2016 Interviews- Acceptances- Rejections (4 Viewers)

[filmophile20]

Hey guys who have heard from Chapman with that "funny little email" -- has anyone gotten a follow up yet?

 

[googoomuck]

Well, after getting rejected from UCLA today I took some time to reflect. By which I mean, I ate In n Out alone in the car until I had lipstick on my nose and then bought some clearance Valentine's Day candy. (I don't drink, but trust and believe I find other creative ways to harm my body and mind.)

I don't feel tooooo broken up about it. Maybe because I wasn't interviewed, it feels very arbitrary (I'm sure it would be more upsetting if I'd had any personal interaction at any point). I'm more upset about the $100+ I spent applying. I feel like I'm buying expensive lottery tickets. Maybe I'll enter the Nicholl competition too for forty bucks??? Any writers here ever entered that?

 

[filmophile20]

Hey guys, I was waitlisted today from Stark today

I'm sorry @Indus123 -- hopefully though the fact that you interviewed means they liked you, and it's just a really small program. Good luck! I hope it works out

 

[CWYH]

Hello everyone!

I've been lurking around here for a few weeks, but this is my first post (I did update the spreadsheet though

Quick background: I'm a copywriter from Barcelona and I've applied to Directing MFAs at Columbia and NYU. I haven't heard back from Columbia (and I suspect I won't) but I was invited to an interview at NYU!

I'm researching for the interview and I have a question maybe someone here can answer: have (all) the interviewers gone through your application materials? Because looking around for typical questions, I found that some of them are similar to what I at least wrote my Personal Statement about (like why do you want to make films? what kind of stories would you like to tell? or what films have had an impact in your life?). So I'm wondering: if they ask these questions and I answer like in my Personal Statement, that may be repetitive and boring for them, but maybe they didn't read it, or maybe it is a bit repetitive but you have to stick with it because it's the truth...

What do you guys think?

Anyways, good luck to everyone on their applications and interviews! And thanks to the people who created these discussions and have since kept posting so much vital information. You rock!

Hey Miguel!

I applied to the Directing MFAs at Columbia and NYU too! Plus Chapman. Haven't heard back from Columbia either but I've heard back from NYU as well - are you going to interview in NYC or over Skype btw?

Regarding your question about whether the interviewers have read your personal statement or not - I really don't know but if it were me, I'd stick to the truth and say the same things. It'll be consistent, which is good, albeit repetitive and boring. I didn't write answers to all the questions you posted above in my personal statement, though, so I'm going to be prepping for that!

This is just my two cents!

C

 

[CWYH]

Hey guys who have heard from Chapman with that "funny little email" -- has anyone gotten a follow up yet?

No follow up yet but I did reply to the original email to say that I'm planning a trip to Orange in early March and asked what would happen if I couldn't make it down (I'm an international student). I got a reply that said it would be best to visit but that if I couldn't, they could arrange to interview over Skype.

 

[CWYH]

Well, after getting rejected from UCLA today I took some time to reflect. By which I mean, I ate In n Out alone in the car until I had lipstick on my nose and then bought some clearance Valentine's Day candy. (I don't drink, but trust and believe I find other creative ways to harm my body and mind.)

I don't feel tooooo broken up about it. Maybe because I wasn't interviewed, it feels very arbitrary (I'm sure it would be more upsetting if I'd had any personal interaction at any point). I'm more upset about the $100+ I spent applying. I feel like I'm buying expensive lottery tickets. Maybe I'll enter the Nicholl competition too for forty bucks??? Any writers here ever entered that?

I'm sorry to hear about your rejection from UCLA. I reckon schools look for very different things in their applicants' work so there's hope yet with USC and LMU!
Burgers and V-day candy sounds like the perfect way to reflect. I'll save your method for the future if you don't mind.

 

[Mis]

The AFI wheels are officially in motion. Lucky enough to receive an interview invitation via phone this afternoon, scheduled for March 1st. (Screenwriting MFA applicant).

For fellow Screenwriting applicants who'll receive their invitations shortly, I'd recommend the link below. An applicant from last year lists 12 questions AFI asked her. Some great information -- https://www.reddit.com/r/Screenwrit...cla_screenwriter_mfa_students_or_alumni_here/

Good luck everyone!

Hey- This is good news! Question...when did you submit and which coast do you live on...or are you international. Trying to figure out scenarios in my head. Pointless...but necessary.

 

[FranklyMyDear]

Hey- This is good news! Question...when did you submit and which coast do you live on...or are you international. Trying to figure out scenarios in my head. Pointless...but necessary.

I submitted pretty late + I live in LA. The application deadline was 12/1, so I must've submitted on something like 11/28 or 29. No reason to lose faith, though. If I remember my phone call correctly, the AFI representative gave me an entire week of slots to choose from + mentioned I was one of the first screenwriting candidates to be contacted. Guess they're moving slower than last year. There's still hope!

 

[Miguel23]

Hey Miguel!

I applied to the Directing MFAs at Columbia and NYU too! Plus Chapman. Haven't heard back from Columbia either but I've heard back from NYU as well - are you going to interview in NYC or over Skype btw?

Regarding your question about whether the interviewers have read your personal statement or not - I really don't know but if it were me, I'd stick to the truth and say the same things. It'll be consistent, which is good, albeit repetitive and boring. I didn't write answers to all the questions you posted above in my personal statement, though, so I'm going to be prepping for that!

This is just my two cents!

C

Hi C!

Thanks, I think that's what I'll do!

Yes, I'll be going to NYC on the second week of March for my interview. They offered Skype but said they encouraged a visit, so there I go !

Good luck to everyone!

 

[Manatee]

Hey @Manatee- good wishes for your interview result! Did you attend the interview in person or was it through skype?

My interview at UCLA is scheduled for this Sunday for MFA directing program. Do share your experience! How many interviewers in the panel? What kind of interview was it - formal or casual ? What kind of questions did they ask?

Just getting more anxious by the day!

I went to the campus for the interview. I think for each day, the interview 6 people. It's very casual. Three instructors talk with you, that's all. The content include my top five films, my strength and weakness, what did I do until now, peach a story, where will you be the next ten years... I think that's all the questions, beside that, they also talk with me a little, like hometown or something. It's not like a interview at all.
Good luck, looking forward to meet you next September!
I'm also super nerves now. We need to wait for one month for the answer.

 

[Manatee]

Well, after getting rejected from UCLA today I took some time to reflect. By which I mean, I ate In n Out alone in the car until I had lipstick on my nose and then bought some clearance Valentine's Day candy. (I don't drink, but trust and believe I find other creative ways to harm my body and mind.)

I don't feel tooooo broken up about it. Maybe because I wasn't interviewed, it feels very arbitrary (I'm sure it would be more upsetting if I'd had any personal interaction at any point). I'm more upset about the $100+ I spent applying. I feel like I'm buying expensive lottery tickets. Maybe I'll enter the Nicholl competition too for forty bucks??? Any writers here ever entered that?

Sorry about that!
But which program did you apply? They told me they just start the interview and it will last until late March.

 

[ever]

First time posting here! I also received an interview invitation from the AFI screenwriting program. International student, and I submitted the application like...in the last few hours, I think. I hope the information can be of some help?

 

[Shikha Mahajan]

I went to the campus for the interview. I think for each day, the interview 6 people. It's very casual. Three instructors talk with you, that's all. The content include my top five films, my strength and weakness, what did I do until now, peach a story, where will you be the next ten years... I think that's all the questions, beside that, they also talk with me a little, like hometown or something. It's not like a interview at all.
Good luck, looking forward to meet you next September!
I'm also super nerves now. We need to wait for one month for the answer.

Hey @Manatee, appreciate your response! Its great help!

I am an international student and going for skype interview.
And that wait (after the interview) is more killing.. now at least i have something to work upon; then it will be an empty mind racing faster than ever

 

[Nic L. Kelly]

I know they have checked out my vids.. I got a message about the diversity application a few weeks ago, seems I had attached a blank one. Hoping to hear from them but not expecting.

 

[juliabulia]

@filmophile20 @CWYH Regarding Chapman replies: I got an email from the professor saying thanks and putting me in touch with admissions, but haven't heard back from them yet. Hoping we'll get confirmation soon!

Also, @filmophile20 , I noticed your profile says you live in Boston! I'm from Boston, too

 

[Megan]

Hey all, I've been meaning to update you but work has been a bit crazy this week.

I received an email from USC at 9pm on Sunday asking me if I preferred Skype or phone and that they would be calling me on Monday. I spent Monday morning nervously trying to get some work done while waiting for the call. Finally my phone rang around noon. I had about a 10-minute conversation with one of the admission committee members, which I'd characterize it as an informal interview. She asked me some typical questions—why school, what are my interests beyond directing, strengths and weaknesses, a little about my application, etc. I think it went well, but it's hard to say. Of course I've been running the conversation back in my head all week thinking of things I should've said differently.

She said it would be "a while" before I hear anything, which is nerve-wracking. USC is my #1 choice, so I was excited to hear from them, but now I'm back to waiting. Fingers crossed!

 

[filmophile20]

Also, @filmophile20 , I noticed your profile says you live in Boston! I'm from Boston, too

@juliabulia
Oh nice! haha, small world

 

[Tiffany Kontoyiannis]

Hey all, I've been meaning to update you but work has been a bit crazy this week.

I received an email from USC at 9pm on Sunday asking me if I preferred Skype or phone and that they would be calling me on Monday. I spent Monday morning nervously trying to get some work done while waiting for the call. Finally my phone rang around noon. I had about a 10-minute conversation with one of the admission committee members, which I'd characterize it as an informal interview. She asked me some typical questions—why school, what are my interests beyond directing, strengths and weaknesses, a little about my application, etc. I think it went well, but it's hard to say. Of course I've been running the conversation back in my head all week thinking of things I should've said differently.

She said it would be "a while" before I hear anything, which is nerve-wracking. USC is my #1 choice, so I was excited to hear from them, but now I'm back to waiting. Fingers crossed!

If you don't mind me asking, which program did you apply for?

 

[Paul J.]

Sorry @juliabulia for the slow response! Did not notice this until just now! Unfortunately my e-mail has once again grouped everything into one big messy pile that I cannot find the exact response I am not 100% certain it is automatic but when I asked if I could get a tour by a current student the answer was worded in a way that I assumed that all interviewees get a tour after/before the actual interview. I might be wrong and double checking never hurts but that was my assumption.

 

[Megan]

If you don't mind me asking, which program did you apply for?

I don't mind at all. I applied to the MFA Film and Television Production program.