Columbia 2011 Application - Questions

[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

 

[Jing]

Congrats, Adrimtz

I also applied for Creative Producing
It's almost 1:00 a.m. here and I can't sleep !

my friend who applied for screenwriting got the call tonight and was in, she is also an international student from China.

 

[cineaste504]

Did anyone receive a call for screenwriting/directing today?

 

[jacfilms]

it looks like maybe Jing's friend did?

man, this is a rough wait.

 

[UCFfilmgirl]

It certainly is a rough wait. I am hoping that calls for Creative Producing will still be going out on Monday as well if I don't get it today, which I think is the first big day for Creative Producers to be called. My interview went so so so well, so I just have this good feeling, but it's still so hard to wait.

 

[HI FILM]

I thought I'd be accepted but still no news. Interview was great.

 

[prospect]

I received an acceptance call for CP yesterday afternoon (315 PM EST). Good luck to everyone waiting and congratulations to the others.

Does anyone who was accepted know the deadline date for our decision? I spoke with Ira and he wasn't 100% sure.

 

[harrylime]

i got two missed calls with a 413 area code, but I HIGHLY doubt that had anything to do with columbia

 

[thefledglingthief]

Hey ya, gang!

Congrats to all those who have received their phone calls! And good luck to those who are still waiting. I wish you the best and hope good news is coming your way soon.

I've been a lurker on this blog for the past two months. I got my call from Eric yesterday, so I thought I'd post my notification for numbers sake. I was accepted into the directing program. Needless to say, I'm very excited. I can't wait to work with all of you who have been posting for the past couple of months. Thanks for all your insights, posts, and general feedback to each other. It helped me through the waiting process.

On that note, have any of you gotten the email notification yet that Eric spoke of on the phone? I think he said that there was a packet coming via email, with all the nuts and bolts pertaining to financial, housing et cetera.

Thanks!

 

[thefledglingthief]

Also, I just started a discussion thread for admitted students. I'm not sure if there is one as of yet, but in the case there isn't, I hope it can be a soundboard for all musings, meanderings, and mischievousness.

http://www.studentfilms.com/ev...200074916#1200074916

 

[UCFfilmgirl]

Prospect,

Was your call from Ira from an actual phone number or a blocked/unknown number? I keep wondering who my missed call was from the other day since it was blocked.

 

[prospect]

Originally posted by UCFfilmgirl:
Prospect,

Was your call from Ira from an actual phone number or a blocked/unknown number? I keep wondering who my missed call was from the other day since it was blocked.

It was from an actual 212 phone number but I wouldn't rule out blocked calls - there could be others making calls on their end and they seemed pretty busy so they could also be calling from different #s depending on avails.

 

[UCFfilmgirl]

Ok thanks so much, I really hope they call back because I know others have gotten accepted with blocked calls from what I have read on this blog. I hope calls continue on Monday!

 

[lynelle135]

Does anyone who was accepted know the deadline date for our decision? I spoke with Ira and he wasn't 100% sure.

I was told by Eric that the deadline is April 15th.

 

['K' Chang]

It seems some have already gotten phone calls.
It makes me nervous.

My interview went so smooth even if I am an international, and it was really positive.

But I haven't heard a thing from Columbia yet.

Please give me a call, Prof. Ira.
Keep y'all fingers crossed!

 

[harrylime]

CP candidates, is it your impression that all calls have gone out already?

 

[UCFfilmgirl]

Hi KChang,

I'm right there with you! My interview went out of this world amazing and I have not received a call yet, although I did miss a call from a blocked number a few days ago, but still no call back. I really hope calls for Creative Producers will continue on Monday. If anyone has any insight on this, like from the blog in past years, please pass it on to those still waiting. Thanks!

 

[UCFfilmgirl]

Harrylime,

I honestly don't know if all CP calls have gone out, but I have a feeling more will be made on Monday. The only thing I am unsure of is why they would make the remainder of those they need to call wait the whole weekend. Your thoughts?

 

[harrylime]

I'm honestly not sure haha. When you say you felt the interview went amazing, what do you mean? Silly question, but just wondering.

 

[intimatesecretary]

Originally posted by UCFfilmgirl:
Harrylime,

I honestly don't know if all CP calls have gone out, but I have a feeling more will be made on Monday. The only thing I am unsure of is why they would make the remainder of those they need to call wait the whole weekend. Your thoughts?

directors/writers are in the same situation, and my thought on this is, that it is not some sofisticated sadism on their part, but as the calls are made at their discretion and official notifications are send on the same day in the name of fairness - we are not supposed to know when they started calling, are we?

 

[UCFfilmgirl]

When I say my interview went amazing I mean just that. It was so natural and warm, Ira and Maureen asked me great questions that I had the perfect answers to, I could just tell they loved me so much. I spoke directly from my heart and showed how passionate I am with everything I said, and they were so impressed with all of my accomplishments. It was serious and so enjoyable, I left feeling inspired, and I still have the same inspired feeling I had when I left. When I walked out of the interview I remember saying to myself that I know I got in. I also showed how much this means to me by traveling (I go to film school in Florida) to NYC to have the interview in person instead of via skype. What about you, how was your interview experience?