<p>I am having a bit of an academic existential dilemma, and I would appreciate any available insight. I am a freshman at Skidmore College, a small liberal arts school in New York state. I really like it here a lot, I am enjoying the classes, being challenged, doing well, and meeting lots of great people. I have always had an interest in film, but I had never really considered pursuing it too much in college, so when I was looking for schools it wasn't my top priority. But after I got accepted to Skidmore I started to get even more interested in film, and since starting college and taking classes, I have realized that film is really my passion and something that I would like to pursue. The problem is that Skidmore does not have a film studies or film production major, and there are very few film courses offered. So I am contemplating transferring to another school for next year because of the lack of a film program at Skidmore. </p>
<p>Of course, it is a problem that I like the school a whole lot- if I didn't it would be easy to make the decision to transfer. But even setting aside that issue, I am confused as to what to do. First of all, I would like to get a mix of production and history, and most schools I have looked at seem geared towards one or the other. Additionally, I haven't had a whole lot of experience with production, which would make it very difficult to get into some of the better film schools. I could look at schools more focused on cinema studies, since I have a better shot of getting in and a bit more experience with it, but then I'd feel like I'm not getting everything I want. I could, hypothetically, finish school where I am and look into getting some film oriented degree later, but it seems like grad schools are even more competitive, and I don't really have the money to go back and get another undergraduate degree. </p>
<p>It basically seems like now is the time in my life when I should be putting my resources and time into studying what I find interesting and getting a solid education which will help me pursue a career. Skidmore is a great place, and it allows me to pursue all of my other interests freely, but I am afraid that if I don't study film now I won't ever do so. Part of why I wanted to come to Skidmore is because it has such a free academic philosophy, which I find appealing. If I transfered to another school to study film, I probably wouldn't be getting the same type of education, and that would be a bit of a sacrifice. On the other hand, I would be able to intensively study my primary interest. So in addition to determining what school would be possible and desirable to transfer to, the ideas of a liberal arts education and the ideas of a more specialized education are butting heads. </p>
<p>So any thoughts on this would be wonderful. I don't know if I really said anything that can be easily commented on, and a lot of this stuff I have to work out on my own, but it would be great to have some other opinions. </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>