What are some of best schools that provide good film majors? (not only based on coursework but career opportunities as well) Aside from USC/NYU/RISD/SCAD, I’ve also heard that Chapman is good, as well as non-film schools like UCLA and Yale. My ideal is a college that has liberal arts education and offers a fulfilling film program.
I suggest VCUARTS but know its very very competitive . I think they accept only 20 students into film major.
Some of those schools are scary expensive and with little/no aid.
How much will your parents pay each year?
What are your stats? What is your home state?
Since you are looking for a balance between liberal arts and fine arts (i.e., film), and since the schools you mention, both on the LA and FA sides are pretty elite, I think you have to refine your search a bit more.
First, while both elite fine arts schools, neither RISD nor SCAD purport to be competitive on the purely academic front with schools such as Yale or UCLA. RISD, as does Pratt for instance, touts itself as an “academic art school” where your academic stats will mean more to admissions and where you will be challenged, at least somewhat, academically. But even these schools are not at the level of the other mainstream academic schools you cite.
Second, I think you are correct, particularly in an area as competitive as the film industry, to target schools that will give you concrete career opportunities. To this end, focusing on schools in NYC, Los Angeles, and in other major cities is probably a good bet. While the reputation of a super-elite dedicated art school such as RISD may compensate a bit for potentially less exposure in Providence, my experience as someone with more than 30 years in the entertainment business is that NYC and LA are your best bets.
Third, a school such as VCU is a totally gratuitous non-sequitur. In addition to it’s lack of recognition as a “film” school, its general undergrad (the academic dimension you seek) is subpar, particularly when compared to the mainstream colleges you mentioned. There is also no comparison in the opportunities in film presented by a tertiary city such as Richmond, versus entertainment-central cities such as NY, LA, and other cities more known for a substantial film industry presence.
Finally, no one can speak to your pocketbook. You know what you can afford, however you get there. I would not limit yourself based on the reputation of any school to be stingy with scholarships or aid. You never know and it will cost you only an application fee and some time to find out. If NY or LA are not for you, don’t be discouraged by smaller markets that may provide unique opportunities. Assuming your talent, a lot of hard work can go a long way. Also, an elite school in a smaller market can also propel you. However, keep in mind that you are targeting a very niche, competitive field. Removing yourself from top markets and/or targeting non-elite schools can make a tough climb much steeper.
Good luck!
•U.S. News & World Report ranked VCU School of the Arts 4th among public programs for photography and film
Would be interested in a link, or even a citation, to this ranking list. Do you really believe, that VCU Arts/VCU is the appropriate suggestion to an OP looking for an elite film school, combined with an elite academic program, and with substantial prospects post-graduation in the film industry?
I have no idea personally and live within walking distance of risd. And it is where I would wholeheartedly suggest you look. But I checked and believe it or not VCU is ranked number two tied with UCLA for bfa and Mfa one behind Yale. Ahead of risd. Color me shocked.
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/articles/fine-arts-schools-methodology
For pure film schools this is from Hollywood Reporter. Many of names you would expect. No VCU on this list.
@privatebanker - Stones has beaten that 2016 ranking to death. If you look more closely at the break down of component rankings you’ll see some of the inherent inaccuracies in the system. This is probably the reason there has been no follow up to this particular list. As noted in earlier posts responding to this kind of unfiltered shilling, first, these rankings are solely for graduate schools. Second, they are based on a cumulative scoring from about 10 subcategories. Notably missing from these subcategories are ID, Animation (there is a film/media sub), and Architecture. Can you imagine how those rankings would swivel if ID and Architecture were counted in the RISD column? In any case, the only discipline in which VCU clearly excels is Sculpture. It is unranked (literally not even on the list) in nearly half of the subcategories, and in the bottom half of the remainder. Yes, it’s tied for 3rd in Glass, but there are only 4 schools ranked…
Makes sense. Probably a good option for someone without the resources or obvious talent these other schools require.
I know a twenty-something film graduate of VCU and while there, he certainly learned skills that he now uses on set. But that can be said for any film student from any film school. What mattered most was working on sets and gaining experience in the working world after graduation. Where is he located now…North Jersey, a stones throw from Manhattan.
If a student attends a school near NYC or LA, they will undoubtedly be able to find quality work more readily than someone in Richmond or any other smallish city in America.
Rankings are not important (and especially spurious ones such as the MFA graduate programs) but exposure to the industry is vital. If it were my child, I’d have them look solely at schools based on that factor.
•U.S. News & World Report ranked VCU School of the Arts 4th among public programs for photography and film
obviously please research as there is one lady poster here that revels in misinformation.
VCUARTS #1 over public art school #2 nationally OVERALL
sculpture #1 #1
Graphic Design #1 #7
glass #3 #2
painting #2 #7
ceramics #6 #7
Do your own research, please feel free to pm me should you have questions about VCUARTS
VCUarts Graduate Program
Ranking Among All U.S. Programs (Public and Private)
Ranking Among U.S. Public Programs
Overall #2 #1
Sculpture #1 #1
Graphic Design #7 #1
Glass #3 #2
Painting #7 #2
Ceramics #9 #6
Printmaking #10 #7
The rankings come from U.S. News & World Report’s evaluation of graduate school programs, 2017.
Veehee I don’t disagree with you , however I can attest that in our D case being in such a prestigious program it is well known throughout the country and especially the industry. She has had literally no end of internship opportunities and more. I will preface this with the fact that she is very proactive and has used her time at VCUARTS truly to her advantage. A less proactive student might not have the same result.
Agree with the posters that location matters a LOT for film studies majors. Networking is huge in the business, so getting those internships in the cities where the industry is is important. My D is an acting major and we toured Chapman Film Studies, the facilities are top notch. All good film schools are very hard to get in.
The problem (again), is that the OP is inquiring about film and TV opportunities, the best schools, together with the best location to provide substantial career opportunities, in addition to a superior education. The OP also wants an excellent academic college, above and beyond the media opportunities he/she seeks. To this end VCU falls short, and the experiences, however excellent and attesting to the proactivity of the student involved, are irrelevant. This is because VCU is a very low-ranked academic college, far below the schools mentioned by the OP, including NYU and UCLA. The VCU student in question is a Graphics Design major, having nothing to my knowledge to do with film and TV production. Stick to NYU and UCLA and other top film & TV schools in major entertainment industry metro areas, and leave sculpture and glass works to VCU.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful advise! I will keep it in mind when I apply.
as previously stated and now in fact proven again, there is one obtuse lady poster that time and time again simply provides misinformation regarding VCUARTS as US. News & World Report ranked VCU School of the Arts 4th among public programs for photography and film , it is deserving of consideration entirely.
The only place I have seen the ranking you cite is on the VCUarts website. To my knowledge, USNWR does not rank undergraduate fine arts programs. Would love to see a direct link to USNWR showing the ranking you cite. Regardless, you continue to gloss over one of the OP’s primary criterion:
“What are some of best schools that provide good film majors? (not only based on coursework but career opportunities as well) Aside from USC/NYU/RISD/SCAD, I’ve also heard that Chapman is good, as well as non-film schools like UCLA and Yale. My ideal is a college that has liberal arts education and offers a fulfilling film program.”
The OP is not just looking for a top film program. He/she is looking for a top liberal arts program. If the OP is indeed seriously considering schools such as NYU, UCLA, and Yale, then VCU, ranked 171 out of some 300 or so schools, is not even close to being competitive for the OP.
Even if (and it’s a big “if”), VCUarts has the film & photography program you claim (not that you have any firsthand knowledge of this), you also gloss over all that has been posted in this thread about opportunities in a very, very tight industry; most of which come from contacts in large metro areas with a sophisticated industry presence. Unlike you, I am actually in the entertainment industry. To forego opportunities in NY, SF, LA, et. al., just adds to the difficulty in breaking into a very tough field.
as previously stated and now in fact proven again, there is one obtuse lady poster that time and time again simply provides misinformation regarding VCUARTS as US. News & World Report ranked VCU School of the Arts 4th among public programs for photography and film , it is deserving of consideration entirely.
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