Chapman Fall 2012 Applicants

[SouthboundPachyderm]

Are there any directing applicants who have heard back about an admission decision? I applied at the beginning of January and my status is still "decision pending." I know some cinematography and producing applicants have been admitted already, just wondering about directors. Did any directors get contacted about interviews?

 

[Silverback15]

I'm a directing applicant and my status hasn't changed from "Decision Pending" yet either. I applied back in January as well. You're not alone. Hopefully we hear sometching soon.

 

[Jeff Lederhaus]

This is just a quick note for those of you applying to Chapman's MFA screenwriting program. I'm not here to discourage you but from my experience it is a waste of money to go to any screenwriting program in any film school. In reality, nothing stops you from writing during the program and you essentially take similar classes as the screenwriters. In fact, you do more productions, etc.. and get involved much more than the students in the screenwriting program. If you want to know how to be a great writer, take editing - seriously. You'll know what works and what doesn't - especially after you are editing a very bad film (which nearly all student films are). Take it from me, editors are the best writers, directors and assistant directors.

I've graduated from Chapman's MFA program in '09.

 

[freakyfreddy]

Originally posted by Jeff Lederhaus:
This is just a quick note for those of you applying to Chapman's MFA screenwriting program. I'm not here to discourage you but from my experience it is a waste of money to go to any screenwriting program in any film school. In reality, nothing stops you from writing during the program and you essentially take similar classes as the screenwriters. In fact, you do more productions, etc.. and get involved much more than the students in the screenwriting program. If you want to know how to be a great writer, take editing - seriously. You'll know what works and what doesn't - especially after you are editing a very bad film (which nearly all student films are). Take it from me, editors are the best writers, directors and assistant directors.

I've graduated from Chapman's MFA program in '09.

I respectfully disagree with "editors are the best writers, directors and assistant directors."
Editors make good movies great. They don't make bad movies good. Which writers do often.
Also, I don't see the connection between an editor and an AD. They seem very different to me.

 

[lite1]

This was posted by Chapman applicant in 2011 in response to another applicant who was having trouble finding out decision/status. While it seems that "officially" Chapman only reveals things by snail mail, it is clear that there are numerous exceptions to that policy, so if your webadvisor shows decision mailed and you want to know sooner than snail mail this might help ... (Note the number shown is different from the official Dodge/Chapman front office phone of (714) 997-6765; so you might actually be getting voice mail from someone who can help.)

Many of us have experienced the same frustration with Chapman's lack of communication and don't understand it; however try calling Gianne.

She works in the Film School Admissions. She can be reached at (714) 289-3590. If she does not answer. leave a message and say it is Urgent. Hope that helps. If she doesn't call you back, call again and say that it is the 2nd, 3rd, etc. message you have left. Eventually you should get a response from her.

 

[rob0683]

Originally posted by freakyfreddy:
Do you remember any interview questions? Are they more geared towards business rather than film?

I don't remember any interview questions. Your first year is heavily business but after that year two is heavy film w/ little business then only film in year 3. If you want to be more involved in the film school in your first year it's pretty easy to get involved.

 

[SouthboundPachyderm]

Has anyone heard any news lately? Did anyone call? It looks like there has been at least one directing and two cinematography admissions so far. My webadvisor status hasn't changed. Hopefully they send out more next week, I'm getting anxious.

 

[let's do this]

@lite1:
Is that info taken from last year? If so, that person may not be in the office anymore. I haven't called that number, I'm just saying things could have changed.

@SouthboundPachyderm:

Nope, I haven't heard anything this week and my status has not changed from "File Complete, Decision Pending". I called either last week or the week before and was told that the decisions will be mailed out in the next 2 weeks. If I don't hear anything by early tomorrow afternoon, I think I'm going to give them another call just to see where they are at. Haha it'd be nice to get "Decision Mailed" statuses this week so we can get the decisions next week! But last year a lot of people did hear back in April...

How about everyone else? What's the word?

 

[lite1]

@letsdothis Yes, that additional phone number and name are from 2011 post at about this time last year.

@Southbound
As I indicated in an earlier post, my son who was accepted and will be at Dodge for Cine focus, called the Dodge front office and was told that they would not share things over the phone, only snail mail. In my post on page 7 I clipped what someone had written last year of a different phone number and person to call to get information after webadvisor had changed to decision made.

I am also a bit surprised that there no one has been reporting additional information here.

NOTE: That for those who are accepted and who plan to go to Chapman/Dodge that there is a new forum thread for Chapman 2012 new students to start to get acquainted.

As I've stated before when your webadvisor changes, if I were in your shoes, I'd call and nag to find out results on phone rather than wait for snail mail.

Good luck to all of you in pursuing your dreams.

 

[Mason Stoddard]

I got my acceptance letter today for the MFA Screenwriting program. My status changed on the 14th and I got the letter today, the 22nd. I called yesterday and was told that the Webadvisor is a bit fast, that my letter was signed on the 14th but wasn't mailed until the 16th. Hope this helps and that the rest of you hear soon!

 

[lite1]

@Mason Congratulations ... will you be going to Chapman, or somewhere else?

 

[let's do this]

@Mason Stoddard:
Finally! Haha, congrats man. Will you be attending or are you still waiting to hear back from other schools?

Let's keep up the momentum! Anyone else hear back today?

 

[trucherrygirl]

@Mason: CONGRATS! What kind of writing materials did you submit? Meaning did you submit a feature-length screenplay or a short film script? Looks like you're the first (at least on the forums) of MFA Screenwriting applicants to hear.

Haven't heard anything yet. Hopefully the rest of us will hear back next week or the first week of April. *crosses fingers*

 

[AB932]

My status changed to decision mailed last week and today I received the acceptance letter.

Chapman is my first choice, so I guess I don't have to worry about the other school that I applied to.

Good luck to all!

 

[lite1]

@AB932 Congratulations, and thanks for posting on the fall 2012 new student thread as well as here. Nice to see that there new students who have been out in the world for a considerable period of time that has the potential of bringing that kind of experience to the student body, as well as being from Brazil.

 

[Razor Ramone]

I also received my acceptance package in the mail today for the MFA in Screenwriting but chances are I'll be declining my spot as I got into LMU's Writing & Producing for TV program too and that was my first choice.

However, I'm definitely plaintive about it as Chapman is a great school and the pros I'll miss out on are the pitch fest, the collaboration with the film production majors, and the school's production company. Needless to say, it wasn't an easy decision!

Whomever my spot goes to: good luck and make the most of it. If anything changes, I'll be sure to post back on here!

 

[darkew]

Hi!

Just to let you know that I just got my acceptance letter, MFA in Screenwriting.

I'm turning it down, because my first choice was the UCLA and I was admitted there too.

Congrats to everyone who made it! =)

 

[SouthboundPachyderm]

Has anyone received a rejection letter yet? I'm thinking the longer we wait, the lower our chances of admittance become. In posts from past years, people had interviews. But it doesn't sound like anyone got one this year.

 

[let's do this]

@Razor Ramone & @darkew:
Thanks for letting us know and congratulations! If either of you change your mind, keep us in the loop! Good luck!

@SouthboundPachyderm:

Has anyone received a rejection letter yet? I'm thinking the longer we wait, the lower our chances of admittance become. In posts from past years, people had interviews. But it doesn't sound like anyone got one this year.

Take a deep breath.
Now release it.

1. At this point in the game, we can't make assumptions about whether we're admitted or not. Until WebAdvisor changes, presume nothing. Just take like 15 min and go through last year's Chapman Fall 2011 group ( http://www.studentfilms.com/ev...2734/m/654100937/p/7 ). All the highs and lows that people were feeling then are the same things you/we feel now. It's just the process.

2. Not everyone gets interviewed. Even Mike_V said last year (and can probably tell us again)

alot of people who apply to chapman will most often not get an interview. When I got in as an editor, i never got an interview, just a letter saying that I am accepted to Chapman.

3. If you still feel worried... here's a couple of examples of when people found out (all from last year's Chapman Forum)...

a user named DJ said:

I got my acceptance on WebAdvisor on April 1st last year, so you'll probably find out soon. Good luck.

on April 04, 2011, KrisKelvin wrote:

I was accepted to Chapman for screenwriting today via letter from Alexandra Rose. I did apply for the priority deadline, though, so that might explain why I seem to have heard before a lot of other people.

And for the MBA/MFA people...sid3sg, on april 6, 2011 said:

Hey everyone!
I've gotten into the MFA/MBA Producing program! Received the mail last week. I was wondering if there is a Facebook group set up for accepted students.
I'm excited!

April. Most of these people didn't even find out 'til April. And technically, the Dodge site says that "Decisions go out on a rolling basis, but decisions for priority applicants should go out by the end of March and decisions for regular applicants should go out by the beginning of May" (http://ftv.chapman.edu/apply/graduate/forms_deadlines). So really, we've got a week or 2 before there's a need to be concerned.

Waiting sucks, and I am right there with you and I get how you're feeling.

But let's hang in there. I'm sorry this is so long but I think it needed to be said.

 

[lite1]

edited after posting @letsdothis had posted while I was writing my post - good points made and a good approach.

@Southbound I would not be discouraged about not hearing yet. My son was admitted as Cine a week ago and it is his first choice, so obviously as his Dad I am thrilled. I have read a lot of the posts from the last several years re: Chapman applicants and about the only consistent thing that I see is that very few get interviews and these are primarily producer, director, or screenwriter, and that interviews are rather rare.

I'd venture to guess that the early batch (those people hearing first which is usually from early March to 3rd week or end of March) are either accepted or not, but not wait listed. Some who have been accepted this year have decided to go elsewhere so there slot is being freed up. Last year it seems that the preponderance on the forum heard by about April 10th so this year is not particularly late with information.

My read is that those who have not heard will get a) accept b) not or c) wait list. Depending upon how many earlier decisions were sent out and now many were accepted it is unclear as to how many slots are still open, and where any applicant sits in the priority.

I know people who have been admission's committees and while one might think that an early acceptance means that you are one of the strongest applicants that might not be the case. Some applicants are pretty strong but stand out for bringing some relatively rare attributes that the admissions committee wants to have in the student mix for the incoming class.

Of course I do not have a crystal ball, and I know that the lack of information/decision is an (un)welcome opportunity to develop more patience. I hope that all of you find the right path for accomplishing your goals.