Helloooo I recently got accepted to NYU Tisch for Film and Television and Chapman University for Film Production. I am having trouble deciding which program to select. I live in Southern California so I’m super close to Chapman University. I know NYU is notorious for having one of the best film programs in the nation, but I wasn’t offered too much financial aid and that is a pretty big factor in my college decision. Chapman I got a good amount of money from and I understand they have a pretty good film program as well. I would like to be apart of feature film productions in the future and I know that LA is the film industry capital of the world, and I don’t know how well New York City is for creating a foundation for feature films being so far from the film industry, however I do want to escape the bubble I’m in. So I guess my question is how much better is an NYU film education? Is it worth the graduation debt? How hard is it to get involved in the film industry after NYU? What are some pros and cons to both schools? Any advice or suggestions will be gladly taken. Thank you!
@darthbader My son just now declined his admissions offer to Chapman’s BFA screen acting program to attend NYU Tisch. For a month now, he was going to Chapman. We bought all the sweatshirts, mugs etc. We are in Carlsbad, so Chapman seemed easy for him to acclimate to, and be able to drive home on weekends, if necessary. Plus, Chapman’s BFA screen acting program is part of Dodge which is one of the best film schools in the country. The facilities are AMAZING, as you probably know. For him though, he knew he needed to get out of the bubble, and grow up a bit. He also had SO MANY PEOPLE tell him he’d be crazy to pass up NYU, so we went there for Weekend on the Square and he almost immediately knew it was his place, even though he didn’t want it to be. NYU is more expensive in every way. The NYU pros for my son were name recognition, talking to many current students who loved the program, ability to easily move through NYC by subway, not driving an hour to get 20 miles like in LA, the diversity of the students, the study abroad opportunities, the possibilities of internships in the city since everything is so close, and just the feeling he got after listening to the deans of the school and his Tisch professors. He also liked the bigger campus, if you can even call it that, and just the real life that surrounds NYU. Chapman undoubtedly has a top film program, so I don’t think you can go wrong with either choice. If money is a huge issue, do not go into big debt with NYU, when both programs are great. Chapman isn’t as well known, but it soon will be. Great things are happening in Dodge College at Chapman, but NYU just felt better to my son. Good luck!!
hi does anyone know is there a deadline to accept the financial aid such as loans? thanks!
@mattyxospicy I think you have time, as long as it’s before the payment is due in August. But why put it off until later especially if you were given any scholarships. Also, is it spelled out in your financial aid packet.
Do i need to accept it by May 1st?
@VANYU2021Mom do i need to accept it by may 1st? anyone pls let me know thanks!
Do I have to commit by today (May 1st) 11:59 pm? Or has the deadline passed??
It’s today
But at what time? Can I still accept it or did I miss the time?
@lemmesleep You have until 11:59pm today.
@MrElonMusk okay thank you!!
I believe it’s 11:59 EST. My S just officially declined NYU. Such a strange feeling to see it al come down to choosing one school above the others…
Agreed. NYU was my dream school but declining the decision today wasn’t as heartbreaking as I imagined. After so much time, stress, anxiety, blood, sweat, and tears put into this, it’s a nice feeling to know where you’ll be in a few months for sure. I hope everyone does great in the college of their choice! Wishing you all the best; remember, you deserve it! 
@nervousbean Where are you going?
@hamparyanmomager my son is also attending NYU with a similar story.
He wants to study international relations or global policy. He was accepted to some amazing programs
with amazing offers (a couple of full scholarships as well). We didn’t think we would get a penny because we thought
most scholarships were need based. He was also homeschooled so we didn’t expect the scholarships.
We allowed him to apply knowing (thinking) we would be full pay.
We did several visits and later we did accepted students day at William & Mary and NYU’s weekend on the square.
He knew the right after the orientation for the program he was admitted to (Global Liberal Studies) that he was going to NYU. He can double major and graduate on time. He also gets to spend two years abroad which he really wants to do. He felt having this opportunity and majoring in a global or international major living abroad cannot hurt. His long term goal is law school so we will see how it goes.
We also live in SoCal…close to Chapman.
So both our boys are flying. I feel the same as you…excited and nervous all at once.
Tisch is an amazing school and they have an amazing alumni support system. He will get jobs with an NYU degree on both coasts. I have a friend here in SoCal that’s in film and she’s an NYU grad.
My son will be living in London his freshman year and so happy about that decision.
Solidarity …mom
NYU2022
@hamparyanmomager Haha…we already pm’d each other.
I swear I can’t remember anything.
I’m going to the University of Miami @mmstanfordbound !
@Pearlcu13 could you please share your statistics and your decision? Hope you can share