Film School and Business - Please Help! (USC, NYU, UT Austin)

<p>Hello! I just graduated from high school being in the top 2% in my class of 450 students and had always had my mind set on going to UT McCombs School of Business, then getting a good paying office job. However, I've always pursued musical and art hobbies since I was a kid and one specifically, film. I've passionately made movies since I was 11 and recently this past year decided that I was going to pursue film as a career, I decided that I wanted to pursue my dreams so I applied to UT Austin and NYU Tisch for film production, accepted to both. As much as I wanted to go to NYU I had to decline their offer due to financial reasons and I'm going to attend UT (got enough scholarships to cover my first year, including housing), hopefully for just a year instead of two. UT Austin has a great program but I'm really wanting to go to NYU or USC. I didn't apply for USC simply because I missed the deadline. I'll be reapplying to NYU and applying to USC as a transfer. However, as I'm getting ready for college and setting everything up, I can sense that my parents still want me to pursue business. They say they support me and they do, but I just know they'd like to see me use my full academic potential. Me and two of my friends made a short film, submitted it into the South By Southwest film festival this year and ended up winning the high school short competition out of hundreds of other films submitted. Having gone to SXSW and won, my parents were obviously proud but I can still tell that they want me to have a secure job. I understand though, neither of my parents went to college and work incredibly hard to support my brother and I. I know they just want me to have a secure job. To be even more specific, none of my family has gone to college, I'll be the first and I feel like I'm letting a few people down. I've come to the conclusion that I want to pursue film AND business, or film and another major that would be a good pre-law major. I want to pursue a film major because it's my passion, but I as well want to pursue business because it gives me security when it comes to a fallback plan. </p>

<p>1st QUESTION.) After realizing that I want to major in both, I thought USC would be perfect because I know that they offer a business and film program..BUT I wanted to know if I were to apply for a job simply in the business field (not film) after graduation would I be looked down on? I know majoring in both film and business would intertwine at USC but would companies view my degree as an ACTUAL business degree? I know I still have a few months before I start applying to transfer but I just want to make sure I can make things happen for me and I need to know in advance what I want to do. I guess I want to know even more about USC's program!</p>

<p>2nd QUESTION.) At first I would've chosen NYU over USC because I just love the type of films that come out of NYU, I'm more of the artsy/indie filmmaker type. But I'm sure I can still make the films that I want at USC. However, USC offers business with film and I'm 90% sure a double major at NYU's business school (Stern) and at Tisch for film isn't possible, as it says so on the website. Could there be any other options for me at NYU? Maybe a double major in film and political science? I know NYU's Tisch and NYU's College of Arts and Science offer double majors. Just want to have another option.</p>

<p>If anyone can answer any of my questions or even just give me advice with the situation that I'm in, I would highly appreciate it. But please remember, I do want to double major. I know it seems like I should just major in film but I do want a secure job.
Thank you!
Have a great day!</p>

<p>JazMDR: It is difficult at most places to pursue film production and another major. Once you get into the higher level film classes they are so all encompassing that time is an issue, as well as shooting schedules not allowing for other things. If the USC program works for you, that would be a very good option because they have already built in all of those courses into the program. </p>

<p>I would start by calling NYU Tisch and asking them if a double major is possible, and if yes, find out if anyone has done it and ask to speak with that person. I would also find out what is possible at UT Austin. You are already in that program, and might be able to make it work for you, with a good financial package.</p>

<p>There is an interesting discussion from last year you might like to look at:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/914184-usc-vs-nyu-vs-cal-business-film.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/914184-usc-vs-nyu-vs-cal-business-film.html&lt;/a&gt;. It seems to suggest that perhaps the way to approach this is through the business school first, and the film second if you want to concentrate on the business aspect.</p>

<p>One last thing to think about: producing is the business end of film. Maybe you want to pursue producing over production?</p>

<p>Another option is to apply to NYU Gallatin School for Independant Study and create your own major which includes classes in both business school/Stern and film/TV production/Tisch</p>