MFA in Digital Cinema at National University - Update

I started this journey by asking everyone's opinion about the tuition. Then, I decided I was going for it. Then, I got approved for the VA's VRAP program for a year's worth of GI Bill funds to pursue a vocational credential in Film & Video Technology, and decided to do that instead - because I was nervous about taking out a lot in new student loans after finally getting rid of my first set. At the time of my last post on the board a couple of months ago, I was going to go the VRAP route.

BUT, after thinking about it more, I decided not to discount myself or my skills and to give the MFA an honest shot. If it proved to be too advanced or fast-paced, then I would withdraw and go the VRAP route (I have two years to use it). Well, I'm happy to say that SO FAR everything is going well! I'm about 10 days away from being finished with my second class in the MFA in Digital Cinema. I got an A- in my first class, and so far I'm holding a solid B in the second class - with some completed assignments not yet graded as of writing this.

The classes are a lot of work, but if you practice good time management, it's doable. In the Digital Cinema program, classes are either 4 weeks or 8 weeks long, so there's a LOT of ground to cover in a short time. But, again, with good time management it can be done. And, once you finish a class, you have anywhere from zero days to 3 days until the next class starts. In other words, you just roll right along, LOL. My next class starts the day that my current class officially ends, and I have just one day's break between the end of my next class and the start of the one after it. I don't get a real break until Christmas.

The instructors I've had are experienced in the areas they're teaching, and very knowledgeable about what they're teaching. My classmates have all been very cool, friendly people and many of them have some kind of experience in the film industry - one classmate in my last class is/was a studio exec, for example.

So, if you're interested in film school and iffy about the networking prospects of attending NU vs a "name" film school, I don't think it's a problem. One of the advantages of this program being online (except for the month-long residency) is that people who are already established and connected in the industry can attend without having to quit their jobs.

For it's online courses, National University uses the eCollege platform. It's easy to navigate and learn to use. It doesn't need Flash or any fancy plugins, so there haven't been any crashes. When any maintenance has to be done, we're notified well in advance. I don't know if it's a directive of the university, or if it's just my department, but my textbooks haven't cost an arm and a leg. We've used regular books available at any bookstore. I don't think I've spent $50 on books for both my classes, combined.

National University's drawback is that it doesn't have any scholarships or grants (that I know of) for graduate students. For financial aid, you're stuck with Direct Stafford Loans and/or the Grad PLUS Loan for financing. Although graduate students are allowed to apply for Perkins Loans, National University reserves them for undergraduate students only.

If you want scholarships or grants, you have to search them out for yourself. As far as graduate tuition goes, it was $360 per quarter credit until Sept. 4, 2012 when it increased to $372 per credit. Certain veterans, DOD employees, and civilians employed on military bases get a tuition discount.

Well, that's pretty much it. If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask. I'll do my best to answer accurately.

 

Congratulations, it sounds like you are rolling along quite nicely. I was not able to find grants or scholarships for graduate programs I attended at National University, Northcentral University or Liberty University. I don't know about the other schools, but it seems like there aren't many available to graduate students.

 

Thank you! Yes, I'm rolling right along. I really like that I only have to take one class at a time and there isn't a lot of lag between them - no time to get bored and/or lazy and tune out. I'll be done with my first year on March 30, 2013.

Liberty probably has graduate assistantships, scholarships, and other financial aid options for grad students attending on campus. I wish they had a film program online, because I qualify for their veteran's tuition discount. I don't qualify for National's veteran's tuition discount because honorably discharged vets are excluded.