Anyone have experience with housing? I see on campus for first year, then you are not guaranteed. I have heard stories of upperclassmen livinng 30 minutes out and essentially commuting to find off campus housing. That is a big downside if true!
My son is a senior currently. When he started you were guaranteed 2 years in the dorms, but I understand they are renovating a building and will have more dorm space again in the future. I’m not sure when that will be complete, but it is probably on the school’s website. He did live off campus as an upperclassman. He did not find it to be a problem because all his friends were off campus as well. He was about 25 minutes away on the T. He roomed with 3 other students the first year, and one other student this year. You can live closer than he did, but the cost was more and he was trying to save money. It is less expensive to live off campus than in the dorms. I hope that is helpful.
Thanks. Would he characterize the place as more collaborative or competitive @my2sonsfromca ?
Definitely collaborative. He started working on projects his freshman year. He now has a resume full of short films that he did a variety of jobs on and just completed his BFA film project. His freshman year he also worked on a documentary that an alumni was working on and got most of the crew from Emerson. He is getting the BFA in Media Arts Production with a minor in Business Studies.
my2sonsfromca, Hi, my son was just accepted to Emerson media arts and is interested in business as a minor as well. I wondered if you could tell me a little about your sons experience there. I worried that it is a small school and would he have hands on access to the production equipment and also filming experience right away. Does your son have networking/exposure to the industry and what would you say his overall feel of his prospects are. I ask because my son is also considering Ringling and he is not going to get much aid so I want to make the best decision.
Thanks in advance
My son has had a great experience. Yes, you have access to equipment as soon as you take the safety workshop and there are upperclassmen looking for help with their final projects that enabled my son to start working on projects right away. My son is currently spending his final semester in Los Angeles and it is beginning to look like his current internship will lead to a job. I know that is not always the case, but we’re hoping it works out for him. I have heard other good things about the networking and his specific networking experience has been through his instructors. One of his instructors last semester set him up with the interview for this internship.
Thank you my2sonsfromca
m2sonsfromca: My son has been accepted into Media Arts Production at Emerson and he’s positive he wants to get a BFA. I’ve read a few rumors online that only 10 or so students are allowed into the BFA program. What was your son’s experience, and what advice would he give an incoming freshman about position themselves well for the BFA?
@justwondergif
The requirement for applying to the BFA program is a 3.0 GPA. There are definitely far more than 10 students in the program. It appears there are spots for 54 students in the next fall semester. Honestly, as long as you keep up the GPA and have a good thesis project idea for your application, I believe your son would be ok. My son never told me about any of his classmates getting rejected.
My son’s application was actually selected for an additional project within the school to use the Black Box (I think that’s it). They select one project each semester and build the main set at the school. My son worked with the set design classes and they build a beautiful set for his thesis project. Overall he has had a fantastic experience at Emerson.
The other thing that helped my son was his AP and foreign language classes from high school. He was able to get credit for several of the general classes with the AP’s and didn’t have to take foreign language either. This freed up his schedule for the extra BFA classes and his minor in Business Studies. He also took a couple of summer classes along the way. He wanted to take all the fun classes he could. 
Thanks so much, my2sonsfromCA. Your son sounds like he’s had a great experience at Emerson!
I rent an apartment right across the street from LA Emerson - it’s called Vues on Gordon. The building is brand new and less than 30 seconds to walk to school. There is a lounge, courtyard with BBQs and rooftop deck with TVs. The manager hosts happy hour a few times a month even. I prefer this much more than on-site housing, especially since I am over 21.
Our daughter is entering her third year. She was guaranteed housing the first two. While upperclassmen in the past had the opportunity to apply for housing (lottery essentially), that isn’t currently the case during renovations. This year she is sharing a two bedroom apartment in Beacon Hill with one other person. The cost of doing so is slightly higher than the cost of on campus housing but she is only a 15 minute walk to campus. You can definitely live off campus cheaper than on campus housing if you are willing to be a little further out. There are a lot of cheaper apartment options if you are willing to take an easy 20 to 30 minute T ride.