Columbia SOA MFA Directing & Screenwriting - Fall 2024

Got an interview! Any links to past interview questions?
Check out last year's threads as well as our interview article. :)




Film School Interview Questions

Film School Interview Questions

This is a list of ACTUAL interview questions reported from posts from our members from the thousands of posts over the years on these boards. Please leave a reply in the discussion thread with any that you've had and I'll update the article. Also WEAR NICE CLOTHES TO YOUR INTERVIEW - as an AFI...

Also, be sure to check out our interview with Columbia Admissions.

How to Get Into Columbia University Film School: Exclusive Advice From the Admissions and Industry and Outreach Departments (Part 1)

How to Get Into Columbia University Film School: Exclusive Advice From the Admissions and Industry and Outreach Departments (Part 1)

The graduate film program at Columbia University School of the Arts is highly acclaimed for its star-studded alumni roster and teaching students how to tell stories that move the masses. In 2022, FilmSchool.org ranked Columbia SOA runner-up for Best Screenwriting Program in its list of top film...
 
Looks like we got more interviews for TV/film Writing than Screenwriting/Directing in forum this year 😂 It’s unusual, hopefully there might be some delay in reviewing that specific program.
 
I got notified of an interview request for screenwriting/directing on February 5th had my interview today. I think it went well. I was definitely nervous and I can never tell how I come off to people, but I’m definitely hopeful.
 
Would you mind me ask what questions they asked you? I also received interview on February 5th and is having it today.
(I checked they I was more of a writer than a director so they only brought up my writing samples)
That asked about:
What my inspiration and influences were for my writing sample
What I’m currently working on
What my favorite films of 2023 were
Then it kind of flowed more like a conversation. Elizabeth asked where I was and why I was there etc. So it got more personal.
They asked what questions I had about the program. (I already researched pretty much everything so I just asked how diverse the faculty was. Surprisingly it isn’t very diverse at all in terms of full time faculty. Adjunct professors tend to come from more diverse backgrounds)
They told me I was pretty early in the interview process and that they were unsure when final decisions would come out.
They told me to email admissions to ask when there estimate was and they also told me to ask to speak with a student fellow to get more of an idea of how student life is.
I thanked them for their time and logged off.

It lasted 30 minutes. I had Elizabeth and Trey.
Hope that helps good luck with your interview.
 
I applied for writing for film & TV but haven't heard from them and I'm anxious af😢 hope they still haven't finished with the writing concentration.
 
Office Of Admissions said they will be sending interview invitations out within the coming week. (Friday)
Thanks! I'm just worried since that it seems no one is receiving an invitation for the writing concentration anymore, so I also emailed them and got the same reply. Fingers crossed and good luck to all of us :)
 
(I checked they I was more of a writer than a director so they only brought up my writing samples)
That asked about:
What my inspiration and influences were for my writing sample
What I’m currently working on
What my favorite films of 2023 were
Then it kind of flowed more like a conversation. Elizabeth asked where I was and why I was there etc. So it got more personal.
They asked what questions I had about the program. (I already researched pretty much everything so I just asked how diverse the faculty was. Surprisingly it isn’t very diverse at all in terms of full time faculty. Adjunct professors tend to come from more diverse backgrounds)
They told me I was pretty early in the interview process and that they were unsure when final decisions would come out.
They told me to email admissions to ask when there estimate was and they also told me to ask to speak with a student fellow to get more of an idea of how student life is.
I thanked them for their time and logged off.

It lasted 30 minutes. I had Elizabeth and Trey.
Hope that helps good luck with your interview.
Thank you so much! I just had mine. I also had with Elizabeth and Trey and I’d say it’s really conversational indeed.
 
我申请了电影和电视写作,但还没有收到他们的消息,我很着急,😢 希望他们还没有完成写作工作。
+1
Thank you so much! I just had mine. I also had with Elizabeth and Trey and I’d say it’s really conversational indeed.
Would you mind telling me the time you submitted the application? I submitted in 12.16, I'm wondering whether it's related to the submitted time.
 
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