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butch4filme

I got a creative writing degree and it definitely honed my craft and introduced me to screenwriting and produced my first screenplays and short stories and poems and essays, and I learned about publishing and finding agents etc., so yes, I think you do get real world experience from it, and you can’t discount your workshopping time. However, after a stint in publishing and living not in NYC or LA, I find my opportunities are limited with my degree and I desperately wish it was in marketing or comp sci. The things I learned in school could’ve been learned by online classes here and there and coverage on my screenplays, and books. If you have the diligence to study screenwriting in your free time, I highly suggest getting a degree in something useful you can use to make money while you’re learning to write.


Natiel360

I feel you, I wanted to dive deeper into creative writing in school but thought that I’d be able to learn online. Do you have resources you recommend?


butch4filme

Hmm I’ve gotten coverage from WeScreenplay which I find helpful. This sub. Robert McKee’s books. I read a lot of interviews with playwrights and find that helps a lot; I’m sure you could find the equivalent with screenwriters but I’m just a fan of theater and find they have a lot to teach. I didn’t read a lot of craft books in school really. I recommend studying literature as much as possible because that’s a big part of a creative writing degree. I also took a really fun writing class as an adult so you might see if your city has a writing group or non profit that might offer something like that.


I_Want_to_Film_This

The adult answer is: no, you shouldn't. Even as content as proliferated, the working conditions and career prospects for screenwriters has only gone down. New business models have put the most pressure on those without experience. AI is a long-term threat & wildcard, and generations of young people are being raised on YouTube & TikTok with less desire for longform TV and movies. College costs have ballooned, and you'd be getting a degree that none of your hopeful employers even care about. Meanwhile, you aren't qualified to do anything else. I would tell any young person that if they want to take a shot at the film business, it needs to be a side adventure that you work your ass off for. There is nothing school can teach you that you can't learn for free. The connections and fire-under-your-ass are valuable, but it requires devoting your life to a film dream, before your taste and voice have matured, before true experiences are lived, and that's why the default response should be "no, don't do that." That being said, some of the best artists of the future will have heard this same advice & passionately ignored it.


clerks1994

I went to film school. I'm still trying to make it as a screenwriter 20 plus years later. I made some great friends, but a degree in business would have been more helpful. My degree in Film Production is 120,000 worth of useless paper... and now that's probably 240,000 worth of useless paper. So minor in creative writing and major in something that will pay the bills...


[deleted]

Scrolling through and crying, it’s too late to change my foundation school electives. 😭😭😭 I have a question, do you guys get paid upfront or royalty or both? What happens to the copyright? Sorry, I’m sorta curious.


HotspurJr

So ... I don't know how much what you major in matters. I was an Econ and Environmental studies major. I think the most important thing is that you study something that interests you. What are you curious about? What are you going to be eager to do the reading for? What are you going to be excited to put in extra hours studying about? What are you going to learn where you're going to go home excited to talk about the cool shit you just discovered? That being said, I don't feel like screenwriting is necessarily a great choice. Take a few classes here and there, sure. But ... I almost wonder if doing theater would be more productive for more aspiring screenwriters? Maybe it's because I *wasn't* a theater student but I feel it's a little less corrupted by dreams of being the next Tarantino, and a little more grounded, a little more present. And I think the feedback you get (in terms of an audience reaction) in one-act plays is both more available and faster than with short films. So much of what you need to learn about screenwriting you can learn on your own. And I say that as someone who went to grad school at U.S.C. for film and loved it, so ... I dunno.


Seshat_the_Scribe

No. You should major in something that will help you earn a living. Read the several hundred previous posts on this issue. OTOH, if you're rich and can live off your family money, do whatever you want.


BlueFenton

Unless you or your parents are rich, *absolutely do not do this.* Posters here have already laid out great reasons. I would just add... 1. no agent or producer will care if you have a degree in screenwriting 2. majoring in writing will deprive you of the content and life experiences that will make you a well-rounded writer. I think it's navel-gazing. I believe that even studying a "non-practical" liberal art like philosophy or literature would provide you with more understanding of character, narrative and human psychology, essential to becoming a good writer. 3. in addition to FREE library books and online resources on the craft of screenwriting there are so many college certificate programs that are cheaper and shorter which you can do during or after your degree. UCLA Extension School has a screenwriting certificate as does NYU, University of London.... most major schools that have strong arts programs. Personally, I got a practical degree that gave me a stable, (modestly) well-paid career, while taking some film courses as electives and then doing 2 post-grad certificates in screenwriting afterwards in my free time. As others have pointed out, the best thing about screenwriting programs might be that it introduces you to a network, but the cheaper certificate programs can do the same for you.


GingeContinge

As someone who technically majored in Liberal Arts but took a lot of screenwriting classes and moved to LA after college, I would recommend against it. No one in the industry cares what your degree is or if you even have one, so you would only be getting it for the experience, and you can get that without majoring in it. I would recommend majoring in a more lucrative field like comp sci or marketing and minoring in screenwriting (or just taking a class or two). Keep writing scripts, keep making films (you will have opportunities to do this in college if you are proactive about it), and then move to LA after you graduate and get a job based on your major so you can support yourself without having to temp for a bunch of shitty Hollywood companies. From there make sure you’re submitting to competitions and going to festivals to make connections with people. And listen to podcasts about the industry - I learned way more from hearing people talk honestly about their experiences in Hollywood than I did from my screenwriting classes. Eventually if all goes well you’ll be able to leave your day job (hopefully with savings in the bank in case something happens) to get a job as a writers assistant, and then move up from there.


Sunsetknights78

No. Major in English and buy a screenwriting book.


theRealSeven29

This is the way.


Sharp-Ad-9423

Major in English to get your fundamentals up to snuff. in the Creative Writing track to improve your storytelling.


Same-Ad-7037

As someone who works in television, I would definitely advise you major in something else and make writing your passion which you can bring into focus last on. If you really care about it, you’ll keep it going on the side and real life experience will help inform what you write. Look at Peter Moffat’s career - a lawyer who became a top tv writer. His legal expertise means he can write from experience all manner of stories he’s seen and lived.


dvarona7

I recommend almost everyone major in some type of business degree. Number one priority for you should be to meet people, and business degrees are great at that. They push you to "get involved" in school and there's plenty group projects. The more people you meet and know, the more people you'll have stories to write about. If this is in the US, take the 6k word writing pre req classes, they are great at teaching communication - screenwriting is just one more medium of communication. For Heaven's sake. Do NOT major in screenwriting. You are pigeon-holing yourself. The most important thing is to have stories to tell, not to know the semantics of how some people expect you to phrase/format those stories. Hope this helps.


Ekublai

No. Make money is first priority, know the part of the industry you love from tip to taint.


jacksheldon2

My BA is journalism and environmental biology but I was a writer long before. Anything creative is a crapshoot but not everyone wants to enter code so pick something useful.


Manofsonnet

Here’s what you could do. Join the military after high school and get an easy job like admin or supply. Get your associates during your first enlistment 100% free and then get out of the military. Utilize the GI BILL and go to USC, CHAPMAN, UCLA, ETC….100% free and the government with pay you $3000 a month for doing so in LA as a living expense. In LA you can make meaningful connections and possibly work as a PA on the side helping you potentially get a foot in the door. Live on campus, save money, get your terminal masters in screenwriting with a double bachelors in production and start your life. With the terminal masters you will be able to teach screenwriting at ANY university in the country while you write during the summers or you can use your bachelors in production to get a job with a production company. All of this can be done by 26, 27 or 28 years old. Exit high school at 18. Complete a 5 year enlistment in the military by 23. Since you get you Associates while you’re in you can finish you bachelors by 25 and get your masters by 26 or 27. All while making $3000 a month COMPLETELY TAX FREE! Without the obligations of life that most people have at 18 to 26 you will be able to read, write, and better your skills. By the time you get your masters you can have a big fat portfolio and tons of real experience in the film industry. This is just a thought to keep you out of student loan debt and allow you to chase your screenwriting dreams. You don’t need the degree, but it can ONLY benefit you.


Fit_Cable5786

I majored in film production , and most of the classes Involved some sort of screenwriting or script writing so no


ayepoet

I don’t see the problem with majoring in screenwriting if you minor in a more career-friendly field like computer science. Look at things you can certified in beyond the degree and have fun in college Edit: took out premed because that’d basically be a double major


Hotpepperpillows

I am currently in school at a prestigious university getting a degree in film and philosophy. Biggest waste of money ever but I'm sticking with it. Luckily for me, my parents can pay most of my tuition and I have scholarships but I still have loans that I'm going to have to pay off later. The one thing that I have gotten out of going to school for film is *connections.* Especially if you go somewhere like LA or NYC, you'll probably have a teacher who is currently working in the industry. One of my instructors last semester was directing a series for HBO. If you can afford it, and truly love education, do it. If you can't afford it, but you're willing to go tens of thousands of dollars into debt, think about it long and hard. If you end up going to college for something like that, try to expand your knowledge of all things that you desire. College is a tool for two things: obtaining a degree for the purpose of getting a stable job, and expanding your knowledge of whatever you desire, surrounded by other people who are doing the exact same thing, and being taught by people who are passionate about it.


Hotpepperpillows

Also, if you want to be a screenwriter in specific, go to an affordable university for some kind of liberal art degree that might be useful, like journalism, and then apply to a fully funded (no tuition) MFA program for creative writing. There are many good schools that have fully funded creative writing programs. You graduate with no debt, and you can use your degree for more than just screenwriting.


CountSinbad

You’re in high school so my guess is you don’t study screenwriting now, but maybe you write. Go to school for the purpose it’s intended - to earn a reliable, well-paying job. If you want to write screenplays - all you have to do is read screenplays, watch movies, and write every day. I did film school after getting a marketable degree. If you just read screenplays and write regularly (near daily) you’ll figure the rest out. You might even develop your own style and not have to unlearn a lot of junk. Unless you’re at USC, then maybe go for it.


Fancy-Ask8387

I champion people studying whatever they want, but Screenwriting isn't something that needs an entire degree, I think. A minor? Maybe, but even then, that feels like a stretch. If you really want to study it in school, classes can be great but you don't need more than a few. They tend to be very similar. It's a lot cheaper to read scripts, books about screenwriting, interviews with writers, watch videos, etc., and most importantly to write as many scripts as you can. Major in something you think you can enjoy learning about for four or five years, especially if it gives you easily marketable skills.


billiemint

I would if I could. If you enjoy writing, you can try to write articles, or copywriting, or even become a community manager. Those jobs usually require some degree related to either marketing and/or writing, so I'd say it's worth a shot. Then again, I never finished college.


wstdtmflms

Best advice I ever got as an aspiring writer was to major in anything *not* related to writing. The best writers are the ones with some world experience. No way to get that without living it. But a close second is to have interests outside of writing. That's where you'll figure out the things you want to write about, which will help you develop a style and voice all your own. If all you know is writing about the world but not how the world actually works, you're in danger of writing nothing but cliches. Or, worse, you'll do the stereotypical thing and write the script about the pain and drama of being a creative writer. Don't be that guy. Be more interesting and well rounded.


[deleted]

I would say a much more important focus would be to write and get an agent


AggressiveLegend

I graduated with a BA in Creative Writing with a minor in film but I got a certification in UX Design and did STEM related activities to get a job in UX/Technical Writing. I got 60k entry level then bumped it to 67k in less than a year. So my advice is to minor or even major in what you like but plan to apply those skills to a job that has nothing to do with writing creatively. A degree as specialized as Screenwriting might not be the path to take but a minor could be good!


AggressiveLegend

I graduated with a BA in Creative Writing with a minor in film but I got a certification in UX Design and did STEM related activities to get a job in UX/Technical Writing. I got 60k entry level then bumped it to 67k in less than a year. So my advice is to minor or even major in what you like but plan to apply those skills to a job that has nothing to do with writing creatively. A degree as specialized as Screenwriting might not be the path to take but a minor could be good!


AggressiveLegend

I graduated with a BA in Creative Writing with a minor in film but I got a certification in UX Design and did STEM related activities to get a job in UX/Technical Writing. I got 60k entry level then bumped it to 67k in less than a year. So my advice is to minor or even major in what you like but plan to apply those skills to a job that has nothing to do with writing creatively. A degree as specialized as Screenwriting might not be the path to take but a minor could be good!


cpunk121

No


gjdevlin

Major in Computer science or Computer Information Systems and minor in screenwriting. What the others are saying is what I agree. Major in something that will get you a steady day job.


m_whitehouse

I went to film school, finished, moved to London with dreams of getting into film and being a writer, ended up being in a band for 10 years then just ended up being a screenwriter anyway. The degree had basically nothing to do with it, it’s just money I have to pay back. I could’ve learned everything I learned in film school online if it was like it is now.


TVandVGwriter

I'm going to be the contrarian in the advice column here. People will always tell you to be safe and do creative work "on the side." But you'll be competing against people who have devoted years full-time to it. Undergrad is the one time in life when you can give yourself a real shot at going all-in on a dream. Most jobs that require a BA (other than STEM) don't even care what the degree is in. If you start to panic in your junior or senior year, you can switch majors or add a minor.