I wanted to share a short, somewhat fascinating, story with everyone about my application process with the University of Texas at Austin. Just to get this out of the way, I applied to many schools, had interviews and ultimately decided on Columbia. This isn't "sour grapes" by any means. If anything I thought it might be an interesting read and sheds some light on the process of grad film production at UT Austin. They are a fine school with a good reputation (which is why I applied, of course).
I submitted my application on deadline with a fairly strong portfolio. I've worked as a newspaper editor, worked in production in LA for five years and shot a pretty nice 20min short film in western kansas. I haven't read my letters of recommendation, but based on my interviews and acceptances, I am sure they were stellar. I can also assume my essay is pretty good (it got me interviewed with three of the top MFA programs).
I received an acceptance email early in the year. Their decisions come earlier than most programs. Having been nervous about the entire process (as we all are), it was nice to hear i would be going somewhere. We all know this feeling. Austin was a high middle choice for me, so I was relieved for sure.
I got a nice email from the film department and some administrative emails.
We celebrated with some sushi and a pretty stellar make out session.
A couple of days later I received an email from the Grad Admission Office. As a state school admission is a two-step process. The department makes a recommendation to the graduate admission office, but it is ultimately the grad office that either approves or denies applicants. I was asked to provide a copy of my Fall 2014 transcript (they were not included in my application). I can only assume to see what my current year grades were.
After two days I was emailed and told that I had been removed from the accepted list and put on the waitlist. I knew this was basically an "LA" no. That's when they don't want to say "yes" or "no" and say something like, "let's see what happens," or "we will think about it."
In that email the administrator at the grad school said they had found "disturbing" numbers in my transcript. I wasn't pleased with the way they handled that, which sort of sounded like I had the GPA of a rapist, or something.
I am and have always been a 3.0-ish student with a strong extracurricular portfolio. I am, at best, a 3.4 GPA type student, but I sacrifice 0.4 for projects outside of the classroom. Making films is a vocation and despite a good degree, it is experience that will get you work. I have always taken my classwork as "part of a complete breakfast," working on film and projects that create a great portfolio, but definitely effects my GPA. I am not sure what was "disturbing" about my GPA. Why such a strong word for something, so seemingly clinical? (BTW my cumulative GPA is 3.1)
From my experience with the process, it seems the actual film department is not free to select its own students. They make recommendations only and the administration in the grad school makes the final selections. I would wager it is not often the department makes a recommendation that is not accepted, but in my case it seems I was an exception.
As an incoming grad student, paying alot of money and spending alot of time honing my craft, I don't care about my classmates GPA. And neither does anyone else in the business (tell me if I am wrong here). I want to be around brilliant people, with passion, creativity and drive. I fail to see how an administrator, looking at my transcript can determine how ambitious or creative or brilliant I am.
UT Austin definitely has different priorities than I thought and it seems, at least from my experience, it places equal, if not MORE emphasis on academics than say NYU, AFI or COLUMBIA (all of which I interviewed at). This isn't earth-shattering, but It does offer a look at what type of students they want. It also offers a look at the way school administrators prioritize the film department. If the administration does not trust its own department to select the right students, how does that reflect the schools short-term and long-term investment in that department?
I want to finish by repeating this post is not about trashing Austin. I want to inform applicants about my experience, so it might inform them during their own selection processes. We should all be applying to schools we think are a good fit. If I had known Austin administration would override a departmental selection (maybe based on a couple of GPA points), I may not have applied in the first place.
Good luck and I wish you all the best in your application process.
Patrick
I submitted my application on deadline with a fairly strong portfolio. I've worked as a newspaper editor, worked in production in LA for five years and shot a pretty nice 20min short film in western kansas. I haven't read my letters of recommendation, but based on my interviews and acceptances, I am sure they were stellar. I can also assume my essay is pretty good (it got me interviewed with three of the top MFA programs).
I received an acceptance email early in the year. Their decisions come earlier than most programs. Having been nervous about the entire process (as we all are), it was nice to hear i would be going somewhere. We all know this feeling. Austin was a high middle choice for me, so I was relieved for sure.
I got a nice email from the film department and some administrative emails.
We celebrated with some sushi and a pretty stellar make out session.
A couple of days later I received an email from the Grad Admission Office. As a state school admission is a two-step process. The department makes a recommendation to the graduate admission office, but it is ultimately the grad office that either approves or denies applicants. I was asked to provide a copy of my Fall 2014 transcript (they were not included in my application). I can only assume to see what my current year grades were.
After two days I was emailed and told that I had been removed from the accepted list and put on the waitlist. I knew this was basically an "LA" no. That's when they don't want to say "yes" or "no" and say something like, "let's see what happens," or "we will think about it."
In that email the administrator at the grad school said they had found "disturbing" numbers in my transcript. I wasn't pleased with the way they handled that, which sort of sounded like I had the GPA of a rapist, or something.
I am and have always been a 3.0-ish student with a strong extracurricular portfolio. I am, at best, a 3.4 GPA type student, but I sacrifice 0.4 for projects outside of the classroom. Making films is a vocation and despite a good degree, it is experience that will get you work. I have always taken my classwork as "part of a complete breakfast," working on film and projects that create a great portfolio, but definitely effects my GPA. I am not sure what was "disturbing" about my GPA. Why such a strong word for something, so seemingly clinical? (BTW my cumulative GPA is 3.1)
From my experience with the process, it seems the actual film department is not free to select its own students. They make recommendations only and the administration in the grad school makes the final selections. I would wager it is not often the department makes a recommendation that is not accepted, but in my case it seems I was an exception.
As an incoming grad student, paying alot of money and spending alot of time honing my craft, I don't care about my classmates GPA. And neither does anyone else in the business (tell me if I am wrong here). I want to be around brilliant people, with passion, creativity and drive. I fail to see how an administrator, looking at my transcript can determine how ambitious or creative or brilliant I am.
UT Austin definitely has different priorities than I thought and it seems, at least from my experience, it places equal, if not MORE emphasis on academics than say NYU, AFI or COLUMBIA (all of which I interviewed at). This isn't earth-shattering, but It does offer a look at what type of students they want. It also offers a look at the way school administrators prioritize the film department. If the administration does not trust its own department to select the right students, how does that reflect the schools short-term and long-term investment in that department?
I want to finish by repeating this post is not about trashing Austin. I want to inform applicants about my experience, so it might inform them during their own selection processes. We should all be applying to schools we think are a good fit. If I had known Austin administration would override a departmental selection (maybe based on a couple of GPA points), I may not have applied in the first place.
Good luck and I wish you all the best in your application process.
Patrick
