UCLA vs Depaul vs SCAD MFA

[JYO]

Hi everyone,

I’m currently in a bit of a dilemma and would love some outside perspectives. I was recently admitted to DePaul’s MFA in Creative Producing and SCAD’s MFA in Film and Television (with a scholarship). However, I was rejected from the UCLA Producers Program after the interview stage.

I know that all of these schools are excellent, but UCLA has been my dream school, especially because of its huge reputation in my home country. During the UCLA interview, the faculty told me my resume and documents were very strong and impressive, but they mentioned they struggled to understand my pronunciation. I really regret not practicing my speaking skills more.

For context, I have 3 years of professional experience as a directing crew and junior producer in my home country.

I have two main questions for this community:

1. Should I reapply to UCLA next year?
I’m struggling to gauge the reputation of DePaul and SCAD within the U.S. industry.
Also, how much weight should I give to The Hollywood Reporter rankings?

• In 2024, UCLA was #10 and DePaul was #11.
• In 2025, DePaul jumped to #9, while UCLA moved to #11 and SCAD to #12.

Does this mean DePaul is considered as good as UCLA?

2. If I decide to go this year, which school is the better choice?
Here is how I see them:

• DePaul: The MFA Creative Producing program is based in LA. It’s very producer-focused with internship opportunities.
• SCAD: Located in Savannah, Georgia. It offers a broader knowledge of filmmaking (cinematography, editing, etc.), and I’d get to produce several films with classmates. They offered me a scholarship, but it's contingent on maintaining a certain GPA, which feels like a slight risk.

I'd appreciate any insights on the industry reputation, networking, and career outcomes for these programs.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Chris W]

What did you end up deciding to do? I reached out to some members at those programs a while back so I hope they were able to help you!