definitely try it out. i've heard that it has worked for people in the past.
however, if you're really serious about doing film, just know that chapman's film program is much better than oxy's. not that our film program is horrible, but the response i've gotten from most of the film majors i've talked to here is that oxy really doesn't actually teach you much about how to make films, and that most of the learning how to do things, like using editing software and doing effects and that sort of thing, is something you're going to end up having to teach yourself. so i guess if you're into that kind of independent learning, it'd be a good thing. but yeah. i dunno, i may be biased though.
Yeah, I don't know anything about Chapman or about getting more money from Oxy (which would be nice) but I do know a bit about the film department. My boyfriend is a film major and he's been really frustrated with it. Basically you have to remember that even though you're doing film, it is actually called Art History: with an emphasis in Film and that you are doing this at a small liberal arts school. Pretty much, if you want to go into making movies later you're for sure going to have to go to grad school, because Oxy just doesn't teach you enough of what you need to know. Now that's not always a bad thing, you get a less focussed education that many people studying film at more intense schools do not recieve. Then you can go on later and do a more focussed study after being able to take a variety of classes for undergrad. But just know that the film majors I know have often complained about the lack thereof with the major. hope this helped you with your decision :)
The person above basically nailed our Film Dept. on the head =/
However, as far as financial aid awards go, you can't get a merit based scholarship after the initial awarding of them. They just don't give them out after the acceptance letters. You can, however, show what Chapman has offered and if you give a little fight, they should give you more money in need-based or elsewhere.
80k over 4 years is a lot though. So Oxy should at least give you something to better your deal.
I'm not sure if that's 100% true about not awarding merit aid. Initially I only got $7000 a year from Oxy, in merit aid. Then I wrote them and asked for more and they gave me an extra $1000 a year, also in merit aid. Maybe that was something super special but they did give me additional merit aid, just not alot.
I have the same problem. I love everything about Occidental, except that linguistics and creative writing courses are pretty much non-existent.
I got a merit-based scholarship, and I wrote to Oxy about three weeks ago asking for more NEED-based aid. My "competing offer" was that of UC Berkeley. They still haven't gotten back to me...take that as you will. But don't ask for merit-based aid; as the above poster wrote, they don't give out merit scholarships after admissions decisions. Need-based, perhaps.
I think you should go to Chapman. Visit it first, of course, and follow your heart, but I have heard great things about its film program; plus, they're giving you more money, it's pretty much in the same city and it's not THAT much bigger.
The creative writing department has gotten much better just this year (now that I'm going into my senior year... yeah, thanks for that, Oxy), and the professors that do creative writing here are amazing authors and even better professors. So if you want to focus on creative writing, an outlet is finally here. If you have the chance to major in creative writing at other schools, though, and have a more focused program, take them up on it.
If you come here, and need help picking professors that will let you write creativly, drop me an e-mail or journal message. I'd love to help.
Sorry to cut into your conversation but I'm thinking of transferring somewhere with a creative writing program (my school only has English, not creative writing). Anyway Oxy is up there on my list (mainly because I want to go to school in the L.A. area). I'm glad to hear it's improved a lot. Do you think you could tell me some of the types of writing courses that are offered there, just so I could get an idea? Thanks so much.
Chapman vs. Oxy, and financial aidlittlebear37April 20 2006, 08:52:09 UTC
The key is to talk to someone in the financial aid office. TALK to them by phone or in person (I found phone works better). When I was deciding between Oxy and CMC, my father and I worked the two against each other, and found a lot more money at each place (granted, this was in 1998, so I don't know how endowments hold up). In the end, I went to Oxy, was incredibly happy there, and left after four years with under $20,000 in debt (sounds like a lot, but it isn't, especially considering it was a $130,000--give or take--education). Also, don't be afraid to go into some debt. Yes, you'll be paying it for awhile, but interest rates for it are usually really low (Oxy offers a No Interest Loan), and payments are easy. Also, if you go to grad school full-time, you can defer. Yeah, and it's not like going into debt because you wanted some new, fancy toy--this is good debt, in that you get something out of it that lasts forever. And they can't come and repossess your education
( ... )
Obviously you need to visit Chapman to think about making the decision, but a few additional points....
Chapman and Oxy are not "pretty much in the same city" which can go either way depending on your inclinations...but Orange and Eagle Rock are worlds apart.
Really it depends on how much you are committed to Film...Oxy is a far superior school outside of that specific program. The wider liberal arts education will be a whole lot different, I'd expect.
You should be able to get some extra money if you ask, but there will still be a big cost difference.
The people-approachable-small community-professors thing has been one of the best parts about my time at Oxy...so your impressions of that are correct, IMO
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however, if you're really serious about doing film, just know that chapman's film program is much better than oxy's. not that our film program is horrible, but the response i've gotten from most of the film majors i've talked to here is that oxy really doesn't actually teach you much about how to make films, and that most of the learning how to do things, like using editing software and doing effects and that sort of thing, is something you're going to end up having to teach yourself. so i guess if you're into that kind of independent learning, it'd be a good thing. but yeah. i dunno, i may be biased though.
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However, as far as financial aid awards go, you can't get a merit based scholarship after the initial awarding of them. They just don't give them out after the acceptance letters. You can, however, show what Chapman has offered and if you give a little fight, they should give you more money in need-based or elsewhere.
80k over 4 years is a lot though. So Oxy should at least give you something to better your deal.
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I got a merit-based scholarship, and I wrote to Oxy about three weeks ago asking for more NEED-based aid. My "competing offer" was that of UC Berkeley. They still haven't gotten back to me...take that as you will. But don't ask for merit-based aid; as the above poster wrote, they don't give out merit scholarships after admissions decisions. Need-based, perhaps.
I think you should go to Chapman. Visit it first, of course, and follow your heart, but I have heard great things about its film program; plus, they're giving you more money, it's pretty much in the same city and it's not THAT much bigger.
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If you come here, and need help picking professors that will let you write creativly, drop me an e-mail or journal message. I'd love to help.
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Chapman and Oxy are not "pretty much in the same city" which can go either way depending on your inclinations...but Orange and Eagle Rock are worlds apart.
Really it depends on how much you are committed to Film...Oxy is a far superior school outside of that specific program. The wider liberal arts education will be a whole lot different, I'd expect.
You should be able to get some extra money if you ask, but there will still be a big cost difference.
The people-approachable-small community-professors thing has been one of the best parts about my time at Oxy...so your impressions of that are correct, IMO
Good luck with your decision either way
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