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what are the best film schools in california? I know of USC which is top but also very expensive but also a lot of uc's have film programs but im not sure which is aimed towards actual movie production. Better yet which school prepares you the most for industry jobs? Thanks

By Thedad (Thedad) on Thursday, September 25, 2003 - 09:51 pm: Edit

USC *is* best. UCLA is pretty good. UCSB's is oriented more towards avante-garde & bizarre film criticism.

By Andrey1225 (Andrey1225) on Thursday, September 25, 2003 - 10:07 pm: Edit

I dont know your stats, but Chapman (in orange) has one of the best film schools in california.

By Clipse (Clipse) on Thursday, September 25, 2003 - 10:34 pm: Edit

chapman is too much money for my blood and usc is expensive and hard to get into. I have a 3.4 with 1210 sat.

By Andrey1225 (Andrey1225) on Thursday, September 25, 2003 - 10:53 pm: Edit

you could probably get some decent merit money from chapman, more than you'd be able to get at USC

By Tsdad (Tsdad) on Friday, September 26, 2003 - 08:23 am: Edit

CSU-Northridge. Northridge has a new building, but you have to supply a portofolio of your work as part of the admission process. San Diego State, but it's an "impacted" program and bard to get into. Los Angeles CC has a good two year program.

UCLA's program is small and doesn't start until your third year. USC is expensive as noted but very large so it may be easier to get into than UCLA's. In some, but not all of USC's programs, you can apply as a first or second semester freshman and a first or second semester sophmore. Some only allow you to apply once a year.

You'll need to get your SATs up if you want to get into UCLA or USC.

By Carolyn (Carolyn) on Friday, September 26, 2003 - 11:06 am: Edit

Loyola Marymount has an excellent film program and provides decent financial aid packages. Chapman is also quite generous with financial aid so don't rule it out right off the bat - I know someone with very similar stats to yours who received a very nice merit package offer from them last year. The California Institute of the Arts is also very good for film.

As for state schools, in addition to UCLA, look at UC Riverside, Irvine, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, San Francisco State, SDSU, cal state Long Beach, cal state monterey. I believe that cal state chico may also have a film program but I'm not sure.