Hi,
I am currently an undergrad Communication major. After taking many classes within the (rather limited) film minor at my college, I have discovered that I really have a passion for learning about and creating films. Unfortunate that I discovered this during my Junior year. Now thinking I could have based my academics around this field at a different school sounds amazing in hindsight. My gpa is pretty good and my profs. suggest I look into grad school. I would love to study film (most likely the production side of things). It would probably be dumb to go for a second bachelors, masters would probably be the logical next step. Does anyone know the difference between undergrad and graduate film school. The only reason I am curious is because most (even elite film programs) don’t require a bachelors in the field. I would be just as raw in the study as a freshman undergrad, but I would be in a grad program.
How is it that I would be brought up to date on the study?
How would it be different from undergrad?
Suggestions
I would suggest applying to a grad program around LA/NYC as you can network the area and these schools probably have a much higher placement rate after graduation. Go where you can get in that has the highest placement. Sorry I couldn’t be much more help. GL
I agree! I actually live in Upstate New York, about 4 hours from the city, so NYC is a realistic choice
Well, no you wouldn’t because you have the knowledge that a bachelor’s degree provides you.
Some fields - primarily disciplines like physics, psychology, English - require an undergraduate background in a field/discipline to build upon as a foundation. You have to know basic undergraduate intro to psych and statistics before you can take graduate-level psych, for example. Those programs usually require a BA in that major.
Other areas - primarily interdisciplinary programs like film, public health, business - don’t require specific knowledge in an undergraduate area. They use the more general knowledge you’ve acquired in a BA program and build upon that to educate you in film. There will be some basics that you’ll have to learn that probably a junior undergrad already knows how to do, but there are a lot of things you’ll know that a college student is just learning and that basis will be used to educate you in film. Film isn’t just the actual practical making of movies but also understanding the literary and social contexts in which film exists, and you’ve already laid the foundation for learning that stuff quickly and intensively because of your bachelor’s degree.
Thanks! Very insightful response!