2018 Accepted for USC MFA Screenwriting

[spicystanislaus]

hi friends, figured i'd get this one going!

i have...so...many...questions

first of them is... $$$$$$ ????

 

[Michel Lichand]

That's my big worry too.

Does anybody know if international students should fill out the FAFSA? I keep getting emails telling me to.

 

[flamesonthesidemyface]

Hey all. Congrats to us! I don't have anything to add in terms of financial stuff, but I went to SC for my undergrad and have been living in LA for a collective 8 years so if anyone needs help with knowing where to live, transportation, USC, and SCA in general (did my BA in Critical Studies), I can help answer any questions!

 

[Lychee]

I believe the information about $$$ is sent out in another few weeks or so. I am also eagerly awaiting! It's nice to e-meet everyone.

 

[Riki Tiki Tavi]

hey guys! so i actually called the school about this, and i got some concerning news. the financial aid office told me that they post federal aid around may, which would be after the confirmation deposit. that’s actually not so bad, because i was also told that i could trust the fafsa’s projection on what i’d probably recieve, plus the possibility of work-study... but then i called student services to see when departmental aid might be posted, and they told me ‘not to rely on it’, and that it could be posted anytime between now and september.

the person i talked to seemed to be an assistant though, not, like, a coordinator, so i’m not really sure what to think. for the people who went to sca for undergrad, does that sound right to you?

 

[Lychee]

This doesn't surprise me. From what I've been hearing from graduates of the program, most people pay full price.

 

[Riki Tiki Tavi]

that’s kind of concerning... but it’s not like i haven’t been financially thrifting for this very moment, so if i have to bite the bullet for one of the best film schools in the world, i will! for once, my whole family is behind me 100% on this decision— as well as some of my, ah, wealthier mentors— so at least i have that safety net.

my other concern is uprooting myself and moving all the way across the country! i hope i can spare the time to visit, so it doesn’t feel like i’m a stranger in a strange land.

 

[Lychee]

That's wonderful! I... do not have savings or wealthy mentors so I may need to choose my cheaper local option. Whatever we all decide, I'm sure it will work out!

 

[Riki Tiki Tavi]

don’t feel defeated, bu is a great school too! i applied there myself, but missed the priority deadline by a hair, thanks to some miscommunication between one of my recommenders, so i’m still waiting to hear back. whatever you choose, you should feel accomplished that you were accepted! not many people can say that, you know?

 

[Lychee]

Oh for sure! All options are good

 

[flamesonthesidemyface]

that’s kind of concerning... but it’s not like i haven’t been financially thrifting for this very moment, so if i have to bite the bullet for one of the best film schools in the world, i will! for once, my whole family is behind me 100% on this decision— as well as some of my, ah, wealthier mentors— so at least i have that safety net.

my other concern is uprooting myself and moving all the way across the country! i hope i can spare the time to visit, so it doesn’t feel like i’m a stranger in a strange land.

Hey! Where are you from? I moved from the east coast to LA for SC undergrad and it was quite an adjustment but honestly the best decision I ever made. If you're able, I always suggest to people to move somewhere else for a time in their lives. It's such a great experience and you really learn about yourself.

 

[spicystanislaus]

hey guys! so i actually called the school about this, and i got some concerning news. the financial aid office told me that they post federal aid around may, which would be after the confirmation deposit. that’s actually not so bad, because i was also told that i could trust the fafsa’s projection on what i’d probably recieve, plus the possibility of work-study... but then i called student services to see when departmental aid might be posted, and they told me ‘not to rely on it’, and that it could be posted anytime between now and september.

the person i talked to seemed to be an assistant though, not, like, a coordinator, so i’m not really sure what to think. for the people who went to sca for undergrad, does that sound right to you?

ugh. that's so...drawn out. for the departmental aid (i'm assuming this includes the scholarships we applied to in the app itself,) did they mention the format that might arrive in? like, email/letter wise? i'm getting a little frustrated that this is so impersonal. i applied to other mfa programs and accepted people have been getting calls/cutesy emails and i feel like we're just here screaming into the financial void.

are there any average stats anywhere for a typical aid package?

 

[spicystanislaus]

oh, and, i too would be moving from the east coast. i'm originally from the bay area but spent the past 4 years going to school in PA and working in NYC.

which brings me to issue #923749387198...having a car in LA/good places to live to avoid at least some traffic getting to school. i've been hearing good things about culver city bc of the expo line. anyone else know of anything?

 

[Riki Tiki Tavi]

Hey! Where are you from? I moved from the east coast to LA for SC undergrad and it was quite an adjustment but honestly the best decision I ever made. If you're able, I always suggest to people to move somewhere else for a time in their lives. It's such a great experience and you really learn about yourself.

new york! but not the part of new york you think of when you hear the words ‘new york’. it’s the new york in the middle, that big expanse of mountains and lakes no one cares about unless they’re thinking of buffalo wings. or destiny usa. or tiffany pollard.

that’s not to say i didn’t get a good education! the film industry initially started here— fun fact— and we have many surprisingly good schools as a leftover byproduct of that... but i still feel a little self-conscious about it.

i actually visited california for my graduation ‘present’, and i fell in love immediately, so i’m excited to move, even if i’m also a little scared!

ugh. that's so...drawn out. for the departmental aid (i'm assuming this includes the scholarships we applied to in the app itself,) did they mention the format that might arrive in? like, email/letter wise? i'm getting a little frustrated that this is so impersonal. i applied to other mfa programs and accepted people have been getting calls/cutesy emails and i feel like we're just here screaming into the financial void.

are there any average stats anywhere for a typical aid package?

if it makes you feel ay better, when i called the screenwriting division about my departmental aid— who couldn’t help me, that’s not their gig— i must have gotten five ‘congrats! and welcome!’ in a row from the head, and she seemed very friendly and warm.

i do hope i get a call from whoever advocated for me. i’m dying to know!

...oh, and they didn’t say. to be honest, i had a feeling i was talking to an intern, they seemed a bit clueless.

 

[spicystanislaus]

new york! but not the part of new york you think of when you hear the words ‘new york’. it’s the new york in the middle, that big expanse of mountains and lakes no one cares about unless they’re thinking of buffalo wings. or destiny usa. or tiffany pollard.

that’s not to say i didn’t get a good education! the film industry initially started here— fun fact— and we have many surprisingly good schools as a leftover byproduct of that... but i still feel a little self-conscious about it.

i actually visited california for my graduation ‘present’, and i fell in love immediately, so i’m excited to move, even if i’m also a little scared!



if it makes you feel ay better, when i called the screenwriting division about my departmental aid— who couldn’t help me, that’s not their gig— i must have gotten five ‘congrats! and welcome!’ in a row from the head, and she seemed very friendly and warm.

i do hope i get a call from whoever advocated for me. i’m dying to know!

...oh, and they didn’t say. to be honest, i had a feeling i was talking to an intern, they seemed a bit clueless.

are you up towards buffalo? i spent a lot of time over the last few years up in westchester

 

[Anja]

Hi everyone!
I'm not a screenwriter but I was accepted to the Stark Program and am super nervous/excited as well (I hope you don't mind me intruding). I've filled out all my Financial Aid documents (I hope) and was also told that they usually let you know in early summer. Things are a little more complicated for me because I'm an American citizen but have never actually "lived" in the U.S. and am not considered an international student. So I am struggling a little trying to understand the American university system but I'm trying my best to get everything done correctly and on time
That's also why I've applied for student housing and really hope I get in because that would be one less thing to worry about (moving on my own without a car will be interesting either way haha).
Anyway, it would be exciting to meet all of you in California in the summer! Congratulations on getting in!!!

 

[Riki Tiki Tavi]

are you up towards buffalo? i spent a lot of time over the last few years up in westchester

nah, more in the middle than that, closer to syracuse. i grew up by lake skaneateles and live in north syracuse now, which is a dystopic suburban swamp lair.

westchester is nice though! that husdon valley area is very scenic.

 

[Michel Lichand]

An e-mail from the Office of Student Services of the School Cinematic Arts that I just got: "We are in the process of awarding scholarships. If awarded, you will be notified by late March or early April."

 

[Riki Tiki Tavi]

An e-mail from the Office of Student Services of the School Cinematic Arts that I just got: "We are in the process of awarding scholarships. If awarded, you will be notified by late March or early April."

that’s what the admissions officer told me and sounds more in line with what i expected. i mean, waiting until september for a scholarship? come on.

hold on tight, guys!

 

[flamesonthesidemyface]

nah, more in the middle than that, closer to syracuse. i grew up by lake skaneateles and live in north syracuse now, which is a dystopic suburban swamp lair.

westchester is nice though! that husdon valley area is very scenic.

Grew up in Jersey! But my family has a cabin in the Catskills in Cobleskill so I know upstate New York well

Re: financial stuff. When I went to SC so so so many of my friends worked around campus. I will say SC has amazing opportunities for work-study.