<p>USC school of cinematic arts vs. Harvard </p>
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<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>also, my older brother is currently enrolled in the USC School of Cinematic Arts, so people keep telling me that if we want to go into the filmmaking business together after college it would be best to make connections by going to Harvard and pairing them with those that my brother makes. Ideas? Advice? Personal experience, anyone?</p>
<p>My son was in a similar dilemma and chose Stanford over USC. He decided that since film studies as opposed to production was his main interest, that he could find a comparable program at an elite school. The internship opportunities look amazing at Stanford as would be the case at Harvard. Although he did not have a full ride at USC. If money is an issue, I don’t know how you turn that down.
But check out Harvardwood and the film studies program websites at Harvard, both look awesome.</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>