<p>Hi! I have recently been accepted into DePaul University, the University of Texas at Austin and I am waiting to hear back from Loyola Marymount University in LA. All of these schools have amazing film programs from what I can tell and I need your advice on which would be better for me. Here is what I am looking for in a college:
-Great Film School
-Impressive Alumni
-Ability to make connections for the business
-Impressive teachers
-Internship opportunities
-Location (I want a good location to help me get started in the business but I would also prefer to stay close to home and I live in Texas)
Any experiences that you have had with these schools or have heard about these would help me out a ton in making my choice because I have no idea which one to pick! If you could rank the order in which you would choose them and list the positives and negatives of each would help me so much. Thank you guys!</p>
<p>Also, I want to go into directing/production.
Money is not really an issue but the cheaper the better.</p>
<p>Any advice would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>Anyone out there?</p>
<p>Hey Texan!</p>
<p>Sorry no one wants to answer. I’m not a current student but I was admitted. Out of the three, I think Loyola is easily the best choice. #1 being because it’s actually right next to the Filmmaking capital known as Hollywood (It’s located in West LA, while Hollywoods in Central LA). This means internships are huge, apparently ranging from Dreamworks to Sony, to Sundance, etc.</p>
<p>It was also ranked #9 on The Hollywood Reports top 10 film schools (Although Texas was rated 10). Alumni include Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend, Catching Fire, Mockingjay Part 1&2), Barbara Broccoli (James Bond Producer), Brian Helgeland( L.A Confidential, 42, Bourne Supremacy).</p>
<p>If you want to stay close, I’m sure that The University of Texas wouldn’t be that bad but LMU would definitely be the best choice. Of course, I haven’t been yet. Hope you get in. 
</p>
<p>Hi! I totally agree with @manymade1 ! I’m also a senior this year going to graduate, and from the research I have done, LMU is no question the best choice.
I’m from out here in LA and I can promise you that just walking around the city you will make connections. People tend to love it if you are a future filmmaker and want to help you, get connected with you, and just aid in your success. (Maybe just to be thanked in your Oscar speech… you may never know ). I also am planning on doing Directing and Producing, so after a ton of thorough research… besides the stuff listed above, I have also spoken with a ton of people in all parts of the industry… LMU would definitely be the top choice of the three you have listed above!
UT Austin would be second no question-- as it has a swell reputation too, but LMU top for sure.
Hope this helps!
Let me know if you have any questions!
Thanks!
Good luck!</p>
<p>Thank you guys so much. Ugh, this is going to be such a tough decision if I get in!!</p>
<p>@manymade1 are you planning to attend LMU?</p>
<p>@daniellehorowitz What university do you plan to attend?</p>
<p>Thanks again guys, and based on your answers I may have a few more questions! I hope that’s okay!</p>
<p>I do not know yet! Still waiting to hear from LMU Film! I also have been accepted so far to Cal State SF, Ithaca, and Chapman! My top choice is USC, second choices are LMU and Syracuse. Waiting to hear from them and NYU and American University!
And no problem!!</p>
<p>@daniellehorowitz so exciting! I hope you get into your top choices!</p>
<p>@TexanFilm I’m hoping to get into USC but if I don’t LMU is definitely where I’m going. Feel free t ask any questions.</p>
<p>Have you been accepted to LMU yet? Still anxiously waiting!!</p>
<p>@daniellehorowitz No I haven’t heard anything and IT’S KILLING ME. A lot of people are getting their letters and I just want to know and be able to stop checking MyPaw every 30 minutes!</p>
<p>Omg same! I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one. Literally checking nonstop. I think it’s so mean how they do this!!!</p>
<p>It’s completely is, I wish they would just release them all like…right now! Ha! I’m scared it means we are denied 
but I still have hope!!!
By the way, I toured UT yesterday and it was AMAZING. So beautiful, huge and impressive.
I was also accepted into Emerson and their production major yesterday as well!</p>
<p>Congrats TexanFilm! How are you leaning with your choice? My daughter was accepted to both Emerson and LMU. She did not apply to UT Austin. Emerson has not offered much in the way or aid, but she really liked the school. She did not have a great first impression of LMU, but I think it was because she had just come from Chapman, and the Dodge facilities are so shiny and new. I hope she will consider LMU!</p>
<p>We had the same experience a few years ago having visited LMU after Chapman and USC. Not getting into Chapman made the choice easier, and the people and program at LMU won out. 4 years later she has graduated and is very satisfied with her LMU experience. Good luck, and remember that what you put into your education, the good work and contacts you make, is more important than where you do it at. </p>
<p>Mrssoffel
I’m leaning towards UT mainly because of how close it is to home! I think If I was to be accepted into LMU however I would need to visit it to decide if being far from home would just have to happen. And thank you!</p>
<p>Thank you for the good advice jtmoney! </p>
<p>@TexanFilm We live in Arkansas, so LA will be even farther for my daughter, but she wants to get away. I forgot to mention she was also accepted at DePaul. I don’t know much about the program, but my daughter went to Ballet Chicago in the summers and stayed in the South Loop dorms. She loved that area, and Chicago has great opportunities, but I think she wants a change of scene. It is such a tough choice!! Yes, good advice @jtmoney. I’m glad your daughter enjoyed her experience at LMU. </p>
<p>DS is a sophomore PROD major at LMU’s SFTV and LOVES it. His is a story worth repeating. He was accepted at LMU for freshman year, but chose Boston College instead since he thought he was going to major in economics and wanted the East Coast Experience. Just before registration at BC, he tells me he is a film guy, not an econ guy. Swell, I think. Too bad you turned down LMU. He attends BC last year and cobbles together a film studies major. Even produces a nice film, using his own camera since BC had little equipment. Comes back to LA for the summer 2013, enrolls in two film courses at LMU. Totally blew his mind–the quality of the faculty, the quality of the facilities & equipment; they handed him a 5K piece of equipment to do a 5 minute editing job. One of the professors said to him,“So remind me why you’re at BC?” That was the tipping point. He went to Admissions, asked how to begin a transfer application, and the rest is history. He DID have to get to LMU first and then apply to SFTV separately, but he had amassed such a great film resume that he was accepted in October 2013 as a PROD major. I just saw his documentary film that he completed for one of his spring classes and it’s remarkable how much he’s learned in just a half a year at LMU. LMU’s also legend for its internship program and connections to the industry. Go Lions! </p>
<p>Wow. @laplatinum that is so good for him!!! I wish going far wouldn’t mean leaving my family, friends and pets :/</p>