Choosing Film School Programs

Your guide to selecting film school programs.

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How to Decide Between Film School Programs

While only a handful of film school programs get the majority of the rave reviews and attention in the film industry, there are actually many good schools out there offering film degrees. So if attending the crème de la crème of film school programs isn't possible, it doesn't have to be the end of your dream. Just because you might not attend Martin Scorsese's alma mater doesn't mean you couldn't be the next big name in film.

Defining Your Goals for Undergraduate Film School

One of the first steps to finding the undergraduate film school program that fits you best is figuring out your priorities. Are you looking for a school where you'll be in small classes receiving lots of personal attention? Or is there a particular specialty program that interests you? Answering questions like these will help you narrow your undergraduate film school choices so that you'll get the education you want.

Making the most of your time in an undergraduate film school will give you the right foundation for your career—or for a master's program if you wish to pursue more education in the future.While many students start their careers after graduating from an undergraduate film school program, going on to complete a master's degree may be right for you if you want to continue building your filmmaking and story-telling skills. If you want to teach film, going beyond your undergraduate film school training to get a higher level degree will put you on the right path.

Film School Programs: Deciding Factors

Film school programs come in many different shapes and sizes. Your experience will vary depending on whether you choose a traditional bachelor's or master's program or an immersion program. Know your goals and what you hope to get from a film school program. When considering different film schools, you should ask the following questions:

How long is the program?
Do you want to enter the industry as quickly as possible, or do you want a liberal arts education in addition to film career training? There are plenty of film school programs to fit either requirement.
What is the school's reputation?
Even if you don't attend a highly-acclaimed, star-studded film school program, you'll want to make sure that the school you choose is respected and established. A major benefit of attending film school is the industry connections you can make. You'll want to attend a school where you'll make quality contacts. Checking out a school's accreditation status can also be a way to ensure that your education will meet high industry standards.
Who are the faculty?
Have the professors worked in the industry? Do they have practical experience and advice they can pass on to you? Knowing who your teachers will be can help you make a good decision about which film school program is right for you.

Is a Film Immersion Program for You?

In a year or less, you could complete an immersion program in filmmaking. This shortened time frame is certainly one of the most obvious perks of an immersion program. You will get a broader range of hands-on experience faster than you would in traditional film school programs. However, film school will pretty much be your life. With classes taking up roughly 30 hours in any given week (this may vary from school to school), and assignments to complete outside of class time, holding a job outside of school would be difficult or even impossible.