DePaul University - School of Cinematic Arts

While I was there, parts of the directing track felt like they were still evolving, so the quality of classes was a bit uneven. Some were genuinely helpful, others less so. That said, I think that’s true of most programs, especially since everyone comes in with different backgrounds and goals.


What really stood out to me were the people. There are some faculty members who are deeply committed and generous with their time, and I was lucky to connect with an advisor who made a big impact on my experience. My cohort was another highlight: small, collaborative, and made up of people with really different tastes and strengths. That mix made the program feel dynamic, and I’ve continued working with several of them since graduating. Even though a couple of courses (especially editing and a post-production workflows class) didn’t quite land for me, the overall environment made up for it.


I got a lot out of the mentorship side of things, but also from being on set. Both directing and collaborating on larger productions. The undergrad crews, in particular, are incredibly driven and talented, and having access to that kind of support system is a real advantage.

Ultimately, I think the program is a bit of a "What you make of it" and a bit of a luck of the draw in terms of which professors you get for certain courses and who is in your cohort. But Chicago is a great city to live and study in, and with a 35% tax credit passed, I'm hopeful the city continues to grow in terms of its film/TV.

I went to DePaul for animation, but was heavily involved in the cinema production crowd due to my partner attending the Direction MFA. I would say generally the animation program is good, but you only get what you give. Certain faculty are extremely good and caring while some of the more hyped up faculty who’ve worked in the industry while talented may not be the best at educating students.

In terms of what they market with cinespace and cameras it is relatively fraudulent. You may have some classes there and with the advanced equipment, but if you try to use it for productions for classes you will face roadblocks. The faculty in charge of the studios are extremely clique-y with students and will actively shut you out of facilities if they don’t like you. I’ve experienced reservations for thesis projects being changed to accommodate undergrad regular class projects at camera pickup with no warning and had sound stages cancelled without reason given. You can only make PD changes to the stages if you are tight with the head of the cinespace facilities. Faculty will not give you recommendations for VFX or Production Design students if you ask and are not personal friends with them.

Overall many members of the cinema faculty feel like they joined DePaul to exploit student resources for their own gain. They will tell you if you want recommendations for students that you have to name a price to pay while simultaneously trying to get you to work on their projects for free.

While there I witnessed them shuttle in female and BIPOC students and faculty (even those not in SCA) for photo ops and videos to increase the appearance of diversity in the program marketing materials.

I hope that progress has been made here, but to a certain degree I doubt it since many of the best faculty have moved to other universities while the worst offenders still work there.

Many of the courses in animation were taught by adjuncts who did their undergrad at DePaul. Typically these classes would then just be you teaching yourself a new program or using Lynda.com courses while the adjunct would either do outside work or not show up.

The best thing about the university is the peers you will meet. Some may be standoffish and form cliques with faculty but most are very cool and down to earth. While there I had the pleasure of working with and knowing students who’ve gone on to win Jury Prizes at Slamdance and Sundance.

Lastly, there is virtually no assistance placing students in internships. While there is an internship/experiential learning requirement it is up to you to fulfill this. If you cannot they will try to place you in a week long study abroad trip to fulfill the requirement.

Overall, I would say that this is an okay program especially the animation major. You will learn but only get what you give in terms of portfolio development. I would be more leery to recommend the cinema program given the extreme faculty dysfunction. However, you will learn the basics if you buckle in and grit your teeth at the less than savory dealings.

Scholarships if you receive one can be quite generous though living costs are high.