<p>I got into the Production major at LMU in SFTV and I got into the Media Production major at Pepperdine. I know that LMU is vastly better in film and cinematic arts than Pepperdine, but the only thing holding me back is financial aid.</p>
<p>I got some federal loans from both schools. However, I received a Seaver Scholar Scholarship for 31,890 dollars to Pepperdine (making my cost of attendance 21,000), but only got a negligible 15,000 dollar scholarship to LMU (making my cost of attendance 33,000). Do you think it would be worth it in the long run to go to LMU even though I will end up about 40,000 dollars more in debt?</p>
<p>No, LMU is great but you want to be in a good financial situation when you graduate. Student loans can follow you for a while and if you’re getting a variable interest rate they can be a huge pain, also LMU has steady tuition hikes every year.</p>
<p>Your’e pretty good lynnmarie! Hope LMU appreciates what you do here!</p>
<p>Haha, I should definitely get a stipend or extra grant money for all the work I do for them. Or they should just hire me right after I graduate. I don’t know what they would do without me lol.</p>
<p>So you don’t think that the better film school at LMU is worth the extra money? Like future career wise?</p>
<p>I second dashers! I applied to Pepperdine too and they have a pretty weak film program compared to lmu.</p>
<p>First, talk to FA at LMU and see if they can match your offer from Pepperdine. Really, LMU’s School of Film is exactly that and Pepperdine does not have one. Second, go to the campuses and visit the programs. Find out about internships, professional opportunities, etc. I think you’ll find LMU’s far outshine Pepperdine’s by a country mile. It is one of the best film programs in the country.</p>
<p>On LMU’s website it says that matching a scholarship isn’t a good reason to appeal, but do you think they will match anyways? The scholarship I got from Pepperdine is their highest merit based scholarship, and Pepeprdine and LMU are very comparable in stats.</p>
<p>Not sure you are appealing anything; you are just asking if there is any additional support so that you can choose LMU. Websites are not people and you should make the effort to talk with FA. Worst thing: they have no more $$ and you then have to decide based on that.</p>
<p>What was your FAFSA EFC? Did you get any work study or grant money? LMU’s official COA can be reduced a little by used books and lower personal expenses. Summer work? If you can get your loan debt down to just Stafford amounts LMU is the far better choice. LMU’s tuition has increased about 3% the past two years, on campus room and board similar, but typically the upper class housing is more expensive. You can save a little by living off campus after freshman year.
If your choice is Pepperdine (you can’t ignore the financials) be the best damn (don’t use that word there) production major you can be, volunteer on sets, see if you can work/volunteer/intern outside the school. In the long run your talent and drive is as important as the school you go to, it just might be harder to get quality contacts there compared to LMU.
Another factor to consider is your own personal film production costs for thesis films. Research those costs at both schools, ask the department for estimates, ranges, etc. These costs can become quite significant at many schools.</p>
<p>My EFC was 35,000 (highly unrealistic!), so technically both schools “met my need.” I appealed my financial aid at LMU last Monday we will see if anything changes! I am not anticipating it though, because, again, technically they met the “need” of my FAFSA. Thank you all for your advice!</p>