Chapman News

[SD Grad]

Thanks, Winterreverie, for the positive thoughts!

On another topic, do you know how many courses other than film studies your friends in that program were allowed to take (and what type - cinematography, writing, etc.)? Did they have to pay extra tuition for them? Have they been able to have significant roles on productions, if any at all, or are they just general production assistants? (This is in reply to an earlier post where you said you could ask your cinema studies friends specific questions if anyone had some.)

Thanks again for your help!

 

[Winterreverie]

I don't think tuition is extra-- at least not that I've noticed and I've taken classes out of MY discipline. As far as how many-- its really about how many you can handle. If you come here I'll let you know which professors are against cross pollination between disciplines (There are a couple--most of our profs will gladly let you take classes outside of your focus. But the few against it seem to bark the loudest...)

If you pm me your email I'll pass it along to my film studies friends so you can email them.

 

[Winterreverie]

Side note: tuition for producing/screenwriting/and film studies is significantly cheaper (though not at all cheap) than production.

 

[Chris22]

Hi everyone!

This is my first post (even though I've been an active 'forum reader' since last year). I just wanted to giving some information regarding my acceptance into Chapman University for Fall 2008.

I overnighted my application the day before Feb. 1 for the MFA Film Production program, cinematography emphasis. Last week, I received an e-mail from Darryl Wharton-Rigby regarding my selection for a Dodge College fellowship; this e-mail was dated March 26. The following day, I received my actual acceptance letter via postal mail from Joe Slowensky (dated March 26). I had no interview call, however, my acceptence is conditional until I complete my bachelor's degree (I graduate this May).

The form states that I have until April 23, 2008 to submit my ”˜Intent to Enroll Form' and submit a $1,000 deposit (non-refundable, but will apply to my tuition). I think I will accept even though I haven't heard from USC yet. (I was rejected from NYU, UCLA, and UT Austin.)

I hope this give those still waiting a little bit more information about the ”˜rolling process' Chapman is conducting; perhaps last week's acceptances was another wave.

Good luck to you all.
- Christian

 

[redpokiepenguin]

omg omg omg! guys i just got a call...well no that's a lie. I missed the call, but they lefta message anyway! I got an interview! so all those people who turned in their app at the end of januaury...they finally got to us! woohoo.

 

[dharmagirl]

Congrats on the great news, redpokie! I hope you are going to have a fun Friday night celebration!!!

 

[redpokiepenguin]

Thanks Darmagirl,

anyone have any great advice for the interview? like...how i won't screw it up?

 

[adriel97]

Congrats Red!!! I know you'll do great on your interview. I'm also interested in the mba/mfa program and was wondering if you knew anymore about it. Like, how long has it been in exsistence and how many applicants do they accept.
Winter, I'd appreciate any insight you can give as well.

Thanx!

 

[redpokiepenguin]

i honestly know more about the mba/mfa program at nyu then i know about the one at chapman. But i think a lot overlaps between the two.

It's a 3 consecutive year program. This INCLUDES summers, so account for that. I had the course listings somewhere, but it's going to take me a considerable amount of time to find it. From my memory the first year is predominately in the b-school with 1-2 classes in the film school. the 2nd year is the reverse, mostly film with a few b-school classes. The third year is about a 50/50 split between the two schools.

I know that this program is really new, the first class would've been Spring '08 but i don't think anyone applied for it then. NYU took 6-12 people for the joint program. I don't know how many chapman takes, but it can't be much more than that. They also can't really provide you with any applicant numbers because they're so new. We're like guinea pigs.

The application process is...in short really stupid. The film school gets the whole thing first. Then they make their decision and passes off the application to the b-school. This still happens even though each school has completely separate and unique applications. So you go through the song and dance of interviews and w/e twice. I'm told you have to be accepted into both programs to attend chapman, but I think the film and b-school may take you if you get accepted into only one. You should talk to your contact specifically about that.

I hope that helps. This is really all I know right now. It's really hard for them to give you straight answers about this program because they don't know themselves. oh well... i think it's a great program

oh right. i'm going to be having my interview on the april 22nd. so i should be on campus that day if you guys wanna put a face to the sn.

 

[Bware]

So it's been a week since I checked this forum, looks like a lot has been going on..

It's awesome to see all you other guys getting accepted, looks like we might be in classes together!

Thanks for the info Winter and Theswill, it's pretty reassuring to hear that they don't lock you in too much. I was afraid it might be the situation where I end up exceeding my own expectations in a certain area, and then being "held back" by the difficulty of changing focuses... but instead it seems like if I were "meant" to be somewhere, then I would probably end up there (if that made sense).

I am also waiting to hear from USC (and York U. in Toronto), but at this point I probably wouldn't go to USC either way - the extra costs of tuition and such at USC are more than what I'll probably make in the first two years after school. That, and I'm not sure if Chapman's facilities can be beaten.

I'm flying in to visit the school this coming Thursday, and it'll be pretty cool to finally see what the program is all about with my own eyes. For those interested or keeping track, I was accepted without an interview into the Editing discipline.

I was curious though, if anyone could tell me what the housing situation is like..

Is there on-campus (or University-operated off-campus) housing for grad students? Do any of you live in them? Moving out there from Jersey doesn't really allow for apartment shopping, so I'm hoping CU has some sort of solution.

Thanks, maybe I'll see some of you (though, probably without knowing) while on my tour! I think Darryl is showing me around.

 

[nhfilm]

Hey everyone, I've been reading this forum for the past few weeks. It's good to hear of the acceptances and interviews everyone is getting. I'm one of the many "Decision Pending" people with a directing emphasis. Good luck to everyone and I hope we all hear good news soon! It's good to see I'm not the only one that's still playing the waiting game.

 

[wannabe2]

Red:

Congrats on the interview!!! Did you ever hear from any of your other schools. Also, favor? Could you remind me what you submitted as far as your list of portfolio stuff. Just curious.
Best of luck, and I'll think good thoughts for you.

 

[redpokiepenguin]

Wannabe,

Thanks for the congrats and the thoughts, but i'm still not in yet. ...so still fingers crossed. I actually haven't heard from my last...3 schools. UCLA, AFI, FSU. I don't know what the deal is but I just assumed the worst.

Portfolio list? For Chapman specifically? There were the written pieces they asked for: dramatic scene, favorite film, and significant event. They didn't ask me to send in a reel but they asked for a portfolio list. On that I had some short screenplays, both adaptations and origianl, 2 short films, and 1 animated trailer. That sounds more impressive than it really is. I think that's it. i remember being burnt out by the time I sent in Chapman's application because it was so long.

 

[wannabe2]

Hey,

Yea, the app. was eternal, but I actually had more fun doing that one than the others.
I only had a couple of things on my portfolio list. The only reason I ask is because you had mentioned previously that your experience was not demonstrative of some of our "peers" in here.

Well, I will keep positive thoughts in mind for you. I hope you get into one of them. Hopefully Chapman. I really would love to be accepted there myself.

Later,

 

[redpokiepenguin]

hm...ive never tried checking email for chapman. In anycase it's all in the same place. I usually just put 'chapman webadvisor' in my browser bar then sign in.

Question completely unrelated to school. Has anyone taken the Flyaway bus from Union Station in LA to LAX?

 

[Maseiya]

red, I've taken the Flyaway bus from LAX to Union Station before. I think a one-way only costs like $4. It was a nice ride, and the driver was really friendly. I'd definitely take it again next time I'm in LA.

 

[redpokiepenguin]

That sounds great. thanks! i just didn't want to take something if it was kinda sketch.

 

[SD Grad]

Fox,

WebAdvisor uses the same user ID and password as email. Go to www.chapman.edu. Then click on the Student Resources menu and on the drop-down you'll see WebAdvisor. Then click on the red link: Login to WebAdvisor. Then click on Log In at the top and then enter your user ID and password

 

[nhfilm]

Has anyone applying for the directing emphasis heard anything at all?

 

[WicketBF2]

Nothing. A couple people in the graduate office responded to my inquiry and told me that I should hear by the 15th, and if I didn't I should just go ahead and accept the offer of admittance from LMU, or whoever else I might hear from before them.

Of course, with the second deadline for applications being May 1st, who the hell knows. I'm not sure there's any other admissions process as screwy as the one with film schools. There's no standards or absolutes, and for someone coming from the sciences, it's very disconcerting.