#Final list, want advice on pros/cons of the wide range of schools.

57 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

molten marlin
#

Location/Region: Cant rlly decide, i've got a range here. Help in this area is great! No super rural though. I love the idea of being in a city, but im not sure if I would want a campus. I cant narrow down how the diffrences in the experience would effect me. Upstate ny/ going north sounds fun, I like the snow. This isn't a dealbreaker. There is also an undeniable pro for film of being in the city.

Major: Film (Bfa most places)

GPA/Test Scores: 4.794 weighted on a 4 scale, 3.977 unweighted, 33 act, 12 act writing

Curriculum: I want to be able to take high quality liberal arts courses on top of the film program. Most of the places I have selected FROM WHAT I KNOW have very good and comparable film programs. Technical theater production stuff is a plus, if its a minor, or even club activity. Id even consider doing a dual major at a place like Syracuse. But again, im not sure how much work I will have - so up in the air.

Size: NO CLUE, as you can see from list, got a huge range... I like the idea of having lots of people at a school like NYU or Syracuse, but maybe I would enjoy a tight knit community at a Wesleyan or Ithaca... Conflicted here.

Costs: I could do 40-50 net. Any more would be a real strain. I would live on campus, dorm, etc. Food is fairly important, having range of meals, good food, etc. Kitchen would be nice but idk if I could afford that. As long as im well fed, ill be happy.

Schools You're Currently Looking At:

No particular order:

American University
Boston University
DePaul
Drexel
Emerson
Ithaca
NYU
Rochester Institute of Technology
Syracuse
The New School
Wesleyan

frigid flame
#

four people in my family went to drexel so i might be able to speak to that a bit, i also live quite close to it

molten marlin
#

I dont plan on staying in the philly area, or even PA for that matter, but its good to have in state options. I may apply to Pitt as well cause its rolling and real easy.

frigid flame
#

its definitely the school of tough love-- youve probably been to philly, though the area has gotten nicer over the years, but its not really known for its social scene or community i'd say 😭 the food is p good though they have some great food trucks

#

theyre not doing too hot financially i believe which is why they waived the app fee for pa applicants to encourage more people to apply i believe

molten marlin
#

I was wondering about that. Yeah Ive spent some time in the area, but not the campus itself. I am also not sure how it stacks up circulum wise to some of those other options. It also seems pretty damn pricy for what you get (granted, im not sure what that totally is)

frigid flame
#

im not sure about film specifically at drexel though in terms of having a tight knit community

frigid flame
#

last time i was there they had a park connecting the two i think which was pretty cool

#

im not sure it would be worth the cost though

molten marlin
#

When I speak of community, its more wanting a place where people are willing to DO stuff and not just cruise by on school stuff. I want to take the time to be working on projects with ppl, etc. Thats where the value of a smaller school may come into play, although its a gamble either way.

frigid flame
#

ah yeah i see what you mean

molten marlin
frigid flame
#

in terms of pa schools though i would agree that pitt could be a good option, they tend to give a lot of merit but im not sure about their film program

molten marlin
#

I know its decent.

frigid flame
#

yeah it pretty much is one of the nicest places LMAO

molten marlin
#

at pitt*

#

in state options would be my backups.

#

if I cant make it out of state

frigid flame
#

also i dont know if the english program at wesleyan is similar or related at all to the film program but i know my friend is having a great time there

molten marlin
#

oh thats awesome

#

I literally don't know anyone who has gone in recent years

#

Do you know anything specific that makes her like it?

#

I dont know much about that small liberal arts school feel

#

my parents both went to schools slightly bigger than that

#

as well as significantly bigger lol

frigid flame
#

from what she's said it seems like the students are passionate and friendly and the classes are really interesting, she hasn't mentioned many cons of it being small but she's also the type of person that likes to know everyone in her classes

#

idk how big your high school is but maybe you could use that as a frame of reference for how big youd like your school to be?

molten marlin
#

I love my smaller HS classes, but I like the idea of being in a place with a lot going on. thats where my conflict comes from

#

for example, my AP classes with a small group of people are my favorite classes. But the idea of going to a college with all these people doing all this stuff seems like a ton of fun. But that could also be a double edged sword

#

will I be bored at a small school, or super distracted at a big one?

#

no clue!

frigid flame
#

wesleyan is one of the bigger liberal arts colleges so its probably got more happening than swarthmore or something i'd say

molten marlin
#

I feel like it can be significant when were talking about film, because a good film experience would require others to be engaged and motivated. At a big school there may be more people that would fit that mold, but at a small school it may be better to get connected with a small group

#

I just don't know

molten marlin
#

not physically

#

like its a big deal

frigid flame
#

ahaha thats great

frigid flame
molten marlin
#

exactly!

frigid flame
#

you can have a tight-knit group within a larger school

#

hopefully you can get into your schools and find an epic place 🤞

molten marlin
#

I mean to be real I don't need to figure this out cause my acceptances my decide for me lol

frigid flame
#

right

molten marlin
#

I wish there were more big reach options for film around here

#

lol

#

I dont want to go to the west coast

frigid flame
#

totally valid

molten marlin
frigid flame
#

unfortunately she is not, sorry 😔

molten marlin
#

especially considering the destruction of Uarst I wonder if art in philly is just too risky of a move

frigid flame
#

omg good point i completely forgot about that

#

but yeah best of luck from a pa kid to another 🙏