2016 Interviews- Acceptances- Rejections (3 Viewers)

[WriterGirl]

Didn't really apply to a lot of West Coast Schools, cause I feel more 'at home' with the East Coast sensibility. For me, Columbia is the first preference cause it really focuses on the craft of storytelling. Plus I feel at this point I'd rather improve my writing & direction as compared to editing.

And of course, as an international applicant, even I open every mail with a not-so-excited face cause I know that not getting a scholarship would diminish all my chances of attending Grad school in the US. So it's pretty confusing somehow.

Let's see what future has stored in for us, cause I'm sure everyone's worked hard on their applications. I guess the rest is all a matter of chance and luck.

I'm the exact opposite. Since my main interest is Television Writing everyone has told me I need to be in LA, so I applied mostly to West Coast schools, despite the fact that I love NYC and would enjoy living there very much (I get a feeling I would identify more with NYC than LA, but who knows, I might end up falling crazy in love with LA). Columbia is an amazing school and their program really sounds GREAT to me, so we'll see what happens when they send their decisions.

I share your interest on honing the storytelling part of this process, although my feeling from reading and talking to programs is that AFI, USC, and UCLA (as well as Columbia, of course) are very much into nurturing our voices, so there's that

Finances are a make or break kinda deal for many people, definitely, so we'll see what is offered and what can be worked out!

Best of luck to all of us during this exciting time!

 

[Mxms]

Got a waitlist email from USC on Tuesday! In for Spring, and for Fall if anyone drops out.

Good luck to everyone waiting for a response! This forum has been so incredibly helpful so thanks to everyone who has posted here.

Just a question for anyone who knows: When do we find out about scholarships? And does anyone know about any other scholarships we can apply to? Also, does NYU and UCLA only accept people they interview?

 

[Nikhail]

Are there still people that haven't heard anything from USC for the MFA screenwriting?

 

[Solomon_E]

Are there still people that haven't heard anything from USC for the MFA screenwriting?

I haven't heard anything and I applied to the writing for screen and TV program. I know there are others here who haven't heard anything yet.

 

[WriterGirl]

Are there still people that haven't heard anything from USC for the MFA screenwriting?

Me. Only cricket sounds on their end for me.

 

[Donald]

Are there still people that haven't heard anything from USC for the MFA screenwriting?

I haven't heard anything from USC as a MFA screenwriting applicant.

 

[TezcaJuan]

@Nikhail I also applied for screenwriting at USC and still haven't heard anything either.

 

[Boethius]

I also got provisionally accepted to UCLA's screenwriting MFA program today! It's an incredible program, and I'm super excited by the prospect.

Provisionally = until my undergrad transcripts check out with the graduate school department proper.

Haven't heard anything back from USC either.

 

[marion06]

Still waiting to hear back from the writing program for USC, Chapman, and hearing back from AFI on April 4th. Was admitted to LMU though and waiting for the letter in the mail.

 

[bvels]

Just got my rejection email from NYU. Figured it was coming since I didn't get an interview. Oh well, at least I finally know. Still hoping for good news from Columbia and UCLA!

 

[Solomon_E]

Just got my rejection email from NYU. Figured it was coming since I didn't get an interview. Oh well, at least I finally know. Still hoping for good news from Columbia and UCLA!

I'm guessing I'll get a NYU rejection too, for the same reason. Thanks for posting the update.

 

[tutenkhamen]

Received my rejection letter from NYU as well. I wasn't holding my breath really. But what's bumming me is that they didn't even watch my showreel/portfolio! (checked my Youtube stats) So it's a little weird, to have applied and not receiving a thorough review of materials. -shrugs-

Anyway, I'm really looking forward to hear from Columbia! But they won't be responding atleast till the end of the month. (interviews go on till the 16th)

 

[Paul J.]

@tutenkhamen I am with you on that 100%

Got rejected by NYU without an interview and like tut, without them really looking into my portfolio. I say "really", because my youtube stats show one hit on dec 23rd for half a minute. The short I sent has a logo animation at the beginning and continues with a opening title sequence helicopter shot - so basically they watched 0seconds of the actual film. It kind of bothers me that what I see as my strongest part of my application is just tossed aside.

I really don't want to come out sounding sour - I know it is a tough school to get in and every single one admitted deserves their spot! It just seems weird for them to give the option to send "up to thirty minutes" and then watch 30secs or like in the case of @tutenkhamen none at all. Does bring a sense of randomness in their process, doesn't it?

 

[tutenkhamen]

@tutenkhamen I am with you on that 100%

Got rejected by NYU without an interview and like tut, without them really looking into my portfolio. I say "really", because my youtube stats show one hit on dec 23rd for half a minute. The short I sent has a logo animation at the beginning and continues with a opening title sequence helicopter shot - so basically they watched 0seconds of the actual film. It kind of bothers me that what I see as my strongest part of my application is just tossed aside.

I really don't want to come out sounding sour - I know it is a tough school to get in and every single one admitted deserves their spot! It just seems weird for them to give the option to send "up to thirty minutes" and then watch 30secs or like in the case of @tutenkhamen none at all. Does bring a sense of randomness in their process, doesn't it?

And all of this is funny because technically Columbia is more selective than NYU. (6.1% against 30%)

It sucks, really. $120 application fee amounts to a lot in my country, and having rejected in this way seems like a complete waste of time. -sigh-

I hope the end result is worth it all though.

 

[Solomon_E]

@tutenkhamen I am with you on that 100%

Got rejected by NYU without an interview and like tut, without them really looking into my portfolio. I say "really", because my youtube stats show one hit on dec 23rd for half a minute. The short I sent has a logo animation at the beginning and continues with a opening title sequence helicopter shot - so basically they watched 0seconds of the actual film. It kind of bothers me that what I see as my strongest part of my application is just tossed aside.

I really don't want to come out sounding sour - I know it is a tough school to get in and every single one admitted deserves their spot! It just seems weird for them to give the option to send "up to thirty minutes" and then watch 30secs or like in the case of @tutenkhamen none at all. Does bring a sense of randomness in their process, doesn't it?

Thanks for the update, Paul J! Your experience with 30 seconds of the video being viewed and none at all in tut's case is surprising to me. I was, on the other hand, very glad to see USC accepted you, so congrats on that. I had a good feeling you'd be accepted somewhere.

If or when I get rejected from NYU, I will keep in mind that some very good candidates are in the same boat and I did what I could at the time of my submission.

 

[WriterGirl]

Just got rejected from USC as expected (bc of all the silence)

Here's hoping for good news from Columbia and AFI *fingers crossed*

 

[Tomas GB]

Hey guys,

Also got a rejection email from NYU today. I was intrigued by your comments on the stats and checked mine. I was very surprised to see that I had only one view from NY and that it stopped viewing after 10 seconds, so basically that person did not get past the opening credits. Kind of bummed to say the least that this has happened to a handful of us..

 

[Nic L. Kelly]

@Nic L. Kelly- I got that email about a month ago. I just got called on Monday March 7th for an interview. I'm doing screenwriting. Hope this helps.

Oh.. Ok maybe that's a positive. I wonder did only interviewed applicants get that email. I know they watched my vids, asked about the scholarship info, but that's it. Figured I was a no go for them.

 

[Joshua Aka]

I did talk to one of my seniors who's currently studying Cinematography at Chapman. He just finished his freshman year, and is already working on multiple productions in the LA County. The technical department + the infrastructure at Chapman is something he really praises, but somehow this one gripe that he has with the program is 'not having great stories', which is weird. So in my mind, Chapman program has this insane 'technically proficient' image in my head right now. But they get to learn from really legendary people. (The guy who gaffed on The Godfather teaches there)

There is some truth to his understanding of Chapman, and to my knowledge it is something the administration and faculty is really aware of and trying to improve. Students at Chapman are very technically proficient, specially cine majors. Part of it is the resources and infrastructure, part of it is just plain good culture within that department. As a result, Chapmanites have great set etiquette and work ethic by the time they graduate. But I feel some students do get carried away with "playing with the big toys" and can get a bit too gear-obsessed. A few years ago I heard from a friend in their Screenwriting program that his professor was trying to get him to change majors to Film Production, because the school was looking for directors who were more story-oriented. So it is definitely something they were trying to fix, and that was a few years ago. I've personally seen a few great Chapman films, and a fair share of not-so-good ones. This one I remember did really well, played in Telluride and even won a student Bafta

 

[Boethius]

USC rejection today. Earlier I was told by them that because my undergrad wasn't regionally accredited, I wouldn't be eligible anyway, so maybe that had something to do with it. I know UCLA told me the same thing, so we'll see if my provisional UCLA admit status carries through the graduate school review.