Hi,

I'm a junior in high school in Ohio, and I'm interested in going to college for something film-related. I graduate in 2010, so I would be starting college in fall 2010.

I'm looking for a college that has a good record for film and academics.

Right now, I have a 3.37 GPA, a 31 on the ACT, and a 1270 (Math + CR, 1970 with Writing) on the SAT.

So far, I've been looking at NYU, Ohio University, Columbia University (New York, not Chicago), UCLA, and USC.

Cost is a major issue in what college I wind up going to. I don't come from a very well-off family, and the only way I can afford to go to college is with a full-ride scholarship.

OU is currently at the top of my list, since it is in my hometown, and my dad is employed by them, so I get free tuition.

Any advice on where to go, first putting financial aid aside, and then considering the cost of college?

Thanks for any help!
Isaac

Not meaning to sound like a jerk, but with those scores and GPA you're going to have trouble getting into UCLA, USC, NYU, and Columbia. I haven't heard back from USC yet, but I got my ass rejected by UCLA (2140 SATs, 1440 w/out writing, 3.5 GPA unweighted, weighted 4). I got into NYU, though, but that's a VERY competitive program.

I've just applied to a bunch of schools, and some top undergraduate programs I know of, from what I understand, are those you listed along with: University of Texas at Austin, University of Miami, Arizona State University, and California State at Northridge.

But if you're gunning for a free ride from any of those schools, GOOD LUCK! I really, REALLY doubt it's going to happen. If you limit the colleges you attend on just whichever one is free, that's going to cut down the list reallllllllll fast.

You don't sound like a jerk at all. I'm aware that my grades aren't so great. I plan on taking the ACT and SAT again (the SAT score was on my first shot, and I know that I can do better). My weighted is somewhere around a 4.5, I think. It could be higher.

The thing about a full ride that I'm really hoping for is that my family income is less than $60k/yr, and I have heard from my guidance counselor about "Geographic Affirmative Action." Since I'm a "hillbilly," I'm hoping that will help some.

What that low-income thing means for a school like Columbia (I'd have trouble getting in there in my dreams) is that if I did get accepted, they would pay for tuition and room and board. That of course assumes that I would get accepted, which is unlikely.

What is your opinion about the programs at OU? People around here seem to think they're pretty good, and I am 99% certain I would be accepted if I applied.

You should try NCSA, they base you more off your interview than your grades. PLus they give you a real film production education. Non of the Film Theory BS. Plus it isnt terribly expensive for out of state.

I'm from Ohio (what what, Cleveland State) and I attend USC for my MFA.

Apply wherever you want to go. Keep working on films and other creative works. Get the grades up, but I think your time's better spent focusing on art than on getting an A in Government so your GPA spikes...don't make yourself crazy.

So, the only reason I know about OU's film program is because my editing prof here at USC taught a seminar series there last year...or was it the year before...and recommended it highly. He seemed surprised I'd never heard of it.

Not a bad safety school to have, and it's free.


Also, FSU is cheaper than Columbia/USC, etc.

Regarding the full ride: now, I started my undergrad well before 2010, but things were a lot cheaper then. I'm an orphan/ward of court which entitled me to max Pell and SEOG, not to mention OIG grant awards, from the fed and state pools. With both academic and athletic merit scholarships as well a few need-based awards from CSU, I still came quite short of a full ride...and CSU used to be hella cheap. My grades and test scores weren't amazing, maybe a bit "better" than yours...my GPA was not quite a 3.5, if I remember correctly...a long time ago, this was...and I got a 32 on my ACT, and a 1340 on my SAT...they were out of 1600 then.

Don't give up...and there is nothing wrong with OU's film school!

Go Ohio Filmmakers!