2011 Acceptances

[rai]

I feel the same way! Can't wait for the mail to come... but anyways at least it will get here in a week or so. Do you know anything about housing?

 

[Private Witt]

Hey all! From Karachi, Pakistan. Went to Toronto for my undergraduate degree and double-majored in Film Studies and Communication Studies. Took a year off primarily because I was burnt out after four years in undergrad. Applied to the three graduate programs i've been most interested in last December.

Columbia: No word (Writing / Directing)
AFI: Interviewed, Accepted (Screenwriting)
NYU: Rejected, forwarded to TischAsia (Directing)
TischAsia - Interviewed, awaiting response

Will most likely be attending AFI. Still waiting on Columbia, but since I haven't been interviewed I'm assuming its likely a rejection or waitlist.

Congrats and good luck to all!

 

[SherriStudios]

Originally posted by rai:
I feel the same way! Can't wait for the mail to come... but anyways at least it will get here in a week or so. Do you know anything about housing?

Only what I have been able to dig up via the website and forums...I work a full time job now, but I know once school starts I'm gonna have to axe the 9 to 5 since the grad program is a BEAST! I actually don't mind that though”¦ I hear housing for grad students is limited.

I'm also eager to see what Uncle Sam is going to give me. Hopefully it will be enough so that I don't have to work full-time just to survive...smh...If I can't nail down some on-campus housing I'm hoping to get a fat refund check to pay my rent up for a couple of months until I figure out what's next...Working part-time or doing a work study would be great”¦

 

[J T R]

I'm 26 w/ a masters and a BA. From the states, but have lived abroad for 2 of last three years. Accepted into MFA in Screenwriting at Pepperdine and will accept.

Is anyone else on here going to enter this program? ... Met with any professors?

 

[jgleaso3]

Hey everyone,

Only applied NYU, Columbia, and CalArts.

CalArts - accepted, Film Directing
NYU - interviewed, Film Production, no word yet
Columbia - no interview, Film (Directing concentration), no word

likely rejected from Columbia (although they have been awful with communicating things. Wish they would just send me a letter with anything already.). Possibly waitlisted at NYU since it seems like acceptances have gone out by now.

 

[Koquard]

22-year-old w/ BS in Electrical Engineering
(Don't ask. I was practically the worst student in that field of study.)

NYU - Dramatic Writing - Accepted
Columbia - Concentration: Screenwriting - Accepted

Anyone have a similarly incongruous undergraduate major?

 

[deephurting]

23 Black Belt in Liberal Arts from Sarah Lawrence College

USC - rejected
CalArts - rejected
NYU - interviewed - no word
Columbia (Directing)- interviewed - accepted
AFI (Directing) - interviewed - no word

Third year in a row applying to programs.

2nd application to CU, 1st time my application hung around till april 22nd. this year first time interviewed.

3rd applications to NYU & AFI, 2nd interviews at both schools. 3rd year my applications have stayed in the mix this long.

presented new visual sample every year. live in nyc, have worked on a multitude of nyu and to a lesser degree columbia grad sets.

Glad I finally got some traction. Just because you dont get in doesn't mean you present a strong application. keep applying every year if this is what you really want. I received very positive feedback for my persistance in all of my interviews this year. as long as every app contains a certain degree of progress, having applied before works in your favor.

 

[aresee]

39 yrs old. Tried to pursue FILM in my early 20's (moved to LA from NY, etc). Back to NY for 15 yr Wall Street career. HATED IT, but good experience.

Undergrad:
Columbia University 1st Time: ECON/POLISCI
Columbia University 2nd Time: FILM STUDIES

SO happy to have left WS career to re-pursue my dream and proper path.

Only applied to CU, accepted as Screenwriting/Directing concentrate.

Can't friggin wait.

 

[intimatesecretary]

23, currently getting MA in cinema studies & philosophy and BFA in screenwriting (FAMU). Slovak, living/studying full-time in Prague since I was seventeen.

NYU - second round (the letter said), no interview, forwarded to Asia (which I ignored)

Columbia (dream school) - accepted! Still can't really believe it.

Applied to both as an intended Directing concentrate, first time I tried it.

 

[creativetype]

Kwokts

Have you decided where you are going yet? You have quite a few choices! Congrats!

 

[Anomen1985]

25 years old. Undergraduate film major at NYU, 3.85 GPA.

Senior thesis film won a bunch of awards, screened at festivals all over America. 5+ years of experience working professionally in the industry as an editor, producer, director. Won some awards, grants, etc. for screenplays I've written in the past.

Thought about grad school a lot all of last year, but really only sat down and focused on applications beginning in the second week of November (they were due December 1st). BIG mistake. Should have left 2-3 months to complete applications.

My number one piece of advice to anyone that will go through this process in the future is to START YOUR APPLICATION EARLY. DO NOT WAIT for the last minute. I really feel like you should complete your application up to 3 weeks before you actually plan on sending it in - so you can have some time away from it, and then look at it again with fresh eyes before sending everything in.

Columbia University - REJECTED (3/31)

USC - ACCEPTED (2/25)

AFI - Interviewed on 2/28, Awaiting April 15th response

These were the only three I applied to, but if I were doing it again today, I would add UCLA, CalArts, and American University to the list.

 

[intimatesecretary]

Originally posted by Anomen1985:
25 years old. Undergraduate film major at NYU, 3.85 GPA.

Senior thesis film won a bunch of awards, screened at festivals all over America. 5+ years of experience working professionally in the industry as an editor, producer, director. Won some awards, grants, etc. for screenplays I've written in the past.

Thought about grad school a lot all of last year, but really only sat down and focused on applications beginning in the second week of November (they were due December 1st). BIG mistake. Should have left 2-3 months to complete applications.

My number one piece of advice to anyone that will go through this process in the future is to START YOUR APPLICATION EARLY. DO NOT WAIT for the last minute. I really feel like you should complete your application up to 3 weeks before you actually plan on sending it in - so you can have some time away from it, and then look at it again with fresh eyes before sending everything in.

Columbia University - REJECTED (3/31)

USC - ACCEPTED (2/25)

AFI - Interviewed on 2/28, Awaiting April 15th response

These were the only three I applied to, but if I were doing it again today, I would add UCLA, CalArts, and American University to the list.

I only share one intended school with you but I feel like I really need to question that time-frame you encourage as crucial - I put my Columbia app together in a few days - I actually decided to give it a shot like less than a week before the deadline. And I wrote my autobiographical essay on a hostel floor on a trip in a foreign city, slightly drunk, finishing the first draft minutes before the deadline (like past 5 am my time) and submitting it without even reading it again (and I'm not a native English speaker). And I shared (and then kicked myself a bit, although they seemed to enjoy it) this story about my app at the interview - and I got in. So...

 

[Koquard]

Originally posted by intimatesecretary:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Anomen1985:
25 years old. Undergraduate film major at NYU, 3.85 GPA.

Senior thesis film won a bunch of awards, screened at festivals all over America. 5+ years of experience working professionally in the industry as an editor, producer, director. Won some awards, grants, etc. for screenplays I've written in the past.

Thought about grad school a lot all of last year, but really only sat down and focused on applications beginning in the second week of November (they were due December 1st). BIG mistake. Should have left 2-3 months to complete applications.

My number one piece of advice to anyone that will go through this process in the future is to START YOUR APPLICATION EARLY. DO NOT WAIT for the last minute. I really feel like you should complete your application up to 3 weeks before you actually plan on sending it in - so you can have some time away from it, and then look at it again with fresh eyes before sending everything in.

Columbia University - REJECTED (3/31)

USC - ACCEPTED (2/25)

AFI - Interviewed on 2/28, Awaiting April 15th response

These were the only three I applied to, but if I were doing it again today, I would add UCLA, CalArts, and American University to the list.

I only share one intended school with you but I feel like I really need to question that time-frame you encourage as crucial - I put my Columbia app together in a few days - I actually decided to give it a shot like less than a week before the deadline. And I wrote my autobiographical essay on a hostel floor on a trip in a foreign city, slightly drunk, finishing the first draft minutes before the deadline (like past 5 am my time) and submitting it without even reading it again (and I'm not a native English speaker). And I shared (and then kicked myself a bit, although they seemed to enjoy it) this story about my app at the interview - and I got in. So... </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I love your personality lol.

Way to stick it to 'em.

 

[assal]

@Kwokts,Koquard et al. congrats to all your success! I'm excited to be (probably) working with you in fall ;o)

after couple interviews and 4 rejections last year I figured out which schools I really wanted to attend. My list (applied for screenwriting/directing):

NYU - accepted
COLUMBIA - accepted
CalArts - accepted
UCLA - accepted

I'm German-Iranian 27, went to New School University for undergrad in Media Studies & Cultural Studies. Got some production experience, some writing, a variety of job backgrounds (PR, theater, TV, Marketing, Event planning, Acting)

I'm looking forward to meeting my future classmates!

 

[Koquard]

Originally posted by assal:
@Kwokts,Koquard et al. congrats to all your success! I'm excited to be (probably) working with you in fall ;o)

Thanks assal. One of my best friends growing up was German-Iranian. Feels like a good combo.

He was from Dusseldorf. His mother may have been Azeri not Persian - but she was from Iran.

 

[sid3sg]

20 years old. Indian from Qatar. In my final year at liberal arts college Franklin & Marshall, PA. BA in Economics, Minor in Film Studies. 3.65 GPA.

Had a number of schools which I intended to apply to at the beginning, but only ended up applying to three.

Chapman (MBA/MFA) -- Accepted
NYU TischAsia (Intl Media Producing) -- Accepted
Columbia College Chicago (Creative Producing) -- Accepted

I'm leaning towards Chapman because of its location, facilities, and reputation, but then again it is expensive. Tisch Asia sounds like a very exciting place to be, but I don't know how different it would be post-grad compared to Chapman. I'm just 20 and the world out there is mean and evil. Any suggestions?

 

[Joinerhx]

Originally posted by Koquard:
22-year-old w/ BS in Electrical Engineering
(Don't ask. I was practically the worst student in that field of study.)

NYU - Dramatic Writing - Accepted
Columbia - Concentration: Screenwriting - Accepted

Anyone have a similarly incongruous undergraduate major?

FSU-Reject Film Production
Syracuse U-Accepted TRF
American U-Accepted MA Film&Video
Boston U-Accepted TV Production

My undergrad major is software engineering. Koquard, I think it's quite similar with your major EE.

I really don't like coding. But I'm not the worst student of my class. I don't think the computer stuff is completely incompatible with film. Film special effects have strong connection with computer technique.

 

[Dafness]

So Assal, I hope all your great acceptances means that you are less wait list competition for me at UCLA?

 

[assal]

@Dafness , I don't think we're in the same boat anyways. The chances for you to get in are much higher, since I am from out of state. I might be on the top of their wait list but only admitted if an international student declines I think. You chances are good, hang in there!!

 

[leviathan8888]

22 yo. BA in Fine Arts. Screenwriting

USC, UCLA, NYU - rejected
AFI - interviewed, rejected
BU, LMU - accepted
Chapman - ?

Anyone heard from Chapman?