Columbia 2011 Application - Questions (2 Viewers)

[MAlbie]

Hello,
First, thank you for taking the time to read my posting.

I have been looking at film schools (screen writing MFA in particular) for some time now and narrowed down my choices to Columbia and NYU, with Columbia being the favorite. I have already written the first draft of my essay and plan to use some existing materials for the 10-page sample. My next task is to work on the 1 page treatment, which it seems is the hardest part. I have some questions that I am hoping I can get help in answering.

1: I am currently enrolled in an MBA program and heading into my 2nd year with an expected graduation date of May 2011. My hope is that I would enter film school in the Fall of 2011. My concern is my transcripts. While I currently have a 3.4 GPA in my MBA program, but undergraduate GPA is a 2.7 and most certainly I deserved it because I did not apply myself. Reading this forum I noticed a post that said GPA was not as important as other aspects of my application, but do you think the undergraduate transcript will hold me back?

2: I have seen that many schools request a portfolio or resume with samples of work. Columbia does not request this, but will they refuse to consider it?

3: I do not have a visual submission, but I can create something by pulling in past professional work and mixing it with something created just for the application. I feel that, especially with my poor GPA in undergrad, a visual submission would help. But if I create something just for Columbia, will it appear as if I am attempting to curry favor in an inappropriate manner?

4: I am over 30, so I would certainly be an older student. I have heard that this is seen as a large negative. Is this true?

Any help on these questions or advice that you can provide is appreciated.

MAlbie

 

[aresee]

tick tock...tick tock....tick tock....

 

[intimatesecretary]

btw, guys, just went to see Eric's film (3 backyards) - absolutely recommend it, it's hilariously beautiful

 

[Procallout]

Originally posted by intimatesecretary:
ps Trying not to put too much info to the goodbye line "I'll be seeing you very soon."

Was it Eric, or Dan who said that to you?

 

[intimatesecretary]

Eric, with Dan nodding in accordance "see you"

 

[Munky the robot]

Any one receive rejection for film MFA. I havent heard nothing.still.

 

[S.]

Hi everyone ! I haven't posted since the first notifications came out. Congratulations to everyone who got an interview !

I haven't received and invitation, and at first I was upset and lost. I thought about it and even though it's disappointing it's actually not such a big deal. Next year I'll do a master in film at the Sorbonne in Paris which I was accepted to (I'm currently an undergrad there). It wasn't my first choice but it's a good program anyway, in the top three in France.
I'll reapply to Columbia for fall 2012, and this time I'll work more on my application.

So to everyone who didn't get an invite, I know it's hard, but it's not the end of the world, you can always reapply next year, in the meantime improve your writing, do interships, travel, live.

 

[Koquard]

Interview Finished. Thank God. Honestly, it felt a lot shorter than everyone else's. About fifteen minutes and there wasn't any discussion about the creative materials I submitted or what I'm working on now.

I talked about my scripts pretty extensively in my personal statement, so I guess/hope that's why they weren't mentioned during the interview. Otherwise it's probably not a good sign.

As for the "tough" question(s) -- the only non-conversational question they asked was: What specifically do you plan to do after graduation?

I feel if you have your future "planned out," this is a pretty easy question to answer. If not, start planning

 

[Dafness]

Does anyone know how the process at Columbia really works? Have they sent out any rejections yet? I haven't heard a peep from them. I called and they said they are still going though applications and will be conducting interviews for the rest of the month. For people who haven't heard from them, does that mean that definitely won't be contacted for an interview?

 

[HI FILM]

I heard ,when I was there for interview, they will be holding interviews until this friday. Hope everyone, who is still hopeful, gets an invitation for interview

 

['K' Chang]

Interview's officially done. I am ecstatic!
I was nervous all day long and had my interview at 1AM, Korean Time.
I was kinda worried about having online interview,
but Ira and Maureen, they both made me feel comfortable during the interview.

It was pretty short, tho.
So I asked them several questions I had in mind.
I was expecting a lot more questions,
but the main Q was why I'd want to go to graduate school.
They were also concerned how Im gonna pay for their inexpensive tuition.

Overall, it was awesome and bright.

Ira did a quick tour of school with his webcam for me after the interview.
I can't wait 2 more weeks til the decision comes out.

Good luck, everyone!!!

 

[Procallout]

Ira did a quick tour of school with his webcam for me after the interview.

haha that sounds awesome! Did he just take you around the 5th floor of Dodge or did he go outside and stuff?
good luck!

 

['K' Chang]

Originally posted by Procallout:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">
Ira did a quick tour of school with his webcam for me after the interview.

haha that sounds awesome! Did he just take you around the 5th floor of Dodge or did he go outside and stuff?
good luck! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>


He went out of his office which I am not sure whether that was his office. Haha.. it is now spring break, so there were not many people, but i got to meet some people and say hi. ^^

He showed me the lighting room, class and etc... was quick tour..

Now, that makes me really wanna go to Columbia...

It was fun...

 

[Koquard]

Originally posted by titus1:
PS I saw on the Tisch thread that you were invited to study there. Congrats!

Thanks titus.

 

[apple]

Hi. My interview was yesterday for producing.
Good professors and went well.
Finger crossed.
Do you know when is the notification date?
I forgot to ask them about it.

 

[AdriMtz]

they said in 2 weeks... the website says april 1st

 

[cineaste504]

I was told that we should receive a phone call before the end of next week if accepted.

It looks like phone calls were made on the Tuesday and Wednesday following the last week of interviews for the last 3 years.

The wait is agonizing!

 

[cineaste504]

I think what the grad student I spoke to meant was that applicants accepted into the program will receive a phone call next week at the earliest. Wait-list and rejection notifications will be sent out via snail or email between April 1st-15th.

 

[cineaste504]

The grad student told me interviews started last week, are done at the end of this week, and professors will start calling candidates they'd like to invite to the program starting next week. The student seemed pretty confident about the time line. I didn't ask the professors about it though.

 

[cineaste504]

Originally posted by cineaste504:
The grad student told me interviews started last week, are done at the end of this week, and professors will start calling candidates they'd like to invite to the program starting next week. The student seemed pretty confident about the time line. I didn't ask the professors about it though.

Note: This is just for directing/screenwriting. Not sure if this applies to creative producing.

 

[HI FILM]

A simple question: Is Columbia really a good school? Is Columbia the best one for some of you?