School for Me?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>APPLYING TO MAJOR IN FILM</p>

<p>Ethnicity / Location
White; Male
Wealthier Part of Long Island, New York</p>

<p>G.P.A. -
After Sophomore Year, my G.P.A was an 89.5, and it either went down a few points or stayed the same, so it's between 3.3-3.6</p>

<p>*SAT *- 1800
Math: 660
Reading: 560 [Taking it again in June, hoping for a score in the mid-high 600's after studying]
Writing: 580</p>

<p>ACT -
Taking it in June, if I don't get above a 28 I'm not using it.</p>

<p>*Essay *-
I have three completed essays, all usable, but I'll probably be tweaking them plenty by the time applications finally come around.</p>

<p>*Class Rank *-
School doesn't have one.</p>

<p>Extracurricular Activities -
I have shown a lot of outside interest in Film, including attending Film Festivals and attending the N.Y.F.A. for a summer program in which we'll produce a film. I've recently purchased a camera, and will be putting together a little portfolio of some shorts I'll make over the summer. I've got a few short scripts of ideas that I've written down. In school I take a course called Community Health (a crapload of Community Service came with this class), and we taught teachers and students in the school about Cigarette Smoking, and I edited a video for the presentation. I've got plenty more, but you get the point.</p>

<p>Rigor of Secondary School Record -
Freshman Year: Biology Honors, Math Honors 10, Global History 9 Honors, English 9 Honors

Sophomore Year: Chemistry, Math 11, Global History 10 Honors, English 10 Honors</p>

<p>Junior Year: Physics, College Pre-Calculus, U.S. History 11, English 11 Honors

Senior Classes<a href="All%20taken%20out%20of%20interest/desire%20to%20learn%20about%20the%20subject">/U</a>:
AP Calculus A/B
AP Biology
AP Psychology
Literature Through Cinema
Syracuse University Project Advance [S.U.P.A.] Sociology</p>

<p>Talent/Ability -
I'm working on some good shorts to show them, I've seen work made by people who applied to Emerson (and the work got them in), and was not impressed.. Any suggestions on what to add in my portfolio?
**
Volunteer Work / Work Experience** -
I've done a lot of community service, and I have it all written down. I've worked for two years at the same store, which was a hard first job working counter/cleanup/floor at a highly known faster food resturaunt, and I worked both summers.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance,
Jake</p>

2

<p>"Film" covers a lot of territory. There's history, there's criticism, there's the economics and there's film making, and within film making there are different areas too. (Back about the time when dinosaurs walked the earth, I got a "film" degree myself, so I know a little about it.) </p>

<p>If film making is really your passion, two schools you should look at (and should be admitted to with your resume) are Loyola Marymount in LA and Columbia College in Chicago. Very few CCers are likely to be familiar with Columbia College, but the entertainment industry is very familiar with it. I spent a little time last week with the boyfriend of one of my nieces, who is studying (and learning) cinematography there. The professional projects he has lined up this summer because of his training are incredible. </p>

<p>A close friend of mine has a son at LMU who went there to study film, but he has veered into music instead, and has now started a band (and gotten a contract, I think) with another student who is the son of someone so famous in the music world discretion prevents me from naming him.</p>

3

<p>Columbia is a great suggestion! ... MilwDad--We crossed paths on a different thread about a year ago. How is your son doing these days--is he enjoying his freshman experience?</p>

4

<p>He's having a great year, Hindoo, thanks for asking. Not quite done with freshman year because his school is on the quarter system, but he loves it. He made a very good choice. I hope your daughters are also doing well.</p>

<p>Now it's almost time to get at the college searching with my younger son, who is finishing up his sophomore year in HS. Unlike my son and your daughters, he's more likely to be a University kid than a LAC kid.</p>

5

<p>I'm interested in Film Production, mainly Directing/Writing, but I have a question about Columbia, would it be more of a "safety" school considering it's population/size of Film majors? I'm mainly interested in Emerson and SUNY Purchase, but seeing as they have extremely difficult and competitive film programs to get into I will definitely need a few backups and safeties. Do you recommend any other schools?</p>

<p>Also, how can a school like Emerson or Purchase, who only allow you to pursue **one **major? Can that really effect me in the long run? I'm really passionate about film, and hoping to do it as a career for life after college..</p>

6

<p>What about Chapman University in California? They have a well-regarded film/television school. I don't know how competitive it is, but you have time to improve scores, etc., if necessary.</p>

<p>Dodge</a> College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman University</p>

7

<p>Entrance into Chapmans film program is VERY competitive.</p>

8

<p>Hmmm. I thought it might be. But worth suggesting.</p>

9

<p>Yeah, a bit too expensive.. any other suggestions? I'm mainly concerned with Emerson and Purchase, but in case they blow over..?</p>

10

<p>Jake, Goucher (MD) has a Film Studies program within their Communication major. Also Clark (MA) has a Screen Studies major and Ithaca has a film major which is supposed to be excellent. Quinnipiac has a Media Production major if you are interested. Best of luck!</p>