Which school should I choose?

[JYO]

Hi everyone,

I’m currently in a bit of a dilemma. I was recently admitted to DePaul’s MFA in Creative Producing and SCAD’s MFA in Film and Television (with a scholarship). However, I was rejected from the UCLA Producers Program after the interview stage.

I know that all of these schools are excellent, but UCLA has been my dream school, especially because of its huge reputation in my home country.

I have two main questions for this community:

1.How much weight should I give to The Hollywood Reporter rankings?

• In 2024, UCLA was #10 and DePaul was #11.
• In 2025, DePaul jumped to #9, while UCLA moved to #11 and SCAD to #12.

Does this mean DePaul is considered as good as UCLA?

2. If I decide to go this year, which school is the better choice?
Here is how I see them:

• DePaul: The MFA Creative Producing program is based in LA. It’s very producer-focused with internship opportunities.
• SCAD: Located in Savannah, Georgia. It offers a broader knowledge of filmmaking (cinematography, editing, etc.), and I’d get to produce several films with classmates. They offered me a scholarship, but it's contingent on maintaining a certain GPA, which feels like a slight risk.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Chris W]

Are your goals to be a producer?

 

[JYO]

Are your goals to be a producer?

Yes, absolutely. I’m currently working as a junior producer for 2 years in my home country, so producing is my main focus

 

[Chris W]

What's the tuition cost to you between the options? That could be a factor to weigh in as well.

 

[JYO]

What's the tuition cost to you between the options? That could be a factor to weigh in as well.

SCAD is cheaper for me thanks to the scholarship. Thanks for the comment, I'll definitely think it through!

 

[Tra Do]

Hi! I’m Tra, currently in my first year of the MFA Creative Producing program at DePaul (LA quarter). I also had some experience working in film before coming here.

I don’t think rankings alone determine whether one program is “as good” as another. UCLA has a long-established reputation and strong alumni network, while DePaul offers a very focused, practical approach to producing, especially through its LA quarter. It really comes down to what kind of training and environment you’re looking for.

If your goal is to become a producer and you already have a basic foundation in filmmaking, I would say DePaul is a strong option. The program focuses a lot on the business and development side — how to evaluate projects, shape them, and position them for today’s market, not just how to make films. We still touch on the creative side, but more from a producing perspective — how to make a project viable and aligned with the current industry.

One thing I find very valuable is that classes are in the evenings (3 days a week), which gives you time during the day to pursue internships. Being in LA also means there are many opportunities for networking and industry exposure. The cohort is small, so professors know you well and are quite supportive.

That said, one important factor to consider is cost. Living in LA can be quite expensive, so it’s definitely something to weigh carefully between your options.

Also, think about your long-term goal. One thing to consider is your long-term goal — do you plan to work in the U.S. industry after graduation? The program is very focused on the U.S. system — studios, unions, guilds, etc. — and is designed to prepare you for working in that environment. You can still apply what you learn elsewhere, but there is a learning curve if you’re new to this environment (it took me some time to catch up as well).

Hope this helps, and feel free to ask if you have more questions!

 

[JYO]

Hi! I’m Tra, currently in my first year of the MFA Creative Producing program at DePaul (LA quarter). I also had some experience working in film before coming here.

I don’t think rankings alone determine whether one program is “as good” as another. UCLA has a long-established reputation and strong alumni network, while DePaul offers a very focused, practical approach to producing, especially through its LA quarter. It really comes down to what kind of training and environment you’re looking for.

If your goal is to become a producer and you already have a basic foundation in filmmaking, I would say DePaul is a strong option. The program focuses a lot on the business and development side — how to evaluate projects, shape them, and position them for today’s market, not just how to make films. We still touch on the creative side, but more from a producing perspective — how to make a project viable and aligned with the current industry.

One thing I find very valuable is that classes are in the evenings (3 days a week), which gives you time during the day to pursue internships. Being in LA also means there are many opportunities for networking and industry exposure. The cohort is small, so professors know you well and are quite supportive.

That said, one important factor to consider is cost. Living in LA can be quite expensive, so it’s definitely something to weigh carefully between your options.

Also, think about your long-term goal. One thing to consider is your long-term goal — do you plan to work in the U.S. industry after graduation? The program is very focused on the U.S. system — studios, unions, guilds, etc. — and is designed to prepare you for working in that environment. You can still apply what you learn elsewhere, but there is a learning curve if you’re new to this environment (it took me some time to catch up as well).

Hope this helps, and feel free to ask if you have more questions!

Hi Tra, thanks for the detailed info! It’s great hearing from a current student. The producing perspective is exactly what drew me to DePaul. It’s a bit of a bummer not being able to use Cinespace in Chicago, but the evening classes seem like a huge plus for internships.

Have you had the chance to do an internship? and do students at the LA campus still collaborate on actual film sets together?