NYU or Columbia for Screenwriting?

[cjf2795]

April 15 is coming up and I still have a decision to make! I am very grateful to have been accepted into MFA programs at both NYU (Dramatic Writing) and Columbia (Film - Writing for Film and TV Concentration). I am most interested in TV writing, but excited to learn other formats as well.

I am seriously torn on what to do. Here are the major differences:

- NYU is 2 years, Columbia is 3 years
- Columbia is technically a Film MFA (ie. shared classes w/ directing + producing students, etc.)
- NYU program consists of 24 students, Columbia is a cohort of 12 students
- “Writing for Film and TV” is a new concentration for Columbia— the first cohort was accepted just last year (2023)

I have received a small scholarship from NYU and no scholarship at Columbia—although I will choose based on merit, not solely on the financials.

Anyone have any thoughts or experience they can offer up?? Thank you

 

[jfjburns95]

I will say that I'm current NYU Dramatic Writing Program. I've heard nothing but bad things about Columbia. Their equipment and teachers are not as good at NYU. Also, I interviewed for the new writing for film and tv last year. I was not impressed with their answer that they were kind of figuring it out. I wouldn't want to pay 100s of thousands of dollars to a program that hasn't even figured it out. I am kind of biased, but I think NYU is an excellent program with a great structure. My TV teacher is show running a show for Netflix. Sorry for the late response, but I hope this helps.

 

[jfjburns95]

Also Columbia is notoriously stingy with financial aid. You can usually get more money from NYU especially in your second year.