<p>One of my friends was accepted to both the USC and NYU film programs. Finances aside, does anyone have an opinion on this? How successful have film students from USC been once they've graduated?</p>
<p>(By the way, yes, I have tried to search this, but I've mostly found answers that are revolved around how much each school costs)</p>
<p>“How successful have film students from USC been once they’ve graduated?”</p>
<p>USC’s film school is famous because it produces more successful alumni than any other university:</p>
<p>Since 1973, at least one alumnus of SCA has been nominated for an Academy Award annually, totaling 256 nominations and 78 wins.
Since 1973, at least one SCA alumnus or alumna has been nominated for the Emmy Award annually, totalling 473 nominations and 119 wins.
The top 17 grossing films of all time have had an SCA graduate in a key creative position.</p>
<p>Many of Hollywood’s most powerful agents, producers, and studio executives are also USC grads.</p>
<p>If your friend hasn’t already seen this info, direct him/her here: [Why</a> Choose USC Cinema? - USC School of Cinematic Arts](<a href=“http://cinema.usc.edu/admissions/why.cfm]Why”>USC Cinematic Arts | Why Choose SCA?)</p>
<p>The entire SCA website is continually updated and if they haven’t looked at it in a while, they should.</p>
<p>Start here [Programs</a> & Admissions - USC School of Cinematic Arts](<a href=“http://cinema.usc.edu/admissions/index.cfm]Programs”>USC Cinematic Arts | School Overview) and surf around.</p>
<p>USC also has more endowed professorships than any other cinema school in the world, and the faculty here is AMAZING. One of my professors is an expert in Post-War film and knew Stanley Donen and many other important figures of the era firsthand.</p>
<p>I had to make the same decision as your friend, and I’m SO glad I made the right one.</p>
<p>This is a no-brainer. USC is head-and-shoulders above any other film school. Plus, you want to live where you will work and the work is in LA. Professor Casper is an absolute legend …he knew Alfred Hitchcock and, I think, is the first person authorized to teach a Hitchcock class.</p>
<p>SC as a whole is ranked higher than NYU. The admit rate is lower and scores are higher. An interesting fact I discovered about NYU is the male female ratio. It is roughly 60/40 female. The faculty student ratio at SC is lower. USC alumni donate to their alma mater at one of the highest rates in the nation.</p>
<p>The SCA facilites are stellar and state of the art. The complex cost over $100 million and sound stages, lighting, computers, etc. are the best available. Often overlooked is the premier SCArts library. It holds the largest studio collections and huge number of archived films. The entire Warner Bros. collection is there along with the David Wolper archives and Dimitri Tiomkin’s collection. </p>
<p>Another bonus at SC is the interaction with the excellent Thornton School of Music and the USC School of Theatre.</p>
<p>Not only are there famous alumni, but also they return to SC to mentor, lecture, interview and offer internships. It is not uncommon to find film crews on campus.</p>
<p>I suggest your friend take time to really look through the SCA website carefully. Note who is producing films from big studio to documentaries. If he can visit and tour the complex I think it would be helpful in his decision.</p>