Film Studies: NYU vs. Columbia

<p>My D is having a difficult time deciding what to do about college. She was lucky enough to get accepted into several excellent schools, and has decided that she wants to pursue some film making experience in college. She isn't sure that she wants to end up with a degree that will only be good for fim -- in the event she doesn't like or "fit" with the film profession. (NYU Tisch gives a BFA in Film and Television.)</p>

<p>She is wondering if Columbia would be a "safer" choice. There would be less actual film production, but a more mainstream college background. I guess her (and my) question involves how much "hands on" experience the film students get at Columbia. (She is emailing the Columbia faculty, but we'd love to hear from students and/or parents who have had actual experience or know folks who have.)</p>

<p>She was also accepted at Northwestern -- it seems to be a good hybrid to me, but she is less open to that option since we know a couple of kids who have had a very difficult time at Northwestern, and that seems to color her impressions.</p>

<p>She is almost paralyzed by her choices. She didn't actually think she would get accepted into schools that required a film portfolio. So, now she is realistically considering choices she thought were merely unrealistic hopes.</p>

<p>I feel there is no bad choice here, but no doubt one might fit her better. She has visited the schools, loved them, but realizes the schools are trying to "sell" their program (everything might not be as rosy as described). </p>

<p>So, we would greatly appreciate and value any insights anyone could share with us -- 1)about any of these schools and their film programs, 2)any insights about the merits of undergraduate film studies vs. graduate level study, 3)alumni networks at any of these schools, or 4)any other subject that you deem might be helpful for us. Thank you!</p>

<p>Vicarious experience: 1-1. One relative who chose Northwestern over Harvard because she knew she was interested in documentary filmmaking, and Northwestern was much better for that. Eighteen months later, she didn't know that at all, and she regretted her choice. One former bff of my child's who has wanted to be a filmmaker since she was 12, and has been making films just as long. She never wanted to be anywhere but Tisch, and that's where she is. Practically from Day 1 of her freshman year, she has been involved in filmmaking on a technically sophisticated level and productive film industry networking full time. That's exactly what she wanted. No liberal arts education would have let her do anything like that.</p>

<p>There's an awful lot of hedging in your post: "some film making experience", "she isn't sure", etc. My sense -- and it's just my sense -- is that film making (or any arts career) is ruthless about weeding out those who can live with other options except for a statistically insignificant lucky few. If your daughter wants to maximize her options, Columbia is clearly the best choice. If she wants to maximize her chance of a creative career in filmmaking, and she's not already Julia Stiles, Columbia is not remotely in NYU's league.</p>

<p>There are two routes that aspiring filmakers generally follow. One is to go to film school, and other is to go to a college or university that has a film department.
Personally I would definitely go to Columbia. There is a great film department and there is also the ability to get involved with graduate students on their projects. There are great film opportunities for internships in New York City. There are also great connections to help you get them. Columbia is one of the most outstanding schools in the country. The other two schools are also great. However if given the opportunity to attend Columbia over the others I would definitely attend. You never know if you want to double major in film, or pursue economics and film and combine business with film, or you might find that you become passionate about something else.</p>

<p>As you may already know, USC, NYU & Northwestern University are all outstanding with respect to preparation for a career in the film industry. Northwestern University School of Communication students are also permitted to double major in the College of Arts & Sciences. The first female head of a major movie studio was a Northwestern University alumnus. Safest course, if the student switches major, is Northwestern as students typically complete 48 courses over four years versus the typical 40 in a semester system school or 36 in a typical trimester/quarter system school, easily allowing for completion of a double major and a minor, or--with some course credit for high AP scores--a triple major.Average freshman retention rate for Northwestern University is 97%, for Columbia=98%, for NYU=92%.</p>

<p>mattice: What sort of difficulty at Northwestern? Were the academics too demanding? Or? P.S. Just noticed your question about alumni networks; Northwestern University has very strong alumni networks in Los Angeles for film production, scriptwriting & acting (known as the "Purple Mafia") and in NYC for stage production, acting & writing. Northwestern's Hollywood connections are rumored to be the best of any college or university in the country. But the major is demanding. And the theatre/acting/drama major at Northwestern is the most difficult to get accepted into; RadioTVFilm major--also in the School of Communications--is not.</p>

<p>^I am curious too since the school of communications (where film dept is) people seem to enjoy the school a lot. I knew a kid who turned down Stanford for the film program at NU and didn't regret it.</p>

<p>Hold up a second. Did she get accepted to NYU, or did she apply and gain acceptance as a freshman to the NYU/Tisch program for a BFA in Filmmaking by submitting those particular portfolio materials?</p>

<p>Big difference, and much more research is needed before you assume a crossover experience within NYU!</p>

<p>At Chapman U/Dodge College of Film, students there told me the main difference between the undergrad and graduate students in the film programs is the age of students, rather than methods taught Some grad students take undergrad courses, even. So, when I asked whether the undergrad film students go on to grad school there, one girl said, "Why should they? They learn the same things, sometimes the same classes.." Maybe a prof would answer that differently, I don't know. Now that's just one film school, but it's a way to ask the question. </p>

<p>MFA's have that whole B.A. behind them as foundation. But not all can stand waiting that long to begin, hence the BA major in film or a BFA route. And some come to it late (ha, 22 is "late) that they want to pursue serious training in film, so it's good the MFA is waiting for them at that advanced age. Must have resources, though, to finance such a pathway.</p>

<p>I ran across an article about students in the masters in film production program at USC, which might be an interesting read for your D. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/31/movies/31film.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1&oref=slogin%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/31/movies/31film.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1&oref=slogin&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>The USC program takes 3 years, and they enroll 20-25 students per year. </p>

<p>My son is facing a similar dilemma for his undergrad education: going to USC, which feels to him like putting all his eggs in the film basket, vs. choosing an honors college experience (at Arizona State) that would allow him to do film or do liberal arts, as his interests evolve. It's a very interesting choice to have to make.</p>

<p>rainmama: That is not even a close contest. USC by a mile! Then Whitman, then Pomona's waitlist, then...</p>

<p>My DS completed undergraduate degree in TV/Radio/Film at Northwestern a few years ago; it was his first choice. Northwestern was his first choice over NYU since high school friend who was production star in high school was going to NYU and DS wanted to not be in this kid's shadow. My DS loved Northwestern. He had friends from different schools and majors. He worked on many student films. He had a great internship in LA and summer/school year internships that he found on his own. On the other hand, many of his fellow students are not working in film or hate the entry level positions they've found. He is teaching English abroad this year so has not looked for a job here. He specialized in sound production so hopefully that will help. He does not know many kids from his program -- with BA in Film Production -- who have gone on to graduate school in Film. Perhaps graduate school is for those who went to undergraduate with different major or for those who want to teach - similar to what paying3tuitions said above in post #7.</p>

<p>Mattice, congratulations on your D earning such good choices. Majoring in film production (like majoring in art or theater) is a leap of faith--and only when they are on the inside of such a program do kids get the "feel" for the art and the industry of filmmaking and discover if they are crazy about it. As a television producer and writer, I have respect for graduates of each school you mentioned, but as I live in L.A., I am much more familiar with USC's excellent undergrad programs. As others have mentioned, nothing beats access to internships on the set of real film shoots for experience, networking for future jobs, and sheer fun. Ask each school what specific internships their students have held in the past year. Does everyone get placed? </p>

<p>As for the potential to switch to a Liberal Arts focus should the film idea pale, she might be happiest pursuing a BA at a school that encourages sampling (double majoring?) in classes outside of the film school, allowing your D to find her own answers to which course of study would work best.</p>

<p>Wishing her the best of luck.</p>