AFI Screenwriting Fall 2021 (4 Viewers)

[Abbey Normal]

Hey everyone! Got my acceptance yesterday morning as well. Still taking it all in Congrats to those who got in! I’m so excited for what’s to come for all of us. I have a tingly feeling in my stomach that legendary things are going to be made this year. I hope we learn as much as we can from each other with the opportunity we have here and push each other to be the best writers and filmmakers we can be.

Excited to meet you all this coming August! For those who are waitlisted, good luck! And for those who didn't get in, next year is just around the corner.

Nice!!!! Congrats : )

 

[Abbey Normal]

Oh boy....looks like I'm not getting any scholarships....ughhhhhhh. I was on such a high the last few days and now I'm at rock bottom.

 

[aaaaa]

Oh boy....looks like I'm not getting any scholarships....ughhhhhhh. I was on such a high the last few days and now I'm at rock bottom.

Same here. I'm considering prostitution to fund my MFA.

I sat down with my 70-year-old mother and she agreed to chip in towards tuition: We figure she could charge $15 dollars a blowjob, I could charge $10. We'll have my tuition in ten thousand blowjobs.

 

[Abbey Normal]

Apparently, two people from last year did not receive a scholarshp, but ended up receiving one a month later. So, that's somewhat promising???

 

[KDonthescene]

Oh boy....looks like I'm not getting any scholarships....ughhhhhhh. I was on such a high the last few days and now I'm at rock bottom.

I didn’t get anything either

 

[Abbey Normal]

I didn’t get anything either

Welcome to the CDC - Crippling Debt Club

 

[MilesofTrials]

Apparently, two people from last year did not receive a scholarshp, but ended up receiving one a month later. So, that's somewhat promising???

Makes sense - if those with scholarship offers decline, scholarships get shuffled down to other applicants/acceptees (and waitlisted applicants get shuffled up into the class).

 

[Chiarizka]

Hi everyone, it's Chiara here, a deferred screenwriting fellow from last year I can't honestly wait to meet you all!

I was wondering, is there someone here who is still waiting to get an answer back for the scholarship? Because I know many fellows already know... But AFI hasn't sent me an email about it yet, so I was curious if I was the only one left or other people are still waiting!

 

[katiebonnie]

Hey everyone, I got $0 dollars too

Same here. I'm considering prostitution to fund my MFA.

Maybe we could start an Afi brothel?

I also asked about deferring for a year and they said no. And I asked if we could appeal the financial aid decision and they said no. Lol.

Anyone know any ways for an international to get a loan because I don’t

 

[katiebonnie]

Hi everyone, it's Chiara here, a deferred screenwriting fellow from last year I can't honestly wait to meet you all!

I was wondering, is there someone here who is still waiting to get an answer back for the scholarship? Because I know many fellows already know... But AFI hasn't sent me an email about it yet, so I was curious if I was the only one left or other people are still waiting!

Did they send you a financial decision last year?

 

[llueve]

Anyone know any ways for an international to get a loan because I don’t

My understanding is that US citizens and permanent residents can apply for federal student loans. Anyone outside of those categories can only apply for loans from private lenders (ie: banks; orgs who specialize in student loans).

For example (and this is not an endorsement of NerdWallet, I don't really know much about them): 7 International Student Loans for 2021 - NerdWallet

Interest rates for private lending tend to be high. I think usually interest accrues even while you are at school. I'm not sure if the interest is compounded. It's also important to look at the repayment schedule: how much will you have to pay per month? What happens if you can't? How many years will you be paying that amount? And how much money total will you end up paying once you are done paying for the loan plus the interest?

Maybe you already know all this stuff! If not, it is a lot to take in and understand, but it's important to understand it before you commit to it. As I'm sure you've heard, the US is notorious for having a lot of people in debt from attending school, debt that hampers their lives.

 

[Chris W]

I'm not sure if the interest is compounded.

If it's acruiung it's compounding I thought?

 

[katiebonnie]

My understanding is that US citizens and permanent residents can apply for federal student loans. Anyone outside of those categories can only apply for loans from private lenders (ie: banks; orgs who specialize in student loans).

For example (and this is not an endorsement of NerdWallet, I don't really know much about them): 7 International Student Loans for 2021 - NerdWallet

Interest rates for private lending tend to be high. I think usually interest accrues even while you are at school. I'm not sure if the interest is compounded. It's also important to look at the repayment schedule: how much will you have to pay per month? What happens if you can't? How many years will you be paying that amount? And how much money total will you end up paying once you are done paying for the loan plus the interest?

Maybe you already know all this stuff! If not, it is a lot to take in and understand, but it's important to understand it before you commit to it. As I'm sure you've heard, the US is notorious for having a lot of people in debt from attending school, debt that hampers their lives.

Yeah I already knew about this and had ruled it out because I just felt it was too risky tbh. I don't think it's worth it!

Even if you apply for all the scholarships in the world you still won't hear whether you've got them or not until it's too late... I also have to prove I have the funds to get my visa and I don't haha.

 

[llueve]

If it's acruiung it's compounding I thought?

Well, there's two different ways for interest to accrue:
DISCLAIMER -- LLUEVE IS NOT AN ACCOUNTANT, FINANCIAL EXPERT, OR BANK. LLUEVE IS AN INTERNET USER AND LITTLE MORE.
Interest can accrue *only* on the loan amount. For example, you borrow $100. Interest is 1% monthly. Interest accrues *only* on the loan amount, so every month 1% of $100 (ie: $1) is added to your repayment total, but into a separate interest bucket. So every month, you consistently add $1 to the total money you have to repay. The amount added every month stays the same (as long as the interest % stays the same).

OR

Interest can be compounded, such that the interest amount is added to your borrowed amount every time it accrues. Again you borrowed $100 at 1% interest monthly.
- Month 1, 1% of $100 is added to your total - which equals $1. Now your total is $101.
- But Month 2, 1% of $101 is added to your total - that's $1.01. So your new total is $102.01.
- And next month? It'll add 1% of $102.01 to your total (which is $1.02)...
- ...and so on every month until you've paid the whole thing off.
So the amount added every month changes.

 

[llueve]

Yeah I already knew about this and had ruled it out because I just felt it was too risky tbh. I don't think it's worth it!

Even if you apply for all the scholarships in the world you still won't hear whether you've got them or not until it's too late... I also have to prove I have the funds to get my visa and I don't haha.

I'm so sorry. I was an international student when I studied my undergrad degree and I understand this completely. It's a crap situation and all I can say is, I'm sorry.
You are taking it with some humor, though, so that's good. Glad you are able to keep your chin up. Wish I had a magic wand -- for you and for me! (or like a leprechaun?)

 

[katiebonnie]

I'm so sorry. I was an international student when I studied my undergrad degree and I understand this completely. It's a crap situation and all I can say is, I'm sorry.
You are taking it with some humor, though, so that's good. Glad you are able to keep your chin up. Wish I had a magic wand -- for you and for me! (or like a leprechaun?)

Aw, honestly I'm really fine. I know there are people much worse off than me but it's a hard decision to make when I literally can't know the outcome Trying to decide whether or not it's worth it is just a total unknown either way.

Do leprechauns have magic wands?? You learn something new every day!

 

[llueve]

Aw, honestly I'm really fine. I know there are people much worse off than me but it's a hard decision to make when I literally can't know the outcome Trying to decide whether or not it's worth it is just a total unknown either way.

Do leprechauns have magic wands?? You learn something new every day!

lolll noooo I meant because of the pot of gooolllllld!

 

[katiebonnie]

lolll noooo I meant because of the pot of gooolllllld!

yep, that makes more sense

 

[Abbey Normal]

Dear recently admitted AFI Fellows,

For those of you who received an AFI scholarship and were also fortunate enough to receive a scholarship elsewhere, please do us a solid and turn down your AFI offer. Just do it. Be like Nike and "Just Do It." You don't want to go to AFI, trust me! No...you want to go to USC or NYU or LMU or wherever.

Sincerely,
A recently admitted Screenwriting Fellow who received no scholarship

 

[MilesofTrials]

I will note, the US Fed (for the international students, its our monetary policy arm) decided yesterday not to raise interest rates. You may find that the interest rates on private loans to be manageable right now.

I have my own desire to be scooped up off the AFI Waitlist but not because someone couldn't afford their education.