Expert: Bruce - 3/23/2009

Question
Hello, I am a Jr. in High School, looking for a Christ-centered, solid Christian college.  My interests are in fiction Writing (screenwriting and screen plays especially)
but I want to keep option open for major or minor in Advertising/PR.  I love creative projects and planning.  I also thought of being an Event Planner.  It has been difficult, even after a lot of research, to find a Christian school with these two majors or at least opportunities in them.                                     Another question:  Is it really unrealistic to get a job in screenwriting or advertising?  One Communications professor I contacted at a college told me it is about as hard as becoming a Hollywood actor!                      (I also really want to continue playing varsity Volleyball at a competetive level- to make this search even harder!)  But, I need to find my interests/major first and then volleyball will follow, I hope.   I desire suburban or a country area but it needs to be within 1/2 - 1 hour of a big airport because i will fly back to California LAX (home) frequently.  Also- I prefer NOT to stay in California and am open to different weather.  Snow sounds great. Can you help?  Thank you!


Answer
Maddy,

Sorry for the delayed reply.......

I suggest that you start out with a look at Houghton College in western New York. I am pretty familiar with this school.

It is just over and hour from Buffalo and Rochester airports. Western New York offers cold (sometimes snowy) winter weather, and beautiful falls.

Houghton is a highly residential Christian college in a small town, but with approx 40 states and 25 nations represented on campus.

HC offers majors in writing and in communication. The latter offers concentrations in relevant things like integrated marketing communication and new media. In general there is an appreciation for creative endeavor at this school.

Houghton has a very viable NAIA volleyball program.

As far as screenwriting, it probably is tough to break into, but, like many fields, if you are good and you persist opportunities can come your way. Please go to the CCCU web site and look up the Los Angeles Film Studies Institute, a special program to which Christian colleges send students to give them exposure to the film industry. This might be especially significant for your career aspirations.

I hope this helps. Other good Christian schools to explore:

Gordon College
Milligan College
Calvin College

I hope this helps. Let me know if you have more questions.

Bruce