Do Rankings for Film School Programs Matter?

What should you be looking for in film school programs?

Film School Home | Film Job Snapshots | Find Film Schools

Should Rankings Affect Your Choice of Film School Programs?

Like many other prospective film school students, you've probably spent time visiting various film school programs' web sites, contemplating that the pros and cons of each and debating which would be better for you. You've likely also spent more than a little time wondering whether or not rankings for film school programs matter. And like so many others in the same situation, you probably already know the answer to this question, which is—big surprise here—"yes and no."

Sure, graduating from one of the top-ranked film school programs, such as the ones at NYU, USC or UCLA, gives you some instant credibility in the film industry. However, if these programs aren't a good fit for your personality, filmmaking style and overall career goals, the chances that you'll stay enrolled long enough to graduate from one of these top-ranked film school programs become extremely slim.

It's also worth considering that many lesser-ranked schools may have top programs in individual disciplines, even though, for whatever reason, they haven't attained a top national ranking for their film school program as a whole. Then there's the fact that many schools have a strong reputation regionally, despite their lack of national acclaim. If you're looking to work outside of New York or Los Angeles, you may actually be better off choosing a school in the area where you'd like to launch your career.

What to Look for in Film School Programs

Whether you're looking at top-ranked films schools or not, here are some things you should factor into your decision about which program to attend:

• Faculty – When you're evaluating film school programs, be sure to look at the professors. Almost nothing outside of your own raw talent matters as much as who will be teaching your classes. Do you love (or at least like) your potential instructors' work? Do their interests seem to align with yours? Are they well regarded in their field? The answers to these questions are a good gauge of your likely success at a given school.
• Strength in your specialty – This goes hand in hand with taking a close look at a school's faculty. Whether or not a particular film school has strong national reputation matters less than how good they are at training students in your particular area of interest.
• Location – California and New York are media epicenters, which can be helpful when it comes to finding relevant internships and making industry contacts. For other locations, investigate the local opportunities. Is there a strong local TV and film industry? If so, does your school appear to have strong ties to it?
• Access to equipment – Pay close attention to what types of equipment the school has on hand and how much time you're likely to get with the equipment you need. Some schools have lots of equipment and allow students almost unlimited access to it, while at other schools you may be forced to work in teams due to lack of equipment.
• Financial aid – Lesser-ranked schools may offer more grants (money that you don't have to pay back) in order to increase their enrollment rate.

Choose the Right Film School Program for You

Your film school search should be about finding the program that will help you shape your unique talent to the best of your abilities. If you find this in a nationally ranked film school program, so much the better. If not, don't sweat it. In the end, your abilities as a filmmaker, developed by the right film school program for you, will matter a lot more than a line on your résumé.

Film School Home | Film Job Snapshots | Find Film Schools