Just finished my GRE and did pretty well. Going to try for about eight programs, I think, hopefully somebody will decide I am worth a scholarship. My focus will be in narrative and documentary filmmaking with a digital twist. Been researching schools through the book "Film School Confidential" which has been a great preliminary resource. Finished my GRE with a 1350 composite, have a decent GPA (3.2-3.3) from the University of Georgia and bachelors degrees in both print journalism and film. Plus, I'm semi-fluent in Spanish. My portfolio, however, could use a little work.
Here's my current list with reasons and drawbacks to the side. I plan on cutting the list down to 8 by the end:
University of Georgia: low cost, in my state. Unfortunately, the program is very very new so I'm not sure of the quality of the program itself and I'd really like to move out of the Southeast.
American University: There's a spring entrance date, I like DC well enough, marijuana laws are getting better there and great internships would be available. Downside is the fairly high cost and the lack of any personal connections out there.
Florida State University: You can still apply to some Florida state colleges for in-state tuition if you live in neighboring locales like GA, I have some friends in the FL area so I can set myself up somewhat, killer television internships. Still in the south, unfortunately, very rigidly Hollywood style system (no documentary work, for example), and in-state tuition is not a guarantee.
Montana State University - Amazing documentary program, incredible landscape, out of the south, great internships, not too terribly expensive. There is a bit too much of a natural focus, however, whereas I am interested more in the human condition. Very difficult to get into unless you fit right into their idea of a documentarian.
NYU: 'nuff said.
San Francisco State University: Fairly affordable, allows in-state after a couple years residency, located in CA without being in LA, have some family in the area, great variety of focus /areas of study, some good internships. Cost of living is extremely high, apparently the facilities are pretty disappointing.
Stanford University: Documentary focus, located in CA, great internships, great facilities. Expensive, early deadline (not a big deal, I'll just wait til next year), a little too rushed but that might be good for me, EXPENSIVE.
Temple University: Okay price, a variety of really good grants, great facilities for documentary filmmaking, not in the south. Not sure on internships, grants not guaranteed, where the hell is PA and what do people do there?
UCLA: 'nuff said.
University of New Orleans: Great opportunities for documentary filmmaking, growing infrastructure, fairly affordable, cool locale. I might not really fit in in New Orleans, the facilities are questionable after Katrina, not many scholarships/grants.
University of Texas at Austin: Decent price, awesome community, growing film community, documentary focus. Texas might not be my favorite place to live, marijuana laws, might be a little late in joining the Texas arts community.
Anyway, that's about all my choices right now. I'd like to find a good possibility in BC/Vancouver as the film industry has been growing in Canada for years so let me know if there's a decent program someone can suggest there. Starting on applications this month!
Here's my current list with reasons and drawbacks to the side. I plan on cutting the list down to 8 by the end:
University of Georgia: low cost, in my state. Unfortunately, the program is very very new so I'm not sure of the quality of the program itself and I'd really like to move out of the Southeast.
American University: There's a spring entrance date, I like DC well enough, marijuana laws are getting better there and great internships would be available. Downside is the fairly high cost and the lack of any personal connections out there.
Florida State University: You can still apply to some Florida state colleges for in-state tuition if you live in neighboring locales like GA, I have some friends in the FL area so I can set myself up somewhat, killer television internships. Still in the south, unfortunately, very rigidly Hollywood style system (no documentary work, for example), and in-state tuition is not a guarantee.
Montana State University - Amazing documentary program, incredible landscape, out of the south, great internships, not too terribly expensive. There is a bit too much of a natural focus, however, whereas I am interested more in the human condition. Very difficult to get into unless you fit right into their idea of a documentarian.
NYU: 'nuff said.
San Francisco State University: Fairly affordable, allows in-state after a couple years residency, located in CA without being in LA, have some family in the area, great variety of focus /areas of study, some good internships. Cost of living is extremely high, apparently the facilities are pretty disappointing.
Stanford University: Documentary focus, located in CA, great internships, great facilities. Expensive, early deadline (not a big deal, I'll just wait til next year), a little too rushed but that might be good for me, EXPENSIVE.
Temple University: Okay price, a variety of really good grants, great facilities for documentary filmmaking, not in the south. Not sure on internships, grants not guaranteed, where the hell is PA and what do people do there?
UCLA: 'nuff said.
University of New Orleans: Great opportunities for documentary filmmaking, growing infrastructure, fairly affordable, cool locale. I might not really fit in in New Orleans, the facilities are questionable after Katrina, not many scholarships/grants.
University of Texas at Austin: Decent price, awesome community, growing film community, documentary focus. Texas might not be my favorite place to live, marijuana laws, might be a little late in joining the Texas arts community.
Anyway, that's about all my choices right now. I'd like to find a good possibility in BC/Vancouver as the film industry has been growing in Canada for years so let me know if there's a decent program someone can suggest there. Starting on applications this month!