MFA for Screenwriting

<p>My goal for graduate school is to get an MFA in screenwriting from either UCLA, USC, or NYU. I got into my dream school (Wesleyan), but was not able to go due to money. So now I'm going to either Illinois Wesleyan or Trinity in Texas. I plan on pursuing a double major in history and theater. If I get good grades, write good material, and continue to explore intellectually and artistically, will I be able to accomplish my goals? Is this a good plan? Thanks</p>

<p>I just got back from nice-midwest-let’s-see-my-kid-could-be-happy-there tour.
if he would, I could pay for it and all is well
he couldn’t. I can’t make him do that knowing he will be miserable.
you got no aid from Wes at all? means your parents are loaded.
why they won’t pay for it?
do they even know what you have accomplished?
it happens all the time. people don’t know what Wesleyan is.
if it’s Yale Brown something, they’d gladly open and spread wallet.
why is that? name? (confusing- there are load of sub bar Wesleyan-s and Wellesley, Lesley, whatnot people keep mixing up with) location? (sort of nowhere in CT) drugs? (at which college could parents be totally assured kids are safe?)</p>

<p>are you sure going to want to do grad school for film? how soon after UG?
my understanding is that, going to Wesleyan for any arts means eventually would do grad school somewhere else. and give you all the tools you need.
brain, friends, mindset. understanding where you are from, where you are going. I don’t think you get the last one that often at most other selective schools.<br>
have you been there?
I don’t know if your folks can see it (most uppy tighty “good” parents don’t get it) but if you could go before May 1st and ready to give up everything else for time being, I would ditch safety school and beg and cry to send me there.
I want to tell your folks that money is just money. if you have it, spend it for what really counts. unless you got siblings galore, sick grandma or something else you could see the reason why they can not help you.</p>

<p>^it doesn’t help you much does it? where you live? I can’t pay for your college but maybe able to help some money to come see Wes. I mean, not from hawaii or Alaska I hope?</p>

<p>My parents are very wealthy, but I don’t know our financials very well, as they refuse to let me in on them. To be honest, my parents really don’t even want me to visit Trinity, because they really want me to stay close to home (I live in St. Louis, Missouri). Of course I want to get far away and accomplish my dreams. And I would be willing commit to Wesleyan without even visiting the school, but it’s out of my hands now. If they won’t pay for it, they won’t pay for it. </p>

<p>Do I still have a shot with the MFA thing going to these schools though? If not, then I don’t know what I’m going to do. I feel like I really screwed up my college path…</p>

<p>I know there are families/parents like that.
you are taking it rather well. (are you by any chance Asian? just curious)
I wish I can answer your question. I did look up some of those program sites you mentioned but none lists current students’ profile nor faculties’ education history like some visual/fine art MFA would do.
You can always write to the admission and ask straight forward, if there are any “feeder” UG schools or not.
or
send email to dept. chair or legit profs that you know you like their works, explain your situation and ask for advice.
I am an immigrant here and awed by how bigger-shot the person is, nicer and helpful they become in those colleges.
They got more time and resources to answer your questions, or find and forward to the person who can help you more.
Be honest and clear what you need to know and why, they are usually more than happy to help if they could.
wait,
I am not so sure how it is in there Hollywood land, thou.
I say, never hurt to try.</p>

<p>I actually didn’t take it very well at first. It’s been an incredibly long fight, that I eventually figured out that I couldn’t win. I have no money, and my parents do, and they are going to spend their money the way they want to. </p>

<p>But no my parents aren’t Asian, they are Caucasian. They both went to community colleges and local universities, so they really don’t see the need for what I want. </p>

<p>Thanks for all of the advice though. I’m going to e-mail USC, UCLA, and NYU, and see what I can do. Hopefully my dreams aren’t dead yet.</p>

<p>get back a little, St. Louis can’t be that bad. we passed there, I wanted to go up on the top of the arch thing if we had more time. I did not know that you can go inside!!
nice ball team with cute mascot (and David Eckstein used to play when he was the cutest), world class university … oh wait, I see, people do ditch Wash U because of its location. hummm</p>

<p>It goes either way. parents are funny, they would either

  1. never want their kids go thru what they had to (me)
  2. whatever it is should be capable because we did it, and it’s our kids (yours)
    or
  3. have no clue what they’ve missed thus have no clue what their kids are missing but who cares because they are rich/ contented/ in control/ happy/ religious/good and right (could be yours?)</p>

<p>you didn’t revel (done in serious way you wouldn’t have been accepted to top schools) or slack off school works that would have hurt them the most, so you are dealing it OK.
good luck</p>

<p>Thanks for the talk. And yes, my parents are #3 in this case.</p>

<p>well, you don’t need an MFA in screenwriting to become a screen writer certainly. Have you considered attending any of the above schools as an undergraduate? You may have the chance of taking their introductory screenwriting courses, getting to know the programs and professors during your undergrad. As always, being close to the action, meeting and hanging out with students in that department might give you a leg up when you apply.</p>

<p>I heard that tornado ripped out the roof of the St. Louis airport!
another midwest-en risk is it?
are you guys OK?</p>

<p>hi there pumpkin
I have a feeling this kid had to choose less obvious film/theater schools and/or programs to disguise what he is really at it because of his parents might be wanting their kid become doctor lawyer professor engineer, all the rest.
It kills me when kids with brain, drive and parents who can pay can’t do what they want.
it’s as bad as can’t do because parents can’t pay, could be worse from the kid’s point of view.</p>

<p>I’m fine. The airport at St. Louis is actually closed due to the destruction, and there has been a lot of devastation, but I’m okay.</p>

<p>You really do know my situation…my parents think I’m going to go to law school.</p>

<p>

Include Chapman University/ Dodge College of Film in your emails. They have an MFA in Screenwriting.</p>

<p>I believe UCLA and USC have fairly good law schools =)
Tell them you are interested in doing entertainment / IP law. Work the entertainment angle on them hehe</p>

<p>I looked up Chapman, and they have a very interesting four year JD/MFA program. And pumpkinking, I have actually thought about going to UCLA or USC for entertainment law, and I’ll keep that option open throughout the years, but I’m not sure if I really want to spend the money on law school.</p>

<p>You don’t need an MFA in screenwriting. Just goto sites like <a href=“http://www.clickok.co.uk/index4.html[/url]”>http://www.clickok.co.uk/index4.html&lt;/a&gt; for that. Spend the money on a law degree or something useful!</p>