Chapman Applicants 2013/2014

[Erin Leigh]

Same! Even if they say "we are for sure not sending anything until mid-March," I will still be forever checking my status and email.

 

[Mike_V]

If it makes you feel better, some people get accepted literally on orientation day.
so don't give up till the last minute!

 

[Erin Leigh]

What orientation day?

 

[Mike_V]

the orientation day that new students go to before classes actually start.

 

[Erin Leigh]

Damn, that's kinda late! Haha.

 

[Mike_V]

Yup. It happens though. so hold out. if you're on the waitlist or haven't heard a response yet....

 

[Jade]

No problem. I would honestly rather speak as much truth about my experiences as possible and seem semi-discouraging than make it seem like a piece of cake.

Well, for starters, I graduate in 2010 from Drexel University with a BS in Business Administration and minors in both Law and Film. I started out as a Freshman Film major and switched to Business at the end of my Freshman year. I studied Law to give myself as much of a well-rounded experience as possible. Drexel is a co-op school, and I did my six-month co-op at BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, working in data integrity and pricing analysis, which also contributed to my well-roundedness.

As a film minor, I was lucky enough to be chosen as a producer of Off Campus, Drexel's student produced sitcom. I produced one episode, and ended up winning a Mid-Atlantic Emmy, which helped.

I still believe, however, that the biggest contributing factor were my letters of recommendation and my writing skills. Having written tons of analytical film papers during my film studies at Chapman, partnered with my critical thinking ability developed through my law classes, I became a very good writer, which Chapman takes very seriously, as seen through all the writing samples they demand in their application.

As far as my credentials go, I did graduate from Drexel with a 3.7 GPA and also graduated with distinction from Drexel's Honors College, which consists of completing another set of requirements as well (there's usually only about 30-50 students per year that graduate with distinction). I was also in a social fraternity where I held multiple leadership positions, was a paid writing tutor through Drexel's Writing Intensive Tutoring program, was a teaching assistant in the business program, and played baseball for 4 years. I was also a member of the law society, played a number of inter-fraternal sports, and was also a member of Order of Omega, a national honor fraternity, and a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

I believe being as well-rounded as possible will increase your chances of getting into film school. Film schools no longer want just the artsy individuals who have only studies film. They want broader minds from a wide array of social and educational backgrounds. Anyone can tell stories, so their job is to find those who are the best at it (in their opinion).

My three letters of recommendation were from one industry veteran, the writer of the book Film School Confidential and one of my mentors at Drexel, and a business professor. My LOR definitely helped my cause, no doubt.

While writing your different samples, be sure to have others read them, write multiple drafts, and make sure you write your script sample in the proper format. As I said, they definitely take the writing samples seriously. On one of the first days of classes, one of my professors asked all of us which film we wrote our analysis on, and some of them she remembered reading and praised the writing.

Feel free to continue with questions if there are any!

If you want to check out my IMDb, that will give you a little more info about me as well: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4367815/?ref_=fn_nm_nm_22

Hey everyone, I applied for the MBA/MFA program. Just waiting to hear back.

Also, DJ I checked out your IMDB profile and saw that you are from Lancaster. Weird, so am I.
I am in my last semester at Franklin and Marshall now.

 

[Yiding_GoFighting]

Hi guys. I applied to Chapman's MFA in Production- Editing Emphasis. Has anyone been invited to an interview yet? I am very nervous...

 

[Yiding_GoFighting]

The website says they will start sending things out mid-March! I don't know if they send anything earlier. I still keep checking my email often, though! Haha.

Really? I don't know my heart can even hold for so long a time haha.. so nervous about everything

 

[Erin Leigh]

I could be wrong but I am not even sure Chapman does interviews. From what I've read on their site, I don't think they do. I could be very wrong, though.

Also I totally understand. The waiting game is the worst. Trust me, I am an actor. Waiting for cast lists has been my life for more than four years.

 

[Yiding_GoFighting]

I could be wrong but I am not even sure Chapman does interviews. From what I've read on their site, I don't think they do. I could be very wrong, though.

Also I totally understand. The waiting game is the worst. Trust me, I am an actor. Waiting for cast lists has been my life for more than four years.

I have no idea either. haha. but some of my friends got interview invitations last week. They applied to Sound design tho.

 

[Erin Leigh]

Well, I'm crossing my fingers for all of us. I haven't seen any people on here getting Chapman interviews or mentioning them. Maybe just some specialties need them?

 

[Yiding_GoFighting]

Well, I'm crossing my fingers for all of us. I haven't seen any people on here getting Chapman interviews or mentioning them. Maybe just some specialties need them?

Fingers crossed! That's a possibility. Good luck to everyone!!

 

[Mike_V]

They actually do interviews... it just depends. When I got in for editing, I never got asked for an interview, but I've heard other editors and directors went through an interview (over the phone, skype, or in person).
but anyways, it is possible.

 

[Yiding_GoFighting]

They actually do interviews... it just depends. When I got in for editing, I never got asked for an interview, but I've heard other editors and directors went through an interview (over the phone, skype, or in person).
but anyways, it is possible.

wow!! You are in editing program!! how great! I hear its very competitive. Did you go there?

 

[Mike_V]

I actually graduated back in 2012. It was a great program.

 

[Yiding_GoFighting]

I actually graduated back in 2012. It was a great program.

wow! Amazing! I don't even know if I could get in

 

[Mike_V]

wow! Amazing! I don't even know if I could get in

You won't know till you try is all I can say.
^_^

 

[Yiding_GoFighting]

You won't know till you try is all I can say.
^_^

 

[DJ]

Very cool - small world! Are you originally from that area or just went to school there? I actually grew up in Oxford, PA.

A guy I knew in the MBA/MFA program graduating this year, I believe, went to Franklin and Marshall as well. You might know him. If you want, PM me and I'll let you know his name in case you want to reach out.

Hey everyone, I applied for the MBA/MFA program. Just waiting to hear back.

Also, DJ I checked out your IMDB profile and saw that you are from Lancaster. Weird, so am I.
I am in my last semester at Franklin and Marshall now.