Naya86
Active Member
I kid you not, this is what it comes down to. Before you berate me for even considering to pass up UCLA for UCR, especially for the film school, let me explain the situation.
UCR offers a screenwriting MFA that is partially funded. They gave me a fellowship that pays tuition, health insurance, and a generous stipend for the first year (total package is almost 25K). Also my parents live in Riverside and assured me my housing would be taken care of, as well.
Like an idiot, I did not apply to scholarships or grants for UCLA. The acceptance letter mentioned students in recent years received between 7K and 10K of funding, but that is not guaranteed. While the tuition is relatively inexpensive for film school, I just discovered the MFA includes a 10K fee for the professional certificate program. Not to mention, I would have to pay another 12K or so/year for housing. In total, I would need to budget around $38,000 a year to go to UCLA, and virtually $0 to go to UCR.
So, it looks like my decision comes down to a classic case of cost versus opportunity. UCR would not provide me the same access to the industry as UCLA, nor the same quality of instruction; but it would not balloon my student debt, either.
What do you all think? I know it will come down to personal values, as in all big life decisions, but I'm wondering if there are other angles I missed? I hope you all get a kick out of this, at least. I sure did.
UCR offers a screenwriting MFA that is partially funded. They gave me a fellowship that pays tuition, health insurance, and a generous stipend for the first year (total package is almost 25K). Also my parents live in Riverside and assured me my housing would be taken care of, as well.
Like an idiot, I did not apply to scholarships or grants for UCLA. The acceptance letter mentioned students in recent years received between 7K and 10K of funding, but that is not guaranteed. While the tuition is relatively inexpensive for film school, I just discovered the MFA includes a 10K fee for the professional certificate program. Not to mention, I would have to pay another 12K or so/year for housing. In total, I would need to budget around $38,000 a year to go to UCLA, and virtually $0 to go to UCR.
So, it looks like my decision comes down to a classic case of cost versus opportunity. UCR would not provide me the same access to the industry as UCLA, nor the same quality of instruction; but it would not balloon my student debt, either.
What do you all think? I know it will come down to personal values, as in all big life decisions, but I'm wondering if there are other angles I missed? I hope you all get a kick out of this, at least. I sure did.