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Columbia 2011 Application - Questions (1 Viewer)

MAlbie

Well-Known Member
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
 
Ok... I cannot lurk anymore...

I am a CP applicant. I am an international student but now live in the U.S.. Actually I post something before my interview and after that I am trying to keep calm down and wait for my call. However, the call never come in until now.

Here is the information I got. Based on the posts here, we only get three CP accepted applicants from Mexico, Taiwan and Canada. And I remebered that Mexican applicant also get accept from Peter Stark. And the Taiwan applicant was on the waiting list last year. And I also got information about a Chinese applicant from a Chinese forum that she got her waitinglist email last Saturday. So only four people got their decisions.

And I keep checking Ira's tweeter. He went to a film festival in Mexico from last Friday to this Monday and then he flew to Las Vegas for another film festival there till now. I am not sure whether he can make calls during his trip.

Here is some questions I have: (1) Can Ira make phone calls during his trip? (2) Is there anyone else make phone calls instead Ira? (3) Does everyone gets in should receive call? Is there any posibility that we only get accept email without phone call?

Here is the two situations I imagine: (1) All of the CP applicants on this forum except those three already got in are not make it. But if it is true, the ratio is a little bit weird for me. See how many Directing/Screewriting students get in here. And I think at least we should get some people in the U.S. get in on this forum, isn't it? (2) The rest of us still get chance to receive phone call from Ira till he back to NYC or maybe we will get our acceptance via email by Friday.

What are you guys think about? Just try to stay in hope and fingers corss to all of us.
 
Great insight, Dino! I agree with you that it seems very odd that soo many applicants for directing/screenwriting were accepted from this blog, a great mix of U.S. and international, but yet we are not seeing the same for creative producing.

You said "However, the call didn't come in until now." Does that mean you got your call today? If so, congrats & if you're still waiting I've got my fingers crossed for you and the rest of us.
 
You said "However, the call didn't come in until now." Does that mean you got your call today? If so, congrats & if you're still waiting I've got my fingers crossed for you and the rest of us.

Nope... No calls come in... still waiting as you guys. Cannot focus on anything else... just keep refreshing on this forum... lol
 
The fact that more and more people are reaching out, really makes me feel better :)
Thank you, guys.
Good job on your research, Dino. You have a point. Just keep my fingers crossed...
 
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Originally posted by 2get2school:
The fact that more and more people are reaching out, really makes me feel better :)
Thank you, guys.
Good job on your research, Dino. You have a point. Just keep my fingers crossed...

Thanks 2get2school. Just trying to share what I got with you and make me feel calm down during the waiting.

What you sent to those CP applicants? I also want one, lol
 
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It may be interesting but I'm still hopeful although I'm a directing applicant and also international. I will try to be hopeful again even the day I get the rejection. This is life. This is why we make films, perhaps, to produce 'hope' for hopeless or to discover the hope where it doesn't exist :) Hope CP applicant friends you can all make it and surely you will make it.
 
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Originally posted by HI FILM:
It may be interesting but I'm still hopeful although I'm a directing applicant and also international. I will try to be hopeful again even the day I get the rejection. This is life. This is why we make films, perhaps, to produce 'hope' for hopeless or to discover the hope where it doesn't exist :) Hope CP applicant friends you can all make it and surely you will make it.

I really love your attitude HI FILM! Film is all about dream and hope. Film can bring us everything we want. Film can make it!
 
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Hello, hello all! Long time lurker, first time poster. I too am a CP applicant waiting with bated breath! Got waitlisted at NYU last Friday and found myself very disappointed and saddened. Glad to see you are all keeping so positive and hopeful, it is imperative. here are a couple of Nigerian proverbs that have constantly helped me whenever I've found myself in that position. I hope you all find them as helpful and inspirational as I do:

"The pillar of the world is hope"

"It is little by little that the bird builds its nest"

"What separates us is how we deal with despair, not success"

Life has many days people! be hopeful, be happy. Both the fox and snail reach their destinations! wishing you all the best hang in there guys.
 
even though we're technically competing, i say from the bottom of my heart that i wish you all the best. this awful waiting shouldn't be reserved for anyone.

and, to be honest, this looks like a process where a no/maybe means nothing. you try again -- and they like that.

but it feels like they definitely haven't accepted everyone yet.
 
I am glad to know that all of CP applicants are still hopeful and positive.
Don't worry too much, Dino.
I, too, am an international and I have had this great feeling ever since
I had an interview with Ira.

I guess he's just busy out there and have no time to make phone calls.
Let's keep it simple like this at least until we get the result.

He told me I will get noticed by April 1st, so no rush.
I personally think my interview went perfect and he even showed me around the school
a little bit with his webcam after that.

If I get rejected, I will be having hard time for myself to find out
the reason and the right answer. But well... life goes on...

Don't worry... we will get there pretty soon! Hang tight!
 
Wow, I love how inspirational everyone is! We are keeping each other calm, haha :) I also agree that it does not feel they have accepted everyone yet, there are just too many CP applicants on this blog who are waiting. My interview also went absolutely perfect, and I traveled from Florida to NYC for it instead of having it via Skype, which I am positive shows my dedication and passion. I am feeling confident, but it is nearing the end of the day on Wednesday so I really hope we get calls very very soon.
 
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Well, I am the waitlist CP applicant from China
Ira sent the mail to me like last weekend?
I got the e-mail only because another school(not film school) need me to make decision for next academic year within like a week or so, so I told them and got the not so good news..anyone who is still waiting for the call, calm down and good luck to all of you. Ira didn't mention anything about the High List or Regular, no official mail from SOA account....
 
No call means not directly in correct?

They gonna notify waitlist people via email I think.

I think most of us if we don't get call and only get email means we will be waitlisted...
 
I too received the official rejection, though having not been offered an interview it was really just a formality.

Lesson to be learned: don't apply for a screenwriting/directing program when you have no directing experience.
 
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