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

 

[UCFfilmgirl]

Jaye,

Congrats!! When you received the call this morning was it an actual number or a blocked/unknown number again like you received yesterday? What discipline are you?

 

[jacfilms]

just a thought here - seems like everyone taken yesterday was a directing applicant...is that right? maybe the calls yesterday were for directing applicants and the screenwriting ones are still coming (with the possibility that all of the directing calls have already been made)? i know those applications are wrapped up together but we were supposed to indicate preference.

(i write this as a directing candidate).

 

[Procallout]

Hey Jaye and Assal...no chance you guys got the call around 10am EST?

I got a missed call from an unknown number at 9:53am. Shrugged it off considering it was early and seems like calls went out from 5-9ish last night. And I get a lot of cold calls b/c of work, so its not unusual for me to get blocked id's

 

[cineaste504]

Jacfilms,

I may be mistaken, but I believe Jaye is screenwriting.

If Eric is the only person calling directing/screenwriting candidates I would imagine it'd be difficult to have a 10 minute convo with 45 or so people within a 2 day period since he has teaching obligations too. I'll wait until Monday night to accept defeat!

 

[jacfilms]

ok, that's the kind of analysis and optimism i wanted! great!

 

[aresee]

Good point, cineaste.

I am not going to lie: I am so friggin disturbed right now. And stressed. Like many of you, I have made huge sacrifices already just to attempt this. I am older, and I don't have the luxury of another year being "no big deal." I need this to happen.

I am very happy for those who got the call already. Sort of. Haha!

Here is what I am banking on now.....let me know if this holds any weight...

From what I can see, the applicants that applied to the program and have been accepted already were candidates that applied to multiple schools. I only applied to Columbia. And I emphasized this. I am a definite "Yes" if they call, and they should know this based on my app. Is anyone else in that situation?
My thoughts are that Eric tries to get a answer one way or the other from the accepted candidates on the phone. That's why they discuss financial package so early. So, if candidate is in, great. But since most schools have already notified, I am certain that there must be a few who will say,"I've decided to attend USC (or UCLA or whatever). Others may say, "I'd love to, but with that financial package, I can't." Now, Eric et al can move down the list and make offers to others before "official" rejections.
If that is the case, which I hope that it is, candidates like myself and some of you will be called at the end of the process, since we are more likely to take the spot, and not open up a spot for someone else.

Yes, they call me Pollyanna. But not for too much longer.

By the way, Eric is teaching class today from 2:00-6:00PM. So we have another hour to relax before the phone can start not ringing again.

 

[owenqdinsmore]

Originally posted by jacfilms:
just a thought here - seems like everyone taken yesterday was a directing applicant...is that right? maybe the calls yesterday were for directing applicants and the screenwriting ones are still coming (with the possibility that all of the directing calls have already been made)? i know those applications are wrapped up together but we were supposed to indicate preference.

(i write this as a directing candidate).

Jac,

I got the good news yesterday and I was not a directing applicant. I applied with an intended screenwriting emphasis.

 

[jacfilms]

owen - thanks a bunch for that heads up and congratulations!

aresee - eric's classes often run extremely late so there's a good chance no calls are going out tonight if they run as late as they are purported to...the wait continues.

 

[lynelle135]

I got the acceptance call from Eric around noon today and I'm in the central time zone. I applied for directing and only applied to Columbia.

To be honest, this is a major decision for me and I will be weighing all the pros and cons carefully over the next few days. Eric said we have until April 15th to give them a final decision.

 

[HI FILM]

Except a friend from Berkeley, Eric is getting closer to WEST I love this kind of interpretations. Hope everyone will be happy at the end.

 

[UCFfilmgirl]

Congratulations to everyone who has gotten calls so far and I am right there with those people crossing my fingers hoping I will get a call as well! I am a Creative Producing applicant, are there any others waiting for a call for Creative Producing on this blog? It looks like so far only Directing/Screenwriting have heard back. Something I find interesting is that I did receive a call from a blocked number just as one or two others on this blog did, but I was in class so I missed it unfortunately. Would Columbia call from a blocked/unknown number? Only time will tell! Any insight would be great, thanks so much!

 

[assal]

yes it said BLOCKED on the display, I think they called around 2pm.

 

[Koquard]

Originally posted by jacfilms:
just a thought here - seems like everyone taken yesterday was a directing applicant...is that right? maybe the calls yesterday were for directing applicants and the screenwriting ones are still coming (with the possibility that all of the directing calls have already been made)? i know those applications are wrapped up together but we were supposed to indicate preference.

With Jaye (who I read is screenwriting and who interviewed late) and owenqdinsmore reporting in... that's not good news for us screenwriters. Considering the 6-8 number, it seems unlikely they'll be calling any more of us.

It's up for Creative Producers and a few more directors now. Seems you're still in the okay, jac. So wait 'til Monday.

 

[intimatesecretary]

Originally posted by Koquard:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by jacfilms:
just a thought here - seems like everyone taken yesterday was a directing applicant...is that right? maybe the calls yesterday were for directing applicants and the screenwriting ones are still coming (with the possibility that all of the directing calls have already been made)? i know those applications are wrapped up together but we were supposed to indicate preference.

With Jaye (who I read is screenwriting and who interviewed late) and owenqdinsmore reporting in... that's not good news for us screenwriters. Considering the 6-8 number, it seems unlikely they'll be calling any more of us.

It's up for Creative Producers and a few more directors now. Seems you're still in the okay, jac. So wait 'til Monday. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

first, I think the 6-8 people off the forum is a beyond random statistics, and we should not hold onto it - the number of people posting here / silently lurking and posting only about acceptance (no offence, thanks for the info and congrats, just making a point about the unpredictibility of the sample) is impossible to point a finger on a draw conlusions from...

secondly, they seem to have screenwriting vs directing preferentials pretty mixed up at this stage /and it makes sense as the students are to declare after the first year bindingly/ also, koquard - just last year they called at least 2 screenwriting people on monday 29th, so hang in there...

(and no, still no call for me.)

 

[UCFfilmgirl]

Everyone keep strong and hang in there Knowing other people are receiving blocked/unknown calls and they are getting accepted makes me feel so good. If anyone else has received blocked calls or receives blocked calls please let us know! Thanks so much.

 

[Koquard]

Re: intimatesecretary

Eric's clearly saving your acceptance notification for last. He wants a long talk, not just 10 minutes.

 

[AdriMtz]

they've called for creative producing...
just now at 5:30 am Mexico central time...

i got in .. did anyone else was admitted with a grant?

 

[UCFfilmgirl]

Congratulations, Adrimitz! I'm still waiting for my call. By any chance was there an actual number that appeared on your phone screen or did it say blocked/unknown?

 

[harrylime]

congrats, adrimtz. hope you're thrilled.

i'm still waiting

 

[jackgradus]

Originally posted by Koquard:
Re: intimatesecretary

Eric's clearly saving your acceptance notification for last. He wants a long talk, not just 10 minutes.

You're not very nice.