2016 Interviews- Acceptances- Rejections (4 Viewers)

[tutenkhamen]

Thank you, Paul! Yes, I shall get back here as soon as the interview's done and will share everything that could prove useful!

 

[katavi08]

It is taking everything I have not to constantly call and email these schools asking what's going on. Not that it would matter if I did get in touch with someone because they wouldn't give me a full answer any way. I feel like such a crazy person!
I hope that I can get in somewhere just so I don't have to go through this awful process again.

 

[IndecisiveElle]

I've been obsessively checking myLMU to see if anything has changed, and I noticed two odd changes today (which probably mean absolutely nothing, or just that they've just started looking at my file), but I'd love to know if anyone has encountered the same ...

#1 -- When I go to to the System Logins, then the Graduate Application Profile, it pulls up my application (obviously), but in the "My Profile" section, the Anticipated Entry Term, Academic Level of Interest, and Program of Interest all used to be marked with a red asterisk, but now they're not. Info is all still there, but asterisks are gone.

#2 -- From there, when I click on the "Submit Supplemental Items" and go to that page, my Personal Statement and Creative Work/Writing Sample used be red and offer the option to delete them (far passed the submission deadline). No longer. They are now grey and unable to be deleted (not that I was looking to do so, just noticing the change).

Like I said, probably means nothing, but I'm in the crazy mode like everyone else in looking for any indication of what's happening with my application, and would love to know if any other LMU peeps have encountered these two changes as well.

They might just be doing some clerical maintenance. I had something similar happen with Northwestern - I got all excited because I had an email from them yesterday which turned out to be a simple notification that they corrected the term I was applying for. I accidentally hit spring instead of fall and they were notifying me that they fixed it. I asked if it meant my application hadn't been reviewed yet and she said it was being reviewed and she was just keeping me in the loop. Trying not to read into it too much.

 

[sunshine]

AFI peeps, I had my directing interview, and I overheard the admissions office saying that March was going to be a busy month. All final decisions (acceptances, rejections, wait lists, and scholarship awards) will be sent on April 4, 4/4. <<they tell us this before and during the interview

They seem to be interviewing directing applicants first or at least that's what I gathered since all of the others interviewing were directing candidates.

Advice on the interview: expect the questions you assume (why film school, what films you hope to make, what movies you like, how will you pay, etc.)....My interviewers very thoroughly had read both my essays and had watched both my films (the "surprise" film and the other submission)-- they will most likely ask you questions about things you wrote in your statements. Overall, they're just trying to get to know you and what you're about. They try very hard, they say, to build an ensemble group that meshs well together as a class and contains a variety of voices. My advice is to be yourself and hope that who you are comes across in the questions you answer.

My interview did feel pretty intense (very serious, not easy-going/chill). The school definitely takes itself very seriously as a film school and creates this atmosphere of intensity(whether you like that or not)...

Good luck to you all! And it does kinda suck knowing April 4th is somewhat far off in the future.

 

[danieldrummond]

Hi guys.

Got officially admitted to Chapman's Directing MFA. Don't expect anyone else to be notified this soon though. I was actually admitted last year but had to defer my enrollment to this one.

Anyway, look forward to meet all my future classmates and colleagues at Chapman and other schools, and wish everybody good luck. I'm actually a Chapman alumnus, albeit from a different major (animation and vfx). If anyone has any questions about Chapman's program or what the interview was like, I'd be more than happy to help.

 

[tutenkhamen]

Got officially admitted to Chapman's Directing MFA.

HOLY GUACAMOLE THAT'S HUGE NEWS! Congratulations @danieldrummond!

I've applied for Chapman's Editing MFA, and looking at the Google Sheet, seems like they're sorting out the 'captains' first and the rest of the technical crew shall fall in a while! Hope to see you this fall if and when I get in! Good luck!

PS: Let me know if you need any help, one of my seniors is in the Cinematography course, I'm sure he'll be able to help you out with any queries! Peace.

 

[tutenkhamen]

Hello fellow FilmSchoolers!

I wrapped up my interview with Florida State a while ago! They called me exactly at 10:30 AM EST and it lasted for about 23 minutes and 14 seconds. (not sure if that's a good thing)

Reb Braddock, Barbara Nance and Antonio Mendez (Grand Prix winner at Cannes 2012) interviewed me.

First things first: my expectations were different. It certainly wasn't like a conversation, and I could feel the 'heat' right since the call connected. They were sitting behind a table at a distance, so it wasn't as 'intimate' as I'd expected. They were very serious about their program, just like @sunshine mentioned for AFI.

Yes, the questions were fairly generic: Why FSU? Where do you see yourself in short term/long term? Favorite films? What kind of films do you want to make? What kind of films do you NOT like? Would you like to work in The States or someplace else?

I faltered in the beginning, since I speak really fast, but my fairly decent command in English kept the momentum of the interview up. I noticed how keen they were on asking me about COLLABORATION: "Have you ever had an argument with someone on the set?" "Would you like to incorporate ideas of your teammates around you? Why, why not?"
And they wanted me to give them instances from my own experience with people. This is where I faltered a little bit.

I think this question is really important for them since they need TEAM PLAYERS, especially because their intake is pretty small. (24, out of roughly 1000 applicants)

So yeah, I guess it went well. They exchanged a couple of glances, giggled here and there at some of my answers, there was occasional miscommunication, but it went smoothly. Especially towards the end.

When I asked them some questions about jobs for international students, Reb said something noteworthy along the lines of: "We'll get you jobs once you're here, don't worry." (Again, I might be reading TOO much between the lines) He also said it'll take a few weeks till I could hear from them, and if I had any questions, I could fire a mail to their admissions advisor Gloria.

But. I'm not sure. My fingers are crossed for the next few weeks! Also, I really like their program but I don't think they're very liberal with financial aid or scholarships. That's going to be a game changer for me once the notifications start pouring in.

For the rest of the people, good luck with your interviews! And as Trent Reznor said: "We're in this together..." We definitely are.

 

[Boethius]

I just finished my Skype interview with NYU for Dramatic Writing with one of the professors. It was a good conversation--more of a get-to-know-you, with time for me to ask questions about the program. The one question I remembered being asked was how much writing I'd done, mostly to see if I'm serious about it. I was somewhat nervous at first, but calmed down a bit as I realized this was less of an interview and more of a chat. As the professor said, "We like to let the material speak for itself."

 

[Paul J.]

Great info, guys. I'm sure your interviews went great and I hope you get in! I still have to wait 2 weeks until mine. Seems like more often than not, the professors are just trying to get a feel of you and find a good match for the school. Do they ask specific questions of your past, work/set-experience etc? In other words does it feel like you are required to "sell" yourself?

 

[bvels]

Just had my Skype interview with Columbia aaaaaaaaaaand I wanna barf. But it was good! But I wanna barf.

 

[Paul J.]

Please share your experience on what made you want to barf! give us the dirty details!

 

[Mis]

AFI peeps, I had my directing interview, and I overheard the admissions office saying that March was going to be a busy month. All final decisions (acceptances, rejections, wait lists, and scholarship awards) will be sent on April 4, 4/4. <<they tell us this before and during the interview

They seem to be interviewing directing applicants first or at least that's what I gathered since all of the others interviewing were directing candidates.

Advice on the interview: expect the questions you assume (why film school, what films you hope to make, what movies you like, how will you pay, etc.)....My interviewers very thoroughly had read both my essays and had watched both my films (the "surprise" film and the other submission)-- they will most likely ask you questions about things you wrote in your statements. Overall, they're just trying to get to know you and what you're about. They try very hard, they say, to build an ensemble group that meshs well together as a class and contains a variety of voices. My advice is to be yourself and hope that who you are comes across in the questions you answer.

My interview did feel pretty intense (very serious, not easy-going/chill). The school definitely takes itself very seriously as a film school and creates this atmosphere of intensity(whether you like that or not)...

Good luck to you all! And it does kinda suck knowing April 4th is somewhat far off in the future.

Thank you for this information! I've reached the film forum equivalent of psychotic and have actually combed through any and all threads containing the letters AFI. One thread said that his interview was super casual and that there was no need to dress up. He said they laughed and just had a conversation about film. This does not sound like what you experienced. Did you dress up? Was there laughter? I'm a hooded sweatshirt, van wearing kinda lady and I would hate to show up casual at a business attire situation. That being said...I would hate to wear business attire. It's not me and I think it would throw me off my game. I'm applying for the screenwriting program so I'm thinking at the very least I could get pass on wearing a dress. Thoughts?

 

[BettyXist]

hi coolcats
i'm new here (and about to add my info to the spreadsheet) - what a wonderful resource for us applicants.
interviewing with nyu, columbia, and feirstein these next few weeks. thrills and chills. will share as i go!
good luck to everyone! I look forward to hearing good news from all of you.

 

[Boethius]

Do they ask specific questions of your past, work/set-experience etc? In other words does it feel like you are required to "sell" yourself?

It's funny, because the interviewer said at the beginning that he would be trying to sell the program somewhat--that definitely helped me feel more relaxed. We talked about LA vs. NYC. He also asked at the beginning if I knew much about the program (I had read up on all the info I could find online, so I felt pretty prepared). I tried to work in some of my set experience into the conversation, which led to questions about what I'd done. But it was because I offered the information that we talked about it. That said, my guess is that the interview process for NYU Film will probably be different from Dramatic Writing. (In case anyone is wondering, I wore a business casual shirt, nothing too formal.)

 

[katavi08]

So, I emailed Miami yesterday asking them when I could expect to hear a decision. I was originally told by the admissions people that I would have a decision (good or bad) by the 2nd week of February.
Well, the month is almost over, and I've heard nothing. I got an email early this morning from Admissions saying I could "expect a decision letter via email today". That was at 9:30 AM Est. It's now 7:00 PM Est. and I've received nothing from them! Considering it's three hours past normal business hours, I'm thinking I won't hear anything today.
Now I'm wondering if I should email them again. I don't want to constantly have to contact them, but now I'm concerned they might have sent it to the wrong address or something.
I understand things go wrong in admissions all the time, but it feels so shitty to be told to expect something and then receive nothing. My anxiety can't handle that...

 

[IndecisiveElle]

So, I emailed Miami yesterday asking them when I could expect to hear a decision. I was originally told by the admissions people that I would have a decision (good or bad) by the 2nd week of February.
Well, the month is almost over, and I've heard nothing. I got an email early this morning from Admissions saying I could "expect a decision letter via email today". That was at 9:30 AM Est. It's now 7:00 PM Est. and I've received nothing from them! Considering it's three hours past normal business hours, I'm thinking I won't hear anything today.
Now I'm wondering if I should email them again. I don't want to constantly have to contact them, but now I'm concerned they might have sent it to the wrong address or something.
I understand things go wrong in admissions all the time, but it feels so shitty to be told to expect something and then receive nothing. My anxiety can't handle that...

Wuff. I would be so frustrated by that as well! Maybe give it till tomorrow before end of business and then give them a phone call?

 

[bvels]

Please share your experience on what made you want to barf! give us the dirty details!

Overall I think it went pretty well, or I at least hope I answered the big questions well. Stumbled on talking about my influences a bit (hence the barfing), but was encouraged when they complimented the short film I sent them.

It was fairly relaxed. I'd say just be clear on why you like the program, what directors/movies you like, and what you'd like to make in the future. Good luck all!

 

[sunshine]

Thank you for this information! I've reached the film forum equivalent of psychotic and have actually combed through any and all threads containing the letters AFI. One thread said that his interview was super casual and that there was no need to dress up. He said they laughed and just had a conversation about film. This does not sound like what you experienced. Did you dress up? Was there laughter? I'm a hooded sweatshirt, van wearing kinda lady and I would hate to show up casual at a business attire situation. That being said...I would hate to wear business attire. It's not me and I think it would throw me off my game. I'm applying for the screenwriting program so I'm thinking at the very least I could get pass on wearing a dress. Thoughts?

I wore blue jeans, converse, a tank and a blazer so I guess I was semi business casual. The guy before me was wearing a suit with dressy shoes. The interviewers were dressed casually. I would say it's not a huge deal how you dress- I wanted to be comfortable seeing as AFI's on a hill and it's pretty hot in LA and there's lots of uneven asphalt (if you're considering wearing heels).

I would say you should try to dress somewhere between how you always dress and how you dress when you want to look more polished...but again I don't think it matters. It's film school so obviously you'll see hipsters and people with a flair for clothing so if that's your personality, go for it.

Yes, there was laughter but amid a serious atmosphere. There's one chair where you sit, a table in front of you, and the two interviewers sitting across (pretty formal set up). The first questions are more "difficult" and by the end, they start asking you questions more conversationally so the tone has a trajectory, but it definitely felt like a serious interview, not a friendly conversation.

I think the screenwriting applicants have a different interviewer than the directing applicants bc my interviewer was head of the directing discipline so your interview will probably be slightly different and maybe your interviewer will be less solemn.

Thank you for this information! I've reached the film forum equivalent of psychotic and have actually combed through any and all threads containing the letters AFI. One thread said that his interview was super casual and that there was no need to dress up. He said they laughed and just had a conversation about film. This does not sound like what you experienced. Did you dress up? Was there laughter? I'm a hooded sweatshirt, van wearing kinda lady and I would hate to show up casual at a business attire situation. That being said...I would hate to wear business attire. It's not me and I think it would throw me off my game. I'm applying for the screenwriting program so I'm thinking at the very least I could get pass on wearing a dress. Thoughts?

 

[Brawn Burgundy]

Hey all, long time lurker on these forums. Got a call yesterday to set up an interview with AFI's Screenwriting program and figured I'd help keep everyone as informed as possible.

Cheers

 

[katavi08]

Good news! I finally heard from the University of Miami and I am ACCEPTED!! I was a little worried since there was no interview process with them, but I'm so happy! At least now I know I'll be going somewhere in the fall!