For a really long time, it’s been my dream to write for TV. I know it’s a very competitive industry, but there you have it. I don’t want to graduate with too much debt, so realistically my options are going to be instate - the SUNYs or CUNYs, as I live in NY. I have a very good shot as pretty much all of them (90 or 91 average, 2300 SATs), so that’s not an issue.
Now, in terms of the best program it’s pretty obvious that it’s SUNY Purchase, or maybe Hunter - they’re the only ones with actual screenwriting programs. Problem is, I really want a campus-centric, small school experience, so the CUNYs don’t appeal to me too much. And I’m not that in love with Purchase, either - it might sound stupid, but the campus is just soooo amazingly ugly, and really close to home (about 20 mins away).
Not thinking about the programs they have, my top choice would definitely be Geneseo. But they don’t really have any screenwriting, film, etc, programs to speak of (a film minor, I think, but people I’ve talked to say it’s barely existent). Plus, they’re far away from NYC, where a lot of internships probably are. Then again, with how competitive screenwriting is, does the college you go to (outside of USC, Yale and the like) really make that big a difference?
TL;DR: is it dumb to go to a school weaker in my areas of interest because of other factors? Should I pick the school with the best programs for me, or the school that I really like?
Have you looked at Ithaca College? I know they have a pretty decent film school. NYU would probably be the best school for film/writing, but I understand your need for a campus…I currently go to a school for English/Creative Writing that’s directly in downtown Boston. I’m transferring out after this semester; I need a campus, as well.
Have you looked into some of the smaller liberal arts schools? Hamilton, Colgate, Sarah Lawrence, Vassar…all great schools for writing.
For writing, it doesn’t really matter where you go. It matters what you read, what you write, what you watch, what you think, etc. But a good school with a good program can foster all of that (but it doesn’t have to; it really all depends on you and what you do to achieve your goals). Plus, a school with a good program will usually have good connections and networking, something that can help you break into the industry. Although, you should still try to pick a place that, above all, you’re happy at. Most of what writing is is relaying your experience, after all. It’s gonna be about finding that balance…maybe it doesn’t have to be one or the other.
In general I’d pick the school you like and you can probably find ways to pick up what you need to know in terms of screenwriting (perhaps you can arrange to do a semester at SUNY Purchase or another schools to get some of those classes?)