<p>Hard decision up ahead. I had a conversation with my mother that really shook my balance the other day. It’s a long story, but I need someone’s
opinnion. </p>
<p>The story goes something like this:</p>
<p>I have been an aspiring filmmaker since I was twelve. I worked hard on my ambition ever since and I tried to work hard in High School but sometimes it didn’t work out. By balancing the afternoons I wanted to forget schoolwork and write a screenplay instead, or the afternoons I couldn’t study because I was out on my job selling carpeting to the rich of my neighborhood to afford a profesional camcorder, or the afternoons I rehearsed for my plays, I ended up with a B average. I never got more than one C each semester (which would usually be Math-related). My GPA is OK, it is not the GPA of a slacker. And I took the most hard courseload my High School could offer and survived it with the same low As-high Bs average. </p>
<p>Film Schools exist in Mexico, my country. But when I met my favorite film director of all time who by chance had chosen my Aunt’s home in Tijuana to shoot his new film, he told me to get as far away from the Mexican Film Schools as possible. He directed Amores Perros, and the later 21 Grams. And so I decided to go abroad, and searched for Schools in the US and Europe.</p>
<p>Anyway, I then studied for the SAT, a US requirement. I did it and got a low score. I studied worked, did homework and watched Desperate Housewives and did the SAT again. No good. The scores moved around through the sections, but the total was still the same. I did it a third time. The score went up but still not good enough and then I decided it was enough
since time was against me. I then applied to Film Schools around the world. I know film is a tough medium, and it is best to belong to the schools with more prestige around the world to polish my talent and aquire the necessary knowledge.</p>
<p>The application period began to take the best of me. Senior year is tough, and some have to mix the applications with their course load, with their jobs, with their extra curriculars, with their tests, homeworks and with Desperate Housewives…how does any University expect someone to do their best? To make things worse, all film programs have separate application requirements additional to the University requirements. And so, the months advanced, and the results were comming in:</p>
<p>NYU- Rejected
Florida State University- Accepted to the University/Rejected to the Film Major.
Chapman University- Accepted to the University/Waitlisted to the Major, placed in Broadcast Journalism Major(???)
Drexel University - Accepted but would rather stay in mexico.
Mexican Film School#1-Pending.
Mexican Film School #2-Application period begins in July.</p>
<p>Results like this can make the most determined filmmaker doubt his talents. Unfortunately, Film Majors today have an overload of applicants. Some are determined like me. Some decided two months before applying that
they wanted to “make movies”. It is hard for Adcoms to determine who is who. And most just play the numbers game, a game I would’ve liked to play but couldn’t. One envelope was due, but I did not have high expectations
from it. I remmember dreaming several times of recieving that envelope. It would be fat and yellow. But I also remmember giving up, and accepting the unacceptable. I was almost giving up when the last envelope arrived. It was from USC. And I had gotten in. With my low stats. With my portfolio, a portfolio polluted with course load, part time employment, extra curriculars, Screenwriting and Desperate Housewives.</p>
<p>BTW, I did not even get in…I got into the university, and got waitlisted at my chosen major, but after a nice conversation with the Dean of my major she said:</p>
<li>It is a vary short waitlist and every year we go through most - if not all of it.</li>
<li>Sometimes spots open up even one day before clases start.</li>
<li>You can always enroll, take all necessary courses, and reapply for Fall 2007, which you will have
a lot of chances of getting into…if so, you could even search for a double major.</li>
</ol>
<p>She made me want to enroll anyway. For someone with my stats, not enrolling into such a presitigious university when possible would be a wrong move.</p>
<p>When the time came to talk about finances my mother said:</p>
<p>"I will support you if you want to go. But keep in mind:</p>
<li>This was supposed to be my retirement fund.</li>
<li>You will not be getting any inheritance and your siblings will when the time comes."</li>
</ol>
<p>A US education is expensive. But I made it to one of my top choices when the Stats where against me. And I fear attending a Mexican film school when my hero told me not to. I want to venture out into the unknown and visit another country and have the life experiences necessary to succeed. I want a different enviornment.</p>
<p>I absolutely possitively do not want to live in Mexico City. I really want to go to USC, but is it worth it?</p>
<p>I don’t really know how much money my mom has, so there is no way of knowing how hard it will hit her savings. All I know is she can do it.</p>
<p>What to do? My conscience cannot let me forget about the blow to my mother’s savings. How can I overcome this weight on my shoulders?</p>
<p>The words “my retirement fund” circle my brain…that and Desperate Housewives.</p>
<p>Oh, and another thing. Some very well ranked International Universities and Prep Schools exist in Mexico. Since it is the worst public education system in the world, those who can, HAVE to attend private institutions. But their tuitons are not anywhere near the tuitions you guys have to pay.</p>
<p>Where do Schools find families who can pay such outrageous tuitions? Do these families exist?</p>
<p>My heart goes out to the parents of four children who want all four to recieve the best education possible. Those loans will eat them alive.</p>
<p>There is something wrong with the world when it is not financially prudent to have as much children as you want…I may only decide to have one!</p>