Recent content by USCSCAAlumni/Faculty

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    USC School of Cinematic Arts MFA Screenwriting Fall 2020

    I applied 4 times, not interviewed 4 times. But totally agree with Chris on this one (and I think Spielberg would as well).
  2. U

    USC School of Cinematic Arts SCA MFA Film & TV Production Fall 2020

    If an untraditional format elicits an emotional response and serves a genuine artistic purpose (not a gimmicky one) I think it can be quite effective. In fact the essay that I was admitted to USC on was quite far from a traditional format.
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    USC School of Cinematic Arts SCA MFA Film & TV Production Fall 2020

    As far as letters of rec, there's two types that I think can speak for a candidate. The first is one that is highly personal. It doesn't just "recommend" a candidate but presents an entirely new side of them that we didn't get from the rest of the application. The second that can have a...
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    USC School of Cinematic Arts SCA MFA Film & TV Production Fall 2020

    Lol. Look, I know what it's like to be in your seats. It's nerve-wracking and you feel like your hearts and dreams are anchored to pieces of paper while a group of strangers who've no idea who you are judge you and decide your futures. I remember checking that camel link 10000 times a day. I...
  5. U

    USC School of Cinematic Arts SCA MFA Film & TV Production Fall 2020

    There's no truth in that. We just want great storytellers regardless of genre.
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    USC School of Cinematic Arts SCA MFA Film & TV Production Fall 2020

    While I cannot comment on what other schools look for, I can tell you for us that GPA means much less than your ability to transmit character, emotion, and story creatively and effectively throughout your essay. Applications that tend to do well simply move us like a great film. They make us...
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    USC School of Cinematic Arts SCA MFA Film & TV Production Fall 2020

    The truth is - even the admissions committee does not know when decisions are released. I'll explain. After we make our decisions, your applications are sent to scholarship committees and the USC general admission's committee (who is capable of overriding our decision should they have reason)...
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    USC School of Cinematic Arts SCA MFA Film & TV Production Fall 2020

    I cannot comment on the self reported data of this site - nor do I recommend you concerning yourself with it. I can tell you again with 100% certainty that an interview is not a prerequisite for admission nor does recieving one mean you are a preffered candidate. Instead of focusing on your...
  9. U

    USC School of Cinematic Arts SCA MFA Film & TV Production Fall 2020

    The scholarship committee is separate from the admissions committee and works in ways that I am unfamiliar with. If you are accepted and asked to be considered for a scholarship, your application will be sent to the scholarship committee for consideration. As far as ways to stand out, there's...
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    USC School of Cinematic Arts SCA MFA Film & TV Production Fall 2020

    First of all, don't worry about your interview. They typically aren't deciding factors and we never expect people to give great answers! And Chris is right. If you don't get a response, don't read into it. Remember, we're not only incredibly busy with teaching and admissions (which both take up...
  11. U

    USC School of Cinematic Arts SCA MFA Film & TV Production Fall 2020

    Great question! The most common missteps that I see tend to be found in the personal statement. It's the part of your application that is where we look to discover who you are - so make certain to show us! Here's what I can advise based on my experiences... 1) Don't write about what everyone...
  12. U

    USC School of Cinematic Arts SCA MFA Film & TV Production Fall 2020

    I am happy to answer anything that may help you improve your ability to create your best application. As far as our internal process goes, I won't get into too much detail on that (besides knowing won't help you improve your application). However, our admissions department may be willing to...
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    USC School of Cinematic Arts SCA MFA Film & TV Production Fall 2020

    An interview is not a prerequisite for acceptance. When a committee member reviews your application, they may want to talk to you for a large variety of reasons. Typically it’s because something in an application has peaked our curiosity and we want to know more about it. An interview does not...
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    USC School of Cinematic Arts SCA MFA Film & TV Production Fall 2020

    Hi All! So long since I've been on here. Wanted to check in and see if it was still active. I owe a lot to this site. Here's my story... I applied to USC's MFA production program four times before I got in. On the fourth time, everything change when someone I met on this site (who'd been...
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