<p>Hey,
I can't decide between USC or UCSB, I got into the film production major at USC and thats what I really want to do, but i dont know if its worth it. I think UCSB is the cheaper option. I cant get any financial help because my parents have the money but only if they dig into their retirement savings.... Do you think its better to go to UCSB and save tons of money or USC and make my parents work another 10 years and graduate in debt???</p>
<p>Go cheap! People in the industry don't care where you went to school. I will say though at SC you'll probably have an easier time finding short term gigs in the industry (on breaks etc.) if you are in LA. My best friend went to UCSB for film and now works for Paramount as a production coordinator.</p>
<p>Go to USC. I heard that the Film Studies here at UCSB is so so. Not much hands on. USC has the best film school in California and regularly recruited by Hollywood studios.</p>
<p>I've worked in film and television production for 25 years (though I majored in communications, since I thought I'd never find a job in film!) I would advise almost any student to go to UCSB over SC even if money wasn't a concern, but... not in this case. USC has one of the top film schools in the nation, and its alumni are well-known for looking after their own. The film business is built on connections, and you will have many more opportunities to make those connections by going to school in LA than in SB. (And I'm a UCLA grad!)</p>
<p>However...having said this, I would urge you to be absolutely certain that film is what you want to study before you make this choice. If you decide after your freshman year that you'd rather study, say, anthropology (hey, it happens), you'll be paying a premium at USC for an education that's no better than you would have received at UCSB. I know a young woman who recently graduated from SC with $100,000 in debt. Not worth it.</p>
<p>My daughter is in a similar situation, except that she got rejected by USC, accepted by UCSB, which is where she's planning to go. So the consideration now is, should she try to transfer into USC? She's interested in print journalism, but with the difference in cost, would USC be worth pursuing in that field?</p>
<p>My mom advised me to pick a major that can support the kind of lifestyle I want. If I didn't listen to her I would probably gone the easy route and major in Sociology. Probably right now, on my last quarter at UCSB, I wouldn't know what my next step should be. It's the best advise parents can give to their children who are undecided. While money is not everything it all comes down to paying bills. People who can't or are having a hard time paying the bills for the most part are not satisfied with their lives no matter how much passion they have for their job. </p>
<p>It would suck to graduate with 50k debt. In the real world, you'll be judged by your work ethics and professionalism rather than your alma mater. In your daughter's case the price tag of prestige is way too much. If she's talented she'll succeed no matter what college she'll choose.</p>
<p>I was torn between both schools for a while as well, it really depends on whether you think the fame and glory of USC is worth all of the money! You can still receive a great education from SB and live in a really nice area (much safer and comfortable than USC) though SB does not have the "name" USC has. For me, financial matters where definetely an issue...is double the tuition at USC worth it? You have to look and see where you feel comfortable and think you would be happy.</p>
<p>Obviously USC is the premiere film school, and that UCSB Film is less production-oriented (and thus less practical), but I read somewhere online that Michael Douglas is helping donate a new film facility due in '08 that'll help out UCSB Film. See <a href="http://www.cftnm.ucsb.edu/support.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.cftnm.ucsb.edu/support.html</a></p>
<p>If anyone has any thoughts about how this'll impact the film program at Santa Barbara...</p>