<p>here's the problem: I absolutely want to study film and have gained admission into USC's school of cinematic arts as a critical studies major. They even gave me a full tuition scholarship. But I also got into Harvard.....soooo what do I do?</p>
<p>My opinion is that if you want to study film you should definitely go to USC. Does Harvard even have a major related to film? And still USC has the best (tied with NYU’s I think) Film program in the country.</p>
<p>Bubbas,
If you really want to study film and it is your passion I would take SCA. It is just as difficult to be admitted there as Harvard. Admission is in the single digits. The criteria for selection is different. In your case you are being given a gift of about $160,000. </p>
<p>This is a difficult decision. </p>
<p>PM bored student (joke moniker). You can see his thread here. I think he was admitted to Yale, etc. and he chose SC. He may be able to give you some insights and why he made the decision.</p>
<p>i respect the opinions and i know what SCA has to offer. my older brother is currently a sophomore studying there. but here’s something else to consider: if my brother and i want to go into business together after school would it be better to make connections through harvard and pair them with his connections through usc? or are two educations through SCA even better?</p>
<p>bubbas1633,</p>
<p>Yikes, this is one of the toughest ‘versus’ threads I’ve seen. I think I could argue equally well for both Harvard and SCA. Of course it all depends on what you want to do in life.</p>
<p>How about Harvard undergrad and SCA Film & Production masters degree and SCA Critical Studies PhD? The Harvard part might make you a storyteller from a different perspective. (?) Would there be a better educated film person on the planet? I’m guessing no. :)</p>
<p>On the other hand, SCA is the best film school in the world with the best connections possible which makes the SCA undergrad pretty desirable.</p>
<p>Good luck with your win-win dilemma!</p>
<p>Best,
Wheaty</p>
<p>PS. If you do go to Harvard I’d have a long talk with the fine people at SCA and let them know you love them and that you’ll be back in 4 short years.</p>
<p>Bub: I agree w/ Wheaty: Harvard and then do SCA grad school</p>
<p>go to Harvard for undergrad; congrats on getting in</p>
<p>Bubba,
There is no guarantee you will be admitted to SCA graduate school.</p>
<p>Sorry if I’m a bit harsh here, but what good does a Harvard degree do in the film industry? If someone really wants to make it in the film industry it would make more sense to go study in a film program like SCA</p>
<p>thanks everyone for the input, i really appreciate it. my question is this though: does anyone know of anyone who has done harvard for undergrad and then done SCA for grad?/does anyone know from experience the difficulty of applying to SCA for a graduate degree?</p>
<p>bubbas1633,
It will be VERY difficult to be admitted into the SCA grad program. A Harvard undergrad would undoubtedly help but you would face long odds. I don’t know if anyone on this board is qualified to advise you in this and I would strongly recommend that you go talk with the admissions people at SCA. Their advice would be the only advice that matters.</p>
<p>GeorgiaGirl is right, this plan is full of risk because it is very difficult to gain admission into SCA grad school no matter where you’re coming from. I would call SCA to set up an appointment to discuss all of this. </p>
<p>poncem,
I think to be a great movie maker you must be a great storyteller. Just my opinion. By going to Harvard, our young friend bubbas1633 might be exposed to all sorts of things that could be called upon during his film career. Maybe a history class inspires concentrated research into some little know character lost in time. Maybe an English class leads to undiscovered talents buried within bubbas1633. Maybe the experience of going to Harvard leads to life experiences that are themselves a compelling story. All just guesses on my part.</p>
<p>go to SCA for undergrad (very hard to get in & great price); go to Harvard for graduate school (much easier to get in)</p>
<p>Wheaty,
i love what you said about gaining new life experiences that could impact my art one day - i too have thought about this opportunity. in fact, when i applied to schools this notion was always one of my focuses. i want to grow as an individual, as a storyteller, and finally as a filmmaker in the end - however, i realize i can’t just skip to the end. anyone can make a movie, but it’s those people who have something to say, and a voice to tell it with, that make the most memorable films. so i completely agree with what you say about Harvard.</p>
<p>my argument is this: for a young student like myself growing up on the east coast (thirty minutes from Harvard actually) wouldn’t you agree that studying in LA, a huge, diverse city, would offer equally new, intelletually inspiring experiences? USC does offer a vast selection of courses, and if i elect to go there i will be enrolled in the Thematic Option program (USC’s version of a honors program) which offers interdisciplinary courses rooted in world liturature…</p>
<p>do you think that these experiences are as compelling as those i may find at Harvard? or does the name alone lead you to those conclusions?</p>
<p>bubbas1633,</p>
<p>As I said in my first post on this thread, this is one of the toughest versus decisions I’ve seen. It’s especially tough with SC throwing in a ton of merit money!</p>
<p>To your most recent questions… I dunno. I like the whole Harvard/East Coast blend with SC/West Coast from a storytelling perspective. I am pretty much all West Coast and I think your stories and your perspectives would eclipse mine due to the diversity. I don’t know if living close to Harvard would give you the perspective I was thinking about compared with completing 4 years there. I am sure you’ve gotten some of that by growing up there and that might be enough.</p>
<p>I am a big fan of a complete education for visual artists of all types and especially so for film makers. The TO piece at USC is great and yes you will absolutely get a complete and well rounded undergrad education by attending that amazing university.</p>
<p>It’s difficult to project which path would produce a better end product. Little things could trigger incredible stories and viewpoints later in life. All of that is found at both campuses and I guess I was reacting to the idea of being very well educated but also very well rounded and diverse.</p>
<p>I really wish I had an Ivy/SC Cinema combination in my background to be able to give you advice on this, but I don’t. Off the top of my head I can think of one person that you might contact for advice on this topic. Mark Wyse is a professor at USC’s Roski School of Fine Art. Mark has an MFA from Yale and he’s a photography professor and I know it isn’t a perfect fit but he’s the closest I can think of. His email is on the Roski site and he’s a very nice guy and I’m sure he’d have something to add.</p>
<p>Both of these paths will work for you and I have zero doubt that you will be extremely successful in your film career. My best advice as an old guy is this: don’t be in a hurry to graduate. You’re 18 now and it doesn’t matter if you end your college career at 22, 24 or 26 years old. Get multiple degrees and keep it diverse. Learn all there is to learn. The movie business isn’t going anywhere and it will most assuredly be there to be conquered when you are ready.</p>
<p>I truly wish I could offer more concrete advice.
Best,
Wheaty</p>
<p>thanks wheaty. i promise, i’m in no hurry to graduate. i know that the next four years will most likely be the most influential of my entire life, so naturally i want to be sure i make the best decision possible. and i can sincerely say that you’ve helped to make that decision a little more lucid, for me at least.</p>
<p>In my humble opinion I think wherever you go to study you’ll acquire life experience and you’ll meet diverse people and face strange and new circumstances that could trigger some story for a potential film. Academic wise Harvard is better, however SC isn’t bad academically, so from both sides I think you would grow intellectually, since ultimately is what you make of your education. If the academic difference were greater I think it would make much more of a difference in your personal growth, but SC isn’t that far away and with the TO the gap is even smaller (by no means I’m trying to say they are equal since Harvard is obviously more prestigious but hopefully you get my point).</p>
<p>If it were me I would choose SC and even double major in something else to gain that cultural/intellectual side you want, something more oriented towards the Liberal Arts maybe, or Literature? But ultimately it really depends on what you really want. I would try getting some film experience in my undergrad years along with the intellectual/cultural experience.</p>
<p>As Wheaty says try contacting his professor and the SCA department.</p>
<p>bubbas1633,</p>
<p>Any decision yet?</p>
<p>Here are a few points that might help with your decision. </p>
<p>First, what is it you really want to do? Make/produce/direct films? Script author? Run a studio? </p>
<p>If it is the former, if what you really want to do is to work on the creative side of film making, then attending USC’s film school has many advantages. It will prepare you for a career in film making in the best possibly way – learning technical skills, exposing you to the many aspects of – and opportunities in – the film industry from a privileged “insider” (and local) position, enveloping you in a rich and unique (albeit highly demanding) learning environment, and (not to be overlooked) connecting you with the strongest network of loyal alumni/a in the film industry.</p>
<p>If, on the other hand, you are more interested in running a studio (or in working in the business side of Hollywood, broadly defined), then Harvard might be a stronger choice. Despite its distance from Hollywood, the are many Harvard alumni working in the film industry, but (as a generalization) they tend to be more in business/finance/leadership areas, than in the creative areas (also, broadly defined). </p>
<p>You have not mentioned the importance of financial aid. Is this important to you/your family? If so, has Harvard offered you as much financial support as USC? If attending Harvard means taking out student loans, then think hard. Very hard. You will receive an incredible education at either school, but encumbering yourself/your family with student loans might weigh heavily on your future decisions and opportunities, and those of your siblings/parents. </p>
<p>“Credentials”: don’t be tempted to enroll at Harvard just because it is, well, Harvard. In the real world, character trumps credentials any day. Make you choice (either way) for the right reasons; “credentials” should be low on your list of priorities. </p>
<p>Finally, the decision is ultimately up to you. Most importantly, trust yourself and your heart to lead you in the right direction. And congratulations on your remarkable accomplishments.</p>
<p>harvard ugrad is not worth it in terms of faculty attention and also if you’re dead set on film production. Even a harvard ugrad and grad student told me this himself.</p>
<p>Or maybe you aspire to be the next darren aronofsky? Also take a look at what you will actually be studying-compare the modules between the university. Which can you see yourself studying? Forget about the name/prestige for now and think about that</p>