Fututre Film Students - Beyond the Big Names

College Majors Visual Arts and Film Majors
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<p>So you want to be a filmmaker? Maybe do directing, writing, acting, cinematography, editing or lighting. You love film and you're dead serious about pursuing it as a career. Go to USC, NYU or UCLA, is probably what you've been hearing. Yet most film students accepted to the Big 3 have tons of experience and credits under their belt at the ripe old age of 17. </p>

<p>If you're more like I was (good grades/test scores but not stellar & little film experience), don't be discouraged. The competition is extreme and filmmaking is one of the hardest majors to get into. </p>

<p>NYU, UCLA & USC are certainly great schools, but the likelihood of them accepting every talented future filmmaker is very low. NYU Tisch School of the Arts was MY dream school, and it was very hard to accept that I wouldn't be going there. My guidance counselor was surprised that I didn't make the cut for Boston University. I told her that I applied to their famed Communications school, and she nodded in understanding.</p>

<p>Even if your transcript IS pristine and you think you have a shot at the major schools, be aware that you can get an outstanding education elsewhere that is much less cut-throat, competitive and stressful and just as enriching.</p>

<p>I made a list of liberal arts schools with film programs that are often overlooked. They ARE competitive, though. Keep an open mind and remember that if you have the drive to go into filmmaking, you'll get there eventually!</p>

<p>University of Texas - Austin
Radio-Television-Film</a> - Undergraduate Program</p>

<p>Virginia Commonwealth University
Welcome</a> to VCUarts Cinema Program</p>

<p>Denison University
About</a> Cinema - Denison University</p>

<p>Syracuse University
Transmedia</a> at Syracuse University</p>

<p>Loyola Marymount University
[Summary[/url</a>]</p>

<p>University of Pittsburgh
[url=<a href="http://www.filmstudies.pitt.edu/undergrad/index.html%5DFilm"&gt;http://www.filmstudies.pitt.edu/undergrad/index.html]Film&lt;/a> Studies: University of Pittsburgh](<a href="http://sftv.lmu.edu/undergraduate/summary.htm%5DSummary%5B/url"&gt;http://sftv.lmu.edu/undergraduate/summary.htm)&lt;/p>

<p>Temple University
SCT</a> : FMA : TEMPLE UNIVERSITY</p>

<p>Clark University
Screen</a> Studies - Visual and Performing Arts Department ~ Clark University</p>

<p>American University
::</a> Film & Media Arts ::AU School of Communication</p>

<p>Drexel University
Film</a> & Video: Undergraduate: Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design: Drexel University</p>

<p>Emerson College
Visual</a> & Media Arts</p>

<p>George Mason University
George</a> Mason University - BA in Film and Video Studies</p>

<p>Ithaca College
Cinema</a>, Photography, and Media Arts - Ithaca College</p>

<p>Ohio University
::</a> School of Film @ Ohio University - Honors Tutorial College BFA in Film ::</p>

<p>University of Arizona
BFA</a> - Film & Video Production</p>

<p>University of Central Florida
||</a> Film Program || University of Central Florida ||</p>

<p>University of Miami
UM</a> School of Communication</p>

<p>University of Wisconsin - Madison
UW-Madison</a> Department of Communication Arts</p>

<p>University of Tampa
The</a> University of Tampa - Tampa, Florida - Bachelor of Arts in Film and Media Arts</p>

<p>Boston University
Boston</a> University College of Communication | Department of Film & Television</p>

<p>Northwestern University (very competitive)
Radio</a>, Television + Film - Home, School of Communication, Northwestern University</p>

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<p>Also Loyola University Chicago
[Loyola</a> University Chicago- About Us](<a href=“http://www.luc.edu/film/about.shtml]Loyola”>http://www.luc.edu/film/about.shtml)</p>

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<p>University of North Carolina Wilmington
[UNCW</a> Film Studies | About Us](<a href=“http://www.uncw.edu/filmstudies/about/about-the-department.html]UNCW”>Department of Film Studies | UNCW)</p>

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<p>You forgot Florida State, which is as elite as the big three.</p>

<p>Dont know why you included Drexel, because their program is nothing special, but I’m glad you included Temple :)</p>

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<p>I wouldn’t know about Drexel being special or not, just that it does have a program.</p>

<p>You’re right about Florida State. It only accepts…what, 20 undergrads? Insane!</p>

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<p>Great list. Thanks for posting it. I would also look at Digital Media production programs as well.</p>

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<p>Chapman in California has a film program and it seems like a department that they are putting a lot into.</p>

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<p>Chapman’s program has excellent, state-of-the-art facilities.</p>

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<p>I got into LMU as a screenwriting major, pretty early too, I was super excited (until the $50K reality fully hit me). I applied to USC and NYU as well, still waiting on those. I have visited LMU, but not heard much about their film program. I liked the building…only got to see it for a minute…but anybody have anything to say about it? (Preferably good ;)</p>

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<p>Yeah, it’s not worth $50,000 a year.</p>

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<p>Excellent program <em>AND</em> excellent merit awards for good GPA/ACT, even to out-of-state:
[Scripps</a> College of Communications | The School of Media Arts and Studies](<a href=“http://www.tcomschool.ohiou.edu/undergraduate/sequences.html]Scripps”>http://www.tcomschool.ohiou.edu/undergraduate/sequences.html)</p>

<p>Free money:
[The</a> Gateway Award Program](<a href=“http://www.ohio.edu/admissions/gateway/index.cfm]The”>http://www.ohio.edu/admissions/gateway/index.cfm)</p>

<p>…and if you are really good and can qualify:
[Ohio</a> University: Honors Tutorial College:Media Arts and Studies](<a href=“Honors at OHIO | Ohio University”>Honors at OHIO | Ohio University)</p>

<p>Finally, compare their facilities with where you are considering:
Audio facilities: [Audio</a> Facilities | The School of Media Arts and Studies](<a href=“http://www.tcomschool.ohiou.edu/facilities/audio.html]Audio”>http://www.tcomschool.ohiou.edu/facilities/audio.html)
Video facilities: [Video</a> Facilities | The School of Media Arts and Studies](<a href=“http://www.tcomschool.ohiou.edu/facilities/video.html]Video”>http://www.tcomschool.ohiou.edu/facilities/video.html)
Digital Labs: [Digital</a> Labs | The School of Media Arts and Studies](<a href=“http://www.tcomschool.ohiou.edu/facilities/computer.html]Digital”>http://www.tcomschool.ohiou.edu/facilities/computer.html)</p>

<p><a href=“I%20know%20I%20sound%20like%20a%20broken%20record%20about%20this%20program,%20but%20it%20has%20been%20everything%20we%20expected%20and%20more”>i</a>*</p>

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<p>diontechristmas, do you have any specific reasons/experience to explain why it’s not worth it? I actually want to know, if you have real advice to give.</p>

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<p>I dont have anything entirely specific, but after attending a solid, albeit not top private college @ $50,000 a year, I’ve come to believe that outside of top top schools, you’d be wasting money at non-top schools, especially when you can get a comparable education for significantly less. For what it’s worth, my cousin decided to go to SCAD over Temple and a few other films schools, and now 2 years later, and like $63,000 later, he regrets not going to Temple instead, and is trying to get in.</p>

<p>I just think that outside of the big 4, it’s not a good move in terms of cost-benefit analysis.</p>

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<p>Huh. That’s kind of true. But if I don’t get into my top choices, which is entirely likely…</p>

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<p>I think this is excellent advice.</p>

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<p>Well thank you. I took my own advice by transferring from one of those $50,000 a year schools to Temple, which is significantly less. It’s worked out well.</p>

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<p>Wisconsin - Milwaukee’s Peck School of the Arts also has a good film program</p>

<p>[Peck</a> School of the Arts ++ Film BFA](<a href=“http://www3.uwm.edu/psoa/programs/film/film_bfa.html]Peck”>http://www3.uwm.edu/psoa/programs/film/film_bfa.html)</p>

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<p>Here is the link for Chapman University’s program:</p>

<p>[Dodge</a> College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman University](<a href=“http://ftv.chapman.edu/]Dodge”>http://ftv.chapman.edu/)</p>

<p>We toured the campus recently (for another major) and could not believe how incredible the Dodge facilities are!</p>

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<p>Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) -School of Film and Animation</p>