<p>You aren’t going to be able to take out 50K total without a co-signer either. Your max is 27K alone and you are limited in how much you can take a year. There isn’t a way around that without a co-signer. </p>
<p>I highly recommend staying at home and working through the summer. That gives you a couple more months to earn without paying rent. LA is expensive and the job market is competitive. The majority of students don’t leave months early to check out the town. Most have a week. You might need a couple weeks if you don’t have an apartment. </p>
<p>Please be careful with your school choices. There are a series of arts schools that will take your money and not give you much of an education in return. They prey on the glamour of the entertainment industry and the fact that most people don’t really have an idea of how it works. Worse yet, the arts gives off the impression that you must give up ALL to really be an artist. Not the case. If you go to a for-profit arts school, you’re degree will be akin to going to “modeling school.” It won’t give you the respect or connections you need. You what school so can’t really be upset that we are assuming the worst.</p>
<p>@ProduceDonn </p>
<p>In another post, you said that you would be going for 3 years. is it two years or three??? and is it a for profit school?</p>
<p>and, again, what about your living costs? that’s going to be about 15k per year at least in LA</p>
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<p>The “leap of faith” they took was leaving college to work in the industry, or enrolling in majors other than film so they’d have something to write about, or they worked on set as an assistant so they could develop contacts. They didn’t go out of their way to start out carrying a lot of debt. If you want to work in the industry but don’t have a lot of money for school, see if you have an in-state option that teaches film, broadcasting, and writing. A cc is a great place to start because you start working on projects almost immediately. Take a variety of courses (history, English, psychology, etc), not just film/broadcast classes so you’ll be well rounded. Consider a double major or a major/minor. Matt Damon majored in English. I think James Cameron started in physics. John Hughes was an art major, and I’m not sure Quentin Tarantino bothered to go to school at all. There are different paths, but starting out in a lot of debt isn’t a great one. Good luck.</p>
<p>This thread is not a wreck. You came in with confusing and incomplete information and people have to guess and ask to get to the bottom so they understand what you want to know. We are getting there. You are an undergraduate, I take it?</p>
<p>Usually you borrow each year for school, not in one lump, that is why you stating that lump sum was so misleading. No one borrows extra and gives it back if unused. You just borrow what you need because it is a lot of money on someone’s credit. As you see, students can only borrow 5,500 for the first year (and they have to be enrolled in a school where federal loans can be applied and that is not clear yet.) </p>
<p>The school should have a COA, Cost of Attendance on the website. That is an annual cost which includes tuition and fees and estimates of the other costs you need like books and equipment, room and board, personal expense. That’s how much you have to come up with each year. But you are right to look at the total you will be spending in the end to make sure that is do-able.</p>
<p>I have to say it is disheartening for you to say that applying for scholarships is ‘too hard’. It is just filling out papers for free money. That is not hard compared to trying to work minimum wage while paying student loans. If things are too hard for you, this isn’t the right industry.</p>
<p>You have a good deal of time to plan and look at all your options. What school is this? In LA, the reputable programs I know of are USC, UCLA, Cal Arts, Chapman, Loyola Marymount U, Cal State Long Beach. Of course there are all kinds of negligible programs happy to take your money. I have a distant relative who went too Ole Miss and got involved in starting or working at a film festival there. She made a lot of connections doing that. She has now done two independent films of her own and she was able to get a BA at an affordable price. In addition you might look at this list, some are very expensive and some are housed in more reasonable college programs where you get a BA too (some might be master’s programs):
<a href=“The Hollywood Reporter – Movie news, TV news, awards news, lifestyle news, business news and more from The Hollywood Reporter.”>http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/best-film-schools-hollywood-reporter-595712</a></p>
<p>I don’t think YOU understand. You can borrow $5500. About 10% of what you have in mind. You are likely entitled to borrow $5500 in Direct loans unless it’s already in some loan package you have in which case, no, you as a teenager cannot borrow $50k so you can live in that apartment or go to college. You need a parent to take out the loans. It’s up to your parents to pay for your college, room, board, expenses. Why would anyone lend someone with no strong work history, wages, credit history a large amount of money? Bad risk. Now if you graduate college, and want to go to graduate school, that’s a different story, There will likely be loans available for that.</p>
<p>So, the answer is NO, you are highly unlikely to get to borrow money without parental involvement.</p>
<p>My grandmother has A+ credit and is going to cosign. This post IS a train wreck due to the fact that I suck at explaining things and due to the fact people thought I wanted a $200k loan by myself. I know good and well I can NOT take out a $50k loan alone. So yes this post is a train wreck. I’m pretty much done with this post now. I’ll just do what I should have did first and actually call the school and discuss it with someone in their department. Thanks so much guys. </p>
<p>Poor Grandmama…hope she has the funds to pay back those loans when grandson can’t. (this is the train wreck)</p>
<p>Yes my grandmother would actually be able to help me with my loans :)</p>
<p>ProduceDonn-you are spending an awful lot of money for an associates degree from a for-profit trade school. Have you researched the reputation of this school? </p>
<p>Please reconsider going to a local or state uni for film studies, or even a community college. When you complete that program, then take your leap of faith and move to LA!</p>
<p>ProduceDonn: forprofit aren’t interested in educating you, they’re interested in making money. That means taking your money and keeping you on their books for as long as possible while you learn nothing. They don’t exist for students, they exist for profit. It’s right in their name!</p>
<p>If you’re really serious about your goal, here’s a way to help make it come true:
defer for a year; work and save every penny; retake the SAT or ACT in September, after studying daily for 2 months, suing prep books and “real SAT’s” or “real ACT’s” (respectively “blue book” or “red book”).
Apply to Chapman Early Action (before November 1)
<a href=“Chapman University (redirect)”>http://chapman.edu/admission/undergraduate/learn.aspx</a>
<a href=“Dodge College of Film and Media Arts | A Top California Film School | Chapman University”>http://chapman.edu/dodge/index.aspx</a></p>
<p>There’s also Whittier and Loyola Marymount LA, not to mention excellent schools in/near New York City - any CUNY, SUNY Purchase, SUNY New Paltz, even SUNY Plattsburgh (not anywhere near NYC though), Pace, Manhattan, even Borough of Manhattan Community College… </p>
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Yes my grandmother would actually be able to help me with my loans </p>
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<p>This makes little sense. If grandma has the money to help you with loans, why doesnt she just have you borrow less and pay something directly to the school on a payment plan???</p>
<p>Out of curiosity…what talents do you have now that leads you to believe that you would be a successful filmmaker? </p>
<p>I agree with Thumper…go to a CC.</p>
<p>There is nothing wrong with explaining and clarifying in a conversation. We get it now, why are you still taking about it?. Now we are saying 1) that we know that students are on very tight budgets so they don’t take out unmanageable loans and taking a loan to just acclimate to LA for months is very unwise/crazy. You need to spend more responsibly so you don’t stick it to grandma. 2) LA Film school isn’t the only thing you should look at. For profit film school is for suckers.</p>
<p>As for your expenses. LA is very expensive. If the school is referring you to apartments at 900 to 1,000, those are likely share situations In LA colleges students often don’t get their own bedroom in apts, they even do dorm style two to a room. Most LA area colleges estimate about 18k for the cost of room, board, transportation and personal expenses. That is what you should plan on per year, I guess that was your original question. So that school will cost you 43+3.5 (laptop)+18+18 = $ 82k. Then you can earn a little in summers or during school. Ideally you would want to get experience on film crew, so maybe $75 per day IF you can get it, and that is not steady work. Otherwise I guess you will be working minimum wage. Are you binging a car? Although it is expensive and will add to your expenses per year, it is unlikely that you will be able to get to any film jobs without one. Or other jobs maybe either. </p>
<p>Here is one SANER and do-able choice. Orange Coast Community College is the real deal, not for profit and has a Film certificate program for $8k for two years. They have full film and television facilities including and HD studio. You can add an AA degree if you take the general requirements for that. So you can spend 43k for 2 years or 16k for two years (plus living in each case) and get the same jobs. SAME entry level jobs. But they are also associated with the Newport Film Festival </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.orangecoastcollege.edu/pages/home.aspx”>http://www.orangecoastcollege.edu/pages/home.aspx</a>
<a href=“http://www.orangecoastcollege.edu/academics/divisions/visual_arts/Film_and_Video/Pages/Student-Testimonials.aspx”>http://www.orangecoastcollege.edu/academics/divisions/visual_arts/Film_and_Video/Pages/Student-Testimonials.aspx</a></p>
<p>Read this article, the guy mentions OCC and also gives the name of an agency that you can contact to try to get a job. Keep that on your phone. Also bookmark this blog nofilmschool whether or not you got to film school it is very useful.
<a href=“Is Film School Worth It in 2011?”>Is Film School Worth It in 2011?;
<p>Make sure you file a FAFSA so you can get any Federal Aid, like Pell Grant, Direct Student Loan and Work/Study that you are entitled to.</p>
<p>Your grandmother and you together can apply for a loan, but bear in mind those co-loans tend to have onerous terms, and unless she has good income and other things that make her a good risk to the lender, she may not be approved, or the terms of the loan might not be very good. Also bear in mind that unlike PLUS, these loans shackle both lenders, so if your grandmother (or you ) should die, the other party is totally responsible for repayment. These are nasty loans if you default at all on them, I do warn you , knowing some who unfortunately have gone this route.</p>
<p>But if your grandmother is willing, go on ahead and give it a go and see if the two of you are approved on what kind of terms. </p>
<p>Also understand that school loans are capped by official Cost of Attendance and all other aid, loans, work study that the student has gotten against that cost. So if the COA is $60K for the year, you subtract out all of the above you have gotten that year, and you are only allowed to borrow for the remainder. Now if your grandmother has such great credit and resources, she can just lend it to you on a note and that’s that. She can take out a loan from her banker on her own if she doesn’t want to liquidate her great holdings at this time. NO reason for you to even have written your post, because she’ll take care of it all for you. To take any kind of loan, she will have to fil out a loan application and show she has the income, assets, credit history for the lender to give it her. She doesn’t have t bother with those nasty double loans that join both student and guarantor by at the hip and don’t have good terms. Her bank will give her terms much favorable and not so limited to things like COA</p>
<p>YOU cannot get those nice student loans other than as we have explained. A parent involved could extend those options or go into PLUS. Other guarantors or those who don’t make PLUS cuts are limited to the not so favorable joint loans. Frankly, they may be better off with loans their banks, credit union or their own assets allow them to make if they really trust you to pay them back.</p>
<p>Thanks cptofthehouse, that makes so much sense. Is there anyway I now delete this or close it?</p>
<p>I don’t think so. Others can learn from the responses. Many students ask the same questions each year. You are not the first to go down this path with these questions. I’m sorry you feel beleagured by the responses. If you read to glean out the info, there is a lot to be learned. Now you know more how the student loans system works and some drawbacks and advantages of them. </p>
<p>@mom2collegekids yes my grandma has money to send me to school but I don’t want her money at all. I would rather just do loans and pay it back, rather than to straight up take all of her savings. And I have talent with editing videos and have self taught myself a lot of things. But I know I can get better. So I don’t understand why you would ask what leads me to believe I would be a successful filmmaker. It just comes along with having faith. No actor, singer or anyone was born with anything at all. So many of them had to work hard for it, go after it, take risk,etc. If you can dream it you can do it. And I honestly do believe that. If I’m able to make a way to film school I am going NO matter what type of debt I am setting myself up for because I know in the long run it WILL pay off. Have you thought about the many famous people who were homeless, slept in their car,etc and now have multi million dollar houses? It’s something I want and I will get it no matter the cost. </p>
<p>Oh goodness. Do you have any actual experience in the entertainment industry? What makes you say things like " “No actor, singer or anyone was born with anything at all” and “If you can dream it you can do it.” Look, I started working as a professional theatre technician at 15. I have a degree in theatre and spent many years working as a stage manager in top regional theatres across the nation including time off-broadway. The notion that anyone can make it if they want it enough is absolute rubbish. Thousands and thousands of people have just as much faith, natural talent and 10 times the experience as you and are floundering in the industry. Those that make it tend to have EXCELLENT business sense. Today, that includes attending reputable colleges that give you legitimate internship possibilities and contacts… not laughable for-profits that no one has any respect for.</p>
<p>I’m all in favor of pursuing the arts. My eldest has been working as a professional stage actress from 10, started producing and directing her own shows at 15 and yes, planning to pursue a career in arts administration, production and educational outreach. Her dream job is to become an artistic director and she’s sat down and discussed the best path to that dream with some of the very best in the business. They’ve all told her what I’m telling you now… faith is nothing without smarts.</p>
<p>Sigh, but you don’t want to explore more reputable options so I leave you with this… If grandma has the money to send you to school, why not borrow straight from grandma and pay HER back. That would save you the interest for now and HER the interest and credit hassle later if you default on your loans.</p>
<p>With that attitude you won’t get anywhere sadly :/. How about a moderator just close this thread or something? Either way I will pretty much choose what I want to do anyway. ThankYou to all :)</p>
<p>@turtletime and let me add this. I love the fact that most of the post started off confused and saying “Theres no way in hell you can get over $200k in loans for college.” To you basically saying “Well I’ve been doing what I do for a long time and I know others who’ve been trying for a long time and we basically aren’t getting anywhere.” That’s so funny to me that you try to shoot down a dream. I have both faith and “smarts” I was just confused on how finical aid and college loans actually work but now have a great understanding in it and have it all sorted out now. What gives you any right to say that the fact that if someone believe that faith and hard work will get them where they want to be is “absolute rubbish”? The sky is the limit and you CAN do anything through hard work, dedication and faith. Like Lupita Nyong’o said “No matter where you’re from, your dreams are valid”. And if it takes a while to get where you want to be then so be it. But giving up without even trying should not be an option. “Don’t let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” Comments like the one you made about faith is a huge reason why a lot of kids who want to be actors, singers,etc don’t try and push for it because they’re told by friends and family that it’s “oh so hard”. Did you know Jennifer Aniston couldn’t land an acting job at all at one point in her career then landed the role in Friends and is now doing very well? It makes me sad to read comments like yours. It’s one thing to tell me I won’t be able to take out so much money for school but telling me that having faith in my dream is “rubbish” is a completely horrible thing to do. I wish the best of luck to you. </p>
<p>ProduceDonn, the issue is that you are trying to borrow a huge amount of money for a not reputable for profit school that will be an embarrassment on your resume. That shows lack of smarts. She isn’t saying not to go for work in the industry. She is just saying that you are doing it in a foolish way. Sorry to be harsh but you don’t get it.</p>
<p>If you were like some of the foreign rich kids whose mommy and daddy just pay it for them and it isn’t a hardship or loan then that would just be fine, although there would be better choices, but it is sick to see you try to put your grandma on the line for this. Having her name on a huge loan is shafting her. Find a way to do what you want - learn, work, without shafting your grandma. Maybe come out and get a job, try for PA jobs, take a class film class at LA Comm College or OCC and see what the industry people you meet think about sinking 43k into that. At least you can go in with your eyes open.</p>
<p>Dreaming is find, but using critical thinking and making good choices are part of making dreams come true.</p>