If you have the grades for USC, you'd be crazy not to apply. Even if you don't, 60 dollars or whatever the application fee is isn't too bad.
Don't let financial issues concern you. If you get into a good school, they'll pay. My family's not that wealthy, but we're getting about 30 grand a year in loans and financial aid, and every school I was accepted to offered a similar amount of money (over 20 grand in pure scholarship, I think.) Go for it. You're in a position where if you get rejected, you won't care too much from the sound of things, and if you're considering applying, you obviously have great grades. Try other places like NYU. Columbia has a great film studies major, too, and they're very highly respected. The school I go to (Weslyean University) has an excellent film studies major and a bunch of alumni in Hollywood, but if you want to make movies instead of analyzing them, stay far, far away. It's pretty easy to get into compared with USC, though, and you don't need a portfolio or anything (average SATs are only around 1410.)
Don't let financial issues concern you. If you get into a good school, they'll pay. My family's not that wealthy, but we're getting about 30 grand a year in loans and financial aid, and every school I was accepted to offered a similar amount of money (over 20 grand in pure scholarship, I think.) Go for it. You're in a position where if you get rejected, you won't care too much from the sound of things, and if you're considering applying, you obviously have great grades. Try other places like NYU. Columbia has a great film studies major, too, and they're very highly respected. The school I go to (Weslyean University) has an excellent film studies major and a bunch of alumni in Hollywood, but if you want to make movies instead of analyzing them, stay far, far away. It's pretty easy to get into compared with USC, though, and you don't need a portfolio or anything (average SATs are only around 1410.)