Typically, creative writing is not the same as screenwriting. Screenwriting will be offered by a school of film or school of communication; creative writing is usually a major in the English department and rarely, if ever, has anything to do with screenwriting for film or television.
A top program is Writing For Film and Television at USC. Also consider LMU, Chapman, and Northwestern.
At some film schools, screenwriting is offered in the MFA program.
Anyone in HR who works in the Media or Advertising industry is going to understand the nuances of different degrees relevant to those fields. And anyone in HR who works OUTSIDE film, tv, advertising etc. wonât care about the nuances- to them writing is writing. A distinction without a difference IMHO.
It is possible (and many have done it) to break into the film industry as a writer without a specific degree in the discipline. But the connections, ability to showcase work as an undergrad, adjunct faculty who are working professionals in film are going to be harder to develop in a generic creative writing program. And of course- the portfolio, internships etc wonât be specifically geared towards film.
Agree. S21 is at FSU. The Creative Writing major is in the Arts department, not the film school. The film school will be storytelling and screenwriting.
Not the same but OP needs to get a feel for what they prefer. That could change their major/school list drastically.
More of a reach than a match, but you may also want to take a look at Wesleyan in CT. They pioneered the liberal arts approach to film study and would be open to someone with an interest in writing in general as well as writing for the screen in particular. Plus, they are the only LAC that I am aware of with production facilities comparable to the southern California universities:
Agree that people in the know understand the differences. That said, if OPâs degree is film but applies for a writing or communication position at a large corporation there will be recruiters not in the know that will toss their application aside. Right or wrong.
OP just needs to do a little more research and understand the differences and nuances between film and creative writing.
Screenwriting for Film & Television is a very specialized area. Adaption of novels for the screen is done by experienced screenwriters.
For those with an undergraduate degree who want to matriculate into USCâs Screenwriting For Film & TV, they must start over as freshman.
Creative Writing is not the same as Screenwriting. There may be a course or two available similar to screenwriting, but writing scripts for film & TV is a very specialized area.
Adding Ithaca (BFA in film production, BFA in writing for film, television and Emerging media); Syracuse for BFA In Film, BS In television, Radio and Film; U Miami for Motion Pictures major with screenwriting or film concentrations.
While youâre studying film and creative writing, consider double majoring in something more marketable, this way you at least have a way to support yourself if dream #1 doesnât come to fruition.
In the past, USCâs program claimed to have 100% placement in the field as a writer for film and/or television. The program is intense and highly selective. Admits 30 freshmen per year.
Again, a screenwriting major is much different than creative writing. Will be offered in different schools within a university.
Also, check out FSUâs screenwriting major offered by the film school.
USCâs BFA in screenwriting:
https://catalogue.usc.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=8&poid=7347
Although USCâs BFA program is probably the best in the world for screenwriting, here is a list of 22 US schools which offer screenwriting:
https://sftv.lmu.edu/academics/undergraduateprograms/screenwriting/screenwritingcourses/
If your parents are willing to spend up to $100k per year, then any of the very numerous universities with your majors and automatic admission for your stats can be safety candidates.
Yeah, it does look as though the OPâs profile reflects that of someone highly focused on a career in the film industry. However, I would question whether itâs necessary for them to focus so narrowly on one type of writing as an entire major. A bachelor of arts and science degree (a B.A.) is going to entail a whole lot of writing, some of it creative, some of it focused on supporting an idea or hypothesis. Itâs all going to be rigorous. Writing a film script is really about learning the form and conforming to the conventions of the industry. IMO, you can pick that up outside the classroom.
Unfortunately this isnât always a possibility. At least at FSU and probably similar large public schools.
S21âs major is an impacted major. More applicants than seats. He was interested in a double/dual major. The problem was that the majors of interest were also impacted so he wouldâve had to find a non-impacted major. Heâll probably have 5 minors. Lol.
Also, most top film schools are intense. Youâre immersed in film 24/7. Itâs not always conducive to social activities or double majors.
Thatâs interesting. At Wesleyan, Iâm mentoring someone who is a Film and Afro-Am double major. At Wesleyan, film is considered the more âemployableâ major. 
Iâm not surprised. Any student at a top film school like Wesleyan is bringing something to the table. Some of these film schools have acceptance rates on-par with Ivyâs. Youâre also working with people on the cutting edge of technology.
Iâd also say as I see some of the âsafetiesâ written above - they are not safeties.
FSU is not a safety - admission yes. Film no. Not only do you need 4 supplements but 3 LORs.
So what are ââsafeâ spots for this student ?
I put and have seen some but I think many listed are not âsafe.â They could happen but the student needs those two assured.
OP really needs to do a deep dive into whether they want to apply to film schools or not. Especially top film schools. If OP decides creative writing is their passion it would change the entire application process including schools.
As for safeties itâs hard to tell. Itâs difficult to determine acceptance rates. Many schools donât break them down by program. Takes some digging and poking.
Maybe a school like Drexel would be a safety or Temple. Penn State and Pitt could work. Pittsburgh also has a decent film industry in-place. Location might be more important than the actual school. It seems like there was always something being filmed in Atlanta when we visited.
I would also add that Wesleyan is a private school. Probably much easier to accommodate a double major.
Congratulations on building your strong record in high school! Below are my GUESSES as to what your chances might be at some of the schools that have been mentioned so far. If a program of interest requires a portfolio or similar for acceptance, these guesses do NOT take that into account. Thus, if a school I categorized as Extremely Likely has a program that requires a portfolio for acceptance, it is NOT an extremely likely admit for that program.
I added a few schools like Columbia College Chicago, Marymount Manhattan, SUNY Purchase, and Emory. One thing to note about Emory (and any Atlanta-area schools) is that a lot of film production is going on in the area and studios being built there, etc. So even though it isnât the first place people think of in terms of film, there is definitely a film industry there.
Extremely Likely (80-99+%)
Columbia College Chicago (IL)
DePaul (IL)
Drexel (PA )
Ithaca (NY)
Marymount Manhattan (NY)
Savannah College of Art & Design (GA)
SUNY Purchase
Likely (60-79%)
Toss-Up (40-59%)
Emerson
Florida State
Loyola Marymount
Lower Probability (20-39%)
Low Probability (less than 20%)
Emory
NYU
U. of Southern California
Chapman (if Dodge is the desired intent)
Columbia
Boston U.
Wash U.
Northwestern
Stanford
All lot of you asked me whether my passion is in film or writing while I was gone. My biggest passion is in screenwriting, but if it comes to film and writing, Iâd say writing is my bigger passion; and yes, I am aware that my extracurriculars arenât focused on writing but more on scriptwriting and films.
All lot â a lot 
