<p>Hi,
I'm interested in pursuing some career in writing, preferably playwriting or screenwriting. I have really good grades in the toughest courses at my school, which sends most students to top schools. What I'm really wondering is where should I apply that has good play and screenwriting programs?</p>
<p>Tisch School of Arts probably has the top school for screenwriting/playwriting in the country, the Rita & Burton Goldberg Department of Dramatic Writing. Although you will need a pretty solid portfolio to get in there; grades don’t matter as much as the supplementary material you send in. One of my best friends was accepted there this year. She submitted a screenplay and a satire with the supplement.</p>
<p>Umm, I would probably suggest USC or Emerson.</p>
<p>UCLA</p>
<p>[Screenwriting</a> MFA | UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television](<a href=“http://www.tft.ucla.edu/programs/screenwriting/]Screenwriting”>http://www.tft.ucla.edu/programs/screenwriting/)</p>
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<p>Wesleyan.10char.</p>
<p>I’m a Wes student who wants to be a screenwriter, and you should note that at this point Wesleyan only offers one or two courses in playwriting and screenwriting (plus people in the film department write short screenplays for production classs and theses). They are looking to add a full screenwriting program, but I don’t know when–probably it won’t effect you much if you’re a senior now. </p>
<p>The film studies program is very strong (and contends you can learn a lot about all aspects of creating films through studying them, which I agree with), has a great almuni network (the “Wesleyan Mafia” in LA) and has produced a fair number of succesful screenwriters, so we’re definitly a viable option for someone who wants to be a screenwriter. But if you’re looking for an actual screenwriting program, it’s not a good choice.</p>
<p>yea, just to piggy-back on what weskid said, going to Wesleyan would mean producing plays and pitching your scripts mostly outside of a formal class structure. It seems to work for some very talented, very self-motivated people. And, Wesleyan has pioneered in putting together that kind of combination, where people take a broad view of the world (including Hollywood) in their course work and do their own writng outside of class. </p>
<p>It really means assessing where you want to be in say, five years, after you’ve exhausted that first rush of ideas you had while in college. LACs, like Wesleyan are about “learning how to learn” even after you’ve graduated.</p>
<p>I second UCLA.</p>
<p>This is for undergrad, so UCLA isn’t really an option. Any other programs that are good?</p>
<p>Any good writing school, which includes most LACS, but esp. Vassar, Hamilton, Wes, and even Bennington and Sarah lawrence. Also theatre schools, like Northwestern, and, eh, Yale.</p>
<p>Okay, I’m looking more towards universities and less towards LACs, also does anyone know which programs focus more on Dramatic Writing/Playwriting, and which focus more on Screenwriting?</p>
<p>bump 10char.</p>
<p>[Certificate</a> in Creative Writing for the Media - About the Program, School of Communication, Northwestern University](<a href=“http://www.communication.northwestern.edu/programs/certificate_creative_writing_media/]Certificate”>http://www.communication.northwestern.edu/programs/certificate_creative_writing_media/)</p>
<p>The only problem is you won’t be able to apply until the second year.</p>
<p>UCLA Band Mom,
UCLA’s program is a MFA, not an undergrad program.</p>