Anyone applying to MFA Screenwriting Programs for Fall 2018?

@T See Thanks! By supplements u mean the one where they ask us to upload the Personal Statement and portfolio is that rit?! Cos that's what's I meant. Not the transcripts and scores.
 
I just received word that I have been selected for an interview for AFI's screenwriting program. I'm ~12 days away from flying to L.A. and facing what are likely to be the most nerve-racking minutes of my life thus far.
 
Anyone out there? I applied to NYU Dramatic Writing and have an interview coming up later this week. Curious if others are in the same boat.

I just had my interview today with Dramatic Writing. It was good, a lot more serious than the other ones I've had. They asked usual stuff like "why Tisch, and why now/not later", but also made sure to press me on the question if they wanted to know more. My interviewer was more pliable when we started to chat about writing and I was asking her some questions about her process. Be your wonderful, fantastic, and bright-eyed self and things will probably go OK.
 
I just had my interview today with Dramatic Writing. It was good, a lot more serious than the other ones I've had. They asked usual stuff like "why Tisch, and why now/not later", but also made sure to press me on the question if they wanted to know more. My interviewer was more pliable when we started to chat about writing and I was asking her some questions about her process. Be your wonderful, fantastic, and bright-eyed self and things will probably go OK.

Thanks for your reply! How long was it? My interviewer made it sound really casual and that it wouldn't take more than 20 mins. I'm still probably going to over prepare.
 
I just had mine too. It was super casual, we exchanged a few jokes... she asked about why I write, if I've studied writing before, if I send out my scripts to anyone, what was the last thing I saw that got my attention, and then (since I googled the interviewer's name beforehand) we talked a little about one of their previous works and scholarships.
 
I just had mine too. It was super casual, we exchanged a few jokes... she asked about why I write, if I've studied writing before, if I send out my scripts to anyone, what was the last thing I saw that got my attention, and then (since I googled the interviewer's name beforehand) we talked a little about one of their previous works and scholarships.

Awesome, thanks!! Why do I write... good question... ;-)
 
I just had my interview today with Dramatic Writing. It was good, a lot more serious than the other ones I've had. They asked usual stuff like "why Tisch, and why now/not later", but also made sure to press me on the question if they wanted to know more. My interviewer was more pliable when we started to chat about writing and I was asking her some questions about her process. Be your wonderful, fantastic, and bright-eyed self and things will probably go OK.


Did they give you an idea of when decisions would go out? I forgot to ask.
 
Hi @Johnella18!

I am a first year mfa in screenwriting student at UCLA. If you have any q's about the application process, just ask (open for everyone else as well)! This site helped me a lot during the application process so I'd be more than happy to give back.

Good luck!
@Kira,
Cool that you are on here paying it forward. I have a question maybe you could help out with. What would you estimate is the average age of the students in the MFA program? And what is the "mid-80%" range? And the limit cases? (oldest and youngest students)? I'm trying to get an idea of how old people are/how much experience they have before applying.
 
@Kira,
Cool that you are on here paying it forward. I have a question maybe you could help out with. What would you estimate is the average age of the students in the MFA program? And what is the "mid-80%" range? And the limit cases? (oldest and youngest students)? I'm trying to get an idea of how old people are/how much experience they have before applying.
There's a wide range of ages and experiences in the UCLA MFA in Screenwriting program. I'd say the average age is late 20's (around 28) with many people falling between 25 and 35 years old. In my year, there are probably half a dozen above 35 and half a dozen below 25.

Yours truly is one of the youngest (22 when I entered) and the oldest is mid-40s. As for life experiences, some of us came straight out of college while others are parents who had other careers before joining the program. Some have never been on a set, others participated in the professional program, a handful are members of the PGA / real film people, and others have a journalism or prose background. I only had two undergraduate screenwriting courses and a film internship when I applied.

It is quite varied and if you are worried about applying on either side (too young or too old) I'd say go for it :)
 
@Kira Hi! I've been reading all your posts from this year as well as last year. Your always extremely helpful, thank you so much for all the time you put in your responses!

I was wondering if you happen to know anything about the quality of the Professional Program in Screenwriting at UCLA? Or if you know of anyone that has been or is currently in the program?
 
@Kira Hi! I've been reading all your posts from this year as well as last year. Your always extremely helpful, thank you so much for all the time you put in your responses!

I was wondering if you happen to know anything about the quality of the Professional Program in Screenwriting at UCLA? Or if you know of anyone that has been or is currently in the program?
Oh wow, haha. Thanks! :) I'm glad that my posts have helped!

Yup! While I do not know current students, I sit in on their lectures sometimes and the lecturers are both teachers I've had in the MFA program :) I've heard that the workshop instructors themselves are usually good too. I'd guess that at least 25% of my year participated in the Professional Program. It's a great chance to write intensely and workshop your scripts just like the MFA program.
 
I just received word that I have been selected for an interview for AFI's screenwriting program. I'm ~12 days away from flying to L.A. and facing what are likely to be the most nerve-racking minutes of my life thus far.

yoooooo how did your interview go?
 
yoooooo how did your interview go?
I felt really confident immediately following the interview. We had a relaxed conversation, and I *felt* like they liked me. I say that because there's always the possibility that they were just being polite. But I felt like they were interested in me. I forgot to ask one of the questions I had prepared for them, so I'm pretty bummed about that. I was just so caught up in the moment.

How was yours?
 
I felt really confident immediately following the interview. We had a relaxed conversation, and I *felt* like they liked me. I say that because there's always the possibility that they were just being polite. But I felt like they were interested in me. I forgot to ask one of the questions I had prepared for them, so I'm pretty bummed about that. I was just so caught up in the moment.

How was yours?

It was dope, i already deal with anxiety in general so of course you can imagine how i felt lol..but Anna was great, and so was Kevin (even though he did not talk as much), it was for real like just a conversation and they asked me a bunch of stuff and i asked them. It seemed liked they wanted me to be there, i mean who knows to be honest, but i felt really really good about the interview after it was done.
 
Last edited:
Log your film school application with our Application Database so that we can improve our admissions statistics.




Latest Accepted Applications


Acceptance Data
For up to date Film School Acceptance Rates, including Minimum GPAs, Minimum Test Scores, After Interview and Off-Waitlist Acceptance Rates, Film Experience and Undergraduate degrees of accepted applicants, Age data, and other acceptance statistics for your film program of choice simply navigate to the Acceptance Rates tab on each film school's page in our Film School Database.

For example:
Log your own Application with our application database to help improve the site's acceptance data.

Latest Film School Reviews

  • University of Colorado at Boulder (BFA)
    4.00 star(s)
    Reviewed by: Alumni
    Degree: BA/BS/BFA
    BFA University of Colorado at Boulder BFA Film Production
    Honest review. CU Boulder is an interesting place to learn filmmaking. The University boasts some excellent professors who are actively making...
    • Anonymous
  • University of Central Florida - School of Visual Arts & Design
    4.00 star(s)
    Reviewed by: Current Student
    Degree: BA/BS/BFA
    Concentration: Film - Feature/TV Writing
    UCF Film BFA (College of Sciences - School of Communication)
    UCF's BFA program is split into 4 modalities: narrative production, documentary production, experimental production, and feature/tv writing. I...
    • Anonymous
  • Syracuse University
    4.00 star(s)
    Reviewed by: Current Student
    Degree: BA/BS/BFA
    Concentration: Film
    Syracuse Film and Media Arts - BFA Film
    I'm in my last year at Syracuse University as a member of the department of Film and Media Arts, and it's been a lot of ups and downs. There's a...
    • Anonymous
  • Fitchburg State University
    5.00 star(s)
    Reviewed by: Alumni
    Degree: BA/BS/BFA
    Concentration: Film/Video and Theater
    A Great School with Great Professors!
    I was a student there from 2018-2022 and had a great experience. I would recommend it to anyone, especially people living within Massachusetts...
    • Anonymous
  • Florida State University - MFA in Writing
    5.00 star(s)
    Reviewed by: Current Student
    Degree: MA/MFA
    Concentration: Screenwriting
    Hidden Gem
    Before I get into the details, it's worth mentioning that I'm in my second year at this program and have really enjoyed my time here. I will be...
    • catmom

Latest Applications

Latest questions

Latest Articles

Latest Accepted Applications

Applications
Articles
Forums
Film Schools
Scholarships
Back
Top