What's the one thing you wish you knew before applying to film school? What would you have done differently in your application?

[Chris W]

For those that've applied... what's the one thing you wish you knew when applying? What would you have changed or done differently in your application if you did it again?

People's responses to this could be very helpful to future applicants!

From what I've heard and read from interviews... biggest advice I would give would be to be yourself and not the person you think the program wants in your application.

 

[BottleCityJay]

I would have asked for application fee waivers. I found after I had submitted the majority of my applications that a lot of places will give you a fee waiver if you just ask, especially if you schedule an information session with an admissions counselor then ask them. I would have saved a nice amount of money had I known that.

 

[Deleted member 28068]

there are a lot of small, cringe things i noticed in my applications to nyu and nfts, just in the way i communicated certain goals, but the biggest piece of advice i can give—beyond the be yourself stuff—is that it’s ok to be nervous during your interview. it’s even ok to royally f up your interview, which i did. they’re professionals who have done this for a long time, and i didn’t give them due credit to see past my bumbling inanities. in hindsight, i would’ve stressed much less about my interviews and allowed myself to be more comfortable with my own nervousness.

 

[Yougotthis]

There is a big emphasis in these programs on- what can you bring to a piece? Why are you the writer/director/etc. to tell this story? But equally important now seems to be the question of- what can you bring this grad school community? What can you bring as a future member of your artistic community? Answering these things with honesty, thoughtfulness, and something genuinely exciting seems very important.

 

[Yougotthis]

there are a lot of small, cringe things i noticed in my applications to nyu and nfts, just in the way i communicated certain goals, but the biggest piece of advice i can give—beyond the be yourself stuff—is that it’s ok to be nervous during your interview. it’s even ok to royally f up your interview, which i did. they’re professionals who have done this for a long time, and i didn’t give them due credit to see past my bumbling inanities. in hindsight, i would’ve stressed much less about my interviews and allowed myself to be more comfortable with my own nervousness.

What a great piece of advice. The nerves are normal, it's because you care, and because you're human. Your interviewers don't want to see a robot, they want to see a whole person. So cut yourself some slack, the more you acknowledge your nerves, the more you'll relax I bet too.

 

[catmom]

What's in the actual curriculum. Don't apply to a school just because it's a big name, make sure it offers what you're looking to get from going to school!
Figure out what you want from a program, and find ones that suit that. I wanted a program with a tight-knit and supportive alumni, offers the ability to teach, and gives me the opportunity to direct again but focus mainly on writing. I also wanted a collaborative, not competitive community. I got very lucky that FSU had everything I wanted, thought I was a good fit for the program as well, is in-state, and a four hour drive from my family.

 

[Sinema]

I would have asked for application fee waivers. I found after I had submitted the majority of my applications that a lot of places will give you a fee waiver if you just ask, especially if you schedule an information session with an admissions counselor then ask them. I would have saved a nice amount of money had I known that.

Great tip. applying really adds up Where did you end up?