Columbia Fall 2010 (3 Viewers)

[robot_m]

my brother is a lawyer as is his girlfriend and two of their good friends (who I am also good friends with)...and they all have been telling me for years NOT to become a lawyer.

every time I bring it up..."I think I'm going to go to lawschool..." they yell "DON'T!!"

the economy is recovering, but jobs are still hard to come by.

if you want a sure-thing job, go to medical school and become an anesthesiologist. otherwise, no one can tell what is going to happen and where you end up.



BUT...I did just go and re-check the tuition at Columbia. HOLY **** **** ****! I was expecting to come out of grad school with at most $150,000 in debt, but Columbia clocks in at $256,000! Am I reading that right? What, upon graduating are you issued a Bentley? How can it possibly cost that much?

 

[sophiedog]

Haha Kaiser, I think getting into Columbia or one of the other top film schools is about the same odds as getting into Harvard law! (or even worse odds).
But robert m, definitely agree with your brother in the case of going to law school in the states. Getting jobs in the US even coming from the best law schools is not easy. Luckily the Canadian system wasn't hit as hard and graduates have better chances of getting one. And also note that you will have to pay for film costs on top of all of the tuition, fees, housing--some people won't spend exorbitant amounts but for those making films, won't be cheap and donations are harder to come by now. It really is expensive, but such a great program!

 

[youthquake]

Originally posted by robot_m:
my brother is a lawyer as is his girlfriend and two of their good friends (who I am also good friends with)...and they all have been telling me for years NOT to become a lawyer.

every time I bring it up..."I think I'm going to go to lawschool..." they yell "DON'T!!"

the economy is recovering, but jobs are still hard to come by.

if you want a sure-thing job, go to medical school and become an anesthesiologist. otherwise, no one can tell what is going to happen and where you end up.



BUT...I did just go and re-check the tuition at Columbia. HOLY **** **** ****! I was expecting to come out of grad school with at most $150,000 in debt, but Columbia clocks in at $256,000! Am I reading that right? What, upon graduating are you issued a Bentley? How can it possibly cost that much?

I love the idea of everyone getting a Bentley when they graduate. Kudos.

 

[asd85]

Speaking of costs and whatnot, Suzako, Sophiedog, and any current students/alums out there -

how much finaid does columbia give? how many students get aid and for how much? i've heard columbia isn't particularly generous

 

[robot_m]

I just did some research on this. Some (not all, not sure how many) first years get fellowships of varying amounts, the most generous of which is half off your tuition. Which would mean you're still paying like $21,376 a year, and (I think) not including living expenses, which means another $21,310 (according to the estimates on Columbia's website).

But I've read that more financial assistance becomes available after the first year.

 

[sophiedog]

They say there are grants out there but I was told by more than one student that because of the economy, the number of grants has really gone down. When I got in there was nothing they could offer me (could have been harder because I'm international)--the impression that I got was that you're pretty much on your own even after first year. Meaning there might be a few grants here and there but with the price tag it doesn't add up to much. More just a nice gesture than helping to offset costs.

 

[Elianarra]

hmmm,

my friend got aid her first year and did not get aid her second year. She graduated, but it was a little harder...
It probably depends on the person/program.

 

[Neville26]

So this is probably the week. By Friday we all should know something (based on last year's forums), right?

Crossing fingers. Kneeling. Beating chest. Crying out. Etc.

 

[robot_m]

let's hope so.

 

[Suzako]

I have heard rumors of some people having grants in my year (during our 1st year), but for the most part, um, yeah they don't really give you anything. There's standard financial aid for US students through federal loans and that's it for the most part. I got a very very wee fellowship and it felt like it was mostly to acknowledge me (not that it wasn't appreciated, but it was a drop in the bucket).

For the second year, we have all heard rumors of fellowships and scholarships, haha. When I was deciding whether or not to go, Columbia tried to imply that there was a LOT more financial aid for your second year. (And indeed, there are fellowships which we can apply for and scholarships which I'm sure vary year to year).. After your second year (for your thesis year(s)), tuition is a LOT less so I'm not sure how that works yet.

 

[kelli21]

sigh....patience was never my strong suit

 

[New2you]

Columbia is pretty much my last and only hope, as it was the only program that asked me to interview. NYU and UCLA have sent out rejections to me. I've heard no word from Chapman or Carnegie Mellon. Does anyone know the ratio of interviewed applicant to accepted applicant for Columbia?

 

[jojo]

rumor has it that they interview double what they accept. so for screenwriting directing I think it's like 65-70 people accepted so double that number for interviews. Could be wrong though.

I'm waiting impatiently as well...

 

[Criterion]

We might be hearing back as soon as this or next week, guys! Good luck, everyone. Try not to think about it too much.

 

[robot_m]

Just got a call!!!! I'm in!!!!!!

EDIT: got in for creative producing.

 

[Silverlenz]

Congrats Robot.. I know you have gone throught a lot stuff to finally get in. I bet it feels so good.

 

[Criterion]

That's awesome, robot_m!!!! I like to think I triggered that call with my previous post. ;-)

 

[glencoco]

i just got off the phone and i got in for Creative Producing! yay! (and CONGRATS to you robot_m!)

now gonna start working on the financing...

 

[robot_m]

thanks everyone!

glencoco- see you this fall!

 

[ZackDunborn]

I just got the call!

I swear I hadn't taken a breath since Robot's post haha.

See you guys in the fall!!!!

[EDIT: Creative Producing]