Is Northwestern or UCLA better for getting entertainment internships?

For students who want to pursue entertainment internships during the academic year, UCLA offers the more direct advantage. Its Westwood location puts students within commuting distance of major entertainment hubs in Hollywood, Burbank, Century City, Culver City, and Santa Monica. UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television, broader alumni presence in Los Angeles, and campus career programming create frequent opportunities to meet working professionals and pursue part-time internships while enrolled.

UCLA is particularly well positioned for a student hoping to explore several parts of the industry, such as development, production, talent representation, marketing, streaming, or film and TV business. Being nearby makes informational interviews, networking events, production assistant work, and school-year internships more realistic than they are from most campuses. Students still need to apply and network actively, but the local ecosystem is a meaningful practical advantage.

Northwestern can be an excellent fit for a student who values its Evanston/Chicago campus experience and wants a strong academic foundation in Radio/Television/Film, journalism, writing, theatre, or communications. Its alumni network reaches deeply into entertainment, and Northwestern students can build relevant experience through Chicago media, student productions, and Los Angeles-focused opportunities, including programs and internships pursued over the summer. Medill can also be especially valuable for someone interested in entertainment journalism, criticism, publicity, or media strategy.

The tradeoff is that at Northwestern, many Los Angeles internships require spending a summer in California or arranging a dedicated quarter away, whereas UCLA students can more readily build industry experience throughout the year. For a senior whose top priority is steady, in-person access to the film and television business from the first year onward, UCLA has the clearer edge.