<p>Hello everyone! I'm an international student who is admitted to UC Irvine, Syracuse University, and School of the Arts Institute of Chicago for the film major.
I want to go to LA so badly, but I don't really know UCI's film major. The only concern about SU is the location, because ppl keep telling me its really cold . And, I dont know if SAIC is a good choice since I can only take art classes there.</p>
<p>I am struggling to make my decision because they all are not my top choices. Unluckily, I cannot visit the campuses either. Please give me some advices! I really need your help!!</p>
<p>Well. UCI has some of the most beautiful weather in the country. Chicago and New York are beautiful too. But oohhhhh so cold! and SoCal doesnt have humidity and when we do which is rare, we are not a happy people! Other than that. Dont know anything bout the film schools…sorry!</p>
<p>Go TO CHIIIIIICAAAGOOOOO!!! DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE DREAMING TO GO TO THAT SCHOOL!?</p>
<p>Hi there,
We live near UCI. I can’t speak at all to the other schools. Irvine is an extremely safe, suburban, high tech/mostly high-income community. The campus is beautiful, though very quiet, and you won’t experience much nightlife. Some would say it’s ‘boring.’ Laguna Beach and Disneyland are a short drive away; LA (film industry base) is an hour drive or so away. And the Mexico border is 1.5 hour drive south. So you can still have adventures. 
UCI is a solid university and you will get a good education. The film major is critical studies-type program, so it centers on theory, history and analysis of film, not production. Students do evidently do occasional small film projects on their own (caveat: this bit is secondhand info, I
know little about opportunities of that sort). UCI also offers a digital arts minor that might offer some avenues for other media/editing experience, etc., if that is a desire of yours.
The fit for these schools may depend on your ultimate career goal/interests. The art track versus critical film studies track are quite different.
I hope this helps little. Good luck!</p>
<p>@Peeps28: Thanks for sharing your opinions!! I’m so excited to live outside my own country!</p>
<p>@tim1298: Really??? But I’m not sure if I fit in an art school…</p>
<p>@gladiatorbird: Thank you so much! These information are so important for me to make the decision. I kind of want to get more chances to do production tho:( sigh… LA is my dream location to study for college! Hard choice:(</p>
<p>If film is what you want to do SAIC will not be the right choice. As you yourself pointed out the curriculum will not include film studies if you go there. Also the focus tends to be on conceptual and performance art, there will be very little direct technical instruction. Any nod towards film will be directed towards very conceptual and non-commercial work, i.e., films of performances by conceptual artists. If you are looking for more traditional film study I see no reason for this to be a school you would choose. Also it would be a very expensive mistake if you go there and find it was not the right choice. </p>
<p>Remember that you do not know the ages or dreams of the people posting here so take all advice carefully. I really doubt that EVERYONE is dreaming to go to “that” school. In fact it’s a known fact that “that” school has a very open enrollment policy so they don’t have to dream, just submit an application and you’ll probably get in.</p>
<p>um in fact corn knows me… we are classmates lol.
I said that because lots of kids in our school admire SAIC very much,
some of our best students even got rejected.
I just think that it would be such a waste if she turned SAIC down.
Plus she said that she doesn’t like theoretical teaching, so I don’t suggest her to go to UCI.
Moreover, she accidentally applied for a 5 year program for syracuse, so that would no longer be her option.
Anyways, I respect your opinion and is impressed by your insight. :)</p>
<p>It’s not really opinion, it’s more first hand knowledge. SAIC is a great school for anyone interested in conceptual or performance art, however it will not be a good choice for someone who wants a more traditional film study geared towards building a career in traditional film production or tech work.</p>
<p>The topic of SAIC’s admittance policies has been discussed here at length. The stats show that the undergraduate program isn’t as selective in their admissions process as many. They take in a very high percentage of applicants at the freshman level. If you search CC you’ll find a lot of discussion regarding their selection process and the fact that they have a high “drop” rate after freshman year.</p>
<p>What I don’t understand is why it would be a waste if she turns down SAIC. If she really really wants film then this is not the school for her. SAIC, while often generous with merit aid, is not an inexpensive school and what would be a waste would be for someone who wants to study film to attend an expensive school that has no film program. It doesn’t make sense.</p>
<p>Now if she wants to study conceptual art or another program that SAIC offers she might want to consider the school but those of you choosing schools today must be very careful. There are far too many young people just a few years older than you graduating from schools with huge debt loads and few job prospects. Pick carefully and wisely. If you want to study film don’t spend a lot of money attending a school that has no film program.
It doesn’t make sense to do so.</p>
<p>And yes, I understand that the “job” argument will be wasted on the ears of young budding artists in many cases. But unless you have a trust fund or full ride scholarship, you’ll need to have a job to pay off the loans and most art “jobs” pay very low salaries even in a better economy than this. I don’t mean to discourage anyone, just offering a few words of wisdom. Really think through you choices carefully so you graduate with the best preparation possible and are in a position where you can afford the time to continue on with your artwork.</p>
<p>wow, thanks for your professional analysis. I learnt a lot lol.
The point is that she is not so sure if she really wants film or not, and she’s pretty into preforming art. But I got your point and I know your concern now, thanks for sharing all that with corn, it must be very helpful!
ps, do you have any suggestions to this post? lol
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1322868-uw-seattle-uiuc-industrial-design.html?highlight=uiuc+uw+industrial+design[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1322868-uw-seattle-uiuc-industrial-design.html?highlight=uiuc+uw+industrial+design</a>
I really need your help too lol</p>