Columbia University - Screenwriting/Directing Fall 2022 entry (2 Viewers)

[lschiozer]

Did anyone get an interview without submitting a visual sample? I’m planning to apply for screenwriting next year but wondering how important the “optional” visual exercise is…thanks in advance!!

I didn't submit a visual sample and did not get the interview. Another person I know submitted and got it.

 

[its_me_mari]

Can someone who applied last year explain why it seems like all the acceptances came from the same two interviewers? I was just looking through last year's forum. Also, do we know if there were deferrals last year? It doesn't seem likely since no one got off the waitlist.

There were a lot of deferrals due to 2020. A lot of people chose not to go to film school during corona and ended up going in 2021. About the interviewers I wonder the same. I wasn’t interviewed by them and my friends who were waitlisted were in the same situation. So no idea. Maybe just coincidence

 

[howdoigetin]

There were a lot of deferrals due to 2020. A lot of people chose not to go to film school during corona and ended up going in 2021. About the interviewers I wonder the same. I wasn’t interviewed by them and my friends who were waitlisted were in the same situation. So no idea. Maybe just coincidence

It may just be a pure numbers thing. They interviewed the most people therefore the bulk of the acceptances came from them. I would find it hard to believe that who you were interviewed by holds any increased weight.

 

[its_me_mari]

It may just be a pure numbers thing. They interviewed the most people therefore the bulk of the acceptances came from them. I would find it hard to believe that who you were interviewed by holds any increased weight.

That’s what I think too. It appears that they interviewed way more than the others!

 

[FuschiaFlows]

Can someone who applied last year explain why it seems like all the acceptances came from the same two interviewers? I was just looking through last year's forum. Also, do we know if there were deferrals last year? It doesn't seem likely since no one got off the waitlist.

It almost makes me wonder how evaluative the interview actually is or if decisions are already made on candidates before they even step into the interview.

That said, I think interviewers are probably selected based on interviewee availability and background.

 

[Nidhi Kamath]

I haven't got any interview calls yet from Columbia But when I had emailed them they replied saying not getting an interview doesn't mean one is not being considered. So that's good news for people like me who haven't got any interview calls from Columbia yet.

 

[Bergmanbaby]

Does anyone who interviewed want to talk a little about how it went? I just had mine and I’m feeling pretty good about it

 

[mcama]

Just finished with Trey and George. It went well (I think). Good luck all.

 

[FuschiaFlows]

Just finished with Trey and George. It went well (I think). Good luck all.

Did you know they'd be your interviewers prior to interviewing? I interview later this week and still don't know who I'm meeting.

 

[Aerosmooth]

Just finished with Trey and George. It went well (I think). Good luck all.

I had mine with Trey and George today too. I feel good. It was a really relaxed conversation. I'm down to talk if anyone wants to.

 

[Bergmanbaby]

Did you know they'd be your interviewers prior to interviewing? I interview later this week and still don't know who I'm meeting.

No it’s a surprise lol

 

[mcama]

Did you know they'd be your interviewers prior to interviewing? I interview later this week and still don't know who I'm meeting.

No. I had Eric and David last year. I thought I'd have them again. Complete surprise.

 

[filinese]

I had mine with Trey and George today too. I feel good. It was a really relaxed conversation. I'm down to talk if anyone wants to.

Glad the interview went well! I have my interview this Friday. What sorts of questions/topics did y'all discuss?

 

[mcama]

I had mine with Trey and George today too. I feel good. It was a really relaxed conversation. I'm down to talk if anyone wants to.

Do you remember George’s last name? I can’t find him on the faculty page.

 

[Aerosmooth]

Do you remember George’s last name? I can’t find him on the faculty page.

Sikharulidze

 

[Aerosmooth]

Glad the interview went well! I have my interview this Friday. What sorts of questions/topics did y'all discuss?

Glad the interview went well! I have my interview this Friday. What sorts of questions/topics did y'all discuss?

So I don't know how helpful this will be since they only asked one true question and it was very specific to me. I'm a lawyer so they asked me about the type of law I practice and if I was interested in stories about justice/other law related topics. Otherwise we just discussed lawyers who are filmmakers, script ideas I had, and some of their recent or upcoming work. They also brought up me applying for the second time.

 

[mcama]

So I don't know how helpful this will be since they only asked one true question and it was very specific to me. I'm a lawyer so they asked me about the type of law I practice and if I was interested in stories about justice/other law related topics. Otherwise we just discussed lawyers who are filmmakers, script ideas I had, and some of their recent or upcoming work. They also brought up me applying for the second time.

Interesting. I too am a return applicant and they only asked like two true questions and mentioned reapplying.

Curious, did they record your interview? Mine was recorded lol

 

[Chris W]

I just noticed that the dean responded to the WSJ article so I added a news article about it: (they responded in July just noticed now)

Columbia News: Dean Carol Becker in Response to the Wall Street Journal Article

In response to the Wall St. Journal article ‘Financially Hobbled for Life’: The Elite Master’s Degrees That Don’t Pay Off, Dean Carol has posted a response on Columbia's website: "Dear School of the Arts Community: I am writing in response to yesterday’s Wall Street Journal article about...

• FilmSchool.org
• Feb 22, 2022
• Category: Film School News

 

[filinese]

So I don't know how helpful this will be since they only asked one true question and it was very specific to me. I'm a lawyer so they asked me about the type of law I practice and if I was interested in stories about justice/other law related topics. Otherwise we just discussed lawyers who are filmmakers, script ideas I had, and some of their recent or upcoming work. They also brought up me applying for the second time.

Appreciate the response! Good to know it was pretty specific to you. Seems like a pretty laid-back interview overall.

 

[Aerosmooth]

Interesting. I too am a return applicant and they only asked like two true questions and mentioned reapplying.

Curious, did they record your interview? Mine was recorded lol

Hopefully it's a good thing! And yeah they recorded it.