<p>My son is about to finish an Associate’s degree program in Radio and TV Production. He’s very bright but will have a difficult time getting through the gen ed classes (particularly foreign language) required for a 4 year degree. He does well with hands on projects - the music video he just did looked like an actual music video - but I think he needs a lot more practice (and better instruction than is avaible at the cc) to be employable. </p>
<p>Are there reputable trade school/hands on programs in audio/radio/TV production? A google search takes me to the for-profit world and I am skeptical of them.</p>
<p>Ideas? </p>
<p>(Yes, I also posted on the college search forum.)</p>
<p>Not every college requires a FL and even those that do will often make an exception. Look at Robert Morris in Moon Township, PA. They have a wonderful program and I’m fairly confident that not having a FL will not hurt in admissions. I don’t think they have a requirement for graduation there either.</p>
<p>I don’t know if you’ve looked at Full Sail University. I know people who have attended there but I believe they had already received their bachelor’s and were looking specifically at the “hands on” training - or certificate programs. This was some time ago; I see numerous “ripoff reports” on the web, so as with anything, use your best judgment. Does the cc have any recommendations?</p>
<p>Try Columbia College Hollywood, but its also For Profit I think.</p>
<p>If he has decent grades in CC, look into Chapman Dodge Film college for transfer. Its top school and a BFA so there aren’t too many gen ed requirements. Check Net Price Calculator for costs because it can be expensive.</p>
<p>We’ve friends whose son attended Full Sail for music production, did very well, graduated, and is now an Apple Store salesperson. So much for career placement services. </p>
<p>Not knowing full circumstances, but what about DePauw with a confirmed language waiver negotiated during admissions process. It supposedly has a strong media program that encompasses TV, radio, newspaper, etc. We toured the studio facilities.</p>
<p>Columbia College is very similar I think to Full Sail: high tuition, high drop-out rate, slick marketing, and unconfirmed (unsubstantiated) career placement.</p>
<p>My son is also interested in radio/film/TV (mainly audio production and editing). This after spending 2 years OOS in a pre-med program (long story). He will be attending Cal State Monterey Bay in the Fall, working on a BA in Teledramatic Arts and Technology (TAT). You might want to look into it for your son. CSUMB has some unique programs, and seems very hands-on and not difficult to get into. They do have a language requirement, but my son has met that with 2 semesters of American Sign Language at the local CC. I’ve heard that CSUMB is good about working with various special situations. After he receives his BA (God willing-LOL), he is looking into a certificate program up at University of Washington in Seattle. They offer a certificate in audio production through their continuing education program (so no OOS fees). You might even be able to get your son into the program with an associates degree.</p>
<p>Consider the following schools:
California State University at Northridge (CSUN)
California State University at Long Beach (CSULB. this is where Steven Spielberg got his degree after being rejected from USC)
California State University at Los Angeles (CSULA)</p>
<p>These have good programs (4 year bachelors) in Film/TV projection.</p>
<p>These CSU schools are part of the public college system in CA, but are focused on the middle-tier type of kids rather than the upper tier type of kids in the UC system.</p>
<p>UCLA offers these types of programs for TV production and writing. Non-degree I believe. My D took one course ad-hoc, not interested in the certificate at this time.</p>
<p>“California State University at Long Beach (CSULB. this is where Steven Spielberg got his degree after being rejected from USC)”
He did not really study film at CSULB…he did study and get several credit towards a BA, but dropped out and much later in 2001 submitted his films at “outside” projects so he could graduate,. To make his dad happy. He spoke at commencement years later:</p>
<p>“I wanted to accomplish this for many years as a ‘thank you’ to my parents for giving me the opportunity for an education and a career, and as a personal note for my own family-and young people everywhere-about the importance of achieving their college education goals,” Spielberg said. “But I hope they get there quicker than I did. Completing the requirements for my degree thirty-three years after finishing my principal education marks my longest ‘post production schedule.’ Now I can eagerly look forward to joining the graduates at this year’s Commencement ceremonies.”</p>
<p>But he really did not “learn his craft” there.</p>
<p>Sounds like the OP might not be a CA resident… The Cal State programs are impacted for residents, so it might be pretty difficult for an OOS to get in. But if you’re looking in CA, what about Expressions college? It’s more like a trade school, in the Bay Area down the street from Pixar.</p>
<p>For CSUs doesn’t an OOS kid pay OOS tuition? I figured, but hadn’t confirmed, that the CSUs, like the UCs recently, are trying to increase their OOS enrollment in order to improve their financial situations.</p>
<p>Exactly. I didn’t want to stifle the many great suggestions and I realize that I didn’t specify the region, but it’s not really practical for us to consider California. (For the cost of OOS tuition at some of the schools, I could pretty much buy the equipment for our own studio and hire a private tutor for him.)</p>
<p>CSUMB participates in the Western Undergraduate Exchange, which gives in-state tuition x 1.5 to students from western states other than CA… Which only helps if you live west of the Mississippi, but I thought I’d throw it out there.</p>
<p>My cousin graduated from William and Mary with honors and is working at Lowes. Should I assume that W&M career placement services are terrible?</p>
<p>I don’t know anything about Full Sail except that a friend of my son’s attended for Game Art and now works as an artist for a video game company.</p>
<p>I am not at all familiar with the radio/tv production indsutry so really cannot offer a lot of help, but what ARE the education/degree requirements for the specific jobs your S would be looking at doing after he is done with school? (production assistant? is that generally the entry level position for this area?) Does he even need a four yr degree or some other sort of certification beyond the AA degree he is working on? Also has he done any internships or volunteer work yet with local tv/radio stations, film production companies, etc.? If not, this might be what he should be focusing on now, rather than pursuing a second degree - which could also come later if needed. </p>
<p>One thought I had was to contact trade groups or organizations in the industry to see if they can offer any guidance on either college programs or internship or other entry level work opportuniities that could provide him with the experience he needs. A few organizations I came across from googling are the Texas Film Commission and the Dallas Film Commission, both of which have information on their sites about internships. Another way to gain more knowledge/training might also be through workshops and seminars. But I think the bottom line is that at this point your S should be dolng anything he can to get more experience and not JUST focusing on getting a piece of paper. </p>