Applying 2010

[Icarus Ascending]

I'm popping in to make my annual "stop freaking out" post, because I wish someone had told me the same when I was applying to film school.

First: to debunk some rumors, USC is not Harvard Law, and UCLA is not Juilliard. The USC Grad Screenwriting Program accepts about 12-15% of applicants outright and waitlists another 5% or so; UCLA Screenwriting has similar numbers; AFI SW accepts almost 30% of its pool outright, and if you add in waitlisters, the number must approach 40%. I don't know the numbers for Production programs, except to say that USC Production admits a *higher* percentage of its applicants than does USC SW.

The point is, these are not hyper-selective programs that accept only three or four students a year. They are gigantically, humongously enormous grad programs which collectively accept hundreds of students annually. Add to this the fact that their applicant pools are not terribly self-selective (only smart, educated people are applying to the Anthropology PhD program whereas every yahoo with stars in his eyes is applying to the film school), and the odds tilt dramatically in the serious applicant's favor. (By "serious applicant," I include the vast majority of StudentFilms.com posters.)

This is not to say that you should slack off while assembling your materials. By all means, put your best foot forward. But pretty please, do not listen to anyone who makes it sound like your work must show flashes of genius in order to stand a chance.

As I wrote in last year's installment of this post:

"I guess my advice is, do yoga. Go a couple rounds with the bag. Listen to river sounds as imagined by disinterested foley guys. Whatever.

Just breathe. You'll be fine."

It's still true.

--Icarus

(Requisite CV: got into UCLA, USC, and AFI. I attend USC.)

 

[Impossible Protagonist]

Originally posted by Icarus Ascending:
I'm popping in to make my annual "stop freaking out" post, because I wish someone had told me the same when I was applying to film school.

First: to debunk some rumors, USC is not Harvard Law, and UCLA is not Juilliard. The USC Grad Screenwriting Program accepts about 12-15% of applicants outright and waitlists another 5% or so; UCLA Screenwriting has similar numbers; AFI SW accepts almost 30% of its pool outright, and if you add in waitlisters, the number must approach 40%. I don't know the numbers for Production programs, except to say that USC Production admits a *higher* percentage of its applicants than does USC SW.

The point is, these are not hyper-selective programs that accept only three or four students a year. They are gigantically, humongously enormous grad programs which collectively accept hundreds of students annually. Add to this the fact that their applicant pools are not terribly self-selective (only smart, educated people are applying to the Anthropology PhD program whereas every yahoo with stars in his eyes is applying to the film school), and the odds tilt dramatically in the serious applicant's favor. (By "serious applicant," I include the vast majority of StudentFilms.com posters.)

This is not to say that you should slack off while assembling your materials. By all means, put your best foot forward. But pretty please, do not listen to anyone who makes it sound like your work must show flashes of genius in order to stand a chance.

As I wrote in last year's installment of this post:

"I guess my advice is, do yoga. Go a couple rounds with the bag. Listen to river sounds as imagined by disinterested foley guys. Whatever.

Just breathe. You'll be fine."

It's still true.

--Icarus

(Requisite CV: got into UCLA, USC, and AFI. I attend USC.)

I don't care if this is accurate or not, it helps me relax a bit, so thanks!

 

[ChrisW]

Originally posted by Impossible Protagonist:

I don't care if this is accurate or not, it helps me relax a bit, so thanks!

I second that, thanks Icarus!

 

[DJ]

I'm currently a business administration major at Drexel University in Philadelphia. I have a minor in legal studies, and a minor in film. i'm looking to apply to film school for 2010, but i'm just wondering what my stats can get me into. I have a 3.5 GPA, graduating with distinction from the honors program, founding father of a fraternity, play club baseball, i was a teaching assistant one semester, I'm a writing tutor, and I also teach karate. I did an internship at BlackRock Solutions in Wilmington, DE as well. My goal is to get into a producing program, but my dream programs are either NYU's or Chapman's MBA/MFA. I also plan to apply to Columbia, UCLA, and USC. How realistic are my chances?

 

[robot_m]

Doesn't seem too shabby at all. And you'll never get in unless you try. It's all about your application.

Though it might hurt you a bit if you're applying to go directly from Undergrad to Graduate with out any time off. I don't have any numbers, but anecdotally speaking, it seems like most of the people who get into the top Graduate film programs have taken some time off to accrue more "life experience".

But then again, people have gotten in directly from undergrad before, so it's not unheard of!

My point being: it never hurts to apply! If nothing else, it forces you to do some deep, introspective examination that you might otherwise not do.

 

[DJ]

I've heard before that going from undergrad directly to grad is difficult, but I'm afraid if I don't, I'll end up not going back to school at all. I don't have enough experience or education to work in the film business as of yet, which is why I'd like to get my MBA/MFA right away.

 

[robot_m]

Originally posted by DJ:
...but I'm afraid if I don't, I'll end up not going back to school at all.

I think that's exactly why they do it, though. They are weeding out those who are only going to grad school because they are terrified of entering the "real world".

 

[Sapphiar]

Seems as if the conversation's swinging in another direction, but I thought I'd mention my choices:

USC
Chapman
Austin
Tisch/NYU

Been prepping for the last two months, spending almost every day working on one item or another, including studying for the gad-**** GRE. Uck. Super nervous, but at the same time, if I had to be spending my time indoors during the summer doing one thing, writing probably takes the cake. (Preferably chocolate.)

 

[WillieGreen]

Applying to:

UCLA screenwriting
USC screenwriting & production
NYU dramatic writing & production


Applied to UCLA and Columbia last year. Flatly rejected at Columbia. Interviewed at UCLA.

 

[DJ]

willie can i ask what your stats are?

 

[taraberyl]

Sapphiar -
what school wants the gre?
usc and nyu don't, and i don't think chapman does...austin?
i'm also pretty sure i read that ucla and columbia don't care about the gre either.

 

[AshleyM]

Chapman doesn't require the GRE for regular admissions, but it may if your GPA is below 3.0. Check the website.

Originally posted by taraberyl:
Sapphiar -
what school wants the gre?
usc and nyu don't, and i don't think chapman does...austin?
i'm also pretty sure i read that ucla and columbia don't care about the gre either.

 

[WillieGreen]

Originally posted by DJ:
willie can i ask what your stats are?

28 y.o. male
B.S. Electrical Engineering
M.S. Engineering Management
board member of a writers group
written 10 feature scripts
written and/or directed and/or produced about half a dozen shorts (and about half a dozen more unproduced)

some other miscellaneous crap if you're interested

 

[Sapphiar]

Yeah, unfortunately I'm only paying for the GRE for Austin. Although, I had initially been on the fence about going to Boston, too, so I'll at least have the GRE available to me if I change my mind.

 

[bornfromcelluloid]

Is anyone applying to UCLA from out of state? I am looking to transfer into the BA Program from New York. I think this might become the most nerve racking year of my life

 

[Jayimess]

Christah, you might be better served in the Undergraduate section of the forum.

Best of luck!

 

[bornfromcelluloid]

Ah haha, what a moment of brilliance. I didn't even realize I was under the Graduate section. Thanks, I'll check it out

 

[DJ]

Does anyone have an estimate for the stats it takes to get into NYU, Columbia, USC, UCLA, Chapman, etc.? I'd like to be able to compare my GPA, extracurriculars, GMAT/GRE, prior work experience, and portfolio so I know how I might compare to other applicants or those already enrolled. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Suzako]

DJ, check out this forum:

http://forums.studentfilms.com...2734/m/416100901/p/1

People who were accepted to various school listed their "stats" here as a way of helping people with your exact question. Peruse and obsess to your hearts away!

 

[taraberyl]

I'm sorry if this is an inane question, but here goes.

I am a writer with producerly or directorly interests, but a writer first and foremost. My fantasy is to make staff on a tv show and work on screenplays during the show's hiatus (a girl can dream?).

I want to go to USC (from Minnesota originally so I'm excited for the change in weather!), but I am not sure if I would be better suited for the writing program or for Stark. I've taken a lot of writing workshops in the past and I wonder if I wouldn't get more out of the producing classes - and, yes, the networking opportunities - that stark affords. I would love to have the ability to produce a script of my own, or at least have some idea how to get it off the ground. How good are the networking opportunities for people in USC's writing division? How many are repped by the time they graduate?

Also, I like that Starkies get their foot in the door someplace while they are still in school. I know a lot of screenwriters go to Stark to get an in with the industry, and I figure that, barring outlandish success right out of the gate (ha!), I'd be looking for a steady job when I graduated anyway, regardless of the program I go to, so maybe Stark would give me a head start?

I know this is a pretty subjective thing. I'd love any feedback at all.