Anyone applying to MFA Screenwriting Programs for Fall 2018?

[Ram GM]

@T See Thanks! By supplements u mean the one where they ask us to upload the Personal Statement and portfolio is that rit?! Cos that's what's I meant. Not the transcripts and scores.

 

[T See]

Correct! it asks for your personal statement and writing samples.

 

[Ram GM]

Cool then, I 've got company in submitting those late! Good luck with ur application. Hope we both get in @T See .

 

[zinala]

I just received word that I have been selected for an interview for AFI's screenwriting program. I'm ~12 days away from flying to L.A. and facing what are likely to be the most nerve-racking minutes of my life thus far.

 

[detroitatheart]

Anyone out there? I applied to NYU Dramatic Writing and have an interview coming up later this week. Curious if others are in the same boat.

 

[eastcoaster2018]

Anyone out there? I applied to NYU Dramatic Writing and have an interview coming up later this week. Curious if others are in the same boat.

I just had my interview today with Dramatic Writing. It was good, a lot more serious than the other ones I've had. They asked usual stuff like "why Tisch, and why now/not later", but also made sure to press me on the question if they wanted to know more. My interviewer was more pliable when we started to chat about writing and I was asking her some questions about her process. Be your wonderful, fantastic, and bright-eyed self and things will probably go OK.

 

[detroitatheart]

I just had my interview today with Dramatic Writing. It was good, a lot more serious than the other ones I've had. They asked usual stuff like "why Tisch, and why now/not later", but also made sure to press me on the question if they wanted to know more. My interviewer was more pliable when we started to chat about writing and I was asking her some questions about her process. Be your wonderful, fantastic, and bright-eyed self and things will probably go OK.

Thanks for your reply! How long was it? My interviewer made it sound really casual and that it wouldn't take more than 20 mins. I'm still probably going to over prepare.

 

[Michel Lichand]

I just had mine too. It was super casual, we exchanged a few jokes... she asked about why I write, if I've studied writing before, if I send out my scripts to anyone, what was the last thing I saw that got my attention, and then (since I googled the interviewer's name beforehand) we talked a little about one of their previous works and scholarships.

 

[detroitatheart]

I just had mine too. It was super casual, we exchanged a few jokes... she asked about why I write, if I've studied writing before, if I send out my scripts to anyone, what was the last thing I saw that got my attention, and then (since I googled the interviewer's name beforehand) we talked a little about one of their previous works and scholarships.

Awesome, thanks!! Why do I write... good question... ;-)

 

[eastcoaster2018]

Thanks for your reply! How long was it? My interviewer made it sound really casual and that it wouldn't take more than 20 mins. I'm still probably going to over prepare.

Yeah mine was about 20 minutes!

 

[detroitatheart]

I just had my interview today with Dramatic Writing. It was good, a lot more serious than the other ones I've had. They asked usual stuff like "why Tisch, and why now/not later", but also made sure to press me on the question if they wanted to know more. My interviewer was more pliable when we started to chat about writing and I was asking her some questions about her process. Be your wonderful, fantastic, and bright-eyed self and things will probably go OK.

Did they give you an idea of when decisions would go out? I forgot to ask.

 

[eastcoaster2018]

Did they give you an idea of when decisions would go out? I forgot to ask.

I didn't ask either, but historically it's been the end of March.

 

[mistah_P]

Hi @Johnella18!

I am a first year mfa in screenwriting student at UCLA. If you have any q's about the application process, just ask (open for everyone else as well)! This site helped me a lot during the application process so I'd be more than happy to give back.

Good luck!

@Kira,
Cool that you are on here paying it forward. I have a question maybe you could help out with. What would you estimate is the average age of the students in the MFA program? And what is the "mid-80%" range? And the limit cases? (oldest and youngest students)? I'm trying to get an idea of how old people are/how much experience they have before applying.

 

[Kira]

@Kira,
Cool that you are on here paying it forward. I have a question maybe you could help out with. What would you estimate is the average age of the students in the MFA program? And what is the "mid-80%" range? And the limit cases? (oldest and youngest students)? I'm trying to get an idea of how old people are/how much experience they have before applying.

There's a wide range of ages and experiences in the UCLA MFA in Screenwriting program. I'd say the average age is late 20's (around 28) with many people falling between 25 and 35 years old. In my year, there are probably half a dozen above 35 and half a dozen below 25.

Yours truly is one of the youngest (22 when I entered) and the oldest is mid-40s. As for life experiences, some of us came straight out of college while others are parents who had other careers before joining the program. Some have never been on a set, others participated in the professional program, a handful are members of the PGA / real film people, and others have a journalism or prose background. I only had two undergraduate screenwriting courses and a film internship when I applied.

It is quite varied and if you are worried about applying on either side (too young or too old) I'd say go for it

 

[mistah_P]

Kira, thanks for the very detailed answer. Super helpful. Curious what the situation is at other schools as well.

 

[snoopdog]

@Kira Hi! I've been reading all your posts from this year as well as last year. Your always extremely helpful, thank you so much for all the time you put in your responses!

I was wondering if you happen to know anything about the quality of the Professional Program in Screenwriting at UCLA? Or if you know of anyone that has been or is currently in the program?

 

[Kira]

@Kira Hi! I've been reading all your posts from this year as well as last year. Your always extremely helpful, thank you so much for all the time you put in your responses!

I was wondering if you happen to know anything about the quality of the Professional Program in Screenwriting at UCLA? Or if you know of anyone that has been or is currently in the program?

Oh wow, haha. Thanks! I'm glad that my posts have helped!

Yup! While I do not know current students, I sit in on their lectures sometimes and the lecturers are both teachers I've had in the MFA program I've heard that the workshop instructors themselves are usually good too. I'd guess that at least 25% of my year participated in the Professional Program. It's a great chance to write intensely and workshop your scripts just like the MFA program.

 

[BlvckGods]

I just received word that I have been selected for an interview for AFI's screenwriting program. I'm ~12 days away from flying to L.A. and facing what are likely to be the most nerve-racking minutes of my life thus far.

yoooooo how did your interview go?

 

[zinala]

yoooooo how did your interview go?

I felt really confident immediately following the interview. We had a relaxed conversation, and I *felt* like they liked me. I say that because there's always the possibility that they were just being polite. But I felt like they were interested in me. I forgot to ask one of the questions I had prepared for them, so I'm pretty bummed about that. I was just so caught up in the moment.

How was yours?

 

[BlvckGods]

I felt really confident immediately following the interview. We had a relaxed conversation, and I *felt* like they liked me. I say that because there's always the possibility that they were just being polite. But I felt like they were interested in me. I forgot to ask one of the questions I had prepared for them, so I'm pretty bummed about that. I was just so caught up in the moment.

How was yours?

It was dope, i already deal with anxiety in general so of course you can imagine how i felt lol..but Anna was great, and so was Kevin (even though he did not talk as much), it was for real like just a conversation and they asked me a bunch of stuff and i asked them. It seemed liked they wanted me to be there, i mean who knows to be honest, but i felt really really good about the interview after it was done.