MY COLLEGE EXPERIENCE (ucla film school)

bestdressed
30 Apr 201913:02
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRA film student documents her experience attending UCLA, highlighting the highs and lows. She aimed to graduate quickly to save money but initially struggled with loneliness and doubt about her career path. Joining a theater group and focusing on filmmaking reinvigorated her passion. She moved off-campus sophomore year, allowing more time for her YouTube channel, and met her boyfriend. By senior year, a screenwriting professor validated her talent, boosting her confidence. She acknowledges the flaws of higher ed but doesn't regret attending, believing college develops intellect and character despite lacking the ideal 'experience'.

Takeaways
  • 😊 She chose to attend UCLA film school despite it being an uncertain career path because it was her dream
  • 🎥 She took lots of internships and had to work hard to find opportunities rather than having them handed to her
  • 😢 She initially felt very lonely and questioned her decision despite it being her dream school
  • 💡 She realized she needed to make more effort to do college activities and make friends
  • 🎞️ Making YouTube videos and working on creative projects reminded her why she loved filmmaking
  • 👩‍🏫 Taking a broader variety of classes ended up being rewarding
  • 👭 Getting an apartment with roommates helped her feel less lonely
  • ⏱️ She overloaded on classes her senior year in order to graduate early and save money
  • ✍️ Her screenwriting classes, though scary, helped improve her writing
  • 🎓 Ultimately she is glad she stuck it out and got her degree despite the challenges
Q & A

  • Why did the narrator want to graduate college early?

    -The narrator wanted to graduate in 3 years instead of 4 to save money on tuition costs. Out-of-state tuition at UCLA is around $40,000 per year, so graduating early would save $40,000.

  • What was the narrator's experience with her college dorm like?

    -The narrator moved into the freshman dorm Hedrick Hall because she wanted the full college experience. However, she barely saw anyone from her floor once classes started, so it didn't meet her expectations for bonding and making friends.

  • How did the narrator get her first editing job?

    -The narrator used her portfolio of personal YouTube videos to get a job editing for other YouTubers in her sophomore year. This allowed her to quit her minimum wage job.

  • Why was the narrator embarrassed about her YouTube channel?

    -The narrator was too embarrassed to film videos when her roommates were home. She tracked when they were out of the apartment and tried to film her videos in the 2 hours of privacy per week.

  • What was the narrator's experience with studio internships?

    -The narrator applied to over 20 studio internships one summer and got rejected from all of them, showing how competitive they are.

  • What was the narrator's concentration for her film major?

    -The narrator specialized in screenwriting. This involved workshopping her writing with classmates and professor each week to improve her scripts.

  • How did the narrator meet her boyfriend David?

    -The narrator met her boyfriend David during the summer before her senior year at UCLA. He is the one filming the video.

  • Does the narrator regret going to film school and college?

    -No, the narrator does not regret going to college and film school at UCLA even though it was challenging. She believes college made her stronger and exposed her to new perspectives.

  • What was the highlight of the narrator's days early in college?

    -The highlight of the narrator's days was stuffing her face with Brussels sprouts in the dining hall before going to work a late night job until 3am. She was very unhappy.

  • What extracurriculars did the narrator participate in?

    -The narrator joined a theater company on campus in order to meet people and have a social life outside of academics and work.

Outlines
00:00
😱 Struggling to Fit In and Find My Place at UCLA Film School

05:00
😢 Battling Extreme Loneliness and Depression at UCLA Despite Having My Dream Opportunity

10:02
😌 Finally Finding My Groove and Making YouTube Videos I Loved

Mindmap
Keywords
💡film school
The video focuses on the narrator's experience attending the UCLA film school program. She discusses getting accepted, struggling through classes and internships, and trying to make the most of the opportunity despite challenges. Film school represents her dream of having a creative career in the film industry.
💡loneliness
A major theme of the video is the loneliness and isolation the narrator felt during her freshman year at UCLA, even though she expected college to be fun and social. This contrasts with the typical idea of a fun, friendly college experience.
💡internships
The video mentions the narrator's many unpaid internships in the film industry during college, which often involved menial tasks. This represents the competitiveness of Hollywood and the difficulty of getting a foot in the door.
💡YouTube
Creating YouTube videos was an creative outlet for the narrator and eventually enabled her to have an independent career. This highlights the role of new media for young creative professionals.
💡purpose
The narrator questions her purpose in multiple points in the video, struggling to find meaning in school and jobs that seem solely focused on making money. She tries refocusing on creative fulfillment.
💡writing
As a screenwriting student, the narrator discussions developing her writing craft through criticism from professors and peers. This exemplifies the learning process at film school.
💡expectations
A gap between the narrator's expectations of an exciting Hollywood and college experience versus the reality she faced is a main theme. She had to adjust her mindset and outlook.
💡perseverance
Despite multiple struggles and doubts, the narrator perseveres to complete her film degree earlier than normal. This demonstrates resilience and determination.
💡regret
By the end, the narrator expresses she does not regret attending college, even though it was difficult and different than expected. The education and growth were worthwhile.
💡debt
The video mentions the large expenses of attending an out-of-state school like UCLA, indicating taking on significant debt. Finances are a notable college challenge.
Highlights

I decided to pursue filmmaking even though it was a risky career path

I moved across the country not knowing anyone to start film school early and save money

The college experience didn't match my expectations - I felt lonely despite doing fun activities

I learned that filmmaking was more about business than art and creativity

I joined theater and started making YouTube videos again to make friends and find purpose

I used my YouTube portfolio to get a job so I could quit my minimum wage job sophomore year

I carefully timed when roommates were out to secretly film YouTube videos in our apartment

An urban planning class became one of my favorites, making me appreciate the liberal arts

I spent the summer working on my YouTube channel full-time and reached 100k subscribers

Sharing my writing weekly made me less protective of it and improved my ego and confidence

My professor was the first at UCLA to tell me I had talent and potential

College tuition is insane but a degree makes you smarter and see the world differently

Influencers encourage giving up on education because it's not fun, but it makes you stronger

The point of college should be the education, not just the social experience

Despite challenges, I don't regret going to film school and pursuing my dream

Transcripts

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