WHAT FILM SCHOOLS REALLY COST BEYOND THE TUITION
How Much Does Film School Really Cost?
What film schools really cost above the tuition that they typically advertise to prospective students may come as something of a surprise to most students. While there is not necessarily a concentrated effort on the part of most film schools to deceive students, it simply comes down to an effort made in order to make film school programs seem as attractive as possible. Some of these expenses will also depend a great deal upon the situation of a student looking to attend film school and the area in which the film school itself in located.
Tuition at a film school, in and of itself, is fairly high and can be significantly higher than traditional colleges and universities, as well as other types of education and schools. Above the tuition of these film schools, however, there are also a number of other expenses that many students may not initially consider, but for which they should certainly be prepared. Many film schools can charge lab fees and usually require that students pay for any resources that they may need to use, such as film or digital storage media. Students may be required to purchase discs to save their work onto, and these smaller purchases can all add up over time.
The books required by a film school can also be significantly more expensive than many students initially realize. Educational books are often far more expensive than other types of books, and the edition used is often changed to prevent students from using used copies of books each year. There are also other types of costs above the tuition at a film school that students may not initially consider, but which should be addressed and expected by any student planning on attending film school. These include costs for food and rent, the expense of moving if necessary, and reduced income due to working less while attending classes.
For students who are planning on moving closer to a film school they are interested in attending, moving costs can be quite high. This is especially true if someone plans to move across the country, or to a completely different country. The cost of living in the new city a person is moving to may also be quite a bit higher than where he or she is coming from. Students should also realize that many film schools do not have dormitories or commissaries, and so rent and food will constitute extra expenses they may not have considered. Film school classes may also require a person to work less, compared to other types of schools that can work around a person’s schedule, and so reduced income should also be considered as the cost above the tuition when attending a film school.
