2016 Interviews- Acceptances- Rejections (1 Viewer)

[Paul J.]

@IndecisiveElle I wonder if @Chris Wright could help you out. Where are you anyways Chris? Crunching like there is no tomorrow?

 

[googoomuck]

@IndecisiveElle try looking through this thread: http://www.filmschool.org/threads/interviews-acceptances-rejections-waitlists.14609/

It was started for 2013 and then continued for 2014.

 

[IndecisiveElle]

@IndecisiveElle try looking through this thread: http://www.filmschool.org/threads/interviews-acceptances-rejections-waitlists.14609/

It was started for 2013 and then continued for 2014.

you rock! I knew I had seem something like that before, but I was having trouble finding it again.

 

[IndecisiveElle]

For any other NU applicants that might be lurking, it looks like we would be hearing in the next two weeks from them if we're one of their first round selects - then it turns into a rolling process for them to fill the 12 total spots that can take some applicants all the way out to June before they get their decision. Sounds fun doesn't it?!

 

[Mister K]

Hi,
I am an international applicant and I got the interview notification for Columbia (SCR/DIR). Obviously its not going to be possible for me to attend in person. The available dates that I got was in March 12th-18th (except 15). Then I read here that some people got a different date for an interview e.g. 2nd and 9th, as well as 29th feb. Just wondering what do you guys think the reason is behind it?

 

[katavi08]

@IndecisiveElle Northwestern seems to have a similar process to the University of Miami’s program. They do not do interviews either, just tell you flat out whether you got in or not. I was told by an admissions counselor there that I should have decision by the 2nd or 3rd week in February. I don’t know what’s more stressful- waiting for an interview or waiting for a straight decision.
@Mister K Congrats on the interview!
I think dates depends on the schedules of those on your interview committee. Faculty members conducting the interviews still have classes to teach, and other responsibilities.

 

[Mister K]

@katavi08 Oh... are you sure? I've always gotten the feeling that maybe they have some sort of ranking system, and that's how they send out notifications and interview dates. I'm probably wrong though. Would like to know what process they follow.

 

[IndecisiveElle]

@IndecisiveElle Northwestern seems to have a similar process to the University of Miami’s program. They do not do interviews either, just tell you flat out whether you got in or not. I was told by an admissions counselor there that I should have decision by the 2nd or 3rd week in February. I don’t know what’s more stressful- waiting for an interview or waiting for a straight decision.
.

Totally! LMU doesn't interview at all either, looks like I'd hear from them beginning of March. NU seems split, I did a LOT of combing through old admissions seasons and I think the size of the program makes their system during admissions a little more flexible. I'm going to try better to distract myself today and not obsess so much!


ETA: Ok I lied, I'm obsessing. haha I sent a few emails to the contacts I'd been speaking to at NU and LMU to see where their process is at currently as no one on the entire internet seems to have heard from either school yet.

 

[katavi08]

@IndecisiveElle Let us know when you hear something!! I keep checking my email every half hour just in case something happens!

 

[Paul J.]

@Mister K - I'm quite sure there is no ranking system involved. Maybe the workload is divided between different faculty etc. Otherwise the system would be way too cryptic. I was offered to choose a date late feb or mid march. Though I pondered whether I should do the earlier interview so I'd be early in the pack and perhaps not be in a situation where awesome candidates have proceeded me and seats were already filled before I have a chance to interview... I decided to take off my tin foil hat and take the latter date because I am actually in NY then so I can go in person, which is awesome because I can tour the campus too!

 

[Amanda]

It's the only school I applied to that doesn't seem to do interviews at all, waiting to hear a straight decision rather than the interview invites is rough. Totally out of our hands the second we hit submit on our creative materials, but I'm still definitely crossing anything that won't make me trip too!
It would be awesome to be in the small program with another female from this board!

It definitely would be! I know what you mean - I'm obsessively checking myLMU to see if there are any updates, even though it appears (from last year's spreadsheet) that we won't hear back until March.

 

[katavi08]

@Mister K The process is going to be different for each school, but I've never heard of people be ranked for interviews. I agree with @Paul J. - my guess is because these schools get so many applications they're probably working in a "batch system" meaning the workload is going to be split between faculty members. The faculty member who reads your application is more than likely going to be the one who interviews you, and interview times are going to be set up via their schedule. That's how we do it in my office anyway! Again, each school is going to have their own process, which only makes things 1000x more frustrating!

 

[Amanda]

Totally! LMU doesn't interview at all either, looks like I'd hear from them beginning of March. NU seems split, I did a LOT of combing through old admissions seasons and I think the size of the program makes their system during admissions a little more flexible. I'm going to try better to distract myself today and not obsess so much!


ETA: Ok I lied, I'm obsessing. haha I sent a few emails to the contacts I'd been speaking to at NU and LMU to see where their process is at currently as no one on the entire internet seems to have heard from either school yet.

Yes, I would love to hear what LMU told you as well!

 

[IndecisiveElle]

Both LMU and Northwestern responded to my inquiries. Both applications were due Jan 15th so it's not even been quite a month yet.

From LMU: The committees are just beginning to read through applications and you should hear something by April. Scholarships are given out by the committee as well based on merit so there is no need to apply separately.
-- Their response is a bit more casual. The woman in their office (a grad of their program) is from the same state, so she's been very friendly and helpful. I'm fairly sure her lack of direct answer when I asked for confirmation that they won't be doing interviews can be taken as confirmation that that's the case still.

From NU: Thank you for your interest in the program. Our admissions committee is currently reviewing applications. After reviewing the written applications, the committee will contact applicants for a Skype interview. We begin notifying applicants of their admissions decision by the end of March/beginning of April, but continue until we have a full class of 12. Any updates to your status will be posted on your online application.
-- Much more of a form letter sounding response, but it's the information I had expected to hear.

 

[IndecisiveElle]

... I decided to take off my tin foil hat...

I think mine is glued to my head at this point. I'm diagnosing myself with OCD at this point because I have always had a habit of getting utterly fixed on something until it's resolution or a forced change of scenery.

 

[googoomuck]

We're all getting a little paranoid and crazy now...

O Morrissey, patron saint of desperate self indulgence...hear our cry...

Does anyone have the stats on if it's extra good luck to cross your ring finger and pinkie, or does that cancel it out? Maybe a new column on the spreadsheet? lol

 

[FranklyMyDear]

Long time lurker, first time commenter.

Screenwriting MFA applicant for USC, AFI, UCLA.

Lucky enough to receive a UCLA interview invitation yesterday night. Fingers crossed. (I’m Los Angeles-based, for those wondering about their regional contact process).

Regarding USC -- judging by last year’s spreadsheet, it seems they don’t interview Screenwriting applicants unless you’re international. Is that the case?

I heard they used to interview everyone -- domestic and international -- as recently as 2013. Can anyone say why they discontinued the interview process?

 

[Mis]

Long time lurker, first time commenter.

Screenwriting MFA applicant for USC, AFI, UCLA.

Lucky enough to receive a UCLA interview invitation yesterday night. Fingers crossed. (I’m Los Angeles-based, for those wondering about their regional contact process).

Regarding USC -- judging by last year’s spreadsheet, it seems they don’t interview Screenwriting applicants unless you’re international. Is that the case?

I heard they used to interview everyone -- domestic and international -- as recently as 2013. Can anyone say why they discontinued the interview process?

Hey- I applied for the Screenwriting MFA at AFI as well. Have you applied before? Do you know anything about the time frame for interviews, rejections, wait lists? I checked out this thread and threads from years past but it seems like AFI changed their admittance structure this year. I turned my application in on the last possible day...do you know how or if that affects the admissions process?

Anyone reading this...please feel free to respond. I'm not an international and I'm on the west coast.

 

[Paul J.]

Hi @Mis and welcome to the Forums!

Please type in your info in our spreadsheet we have going:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-QPRZ-gc15WuHBmlxorJiTS1z-8vE-7uUttLDdxHtE0/edit#gid=0

you can also see last year's applicants under the tab "fall 2015" - you can guess some time frames from there! People have typed in interview notification dates as well as acceptance/rejection dates etc. I would say turning the material in on the last day has no affect on your application - I doubt they even start sorting through them straight away.

 

[FranklyMyDear]

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.