Reviews of Columbia College Hollywood (College)

Susan Lea

A good idea in 1952. Useful education through the 1960's and 1970's. Many of the students have no fluency in English making team work nearly impossible. Most of the nonprofessional teaching staff are unpleasant and unhelpful. The school is not run to maximize professional training. Is the school just a rip off? That's how it seems. They are targeting the Spanish speaking demographics, and the entire admissions staff are Hispanic for that reason. Maybe it was a good school even 15 years ago, but no longer.

cREAtive Castle Studios

Amazing talent has succeeded at this hands-on college and we are lucky to have been working with some of them and helping promote them both offline and online in their careers following graduation from this amazing film college! There are many large changes underway that are being elevated to make this college even more seamless, engaging and educational coming in the near future and we can't wait to see what they do!

Carlos Juarez

EVERYONE PLEASE READY. THIS SCHOOL IS A SCAM I KNEW 3 GUYS FROM THERE WHERE THEY TOOK THERE MONEY AWAY OUT OF POCKET WHILE HAVING A LOAN , DONT GO TOWARDS THEM . RUUNNN AWAY . STILL WAITIG FOR SOMEONE TO CLOSE THIS SCAM SCHOOL . RUNNNNNNNNNN RUNNNNNNNN RUNNNNNNN . THE PEOPLE FROM FINANCIAL AID DONT EVEN HELP YOUUUUUU. RUNNNNNNNNNNN —->

Lorenzo Tum

It’s so Amazing

Nicole Holmes

Coming to Columbia College Hollywood, I didn't know what to expect. I am Pleased to report that I am extremely happy with my decision to attend CCH. The instructors are working industry professionals, you get your hands on equipment your very first quarter, the classes are small creating individualized attention and the faculty/staff are extremely helpful. I have met so many friends and the networking opportunities are endless! I can say with great certainty, I am proud to be a Columbia College Hollywood Student! Thank you CCH!

Alyssa Lopez

Great film school filled with professionals as teachers

Bilal Jovovich

I want to became best Hollywood actor please help me

Jess Matney

There are some really great projects that come from the students and faculty here. I pleased to have been a part of a few.

Jack Armstrong

I recommend staying away from this school. They continue to make it extremely hard for students to shoot projects and succeed as student filmmakers and here’s why. I am a senior and have been going to CCH now for 4 years now, and I couldn't be more disappointed with the school's continued poor management, lack of adequate film equipment and the always changing policies, faculty, professors, renovations, that makes it difficult to receive a quality education, especially as a cinematography emphasis student. My professors have always been very smart, honest and genuine. I have thoroughly loved all of my professors and peers I meet in my classes. There are many things the school just can't get right, after years and years of trial and failure. The true meaning of WASC "accreditation" should make you stop and think, especially after being a student for years. One of the major selling points at CCH, as an aspiring film student, and why I initially decided to go here was the fact that classes are hands-on, and that it would be easy to check out equipment for student projects. From my experience, and many others as well, that process has been extremely difficult; sometimes canceling shoots because they haven't "agreed" to let the student use the equipment on their class project. Thus severely crippling our learning environment when we should be learning and working on creative endeavors. This has forced many students to rent equipment outside of the school, since it seems you can't rely on equipment from the school we pay tuition to go to. These are class projects that often times are told they can't check out equipment, sometimes only a few items, other times requests of any equipment will be denied, and given vague reasons, or none at all. They also charge students every quarter for additional equipment production insurance, on equipment that most students won't be able to check out or use for their projects. This is charged regardless of whether you use the equipment for any school projects, and is in addition to all other fees and tuition! There is not much of a sense of a student body, or student life at CCH due to all students living off campus and few events being held. Also with only 400-500 students enrolled at any given time, it's a small school that is focused on the film arts, and various emphasizes in the entertainment industry. I do truly enjoy this aspect a lot. Though recently more events and activities are starting to be held at the school. However, this changes every quarter, so you don't know if it will last and can't expect it to. The career development center has always been struggling to be filled with someone who will stick around longer than six months. This is the case with almost all of the staff, including 3-4 deans within the past 1-2 years. Much of the faculty leaves after they secure other jobs, or end up with better work in the film industry. The problem is that it always seems there is a wave of new people come in at once, who don't know much about the system, or what they are doing. You'll be told the school is always changing and hiring better people, but very little ever seems to change for the better. And after a year, most professors and office staff either leave, are fired, or put on a permanent "leave", and students are left chasing around new people not knowing where to go, not always knowing what happened to old staff/professors/faculty. I would really like to recommend CCH after my years here, but can NOT RECOMMEND them until they get themselves together, fix polices and resolve equipment issues by updating equipment for all students! It’s really hard to be a film school with broken, lacking equipment and changing curriculums... If you do decide to go here just learn to make the most of it and work on as many projects as you can. Everything in life is a learning experience no mater how you slice it!

Joshua Campbell

Columbia College Hollywood is a wonderful school with unbelievable students and staff. It is a hands-on college. That's all I need to say. The first class you take as a Freshmen in your first quarter requires you to write, direct and edit an original short film. In the first month of classes, you touch and work with equipment and edit on bays with Avid Media Composer, Final Cut Studio and Adobe Premiere Suite. All computers in the school are outfitted with Final Draft, an industry standard in screenwriting software. Every day, people are on the hot sets located around the school- either with a class or working on a student film. The school is always busy with productions. Students that attend CCH are always working on projects. Things change instantly at the school every day, making the college a dynamic environment. Almost every day there are students hosting professional Casting Calls in the casting call rooms in the school. Actors from around LA audition for CCH's productions. A lot of people underestimate Columbia College Hollywood's abilities. The fact is, the talent I have seen at this school is insurmountable. One of the greatest things about attending Columbia College Hollywood is that you live as an LA local when you attend school. I haven't lived in Los Angeles for very long, but I can't even imagine how terrible it would be to live in dorms on a restricted campus. Living as residents here exposes you to the incredibly diverse cultures that thrive in this wonderful city. CCH and the apartments recommended by the housing department are located in very safe suburbs in the valley. To refer back to the school aspect of Columbia College Hollywood, I want to recommend to you the teachers and staff that work here. My professors mean a lot to me. They're very personable and available to talk to. Most of them become good friends, which only helps when trying to make connections in the industry after your study at CCH finishes. I am very thankful to have met such kind and open people. The admissions team is phenomenal. The staff is exquisite. The administration is top-notch. Oh, and don't even get me started about the people who work in the equipment center. They are lovely in so many ways. The amount of work they put into preparing, repairing and organizing equipment is astonishing. I am so thankful for them. As well, the security professionals at the school are the nicest people. Just talk to them and I can guarantee you will be best friends with them. I hope you take this comment into consideration when you apply to Columbia College Hollywood. Choosing to attend CCH was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Jason Ohar

Great School to attend in the Valley off Reseda...Awesome security and parking..

Enrico Cecchi

I’m now a sophomore directing emphasis and I got to be honest, the school is good. I’ve learned so much only in the first year it’s amazing. I really don’t understand some of these bad reviews but they may have had different experiences than me. Making it in the film industry isn’t about relying on people to do work for you and it isn’t about working by yourself. The school teaches that. Only reason I’m giving it a four is because of the current student atmosphere. It really doesn’t feel like a college campus more like a place where you get information and experience. I can’t explain it well. It just isn’t your typical college campus but for the tuition price compared to other schools and the knowledge learned, it’s worth attending.