#MediaMonday: Helping Out with College
Good Morning Everyone,
I'm not sure why, but in the last few weeks, I have been talking to my juniors a lot about college. I think they see the seniors leaving and think, "that is going to be me next year?"
They begin to consider the subjects that they enjoyed in high school and asking themselves if that could be a career. It is only logical to consider the teachers of those subjects to be a valuable resource in the endeavor to plan and evaluate. More often than not, my students want to go to a film school so they approach me with the same question:
"What are some good film schools that I should apply to?"
Now, here is where my hangup begins: I didn't go to film school for my bachelor's degree. The truth of the matter is that I was an English teacher for six years before teaching media production. While I am currently in film school, it just isn't the same experience as striking out, fresh from high school, and learning everything about film production in some illustrious cinema program with famous alumni and monumental tuition. Many of you might also be experiencing the same thing with other media related fields (journalism, graphic design, animation, etc).
So, today's topic is: how do I help a student find their path to college?
Let's start with what not to do:
Don't pass them off to a counselor.
They came to you for a reason; talk to them.
Don't simply refer them to an online "best of" list.
Trust me when I say that they have already found every list that you are going to show them and they are looking for more help than a list.
Don't just refer them to the local university.
While your local university might be the right fit, talk to them about what they want in a program to help them choose the right fit.
Don't tell the to simply join the industry and skip college.
The kid came to you to talk about college; don't shoot down their college plans, regardless of what you've experienced or heard.
So now let's talk about what you should do:
Listen to what they are wanting to do (both academically and professionally).
They are going to have very specific interests in the industry. This can help you find recommendations based up their wants.
Ask candidly about what sort of costs and debts they are comfortable with.
By suggesting schools that are exclusively out of a kid's price range, you could inadvertently kill their college dreams before they begin.
Research schools with your student and find a variety that fit their interests.
Industry people will tell you that there is no one right way to break into the industry. Look for schools with the intent of finding a best fit for your student.
Ask your student which schools are their dream schools and why.
This can help to provide a base from which you can expand your search and discussions.
Be honest with your expertise.
When you don't know, say "I don't know" but quickly follow that with "but we can certainly find out". Help your students research and find schools that offer them the greatest opportunities to grow.
I remember a few years ago, during a parent-teacher conference, a parent asked me to explain to his kid that there is no future in filmmaking and that it is a waste of college and money. What we need to remember is that many of these students will be the first in their families to go to college for arts studies. Often, that is met with hostility and fear. It is our job to encourage and empower, while providing the necessary help to inform our students into the best choice.
While we are not counselors and many of us have never gone to film or journalism schools, we all have at least gone to college and know the basics when it comes to shopping for a college and a study program. Providing some context and support to our students can go a long way toward helping them find the future that is right for them. While this takes more investment of time and energy from us, the potential outcome far outweighs the momentary effort.
Talk to you soon,
Josh Cantrell