likely to get into Chapman.</p>
<p>UCLA- Advanced</a> DIgital Film Camp at UCLA - Film School for teens</p>
<p>Chapman- Summer</a> Film Academy for High School Students | Dodge | Chapman University</p>
<p>Both the Dodge and UCLA options are very good. DS did the UCLA film program and liked it. He also did their animation program. The letter of recommendation he received from a well-known UCLA professor (also successful in the industry) no doubt helped him be accepted subsequently to USC, LMU, and Chapman. It also helped him develop his portfolio. </p>
<p>He didn’t do the Chapman summer program, but we’ve heard great things about it. (DS just finished his freshman year at Dodge, by the way, and his experience has been incredibly positive). </p>
<p>Doing a summer program can be very helpful, for the reasons mentioned above. No one can say definitively whether doing the Chapman program specifically will help you gain admittance to Dodge, but I suspect that if you do well, it will. The ucla program will help, too, of course–as it did for our son. Doing the Chapman program does demonstrate high interest in the school. And having a strong letter from a Dodge professor certainly couldn’t hurt. So, if you are very interested in going to Dodge, I think the summer program there is a good idea, though the UCLA program will also be helpful, generally. </p>
<p>Most critically: are you aware that you cannot be admitted directly as a freshman into UCLA’s School of Film and Television? At UCLA, you must enter undeclared or under some other major and apply to the film production major in your <em>second</em> year, almost as if you are an outside transfer. It’s extremely competitive and the admittance rate even for within-UCLA transfers is low. It’s a gamble, in other words, unless you’d be happy remaining in another major. This is a huge downside to an otherwise first-rate program, IMO, and many applicants don’t realize how it works until far into the application process. I hear rumblings that ucla may change this (they loose many prospective students who are accepted directly into film at other schools as freshman applicants). I haven’t heard that it’s changed, yet. </p>
<p>It’s great that you are planning ahead!</p>
<p>I want to add, for other prospective students: A summer film program is a great thing to do, but it’s not absolutely necessary to gain admittance to a good film school. These programs are costly and not everyone can afford them. Don’t worry that doors will close if you can’t attend. Instead, make films on your own or in collaboration over the summer. Submit to film festivals. Do self-study, etc. There are many ways to demonstrate your passion, focus and commitment to film; a summer program is only one option.</p>