<p>Hi Bassetmom,</p>
<p>I spent the past year with my son and paid college counseling service going thru this process of searching for information and determining the best Film & TV Production Universities to attend. I personally went to UC Berkeley so I have no ties to USC, NYU & Chapman U these three (3) fine Universities that my son was considering. My son visited all three (3) of theses universities and started attending Dodge College at Chapman U this month.</p>
<p>Although Chapman U cost the same as USC ($55,000 per year including dorms & meal costs) Chapman U grants are so generous they beat out any other University by 3 times the amount what we received for the other 11 Universities that my son was accepted to. From my research & experience for example USC gives the average student only a few thousand dollars (if you are not in the top 15% of admittees where the bulk of the scholarship & grants money is given to) while Chapman gives the average student approx. $28,000 a year.</p>
<p>That is why many students whom were accepted at both USC & Chapman U end up going to Chapman. Would you rather pay $27,000/years in loans and cash at Chapman or $52,000/year at USC when you live on campus?</p>
<p>For example with the cost per year for Chapman at $55,000 minus the Chapman Grant for $15,000 minus the Deans Scholarship for $15,000 (assuming your child as a very good GPA not excellent) that leaves $25,000 you would need to pay. This price is a $3,000 more than going to a California State University and $4,000 less than going to a University of California campus.</p>
<p>I have determined this past year that it is very important for your child to live on campus during the first couple of years. I did not know this before. The bonding, lifelong connections and friends seem to be cemented in these first two years. Coming in as a Junior to any college is a mistake. At that point most are not living in campus housing but in private housing and it is hard to make lasting connections at that point.</p>
<p>I have never experienced a happier campus than Chapman. From what I have been able to determine you probably obtain a better undergraduate education at Chapman with the small class size and dedicated caring Professors at Chapman. Note all classes at Chapman are taught by professors; no TAs.</p>
<p>From my exploration and research Dodge College @Chapman University has the top most modern facilities that are actually used by the bulk of their undergraduate students, smaller student to teacher ratios and more hands on experience than USC or UCLA. USC is known as the greatest Film School in the world and there is a lot of networking available thru the alumni when getting work after graduation from USC. One may be better trained for work at Dodge College @Chapman University but USC has presently the greatest reputation. Dodge College admits 210 total Freshman each year (only 70 in the Film Production and only 30 in the TV Production/Broadcast Journalism). USCs program major of Cinematic Arts Critical Studies and they accept 75 Freshman each year to this program; the entire USC School of Cinematic Arts school accepts a total of 200 Freshman per year. Although there is a very wide possibility of classes at USC to choose from the program is less directed than Dodge College and relies on the student to choose their classes (@USC). The journalism classes one would take would be at the at USC Annenberg School of Journalism.</p>
<p>Read the following articles as well regarding Chapman U:</p>
<p>[Chapman</a> University Hires Four New Film Professors - Hollywood Reporter](<a href=“http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/risky-business/chapman-university-film-professors-365239]Chapman”>Chapman University Hires Four New Film Professors – The Hollywood Reporter)</p>
<p>[THR's</a> Top 25 Film Schools List Revealed Gallery - The Hollywood Reporter](<a href=“THR’s Top 25 Film Schools List Revealed – The Hollywood Reporter”>THR’s Top 25 Film Schools List Revealed – The Hollywood Reporter)</p>
<p>[Chapman</a>, UC Irvine high in U.S. News and World Report rankings | - News - The Orange County Register](<a href=“Chapman, UC Irvine high in U.S. News and World Report rankings – Orange County Register”>Chapman, UC Irvine high in U.S. News and World Report rankings – Orange County Register)</p>
<p>[Up</a> and Coming Schools | Top Regional Universities West | US News Best Colleges](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/regional-universities-west/up-and-coming]Up”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/regional-universities-west/up-and-coming)</p>
<p>[College</a> Rankings 2012: Most Beautiful Schools (Photos) - Newsweek and The Daily Beast](<a href=“http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/galleries/2012/08/05/college-rankings-2012-most-beautiful-schools-photos.html#slide24]College”>http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/galleries/2012/08/05/college-rankings-2012-most-beautiful-schools-photos.html#slide24)</p>