St John's U. vs. Ithaca College vs. year off

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi guys! </p>

<p>I am writing this post because I am facing a great dilemma and I hope you can help me..
I am an international student and I’ve applied in the U.S.A last autumn hoping to take a film major, or a major that could lead to a Film Directing Master (creative writing, communication or related majors). </p>

<p>As you may imagine I knew very little about college-level education in the U.S., so one of my main selection criteria was the level of prestige that a program had. However my main concern was to find an university that offered a generous financial aid package to international students, because my family can contribute with only 15000-20000$ each year. </p>

<p>I’ve applied to many great schools (Columbia U., Northwestern, Bard, Ithaca college, Chapman U and others), however I was disappointed to either be rejected or fail to secure a decent financial aid package at more than half of them. </p>

<p>Now, after carefully reviewing my current offers, I am left with three options (mostly because I can’t afford the rest):
1) going at Ithaca College where I need to pay about 16,000 $ per year (film major);<br>
2) going to St. John’s University (NY) where I’ve got full ride for the communication major ;
3) taking an year off and reapplying next year, hopping that I could improve my SAT’s and I could make a wiser school selection. </p>

<p>Now, I’ll make a brief presentation of these options, with their pros and cons from my point of view. </p>

<p>Ithaca College- from what I’ve read it has a good film program and also a great communication program. The setting however is not so great (large town, a bit isolated), because it does not offer so many cultural and professional opportunities in my filed as a big city. Also, although my family can cover the expected family contribution of 16,000$, the costs are a lot higher considering the transport expenses (I live in Europe) and, to be frank, I don’t know if their overall academic program is worth my parent’s financial effort. </p>

<p>St. John’s U. - this school was a safety. I have applied because of their good financial aid package for international students and for their great location (NY). I’ve got full ride but I am not so sure that their program really prepare me for the competitive fields of media/show business. I love the opportunities that I would have in New York , but I am not so sure about the education I will get at this university. </p>

<p>An year off- I think this is a good option as well, because I have some decent scores and academic results, as well as extracurricular implication, which would probably get me in a school that offers me the combined advantages of my previous two options (generous financial aid and a good program). I know that my failure to get into half of the programs I have applied to this year was largely due to the fact that I used poor selection criteria in choosing these schools (as I said before I was completely foreign to the American higher education system). Also, I am almost sure that I can improve my test scores and I have already been offer two summer internships.<br>
I think that by applying again I could find an university that offers most of the things I am looking for (a film-related major, good liberal arts education, an urban setting). </p>

<p>To give you the whole picture I will list my application stats:
SAT Reasoning- Math- 710
Reading- 730
Writing- 750
SAT Subjects: Literature: 730
Math I: 690
My G.P.A. is about 9.65 on a 10 scale (I think that would convert to an “A” in your system), and I rank in the first 5% of my class.
I am involved in a wide range of extracurricular and I hold leadership positions in two of them (Film Club, Student Government) </p>

<p>That’s about all. I am sorry I’ve made this post so long but I’ve tried to give you a complete picture so you can give me some competent advice, based on my present situations. </p>

<p>I am really looking forward to reading your posts on this matter.</p>

2

<p>Taking a year off is a reasonable plan, but you probably should not enroll in a local college, that would turn you into a transfer student. I doubt if increasing your SAT scores is going to matter very much. If you can do something during your gap year to impress colleges, that might make sense as well.</p>

3

<p>I don't think Ithaca is a good idea----not a great location for a film major + a large amt of $$$</p>

<p>I think a good idea might be to take the St. John's U offer and transfer later. If you do that, you will be on a free ride, so you could get a job/internship (which shouldn't be too hard considering the location) and save up so that you would be able to help pay if you decide to transfer to a better, but more expensive school after a couple of years.</p>

4

<p>Thanks for your suggestions! </p>

<p>BTW, forgot to mention that at St. John's I got invited to the Honors Program, which probably means smaller classes and more caring faculty. </p>

<p>Anyway, I think I am leaning towards the year off option...</p>

5

<p>Christianoan, I think you should really consider St. Johns seriously. Their freshman seminars sound very cool as does their whole Honors program. My daughter was accepted to and was seriously considering it but got a Financial Aid Package for U of Rochester we couldn't pass up. My D has an uncle that lives near campus and sent up this report. (sorry it's long).</p>

<p>Dear K & K,</p>

<p>Yesterday we visited St. John’s in Queens so that we could give you a comprehensive impression of the campus.</p>

<p>It is about 14 miles from where we live on Long Island and about 3-4 miles from LaGuardia Airport.</p>

<p>We approached the campus from the north and were quite favorably impressed with the neighborhood. It was upper middle class housing, very tidy and clean, not at all the feeling of the city. In fact, our overall impression was that the neighborhood and campus were quite removed from the city. The campus itself is completely surrounded by a very nice fence and has several gates that you can enter, one by the stadium, and several others at different points. </p>

<p>We went in through the main entrance and there was a security kiosk with an automatic car-letter-inner (you know like at airports and toll booths). There is quite a safe feeling overall and we were frankly amazed.</p>

<p>The campus is rather small, but it is lovely. There are stone and brick buildings and everything is beautifully landscaped. It is uplifting. From some places you can see the skyline of NYC but it is very much in the background. Campus is lively but quiet. There was no music pounding from cars or rooms. But kids were all over the place. It seems quite international in it’s student body make up.</p>

<p>T encouraged me to go up to one of the students and ask some questions. The student was very nicely dressed, a freshman in her 2nd term. She is an Resident Advisor. She told me that she loves St. John’s. She said that it feels very safe on campus; the dorms are co-ed but segregated by floor. (They also have limited access to visitors; visitors have to be signed in by the student.) Students are focused on their studies, it is not a big party school. She said there is a lot for students to do; there are tours into the city to show you around and free Broadway show tickets (I’m envious!). They have very nice athletic facilities, too. She said she loved it and to encourage you to come!</p>

<p>We know nothing about the academics, but if you want something that is a smaller school, easy to get home from, and has excellent tuition rates (we understand you have a scholarship), this is definitely some place to consider! It’s much better than we imagined. There is even a Sun Yat Sen building built in a completely oriental style.</p>

<p>Hope this helps.</p>

6

<p>rgmom, thank you for your comprehensive advice! I will analyze St. John's program more carefully. </p>

<p>Any other advice, from anyone who knows anything about these schools would be most welcomed.</p>