2016 Interviews- Acceptances- Rejections (1 Viewer)

[Mis]

Mis -

Nope, I’m a first-time applicant.

AFI is rolling admission. To the best of my knowledge, that means the admissions committee reviews applicants + sends interview invitations according to when the application was submitted. First come, first serve.

If you look at last year’s spreadsheet, the first applicant to interview was notified January 27 -- this person probably submitted early -- while the last applicant to interview was notified February 25 -- this person probably submitted late. I submitted last minute as well, I’m afraid. So in the event I’m interviewed, I imagine the invite will come later this month.

There are only 4 Screenwriting applicants listed on last year’s spreadsheet, so it’s a pretty small sample size -- but that being said -- the odds of hearing something back seem high. All 4 were invited to interview and 3 of them were admitted. Wow.

I saw last years stats- they were mostly international- only one US for screenwriting. Just wish their was a better way to manage expectations...like if you don't hear by a certain date then you aren't going to get an interview. I like hard lines.
I'll keep you posted if I hear anything or if I get contacted.
Good luck!

 

[filmophile20]

Hi everyone! I've read filmschool.org for a long time but only just signed up for an account. I applied to several MFA programs for directing this year (I just added my info to the bottom of the spreadsheet). So far I was admitted into UT Austin and I have interviews with Columbia and UCLA. Haven't heard back from any of the others yet. Definitely nervous!

 

[UTFilmGirl]

Was just contacted by UCLA for an interview for the MFA Screenwriting Program (I'm in Utah), the only program I applied for. They only gave me one date option-next Tuesday, the 16th. Is anyone else interviewing on campus on this date? It's going to be tough securing travel with only a few days notice. Does anyone have any opinions on doing a Skype vs in-person interview? Thanks in advance for any replies.

 

[IndecisiveElle]

@UTFilmGirl From everything that's been posted, it doesn't seem like they'd hold doing an interview over Skype against you. One of our board members @katavi08 has worked in admissions offices and has vouched she hasn't seen it used as negative mark. Actually it seems like at least one school I applied to might ONLY do Skype interviews, which would bum me out as I would prefer to stretch my legs this winter and have the excuse to travel for them

 

[katavi08]

@UTFilmGirl Yes, I would not worry about Skype interviews! Frankly, if a school is going to hold a Skype interview against you then they shouldn't bother offering it to you as an option. That's bad practice, and it's ridiculous to think that every person that is invited for an interview can make it to campus.
I am curious though why people are afraid choosing a Skype interview will make them look bad. In my experience, the only problem I've seen with Skype is people forget their interview etiquette. As long as you remember to present yourself well (good posture, eye contact, speak clearly), whether that be on Skype or in person, you should be fine.

 

[Ying]

I got an interview invite from Calarts this afternoon, film directing.

 

[UTFilmGirl]

Thank you for the replies. The information is much appreciated. I would love to interview on campus, but with only 6 days to coordinate, it may be tough. I'll keep you posted on what I am able to arrange. Thanks again. Good luck everyone!

 

[IndecisiveElle]

Congradulations @Ying ! I think you might be one of the first CalArts interviews I've seen this year?

 

[IndecisiveElle]

Thought I'd repost what @VictimX heard from Columbia regarding interviews over in this thread also.


Hi guys,

It's my first post here...I just want to share some info with you guys.
I emailed the admission office today asking if no interview invitation by now means rejection. Here is the reply:
"More interview invitations may be sent out, though we cannot say for sure. If you are invited to interview, you will hear from us by early March. "

I think this means most of the invitations have already been sent out....which is bad news for those of us who didn't get anything...

#113VictimX, Today at 3:59 PM

Not the best news. I'm not giving up hope, because anyone else who has stalked previous years knows a few members have gotten that rare shot at a late interviews, but I'm not going to spend any more energy on Columbia either - feels like hoping for someone else's failure and that's not my style. Instead I'm going to be proactive and visit Northwestern after my doc job ends!

 

[JAlberta]

Hi all-

New on the forum and looking for some insight. I applied to AFI, Columbia, UCLA and USC (all for directing, or in USC's case, production/directing), but have not heard back regarding interviews from the schools. I did, however submit each application right on the deadline, and looking at the previous posts, this may be why I haven't heard. However, it is getting close to mid-Feb and I am quite nervous. Currently abroad pursuing an MA in Screenwriting (ends in July) at the LFS. Any insight here would be most helpful.

- J

 

[Ying]

Congradulations @Ying ! I think you might be one of the first CalArts interviews I've seen this year?

Thanks! I think I'm the fourth....
I got an interview invitation from FSU as well, MFA in production. Best of luck to all applicants

 

[Solomon_E]

@UTFilmGirl Yes, I would not worry about Skype interviews! Frankly, if a school is going to hold a Skype interview against you then they shouldn't bother offering it to you as an option. That's bad practice, and it's ridiculous to think that every person that is invited for an interview can make it to campus.
I am curious though why people are afraid choosing a Skype interview will make them look bad. In my experience, the only problem I've seen with Skype is people forget their interview etiquette. As long as you remember to present yourself well (good posture, eye contact, speak clearly), whether that be on Skype or in person, you should be fine.

I totally agree with all of the above - Skype is used with some frequency for interviews nowadays and I'm confident these schools, like many companies and businesses that interview people through not-in-person methods, won't hold a Skype interview against anybody. My only concern is, if I do a Skype interview, I want to get a higher quality webcam so my image is a bit sharper (for the sake of presenting myself well) before the interview. It may not matter much in the long run, but is just something I considered doing for me to feel at my most confident in the technology I have.

 

[Solomon_E]

Not the best news. I'm not giving up hope, because anyone else who has stalked previous years knows a few members have gotten that rare shot at a late interviews, but I'm not going to spend any more energy on Columbia either - feels like hoping for someone else's failure and that's not my style. Instead I'm going to be proactive and visit Northwestern after my doc job ends!

That sounds like a good idea - and it sounds like we think alike on this! I will be focusing on other things as well. Like you, I may visit Northwestern or another of the schools I applied to - I'd visit all of them if I could, but I don't think that will be possible for me currently.

Oddly enough, I recall walking past some Northwestern buildings when I first visited Chicago in October 2014 and taking a photo of a Northwestern sign there. At the time, I didn't know I'd be applying, and it would be nice to take a tour instead of simply having a nice photo of the outside of a building.

 

[IndecisiveElle]

I totally agree with all of the above - Skype is used with some frequency for interviews nowadays and I'm confident these schools, like many companies and businesses that interview people through not-in-person methods, won't hold a Skype interview against anybody. My only concern is, if I do a Skype interview, I want to get a higher quality webcam so my image is a bit sharper (for the sake of presenting myself well) before the interview. It may not matter much in the long run, but is just something I considered doing for me to feel at my most confident in the technology I have.

I asked Northwestern earlier today if on-campus interviews were still held and was told they ONLY do Skype now. Interesting choice I think, but worth being prepared if you're going to buy that new webcam!
I'll let you know what I hear about scheduling visits at this point. I'd probably be going around the 19th of this month. I was going to find a way to get out to LA next week for an LMU Grad Open House but then I wound up booking this job so looks like I'm stuck in the cold for now.

 

[haochonger]

Hi all-

New on the forum and looking for some insight. I applied to AFI, Columbia, UCLA and USC (all for directing, or in USC's case, production/directing), but have not heard back regarding interviews from the schools. I did, however submit each application right on the deadline, and looking at the previous posts, this may be why I haven't heard. However, it is getting close to mid-Feb and I am quite nervous. Currently abroad pursuing an MA in Screenwriting (ends in July) at the LFS. Any insight here would be most helpful.

- J

Hey JAlberta, wish you the best luck! Had no idea about late submission = late response, if that's true then I'll at least feel slightly better.

Wondering how is your experience with the LFS. Actually that'd be my first choice if I wouldn't get admitted by any US film schools.. (Although I'm also concerned that you're doing another MFA programme after the LFS.)

 

[googoomuck]

Everyone seems to be feeling a little morose because after a brief spurt of activity invites have slowed to a trickle. My guess is, this makes it easier for the schools in question to schedule them. (Notice that UCLA screenwriting interviews--source of my own agony--have only been scheduled on TWO days, despite that being one of the larger programs.) And maybe the weekends move faster too, when there's less other stuff to do. There may be more waves in the future. It's funny (or "funny") because when I really look at it...not a lot of time has actually passed. LOL! It's only been a few, single-digit days!

It just feeeeeeeels like foreeeeeeverrrrrrrrrrr...especially when you haven't been included...

 

[tutenkhamen]

Hello everyone! I was surprised by a mail from Florida State earlier this morning! I've been selected for the interview, which is funny cause I never paid the application fee, cause I applied to Chapman the last minute.

I now have 5 schools in total to eventually hear from, which is great! I'll be scheduling my FSU interview prior to Columbia's so I have some experience beforehand. Anyone else heard from FSU yet?

 

[lchenye]

I got an interview invite from Calarts this afternoon, film directing.

Same here! Just got a interview invitation from CalArts, also film directing.

 

[LilyMunster]

Hello everyone,
I'm new here and I applied to UCLA and Loyola Marymount(Los Angeles) for the MFA in screenwriting. I noticed that many have already gotten interviews and I understand that UCLA goes by region when the notify? Seeing that made me nervous, since I live in South Dakota and have read posts on here from people who live in Texas and Utah who have been contacted for interviews. Is it safe to say that I should be expecting a reject from UCLA? I submitted my application and all other materials two weeks before the deadline.

 

[lchenye]

Hello everyone,
I'm new here and I applied to UCLA and Loyola Marymount(Los Angeles) for the MFA in screenwriting. I noticed that many have already gotten interviews and I understand that UCLA goes by region when the notify? Seeing that made me nervous, since I live in South Dakota and have read posts on here from people who live in Texas and Utah who have been contacted for interviews. Is it safe to say that I should be expecting a reject from UCLA? I submitted my application and all other materials two weeks before the deadline.

I applied UCLA and LMU too, for MFA film directing. I haven't heard anything from UCLA yet but I heard that someone applied MFA producing UCLA received an interview invitation days ago. And we're in China.