Florida State University - College of Motion Picture Arts

I started this program a few years ago. Based on the good reviews and the school’s proud claims, I expected I would receive a great education. However, soon after starting, I realized this was not going to be what I imagined.

Our editing classes mostly consisted of watching free YouTube tutorials—resources I could have easily accessed on my own. The program often promotes outdated Hollywood practices that are no longer relevant, discourages creativity, and pressures students to make the most basic films. Equipment training is minimal: you receive only a brief introduction to heavy, outdated gear and are then expected to figure it out with classmates. As a result, many students were injured. A few in the class above me even reported long-term spinal pain from accidents.


Be mindful that this is a very physically demanding program. If you are not physically prepared to carry heavy equipment constantly, you will still be forced to do so. Students are also expected to drive large grip trucks, often on little to no sleep. I am honestly surprised there haven’t been more accidents, considering students are frequently asked to drive over an hour after already working 13-hour days.

The program is even worse when it comes to mental health. Many students struggled with anxiety and depression throughout their time there. The information on the school’s website is also misleading. After graduating, I reached out to alumni, and almost all expressed disappointment. They said they received no meaningful support after graduation. From my own class, many no longer work in film-related fields or returned to the jobs they had before earning their degree. So, I don’t know where the “96% of graduates work in the industry within one year” statistic comes from—it seems outdated at best, if not completely fabricated. Graduates are offered no career support, and most are funneled into entry-level production assistant roles—positions that many people obtain without a degree, let alone a master’s education.

On top of all this, the school claims ownership of student films and even takes prize money from awards, despite graduates often being in desperate need of those funds. I know two students who were forced to give up their $10k awards at a time when they were already struggling to start a new life after graduation. While the program does cover production costs for short films, it comes at the price of stripping new graduates of both their creative and financial rights.

The only real advantage I see is that tuition is cheaper than most film schools if you’re a Florida resident. But in the end, you get what you pay for.

Before I get into the details, it's worth mentioning that I'm in my second year at this program and have really enjoyed my time here. I will be biased, like any FSU student would be. Getting an MFA is a big deal, I took out loans to be here. And I have not been let down, I actually think I was undersold this program. I happen to be a Florida state resident who attended film school in Chicago and New York before this. I'm really glad I didn't let my desire to return to a big city overshadow my needs from a master's program, because I would've lost out.

I'll go through my ratings.

Affordability: Like I said, I'm a Florida resident so this was obviously the most affordable option for me. However, it's still very affordable for out of state and international students. In the writing program, you get a graduate assistantship in your second year that drastically lowers the cost of tuition while giving you a stipend. Tallahassee is by far more affordable than NYC or LA.

Alumni Network: This was a huge selling point for me. I knew about the tightness of the FSU alumni but I personally haven't done much to get involved yet. They do a lot to help you connect with alumni. When you're here, you get to know the year above you, and then the year below you, and they become a big part of your network as well. Additionally, writers take an LA trip to pitch and meet with alumni and industry professionals. I'm taking my trip this summer so I can't speak on it yet. They also support students after graduation with finding work.

Campus: As writers, we have our own room in the building that is only accessible to us and faculty. Being such a small program, having a dedicated room to ourselves is really great. We don't have to search for a place to go write, and we don't have to worry about someone coming in and erasing our work on the boards. For FSU as a whole, it's a beautiful campus and it's clearly being taken care of.

Career Assistance: I spoke a little about this in alumni network. It's hard to say since I'm still a student. However, my coursework has been really helpful. From learning script coverage to a very intense and detailed TV writers room simulation class, I have learned so much that has prepared me for working in the industry.

Coursework: This is a conservatory style program. You're writing, a lot. And you're rewriting, a lot. We're constantly working on idea generation, pitching, and finding our voices. It's such thorough and purposeful work. I will be leaving here with at least four features, two and a half TV pilots, a spec script, and a short story I plan on expanding into a novel. I say at least because it's up to me if I want to do more. The professors here are incredibly supportive and personable. Their mentorship has been extraordinary. They pay a lot of attention to you, your work, your voice. They care about us personally, about us getting burned out, and help us build lasting writing habits.

Facilities & Equipment: This isn't really important to writers. We do have pretty nice chairs in the writers room. Five stars for that, and for having our own writers room.

Professors: I said a lot about this in the coursework category. They're very knowledgable and most are still working in the industry.

Scholarships: We have the graduate assistantship which has been phenomenal. Like I said before, it drastically lowers the price of tuition.

All in all, I love FSU. I highly recommend it. I've met lifelong collaborators here, written my best work, and grown so much not only as a writer but also in my ability to talk about myself and my work.

I'll edit this sometime after I graduate in August to give my review as an alumni