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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 so its happening! Quick question, do your last names happen to start with the first letters in the alphabet?

I am trying not to freak out and my last name does start by V so I'm just trying to figure out what is going on!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU!!!
 
I was on the forum and read about the interview requests a couple of you received (congrats by the way!) and started refreshing my inbox like an epileptic gorilla . After 4 refreshes I saw a new mail by "Columbia University". I was so ecstatic I almost cartwheeled over my desktop.

I then read the subject:

"Postbaccalaureate Studies at Columbia University - Information Session Mar. 22"

...
 
Well I'm at work so I saw a phone call from a private number and ignored it. I was secretly hoping it was for an interview and then I popped onto my email and saw one from Columbia. The phone call was from the same person.
 
The last couple of years the notifications went out on multiple days. So we can hope that more will come tomorrow.

On the bright side, I got a post-graduation job offer this week so that will at least take one worry off my plate. Then I start the Columbia 2012 thread. :)
 
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