AFI Directing 2022 (1 Viewer)

[loon]

Have you all reviewed your financial aid packages? I just got mine. I’m so sad

I did!!! I'm so sad too, I don't know how i'll make this possible. Still very grateful though. We should DM

 

[andy_ma]

Do you have an AFI 2022 fellow facebook or WhatsApp group? I think we should make one, don't we?

 

[user1234]

Do you have an AFI 2022 fellow facebook or WhatsApp group? I think we should make one, don't we?

there's private forums for AFI on here I think

 

[lskel]

I did!!! I'm so sad too, I don't know how i'll make this possible. Still very grateful though. We should DM

I feeeeeeeel you. Out of context, $10k is SO much money to me. But against $100k a year, woof. Grateful, yes, but also wondering how in the world I’m going to fund this. Does anyone have any more clarity on scholarships through the school? I was under the impression that there are a small handful of full tuition scholarships available and that everyone else gets $10k/year but maybe that’s not the case? Wish there was a little more transparency about it all.

 

[colbarrios]

I feeeeeeeel you. Out of context, $10k is SO much money to me. But against $100k a year, woof. Grateful, yes, but also wondering how in the world I’m going to fund this. Does anyone have any more clarity on scholarships through the school? I was under the impression that there are a small handful of full tuition scholarships available and that everyone else gets $10k/year but maybe that’s not the case? Wish there was a little more transparency about it all.

I feel you. I think there’s a general sentiment that they expect fellows to pull out loans. Which, for some people works and for others it doesn’t. I still haven’t heard anything about scholarships yet, so I hope I’m at least offered something haha.

 

[lskel]

I feel you. I think there’s a general sentiment that they expect fellows to pull out loans. Which, for some people works and for others it doesn’t. I still haven’t heard anything about scholarships yet, so I hope I’m at least offered something haha.

Fingers crossed you get the big monies!

 

[cmin123]

Heyyy I got in too! I am so happy! wanted to share that on monday already but couldnt find this thread lmao. So what is the financial package? Is that about Scholarship? And would love to join a whatsapp group!
I also got into NYU today but I think I'll stick to AFI or whoever offers a scholarship! I'm sorry about everyone who didnt get in but tbh I was rejected from all 5 schools in Germany. Sometimes I feel it's just not the right timing or there was a reason why it didnt work. For me it was to get accepted here 1 year later

 

[loon]

I feeeeeeeel you. Out of context, $10k is SO much money to me. But against $100k a year, woof. Grateful, yes, but also wondering how in the world I’m going to fund this. Does anyone have any more clarity on scholarships through the school? I was under the impression that there are a small handful of full tuition scholarships available and that everyone else gets $10k/year but maybe that’s not the case? Wish there was a little more transparency about it all.

Yes i feel great to get 10k, but man, how will I come up with the extra 170k in tuition and living expenses? Having that in loans is terrifying and a massive burden. So excited to get in. I'm just thinking more and more about the cost!!

 

[Chris W]

there's private forums for AFI on here I think

Here's the thread in the private forum:

https://www.filmschool.org/threads/afi%E2%AD%90%EF%B8%8F-2022-intake.30597/post-191842

 

[boilingcrappy]

I got in with editing emphasis.

 

[arobase]

I share the cost anxiety with you all. I got a small scholarship too and I'm also wondering how much they give out, and how many students didn't get anything at all... Expecting students to pull out loans is an American thing I'm guessing lol. Down for a WhatsApp group too!

 

[colbarrios]

Didn't get any scholarship , not sure how I'll be able to afford it. Maybe I don't understand loans enough as I've never needed to take them out for school, but idk I'll be able to pay $1400 a month once I graduate.

 

[Chris W]

I got in with editing emphasis.

I share the cost anxiety with you all. I got a small scholarship too and I'm also wondering how much they give out, and how many students didn't get anything at all... Expecting students to pull out loans is an American thing I'm guessing lol. Down for a WhatsApp group too!

Didn't get any scholarship , not sure how I'll be able to afford it. Maybe I don't understand loans enough as I've never needed to take them out for school, but idk I'll be able to pay $1400 a month once I graduate.

Congrats everyone!

IMPORTANT: Please update our add your applications to our database. This is VERY important as it helps us get more accurate acceptance data for each program. This helps you and helps future applicants. Please add and update your applications when you can. If you have questions on how to do this please let me know.

https://www.filmschool.org/applications/add

 

[lskel]

Didn't get any scholarship , not sure how I'll be able to afford it. Maybe I don't understand loans enough as I've never needed to take them out for school, but idk I'll be able to pay $1400 a month once I graduate.

If I end up going, I'll be entering the program with a heap of student loan debt from my last degree (we love the USAmerican education system! what a deal!). I wouldn't take any financial advice from me, a Taurus who loves spending money I don't have but can't stop because *it's in the stars*, but feel free to DM me and I can tell you a little bit about my federal student loan experience thus far! The tl;dr is that 1) you can apply for an income-driven repayment plan, which means when you leave school and are making less money, you pay a percentage of your income versus a fixed monthly sum you may or may not have. Interest still accrues during that time because of course it does. Then, when you become the next David Lynch with your fancy AFI degree, you can move out of that repayment plan and make it all go away with the snap of your very wealthy fingers. 2) If you go the loan route, federal >> private. All loans suck, but private loans can be especially predatory.

**This is not financial advice. I am not a financial advisor and don't really know what I'm talking about, just what I've personally experienced. Have a glorious day.**

 

[lskel]

If I end up going, I'll be entering the program with a heap of student loan debt from my last degree (we love the USAmerican education system! what a deal!). I wouldn't take any financial advice from me, a Taurus who loves spending money I don't have but can't stop because *it's in the stars*, but feel free to DM me and I can tell you a little bit about my federal student loan experience thus far! The tl;dr is that 1) you can apply for an income-driven repayment plan, which means when you leave school and are making less money, you pay a percentage of your income versus a fixed monthly sum you may or may not have. Interest still accrues during that time because of course it does. Then, when you become the next David Lynch with your fancy AFI degree, you can move out of that repayment plan and make it all go away with the snap of your very wealthy fingers. 2) If you go the loan route, federal >> private. All loans suck, but private loans can be especially predatory.

**This is not financial advice. I am not a financial advisor and don't really know what I'm talking about, just what I've personally experienced. Have a glorious day.**

I should note that my only experience is with domestic federal loans, specifically Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans (which went towards tuition) and Federal Direct Grad Plus Loans (which went towards cost of living), both of which were amounts determined by the school's estimated cost of attendance. I have no experience with loans as an international student, sorry! If you are a domestic student and are relying on loans but have not yet filled out your FAFSA, do so asap!

Another #GradLifeHotTip—if you are currently uninsured, or will be losing your health insurance upon moving to CA (or whichever state you end up attending school in), apply for the state's Medicaid as soon as you can! (Probably just need to send a copy of your lease as proof of address, or if you're crashing with friends, a letter from that resident...depends on the state.) Unless I'm mistaken, AFI doesn't offer health insurance to students and healthcare in the U.S. is a racket, so get that coverage. I'm pretty sure you can apply for Medi-Cal (CA's Medicaid) as an international student on a visa, too—at least that's what my *very* brief Google search shows. Having Illinois Medicaid while in grad school in Chicago was a lifesaver! (Also went to a conservatory program there, which allowed for no time to work outside, so my lack of income meant I qualified for Medicaid. Illinois' system is not super user-friendly and is generally swamped, so if you're headed to DePaul or Columbia College, apply as soon as you can and be persistent because your "paperwork" can get lost in the shuffle.) And if your school does provide students with healthcare coverage, glory glory hallelujah, and ignore all of this. /End Unsolicited Advice

 

[cmin123]

Hey what kind of options are there for international students who didn't get a scholarship? I dont know how I'm gonna be able to even pay the deposit money at this point...

 

[arobase]

Hey what kind of options are there for international students who didn't get a scholarship? I dont know how I'm gonna be able to even pay the deposit money at this point...

I was told that schools may say it's not possible to have a side job, but most people do anyway in the US because college is so unaffordable

 

[lskel]

I was told that schools may say it's not possible to have a side job, but most people do anyway in the US because college is so unaffordable

I talked to Robert (co-head of editing) about this last week. It is possible to work a *very* part-time job while in school, but it’d be more like gas/grocery money (which is better than nothing!), than anything substantial that you could put towards tuition. For example, there’s a cafe in the school you could work at. I think he said the name was Espresso Obsesso? Or you could babysit or find a similar job that allows you to work a few hours around your school schedule.

I got an MFA in Acting (going back for more bc I LOVE debt, and also, hi! hire me!) from a similarly structured conservatory program. I was at school for classes/rehearsal/production pretty much every day 9a-11p and sometimes as early as 6:30a bc I worked a front desk reception job. It was only 8 hours a week and some weeks 0 hours bc my school schedule didn’t allow for it. I get the impression AFI is just as intense. So yes, it is possible to get a job, but it’d be very few hours a week, and more like pocket change than tuition level income.

 

[lskel]

Also emailed Robin to ask when we’d get our financial aid packages (bc this will determine whether or not I can swing AFI) and she said, “The financial aid award notifications will be sent out this week.”

 

[loon]

Also emailed Robin to ask when we’d get our financial aid packages (bc this will determine whether or not I can swing AFI) and she said, “The financial aid award notifications will be sent out this week.”

That's strange! I got mine last week.