Where should I apply to graduate school?

[GRLMGC]

I'm a film major and I'm at a loss. I don't even know IF I wanna go to graduate school. I know this is random to post here but I respect all of you guys and am in need of advice

[demdiva]

1. Are you in undergrad now or already out "in the real world"?

[GRLMGC]

2. I'm an undergrad nt

[demdiva]

3. Well then I can offer this perspective

When I was in undergrad I went through a similar thing. It's very intimidating when, after four (or five for me), years of school the whole world is open to you.

I actually just got off the phone with a friend who's applying to law schools right now, and she was saying "it's so frustrating ... there's no perfect option."

Regardless, I ended up taking one year off and working before returning to grad school, which was perfect for me. It really is a benefit going into a graduate program with professional knowledge, experience and the perspective to know what you want to get out of grad school. It's also a lot easier to vet out your choices when you're not consumed with school.

The trick is not to take too much time off, because it does get pretty hard to leave a real job and an adult life after a couple of years away.

Does that help at all????

[GRLMGC]

4. yeah

It does. I'm gonna be finished early so i'm gonna take 9 months off anyway. Where did you get your letters of recommendation?

[demdiva]

8. Letters of Rec

hmm... this took me a minute, but it's coming back to me. I actually have two masters so I applied twice to grad school, which is why there are so many, but...

Degree #1:
- One from a professor from school who knew me well and my capabilities / skills in class and in studio
- One from the Director of my undergrad program, who I knew well because of extra-curricular activities
- One from my supervisor at work, because he knew my professional abilities

Degree #2 (I was already in grad school when I applied for the second program):
- One from a professor I did a special project with in early grad school
- One from the Director of a community program I worked with while working (and kept up a relationship with in grad school)
- One from my boss at work, who I still kept in touch with when I returned to grad school

[whometense]

12. I pretty much agree with this,

with a few small differences. My daughter took her first year after graduating from college to work and decide what she wanted to do next. It worked out great for her - it clarified the kind of work she didn't want to do (office work), it gave her a taste of the 9 to 5, and it gave her time to figure out whether she wanted to go to grad school at all, and if so, what she wanted to study.

I don't think everyone needs to go to grad school - it all depends on what your interests are, and if your undergrad degree gave you enough cred to apply for an entry-level job in your area of interest. In your case (I don't know, but I'm just guessing) the practical experience of working in the industry might be more useful to you than an advanced degree. I wouldn't want my prejudices to influence you, but I'm not a fan of the masters-degree-just-to-get-one. Grad degrees can help you get where they want to go, but some people use them as a way of delaying their entry into the big scary world. To my mind, that's a bad reason for grad school.

One thing about waiting a bit - my daughter is much more motivated and enthusiastic about school than the kids who went right from college. She gained an appreciation of the value of what she could gain from being there by being away for a while.

Hope that's of some use to you. :-)

[GRLMGC]

13. I'd like to just get experience in the industry

Honestly, I think I just don't wanna get nagged by my mother who wants me to get a graduate degree. I guess we'll see what happens.

[JI7]

5. USC or UCLA

but it all depends on what you are looking for and what you research shows.

you can apply and just decide to go later also. or just not go at all if you are satisfied doing what you want.

[GRLMGC]

6. I wanna come back to LA

but I'm not sure if I could get into USC. I'm also curious about living in another state. I'm in a state of confusion right now, even though I have time to think about it.

[JI7]

7. another state would be a good experience

you can apply to various schools in different states. i think once you know what your options are it will be easier deciding .

it depends on whether you want to take time away from school also. for some it's better to take some time off. for others it might be too tough to get back into it all after taking some time off .

but graduate school would be a little different since you will be focusing on an area you do have interest.

[demdiva]

9. I agree you can definitely apply and decide later

maybe something will fall into place before you have to "make a decision"

[GRLMGC]

10. I guess

It's so weird. I had decided that I was not going to go to graduate school but I've recently become very frightened of going into the "real world" and I guess this quarter was really good for me intellectually.

[demdiva]

11. Yeah, it's not always so much fun

Another friend recently "I tried out this 'working in the real world thing' and it didn't really work out for me.." He was kidding but it was pretty funny.

Seriously, it is a little scary, and it's so much easier to sit here six years later and give advice :)

[karynnj]

14. It may be too far, but NYU is suppose to have a good program

[GRLMGC]

15. NYC sounds so expensive!

LA would be more inexpensive for me just because I could live at home. I also don't know if I can get into the program, haha

[emulatorloo]

16. University of Iowa (Iowa City) and University of Wisconsin (Madison)

both have excellent and highly ranked Film Studies programs. (Iowa's is called "Cinema and Comparative Literature") I don't know much about Madison's production program, but University of Iowa has a great production program too - many alumni working in Hollywood. Cost of living in both places is excellent

http://www.uiowa.edu/~ccl/

http://www.uiowa.edu/~ccl/programs/mfa_filmandvideo.html

[ginnyinWI]

17. Madison

The University is great, and the city has been voted the most women-friendly in the nation. Very liberal--hence the nickname "Mad-town". Two lakes within the city--very nice in summer, but they make the city a bit windy and cold in winter, if you have to walk. Lovely capital building in the center of it all--you can see it in those Kerry-rally pics. Every Saturday in the summer there is a huge farmer's market all around the capitol square with lots going on. Has a woman mayor right now, and Wisconsin is a blue state--just stick closer to the cities and farther from bedroom communities like the one I live in--they are red. Milwaukee is about an hour and a half on the freeway from Madison, where there's more stuff to do and see.