Chapman MFA Screenwriting Applicants 2021

[Abbey Normal]

Anyone else going to the Barry Jenkins Chapman Master Class tomorrow night?!

Yep! I'll be there. For a second I thought it was an interview notification haha. I did atttend the Judd Apatow masterclass back in December and really enjoyed it. Anyway, Chapman needs to hurry up with these notifications! I'm growing impatient.

 

[its_me_mari]

Anyone else going to the Barry Jenkins Chapman Master Class tomorrow night?!

Meeeee

 

[Krmg]

Yep! I'll be there. For a second I thought it was an interview notification haha. I did atttend the Judd Apatow masterclass back in December and really enjoyed it. Anyway, Chapman needs to hurry up with these notifications! I'm growing impatient.

I also attended the Judd Apatow Master Class! I thought it was fun and I enjoyed his anecdotes. Do you think this is a good sign about admission?! I really wish all these schools would hurry up with notifications toooooo!

 

[its_me_mari]

Yep! I'll be there. For a second I thought it was an interview notification haha. I did atttend the Judd Apatow masterclass back in December and really enjoyed it. Anyway, Chapman needs to hurry up with these notifications! I'm growing impatient.

Same happened to me!
I literally screamed and jumped hahahaha

 

[Krmg]

I'm not too jazzed about the Master Class being at 10pm my time (7pm California time) I teach at 8am Thursday morning.

 

[Abbey Normal]

I also attended the Judd Apatow Master Class! I thought it was fun and I enjoyed his anecdotes. Do you think this is a good sign about admission?! I really wish all these schools would hurry up with notifications toooooo!

This could be a good sign, but I don't know lol. At least we'll get 1 hour of Zoom time with Barry Jenkins so that'll calm my nerves for a few days.

 

[Abbey Normal]

Question to the group -- Just out of curiousity why did you all apply to this program? I know it's a top 10 film school (currently ranked 6th). I'd love to hear your thoughts. Pros/cons if any. I'll start.

Pros:
- Close to home, so if I got in (assuming I get in) I could live rent free (a big plus and money saver cause OC could be a little pricey)
- State of the art facility (although this does not mean much for screenwriters)
- Solid faculty plus some new lecturers with legit credts in film/TV
- Solid alumni (lots of Dodge alum work in the industry and really look out for each other)
- Great connection with Netflix
- Stephen Galloway was named Dean last year, which helps boosts Chapman's reputation

Cons:
- I believe they only give out a limited number of scholarships (at the most $20,000 for the duration of the program), which means we're responsible for the rest. So that means $$$$
- Chapman is located in Orange County, so roughly 45 minutes south of LA
- This one is a personal one, but for some reason I was unable to speak to a current MFA Screenwriting student at Chapman. The only person I manage to get a hold of was from the TV Writing/Producing student, but it's a slightly different track for Screenwriting

 

[its_me_mari]

I'm not too jazzed about the Master Class being at 10pm my time (7pm California time) I teach at 8am Thursday morning.

Right?? It’ll be midnight for me and I work at 8! But totally worth it!

Question to the group -- Just out of curiousity why did you all apply to this program? I know it's a top 10 film school (currently ranked 6th). I'd love to hear your thoughts. Pros/cons if any. I'll start.

Pros:
- Close to home, so if I got in (assuming I get in) I could live rent free (a big plus and money saver cause OC could be a little pricey)
- State of the art facility (although this does not mean much for screenwriters)
- Solid faculty plus some new lecturers with legit credts in film/TV
- Solid alumni (lots of Dodge alum work in the industry and really look out for each other)
- Great connection with Netflix
- Stephen Galloway was named Dean last year, which helps boosts Chapman's reputation

Cons:
- I believe they only give out a limited number of scholarships (at the most $20,000 for the duration of the program), which means we're responsible for the rest. So that means $$$$
- Chapman is located in Orange County, so roughly 45 minutes south of LA
- This one is a personal one, but for some reason I was unable to speak to a current MFA Screenwriting student at Chapman. The only person I manage to get a hold of was from the TV Writing/Producing student, but it's a slightly different track for Screenwriting

I agree with everything you stated above. Besides that, for me, as an international applicant, Orange is easier and cheaper to live in than LA!

But the thing is, at least for me, I didn’t know a lot about Chapman before starting to search schools. So I was a little in the dark and I decided to participate in the info session. That was when I actually fell in love with the faculty and Dodge!

 

[Chris W]

This one is a personal one, but for some reason I was unable to speak to a current MFA Screenwriting student at Chapman. The only person I manage to get a hold of was from the TV Writing/Producing student, but it's a slightly different track for Screenwriting

Try to reach out to @IndecisiveElle . She should be able to hook you up with a current screenwriting student. @WriterGirl33 is also a current student. @alanray as well.

 

[Krmg]

Question to the group -- Just out of curiousity why did you all apply to this program? I know it's a top 10 film school (currently ranked 6th). I'd love to hear your thoughts. Pros/cons if any. I'll start.

Pros:
- Close to home, so if I got in (assuming I get in) I could live rent free (a big plus and money saver cause OC could be a little pricey)
- State of the art facility (although this does not mean much for screenwriters)
- Solid faculty plus some new lecturers with legit credts in film/TV
- Solid alumni (lots of Dodge alum work in the industry and really look out for each other)
- Great connection with Netflix
- Stephen Galloway was named Dean last year, which helps boosts Chapman's reputation

Cons:
- I believe they only give out a limited number of scholarships (at the most $20,000 for the duration of the program), which means we're responsible for the rest. So that means $$$$
- Chapman is located in Orange County, so roughly 45 minutes south of LA
- This one is a personal one, but for some reason I was unable to speak to a current MFA Screenwriting student at Chapman. The only person I manage to get a hold of was from the TV Writing/Producing student, but it's a slightly different track for Screenwriting

I applied for a few reasons: it was in the top 10 MFA screenwriting schools (i told myself if I was going to sell my soul in the form of student loans it would have to be for a top program), I like that it's not in LA properly, I like the alumni associated with Chapman, and I think the current students at the info sessions were really helpful and seemed super nice. Those are my only reasons really well and the fact that I want to write screenplays for a living hahaha

 

[Abbey Normal]

Tfw you recieve an email from Dodge and think to yourself "I got in," but then realize it's only an invite to see student thesis films.

 

[thespian]

Tfw you recieve an email from Dodge and think to yourself "I got in," but then realize it's only an invite to see student thesis films.

My stomach dropped too.

 

[its_me_mari]

Tfw you recieve an email from Dodge and think to yourself "I got in," but then realize it's only an invite to see student thesis films.

Sameeee!! I died and came back to life

 

[Krmg]

Anyone remember the date or rough time frame that Dodge is sending out decision notifications? I honestly can't remember haha

 

[Abbey Normal]

Anyone remember the date or rough time frame that Dodge is sending out decision notifications? I honestly can't remember haha

According to the 2020 thread, notifications were sent out March 13th, which was on a Friday. So maybe we'll hear back next Friday or so.

 

[Abbey Normal]

Did anyone attend yesterday's First Cut Screening? I was thoroughly impressed by everyone's thesis films. The closing film in particular. It was incredible! Lots of talented filmmakers/storytellers at Chapman.

One more week y'all haha.

 

[Krmg]

According to the 2020 thread, notifications were sent out March 13th, which was on a Friday. So maybe we'll hear back next Friday or so.

It's Friday! Fingered crossed results come out today!

 

[angelah]

does anyone know what time they usually send out results? refreshing every hour is driving me crazy

 

[Abbey Normal]

does anyone know what time they usually send out results? refreshing every hour is driving me crazy

Historically speaking, results should come out today. Not sure if it's an email or a noticification via the Chapman portal. In the mean time, keep refreshing!!!

 

[Krmg]

Hi All, I contacted someone in admissions, and they said that decisions would begin next week and roll out through April. Dang, I really wanted it to be today... only a little wait longer.