High School move to College - NYC a big Possibility. HELP (New York: credit, transfer)

[callmylifeline]

Originally Posted by WannaGoHome

Hey, here's some advice for you. I would second NYU to whoever told you to go to New York. L.A. is good, but you have to have extensive networking (i suppose it's like that everywhere though). I've seen quite a few people in L.A. go to not as good universities for film and end up editing and producing porn. i'm serious. If you do LA, make sure you go to USC and network your butt off. Columbia is in NYC, upper west side/morningside heights. and it's a great school in general. not sure about film. try googling. I agree with whoever mentioned that beyond USC and NYU, it's pretty much a bust (not to paraphrase incorrectly.)

Grad school comes after your undergrad (your "degree", bachelor's, etc). You get your masters in something that is more specific to your interests. You could do an undergraduate degree in film (there are many sub-specialities). I would say don't transfer for a major like this. You'll need all 4 years to network and besides, don't miss out on the college experience. If going to school in the city doesn't work out, maybe get your degree in something related from a school that is good for that and then focus on going to grad school for film (creative writing if you want to write screenplays, sound production/audio/visual arts if that's your thing, etc).

Upsondown is 100% spot on. network and prepare for some pretty non-glamorous hard labor.

People producing porn? That sounds like a lucrative job FOR SURE.

I think that's a really good idea to get my bachelors degree in film and then go back and get a masters (graduate) degree in film again. That would be really awesome because people would probably take me more seriously if I've had 6 or so years working strictly with film. I believe that's going to come at a serious price, though. I guess I'm just going to have to RALLY scholarships, grants, FAFSA, and any other loans and things that I can get my hands on.

I really think I'm ready for the really hard, not so glamorous labor.
I just need to start meeting and people and start networking possibly even before I go to college.
just see what I can find, I guess.
thanks. THat was some great advice.

[callmylifeline]

Originally Posted by Viralmd

I was the one who mentioned NYU and USC.

My family is very involved in the entertainment industry. It's pointless to say you'll be willing to work SO hard and do ANYTHING. EVERYONE says that. Talk is cheap. You have to produce.

Get your bachelor's degree. Go to graduate school in film. I'm a Columbia alum, and their film program isn't stellar. It's NYU and USC.

I know that's kind of a pointless thing to SAY, but I can't do it right now, I was just making a point that I am READY TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES. I will produce and I'm confident in that.

I will definitely think about getting my graduate degree after my bachelor's. That's something that would really help out?
Any other advice about where to meet people, what to present to them? ect ect.

[holden125]

Originally Posted by callmylifeline

I think that's a really good idea to get my bachelors degree in film and then go back and get a masters (graduate) degree in film again. That would be really awesome because people would probably take me more seriously if I've had 6 or so years working strictly with film.

You should look at film and some other major in case you have a hard time breaking into film later on. It's important to have a fallback plan. Although it's kind of boring it's not a bad idea to study business since there is a lot of business going on in the film business and you'll go farther and not get screwed if you know something about that side of things.

[callmylifeline]

Originally Posted by newtoli

As for the 4.0 and MT being in the top 10, I hate to tell you this, but that's not the case.

America's Top Public High Schools | Newsweek Best High Schools | Newsweek.com

Montana only has one school on that list, and it ranks at like 550 out of 1300 of the top schools. That doesn't count Private Schools either.

Here is the list of US News and World Reports Top 10 (my husband's High School is in the Top 10!)

Gold Medal Schools - US News and World Report
For these NY college film programs, you're going to be competing with the cream of the crop. EVERYONE wants to go to NYU. I'm not trying to be mean, I'm just trying to give you an honest opinion. I know a bit about this because my husband was a film major. That degree was a full on waste of cash. He does very well for himself in another field right now.



You should not even be considering colleges right now until you can figure that out. Not to sound brash, but seriously. Talk to a guidance counselor about college options. I was all starry eyed about a cool career in HS and so was my sister. She is stuck w/ a "Fine Arts" degree that she can't apply towards a good job. My suggestion would be to get some sort of degree (even in say, Business Administration or Marketing) that could apply to a non-film job, in case your Film Career doesn't work out. You could then do your advanced degree in Film.



This depends on a variety of factors. If you get a roommate, you might be able to get a very small share in an "eh" area of Manhattan for $1000/mo. If you want your own apartment you're looking at $2,500+



The thing is, your idea of a "Rougher neighborhood" coming from MT is going to be totally different from a NYC "rougher neighborhood"

I actually knew someone who came here from Montana when I was about 19 years old. She was 19 and came here as an "au pair" type live in baby sitter. She was not prepared, she would talk to bums on the street and open her wallet to give them $$ (got her wallet stolen twice), and eventually went back to MT after some people scammed her into a pyramid scheme.

All these comments are really "honest" haha, but I apreciate them all, I really do.
to start things off
I didn't know Montana sucked THAT bad. Wow. I was always told by my school that Montana always scored really high on all the standardized test scores and all that jazz, and though we might not be the best, I still think I'm at a good standing.

Wow. Yeah. I was being pretty stupid about the whole graduate degree thing. I knew what it was without even realizing it. I wasn't thinking right. I totally think that going for a graduate degree after I get my bachelors would be the smartest thing to do. But it would be expensive to stay in school for another couple years.

I'm definitely going to get a roomate. Anything to save money, and I'm not too reserved or anything so I don't know. If I get a part-time or full-time job while attending NYU or wherever, I think I might be able to do okay with that situation, especially if I have a roommate, or 2..or 3. haha.

I know about the gang violence and drugs and homeless people are pretty prominant in some of the areas and also litter on the streets, and I'm okay with that. I'm not really trying to impress anybody, I'm just trying to survive, yaknow? But I do want to be safe.

Also, that sucks about your Montana friend. I think I might have a bit more street smarts maybe than her. Who knows. Maybe I'm dumber, but I'd like to find out for myself
once again, thanks.

[newtoli]

Originally Posted by holden125

You should look at film and some other major in case you have a hard time breaking into film later on. It's important to have a fallback plan. Although it's kind of boring it's not a bad idea to study business since there is a lot of business going on in the film business and you'll go farther and not get screwed if you know something about that side of things.

This is excellent advice. I know so many people who paid big bucks for Fine Arts, Journalism, Film, Drama, etc. degrees, and they're worthless now. Take a major in Business or Marketing and minor in Film. If cannot break into the Film industry you could work behind the scenes with one of those degrees. Trust me on this

[Rachael84]

My friend got her film production degree in CT, and is now working her way up in film here in the city. She works so much that I never see her. I think it's a lot easier to make it if you're from the local area, since you can fall back on living at home while you're trying to make it. She basically makes minimum wage right now. There's no way you would be able to live on that if you don't have any family to lean back on in the local area like a lot of those do. I don't know, I hate to shatter dreams, but I think going to another city would be better.

[callmylifeline]

Originally Posted by holden125

You should look at film and some other major in case you have a hard time breaking into film later on. It's important to have a fallback plan. Although it's kind of boring it's not a bad idea to study business since there is a lot of business going on in the film business and you'll go farther and not get screwed if you know something about that side of things.

this is true, I'll definitely keep that in mind.

[callmylifeline]

Originally Posted by newtoli

This is excellent advice. I know so many people who paid big bucks for Fine Arts, Journalism, Film, Drama, etc. degrees, and they're worthless now. Take a major in Business or Marketing and minor in Film. If cannot break into the Film industry you could work behind the scenes with one of those degrees. Trust me on this

that is really good advice, and I understand the logic in it all, but I don't know. It just doesn't seem like it would suit me. But I don't think that suits anyone, really. Unless they WANT to major in Busines

[callmylifeline]

Originally Posted by Rachael84

My friend got her film production degree in CT, and is now working her way up in film here in the city. She works so much that I never see her. I think it's a lot easier to make it if you're from the local area, since you can fall back on living at home while you're trying to make it. She basically makes minimum wage right now. There's no way you would be able to live on that if you don't have any family to lean back on in the local area like a lot of those do. I don't know, I hate to shatter dreams, but I think going to another city would be better.

do you think that a smaller city, possibly Portland, OR would be better to start out in? I do have family there, and I think it just might be a better place. I have no idea. What do you think?

[newtoli]

Originally Posted by callmylifeline

that is really good advice, and I understand the logic in it all, but I don't know. It just doesn't seem like it would suit me. But I don't think that suits anyone, really. Unless they WANT to major in Busines

Something like Marketing could work even better with film. This is something you should discuss with your guidance counselors at school, they can help you choose a suitable major.