LAC then Digital Cinema grad school?

College Majors Visual Arts and Film Majors
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<p>My HS jr and I are trying to narrow down her list of colleges. She is eligible to apply for the Tuition Exchange program (which is not a guarantee) at many colleges. There are some solid LACs that she has a good chance of paying no tuition at. She's interested in digital cinema/audio?/production. She has a 3.4 in a rigorous Mass Comm specialty school (she'll have 24 hours of dual enrollment credit in mass comm classes, and has a 4.0 in those classes). She's already learned Final Cut, beginning web design, history of mass comm, basic camera work, and is doing a long internship with a local company working with lighting, editing, and (eventually) Red cameras. Her ACT is just 23 (awful test taker).</p>

<p>I figure she's not likely to get into top Film School. What would be the downside of taking an almost free ride at an LAC with a weaker (unknown) media production major and double majoring in business or PR, then plan on going to graduate school if it's still her career interest?</p>

<p>Her list so far is looking like this:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>DePaul. They do seem to have a strong Digital Cinema major, though it's virtually unmentioned in film school rankings. We have visited, and she loves Chicago. The facilities seemed great, they have a quarter in LA, and all the students seemed engaged. It's her number one choice, and I think she'll definitely get in. The Tuition Exchange is quite competitive there, so if she doesn't get TE she'll have to move on down the list.</p></li>
<li><p>Flagler (St Augustine FL). She has also visited this school, and loves the "feel" of the campus. Although they have a media production major, I don't think it's anywhere near top notch. Very, very inexpensive for her to attend, since she has a very good shot at TE.</p></li>
<li><p>Rochester Institute of Technology. Obviously a good choice, other than a Southern girl living in upstate NY. About 50/50 shot on admittance and TE. Maybe her gender will help?</p></li>
<li><p>Seattle University. Fun and vibrant city. New film program in infancy. Can't find much information. Fair chance of TE award.</p></li>
<li><p>The rest: excellent chance of admittance and money, same academic realm as Flagler:
McDaniel, Hood, Pacific University of Oregon. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>I'd like her to look at Belmont in Nashville, but she has some problem with Nashville (no idea why - country music?).</p>

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<p>mamaduck…</p>

<p>Now you’ve got my dander up. I think your approach is dead wrong on several points, especially the idea that your D would be going to an “inferior program” just waiting for grad school because she only has a 23 ACT. You’ve got to get away from 'name-school-itis" and jump into a program with both feet and with full enthusiasm.</p>

<p>First, what is the real goal here? Seems like the goal is to work in the film industry in a technical production (or post-production) capacity. So the underlying objectives should be two-fold: First, get the skills (and experience) doing what you want to do. Second, do things that will lead to work in the industry. Attending a grad school for this area is totally unnecessary (IMNSHO).</p>

<p>To achieve these objectives (and thus reach her goal)?</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Objective 1: Skills and Experience: Look beyond the name and national reputation (people are NOT hired on reputation of the school, but on things below). Look for:

[ul]
[<em>] A dynamic program with lots of filmmaking. You need experience? Making films (under supervision and for competitions) will do more for you than years of classroom experience.
[</em>] Faculty with experience in the industry and an enthusiasm for teaching.
[<em>] Motivated, dedicated, driven students who WANT to be there and make films.
[</em>] Opportunities for collaboration (lots of students working on each others films).
[li] Check to see if internships are available.[/li][/ul]</p></li>
<li><p>Objective 2: Get employed: There are two things one must have to get employed on industry projects: (a) Talent/skills, and (b) contacts in the industry. For talent/skills/motivation/etc, see above. For contacts, make those as follows:

[ul]
[<em>] Her own classmates and upperclassmen/women. By working on their films and being good at what she does, as some of them are hired, she then has inside contacts for them to suggest that she might be worth looking at as well. The best contacts in the industry are those who know her well, not just someone she was was referred to. She should not be a loner in film school. She needs to volunteer and make herself valuable to the most talented classmates.
[</em>] Internships, if available, are great ways to get professional experience and perhaps make some contacts in the industry.
[<em>] Alumni working in the industry are also very helpful, perhaps… That depends on a culture of bootstrapping younger graduates from the same school Of course, if there is such a tradition, once your D is hired, she’d be expected to help future grads.
[</em>] Working for free or for little pay to start, to get additional contacts and experience.
[/ul]</p></li>
</ol>

<p>You might support her after graduation in getting her to where the work is (Los Angeles, probably), preferably with a classmate motivated to do the same. She will NOT get work staying at home and sending resumes. That’s not the way it works.</p>

<p>Anyway, apologies for the ranting, but I think this is the approach to take.</p>

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<p>Digmedia, I must have framed something incorrectly in my original post. I think I noted that these are solid LACs, and I think highly of all of them. Incidentally, my husband works for a smaller LAC, and I think the education students get there is second to none. I am NOT dissing any of the schools she is considering, but some will simply not have the equipment and depth of faculty of the big guns. I am not hung up on the name personally, and do not think that having a poor ACT is going to doom her career. As you might note, she is already gaining work experience and building a portfolio, and I am sure she will continue to do so. I think she’s a well rounded, wonderful young woman who will go far.</p>

<p>However, when I read posts on CC it often sounds like you might as well hang it up trying to get into the industry from a program that’s not on the radar. I myself chose the wrong college for my field (accredited by a smaller agency, but not the major one in the field) and limited my career options because of it (certain institutions require the major accreditation, though it doesn’t change my knowledge base at all).</p>

<p>Since much of CC is devoted to asking which college is best to go to for a certain field, I just thought I’d pose a scenario and ask if it would hurt her to follow this path. I personally think it’s better to go to the LAC, NOT rack up debt, and assess her devotion to the production field during that time. I think all students reassess their majors during college, and most change them. Therefore, I think it is unwise to pay huge sums of money for a “name school”. I prefer LACs because they expose students to a broad array of opportunities, and I believe the ability to think critically and respond intelligently is the most important skill learned in college. She is extraordinarily lucky to be able to go inexpensively to a private LAC.</p>

<p>I have found your previous posts to be very helpful, and I agree with your comments. I still can’t figure out how I raised your ire, and am glad for your feedback. I am VERY glad to hear that you think grad school is unneccessary - that’s the sort of thing I didn’t know about.</p>

<p>That said, do you know anything about any of the colleges she is considering?</p>

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<p>LOL… My ire was not really raised… I did note what you said, and was using the “dander up” to make a more general point. My apologies. I should have been more sensitive. </p>

<p>My son works on films and I once asked him about schools and getting work. His response was that the school didn’t have as much to do with it as the person him/herself. He says that (he’s in post-production; not really talking here about directing or screenwriting) nobody much cares about which school you came from; it’s more about what you can bring to the table.</p>

<p>Now that said, you do need contacts to get started, as I noted above, and those may be easier to come by with a well-known school because they usually have a strong alumni network. For example, at Florida State, they have a formal mentoring program where each student is matched to an alumnus in the industry. Also, it’s my impression that for directing or screenwriting, the school may be much more important.</p>

<p>But (just my opinion), for the more technical positions, the school may not matter. What will matter will be the skill set and contacts you groom.</p>

<p>The only two programs I know anything about are DePaul and RIT. You’ve looked into the DePaul program and I think that’s a great choice. Production starts in the freshman year and a student will work on up to 60 films. They have their own film festival and encourage submission to others. Everyone makes a capstone film, and they do offer internships. Plus, it’s in Chicago (Yay!).</p>

<p>RIT is well known also, but it’s very competitive. Last year, they only accepted 66 of the 500 applicants into the program. My older son was a Southern boy going to college in Rochester (UofR) and, while he enjoyed it a lot, found out just how cold cold can be…LOL! She’ll be working on fewer films at RIT, and the Capstone projects are for directors and screenwriters only. They do not have a school festival, but they do offer internships. I definitely would not think of RIT as a LAC, however.</p>

<p>Sorry again for overblowing what you said in the original post.</p>

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<p>DePaul seems to have a good program- strongest of the choices you list, in my opinion.
Have you looked at: Colorado College and Emerson? Both have very good programs and might fit her academically.</p>

<p>Totally agree with Dig: grad school is unnecessary if you get sufficient undergrad training, unless you are tyring to teach film or do something very specialized that you didn’t learn in underdrad.</p>

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<p>No offense taken :slight_smile: Sometimes it’s so hard to read tone in a posting!</p>

<p>I really, really hope the money comes through at DePaul. I think it fits her personality perfectly, but we must have the $31k the Tuition Exchange gives!</p>

<p>RIT sounds like some slim pickings …</p>

<p>I’ve looked into Ohio University. I see your son went there, and it looks like it would be great for her too, but it’s out of our monetary range (OOS).’</p>

<p>I think Flagler has some connections with Disney, and one of their grads is working on Glee. I have a feeling if she doesn’t go to DePaul she’ll go enthusiastically to Flagler. Very different schools in size and location, but she’s a roll with it sort of gal.</p>

<p>She definitely wants the post production work, and is somewhat fascinated by Foley artists. I don’t think she really cares if she ends up in LA or New York. She’d be just as happy in Chicago, Florida, DC, abroad, or any smaller city. The guy she’s working for now just does local commercial stuff, and has a great reputation. He did not major in film and did one of those 10 week technical classes somewhere, and it has obviously worked out for him. He’s very self motivated and a perfectionist. She’s going to learn a ton from him.</p>

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<p>maddenmd,</p>

<p>Colorado is not on the Tuition Exchange list, and we won’t go into that sort of debt. She looked seriously at Emerson, but decided she would rather go somewhere that she could change majors if desired. Her stats would also be a bit low for Emerson. She might get in, but it’s highly unlikely she’d get one of the few TE awards they offer. </p>

<p>Keep the suggestions flowing!</p>

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<p>Fairleigh-Dickenson has a respectable film program as well with a production major and a post-production minor. They accept 35 students a year and they participate in TE! They have internships in TV and film, especially in NYC.</p>

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<p>Digmedia, what an awesome suggestion! I just glanced at the program very quickly and it looks like a good match for her - and they appear to give everyone who is admitted a TE award! Thanks!</p>

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<p>Two more come to mind, not sure if they participate in TE. How about DeSales, in Pennsylvania, or Purchase in New York?</p>

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<p>Mamaduck: isn’t CC wonderful?
VA & Film forum is the best!</p>

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<p>mamaduck… Be careful about TE. As you know, “imports” have to equal “exports” even at FDU. So each school can only award TE to as many students as those of their own faculty and staff going elsewhere on TE.</p>

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<p>Yes, TE can be quite competitive - otherwise we’d only have a list of two! I have spoken to the TE liaison officer at several schools, and they are very helpful with how many applicants, what percentage get awards, and what they’re looking for (some are first come, some academic). Some give it to all that apply (Syracuse being a big one with that policy, assuming they are admitted to the school). TE very helpfully publishes a percentage range of acceptances as well.</p>

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<p>Good luck. But remember the “College Confidential Code” - Keep Posting! We all want to hear the outcome (and even the process), so stick around. ALSO, when something good happens, you have license to brag right here!</p>

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<p>Flagler does have a connection with Disney, as well at Wal-Mart. Also, a new Com building is beginning construction quite soon!</p>

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<p>Hi mamaduck, I know zippo about film but just want to wish your daughter lots of good luck in finding the perfect school for her. She sounds like a real go-getter and I would not be surprised if she got into programs that you think might be out of reach, stats-wise. Keep us posted!</p>

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<p>mamaduck</p>

<p>These stats are really bad for “big name” film schools but you can look at “smaller name” film schools with good internship opportunities. Internships is actually what matters. And you’d better start seeking them your freshman year.:slight_smile: Also, the closer school is to LA or NY the better. “Right to work” states are not so great for filmmakers, you’d better live in a “union” state.
And there are actually very few “right to work” states with “decent” film markets: Louisiana, Arizona, Texas, Florida. That’s pretty much it.</p>

<p>If you are absolutely sure you want LAC how about some women’s colleges?</p>

<p>[Scripps</a> College : Academics : Media Studies Department](<a href=“http://www.scrippscollege.edu/academics/department/media-studies/index.php]Scripps”>http://www.scrippscollege.edu/academics/department/media-studies/index.php)
Long short but your daughter has amazing resume which is important in holistic admission.
The main program, not woman’s college: <a href=“http://www.pitzer.edu/ims/[/url]”>http://www.pitzer.edu/ims/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>[Film</a> and Social Justice - Mount St. Mary’s College, Los Angeles](<a href=“http://www.msmc.la.edu/undergraduate-bachelor-programs/film-and-social-justice.asp]Film”>http://www.msmc.la.edu/undergraduate-bachelor-programs/film-and-social-justice.asp)</p>

<p>Where do you live? In what state?</p>

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<p>Thanks Ya Ya. We know she can’t get into the big names - she might apply at Loyola Marymount and Rochester Institute of Technology, but that’s about as reachy as she’ll go.</p>

<p>One reason the DePaul program appealed to us is a quarter in LA (apparently they had students at HBO, Dreamworks, and some other big names). They also have students working at some post production houses in Chicago.</p>

<p>The Claremont colleges do not participate in the Tuition Exchange.</p>

<p>We live in Virginia.</p>

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<p>And, incidentally, I’m kind of happy she won’t be going to the big names. I think she’ll do better in a less cut-throat environment. I do believe a big part of college in general, and of this industry in particular, is finding opportunity. It might be easier to get connections at NYU or USC, but there are plenty of success stories from lesser known schools.</p>

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<p>mamaduck, I think your attitude is great. It’s my belief that the career often comes from the portfolio and yes, connections made in internships too. But four years at a wonderful LAC build a real basis for all the creative work that follows. An education is a beautiful thing. As you mentioned, a 10-week course (or lucky break) can get one started in a production job. You never know. Best of luck to your D.</p>