When I applied to NYU, I knew I was joining one of the most globally connected universities—especially when it comes to its study away opportunities. As a Tisch Film & TV student, I felt an immediate pull to explore those opportunities beyond New York.
I considered several options: experimental production in Paris, learning the art of 35mm film in Prague, and hands-on producing courses in London. Each location offered a unique lens through which to view the film industry. But one destination stood out to me—not because it was far from home, but because it felt like the next step toward it: Los Angeles.
There was something unique and intimate about the NYU Los Angeles program, especially for a student like me who’s building a career centered around entertainment. Known as the epicenter of the film and television world, LA offered more than just sunshine and palm trees. It offered access—to professionals, to studios, to real-life industry workflows that mirror what I hope to be doing post-graduation.
Student Life in the Sun
The NYU LA Academic Center is located right across The Grove in Fairfax. The Farmers Market @ The Grove was super accessible for fresh groceries and trying different foods. Students lived about a 15 minute walk away from the academic building in Park La Brea Apartments. These are apartment-style townhouses with two bedrooms, a shared kitchen, bath, and living/dining area. The gated community was home to many LA families, some smaller parks, a gym/pool area, and the occasional neighborhood rooster. The location felt like it was in the center of everywhere you would need to go in LA.
Internship & Pre-Professional Opportunities
As I entered my junior year as a Film and Television student, prioritizing career development and industry experience was a major reason I chose to study away at NYU Los Angeles. Over the summer, I worked as a Creative Intern at a production company that produces sketch comedy and low-budget films.
NYU LA students work with an internship coordinator to ensure you’re pursuing hands-on, career-aligned internships alongside your courses while in Los Angeles. My internship deepened my understanding of film producing, script coverage, and creative collaboration, and it gave me a stronger sense of how to approach future opportunities in the industry.
Beyond my internship, NYU LA hosted and promoted mentorship events and networking sessions at companies like UTA and CAA. One of the mentorship days we hosted brought back NYU alumni who now work full-time in Los Angeles. After some incredibly thoughtful conversations, I stayed connected with several alumni—and even landed the chance to work as a production assistant on a commercial shoot in Malibu.
Academics
Over the summer, NYU Los Angeles offered about 6 different classes based in 3 different schools: Steinhardt, Stern, and Tisch. These courses are all centralized around the entertainment industry, covering topics related to business and entertainment law, marketing, producing, and media. For example, I took Media Audiences & Movie Marketing
All students are also required to take a seminar class called Experiential Learning Seminar. This course serves to complement your internship credits, while also giving you pre-professional fundamentals and networking opportunities during your time in LA. The class focuses on practical skills. We worked on resumes, cover letters, personal projects, and event planning.
The biggest Marquee event that I took away from this course was attending the 2025 Hollywood Climate Summit. This is an industry-wide gathering that brings together creators, executives, activists, and policymakers to drive climate action and sustainable storytelling across film, TV, and media. I attended some very cool panels and got to learn more about how the entertainment industry can fuel action.
As part of the course, I also created and hosted my own event: NYU LA Brag Night. It was an evening for students to share their work without filters. They could pitch themselves, their skills, and their projects to classmates. It became a space to spark future collaborations (and friendships!).
Exploring Los Angeles
During my two and a half months in Los Angeles, I made sure to explore as much as possible. I took trips to Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach, Little Tokyo, and Burbank, and visited classic tourist spots like Hollywood Boulevard, Griffith Observatory, Universal Studios, and Six Flags Magic Mountain. I also went to some unforgettable events, including seeing The Weeknd at SoFi Stadium, attending Rigoletto at the opera for my Media Audiences class, and watching a Valorant E-Sports game at Riot’s VCT Americas.
Of course—I ate incredibly well too. I stopped at In-N-Out (a must), but also visited my personal favorites like MOD Pizza and SomiSomi. To top it all off, my cohort ended the semester with free tickets to Disneyland, which felt like the perfect way to wrap up an already unforgettable summer.
Community Building
The NYU LA staff and Student Program Assistants do an amazing job of building community and making sure students connect outside of class and internships. Throughout the semester, they organize a variety of events designed to help us explore the city, meet new people, and unwind after busy weeks. Some of my personal favorites were the K-Town food crawl, a cozy and competitive game night, and the end-of-year celebration that brought the whole cohort together.
If you’re curious about the kinds of activities they offer, check out @nyulosangeles on Instagram—they’re always sharing highlights from the programs they host.
Conclusion
Overall, this program strengthened my pre-professional drive, deepened my friendships, and pushed me far outside my comfort zone.
What made it even more meaningful was experiencing Los Angeles in contrast to New York. These two cities may be the twin capitals of American entertainment, but their creative rhythms, cultures, and industry ecosystems couldn’t be more different. Studying in both has given me a fuller, more balanced understanding of the world I hope to build a career in.
Thank you, LA — I’ll see you again soon.
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