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

 

[apple]

>HI FILM
I think good school and Ivy.

 

[Tommy]

Hey everyone.

Haven't been active on this page, but I just returned from NY and have Columbia high on my list. I wish you all the best of luck.

@HI FILM

Personally, I think Columbia is a school that isn't high on a lot of people's radars outside of the film world, but I think it's coming up in a big way. Their program is very collaborative and their films have been killing at all the film festivals as of late. I think they're really on the rise right now as a school and their students lately have had some killer films.

I saw a film a couple of years ago called The Second Line (2007 maybe) and it blew me away. It was one of the best short films I've seen and the director is currently at either the Sundance screenwriting lab/director's lab (can't remember which) and is working on a feature.

Long story short, I believe Columbia is up there with the best and is only getting better. Hope to see some of you there in the fall. My fingers are crossed.

 

[Jaye]

Had my interview today. It was very relaxed and as many others have already stated, conversational. I felt more at ease as the conversation moved along. It lasted about 20 minutes and I met with Trey Ellis and Christina Lazaridi.

Definitely felt like there was so much more I wanted to convey, but I can't change that. Now we play the waiting game. Good luck to everyone!

 

[apple]

Do you know how many applicants have the interview and will be accepted for Creative Producing?

 

[FilmSchoolDad]

Originally posted by apple:
Do you know how many applicants have the interview and will be accepted for Creative Producing?

Apple,
There's really no way of knowing for sure how many people get interviews for any one discipline, but if you look at Wikipedia, which has a listing for Columbia's School of the Arts, you will see that, overall, it accepts about 6% of its applicants to the film MFA program. If you look at Columbia's web site (Q&A), you will find that it currently accepts 72 students into its MFA program (48 to the production MFA program (for directing, screenwriting, cinematography) and 24 into its producing program). Considering that Columbia isn't located in L.A., where 90-95% of U.S. films are made each year and where the opportunities for internships and contacts are much greater, and considering that it isn't the most sought after film school among the top five grad film schools, I'm sure that 150 applicants must be interviewed for its 72 positions so that it has a large enough waitlist pool to draw from if any of its top choices are also accepted to any of the higher-ranked L.A. schools (e.g., USC, UCLA, and AFI). I hope this answers your question.

 

[FilmSchoolDad]

For those of you who have asked about when Columbia's decisions are usually made, if past years are any indication of this year, producing applicants should hear either next week (or the week after at the latest). Production applicants will be notified the first two weeks of April. For the producing students, that's what Ira Deutchman and Maureen Ryan have been telling the producing applicants they have been interviewing. Also, notifications to the successful candidates will be done by telephone (followed by official written notification via mail). Good luck to all of you!

 

[wannabe2]

I'm sure that 150 applicants must be interviewed for its 72 positions so that it has a large enough waitlist pool to draw from if any of its top choices are also accepted to any of the higher-ranked L.A. schools (e.g., USC, UCLA, and AFI). I hope this answers your question.

My last hope was for a waitlisted spot even though I was not interviewed. I go drink now.

 

[apple]

>FilmSchoolDad

Thank you for your information!!

If they'll accept 72 students and 6% accept from all applicants, It means 1200 people applied for film MFA.

72 ÷ 6%(0.06)= 1200

I have heard 745 applied this year (information from robot_m)so...

72÷745=0.096644....

about 9.7% will be accepted.

Now I feel much better lol

Fingers crossed?

 

[Procallout]

Originally posted by apple:
I have heard 745 applied this year (information from robot_m)so...72÷745=0.096644....about 9.7% will be accepted.
Now I feel much better lol

Hey Apple, more people apply to screenwriting/directing than creative producing. So if you really break it down, the CP acceptance rate could be something like 24 div. by 200 or better! S/D is obviously less.

 

[apple]

>Procallout

Fingers crossed!!!
I can't sleep well.

 

[apple]

We may hear back next week right?
I hope everyone have a nice weekend.
Keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[HI FILM]

I feel that Tuesday will be the day

 

[harrylime]

i interviewed for creative producing, and they said decisions would go out april 1st. i asked if by mail, at which point ira looked to maureen and they said "yes."

but phone calls may come earlier?

 

[jackgradus]

Originally posted by HI FILM:
I feel that Tuesday will be the day

Do you really think so? That'd be nice!

 

[UCFfilmgirl]

Why Tuesday, Hi Film? I wish, but if harrylime said that when they interviewed decisions would go out April 1st, then it unfortunately will not be Tuesday I am thinking that those accepted will receive phone calls or e-mails, your thoughts?

 

[intimatesecretary]

the students I talked to after my interview said, that they start calling people after they are done with all the interviews, one of them said that he recieved THE call just a few days after his (def before the official snail notificiations being sent out April 1st). so, for me it's a valid point to keep hypnotizing my phone to start ringing

(however, this is for directors/writers, don't know about producing applicants, as their whole time-frame seems to be quiet different)

 

[HI FILM]

When I was there for interview, one of the grad students told me that interviews will finish on Friday (last Friday) and they will start to inform us next week (this week). I applied for Directing.

 

[apple]

I asked about the nortification date to a second year student who coordinated my interview. He said we should be hearing from admissions within the next 2-3 weeks. I received this e-mail on March 18th and applied for Producing. He didn't say specific date.

 

[UCFfilmgirl]

That's very odd because when I interviewed for Creative Producing on Wednesday, March 9th I was told that decisions would be sent out the third or fourth week of March.

 

[Procallout]

For screenwriting/directing I think we could be looking at April 1st-ish for calls and letters.