Question about film school and screen writing programs

[Oreganus]

I’m not familiar with this industry so I’m hoping to get some input. My daughter is interested in screenwriting and media arts and got accepted to Emerson and UCSD. Emerson is very small, about 5000 students. Ranked 6-7 in film schools with an excellent screenwriting program. UCSD is a huge public school with a program that encompasses more, visual arts, comp sci, media, with nice interdisciplinary programs. Tuition at UCSD is $15k for an in-state student while even with her scholarship Emerson is more than double at $40k a year. Amounts don’t include room and board. I’m worried about Emerson being too small and focused and if she changed her mind and lean toward comp sci, which is her second choice, she leaves her a lot fewer options. 50-70% of kids change their majors at least once in college. But she seems to want a really strong screenwriting program (for now). UCSD is ranked in top 35 schools while other than film Emerson is 112. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[WalterKayle]

From an "n" of several:

Our kids came from a big, somewhat-impersonal public HS and thrived in outstanding, big, impersonal state university systems (similar to UCSD, and not our own middling state university). There is an art to getting anything done, administratively, in one of these and it takes a lot of initiative and ingenuity and peer input to navigate it. Spouse and I are both the product of enormous state universities and maybe that informed our kids' decisions.

[MarkJoshua]

The question about film school and screenwriting programs. Flexibility can be a big deal when you’re trying to juggle classes and personal projects. From my experience, some programs allow you to explore your creativity while still getting the essentials down.
If you’re considering schools, check out Film School in Prague - Prague Film Institute . They have a solid reputation for being supportive of different creative paths. Plus, the environment is super inspiring!
It’s all about finding a place that fits your vibe and allows you to grow as a writer. Remember, your personal growth is just as important as the skills you learn. Keep an open mind and focus on what you want to learn. Film school can be a fantastic experience if you find the right balance for yourself.