Columbia SOA MFA Directing & Screenwriting Fall 2025

[cj180]

Where are all the Columbia MFA Directing & Screenwriting applicants at?

 

[darvadan]

Where are all the Columbia MFA Directing & Screenwriting applicants at?

Hi! I got waitlisted last year and am applying again. How is it going for you?

I'm not feeling deeply inspired by the prompts this round.

 

[Chris W]

Thanks for starting this thread. Good luck!

Here are our articles about Columbia:

How to Get Into Columbia University Film School: Exclusive Advice From the Admissions and Industry and Outreach Departments (Part 1)

The graduate film program at Columbia University School of the Arts is highly acclaimed for its star-studded alumni roster and teaching students how to tell stories that move the masses. In 2022, FilmSchool.org ranked Columbia SOA runner-up for Best Screenwriting Program in its list of top film...

• Alexa P.
• Feb 23, 2023
• Category: Admissions Interviews

Columbia University: How to Apply for 2025, Acceptance Rate, and What To Expect as a Columbia SOA Film Student

At Columbia University School of the Arts, film students master the art of storytelling in motion, learning future-facing visual and narrative techniques. Instructors include Academy Award winners and nominees, such as James Schamus (Producer and Screenwriter, "Brokeback Mountain," "Crouching...

• Alexa P.
• Sep 15, 2022
• Category: Applying to Film School

2025 version of that should be ready soon.

Here are the applications in our database and application statistics for Columbia. Be sure to log yours. A lot of interesting data in link below.

Columbia University's School of the Arts Acceptance Rate (Columbia - Directing/Screenwriting MFA/All Years)

24.7%

Admitted

90 out of 365

22.2%

Waitlisted

81 out of 365

53.2%

Not Admitted

194 out of 365

Click here for our full Admission Statistics for this program including interview and acceptance notification dates, accepted GPAs, waitlist acceptance rate, demographics of accepted applicants, $ amount of scholarship awarded, and more...

 

[cj180]

Hi! I got waitlisted last year and am applying again. How is it going for you?

I'm not feeling deeply inspired by the prompts this round.

Waitlisted too! Yea, I like last year's prompts better. I always get stuck on the treatment. Are you going to the info session this Sat?

 

[Chris W]

I got waitlisted last year and am applying again.

Waitlisted too!

Be sure to log last year's applications in the database when you can so we improve our data. Let me know if you have questions on how to do it.

Application Database

A database of thousands of film school applications to calculate acceptance rates to film programs and the minimum GPAs, minimum SAT and GRE scores, experience of accepted applicants, and much more....

www.filmschool.org

 

[darvadan]

Waitlisted too! Yea, I like last year's prompts better. I always get stuck on the treatment. Are you going to the info session this Sat?

unfortunately i was working!!! would love to know how it went.

 

[cj180]

I only watched it online and it was informative. You can ask them to send you the recorded session!

 

[Chris W]

Our interview with Columbia grad @Zeno is up:

Zeno (Columbia University MFA '24) on Inspired Storytelling and Unlocking Networking Opportunities (Part 1)

After earning his Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies from UC Santa Barbara in 2003, @Zeno undertook various projects in the industry that paved the way for him to attend Columbia University School of the Arts. In 2024, Zeno graduated from Columbia’s film program with a Master of Fine Arts in...

• Alexa P.
• Nov 15, 2024
• Category: Film Student Interviews

It's a great interview and I hope it's helpful to everyone. They're also offering consultations on applications and essays if anyone is interested.

 

[danielani]

Hi! I got waitlisted last year and am applying again. How is it going for you?

I'm not feeling deeply inspired by the prompts this round.

I feel that. Like I looked over them and immediately thought "I can't relate to any of this."

 

[Chris W]

I'm not feeling deeply inspired by the prompts this round.

I feel that. Like I looked over them and immediately thought "I can't relate to any of this."

These?

Film MFA Admissions & Creative Materials | School of the Arts

arts.columbia.edu

EXT. CITY STREET - DAY
On a bustling city street, the MAN stops, begins setting up a tall metal stand, then places a MICROPHONE atop it. Tapping it, he produces a loud sound that gets everyone's attention— including the PERSON in an adjacent office window. Then he makes his announcement.

INT. APARTMENT - MIDNIGHT
While everybody at the party counts down the seconds to the approaching New Year, the WOMAN watches one particular GUEST sneaking out of the apartment unnoticed. Suddenly panicked, she grabs her coat, exits and races downstairs to the street - practically toppling over the person she’d intended to follow.

INT. TRAIN - NIGHT
With her parents sound asleep in their seats, the young GIRL has a chance to look around the darkened train car. While most everybody is asleep, she spots a WOMAN whispering softly to something inside of an old fashioned HAT BOX. Curious, the child goes over to her.

Which ones are you leaning towards?

 

[danielani]

Honestly, I’m leaning towards the second prompt.

 

[Chris W]

Honestly, I’m leaning towards the second prompt.

Yes that seemed the most interesting to me as well.

 

[nhas]

Anyone applying for the Directing & Screenwriting concentration with no prior film background? Worried about if not uploading a visual exercise would cost me.

 

[patty]

Anyone applying for the Directing & Screenwriting concentration with no prior film background? Worried about if not uploading a visual exercise would cost me.

In their recent Q&A that I attended, they clearly mentioned that it won't hurt your application.

 

[teletubby405]

Does anyone know for the 10-page dramatic writing sample and 3-page prompt continuation, are we supposed to include a title page? Since the 10-page screenplay also requires a logline, do you guys just put it on that page? Thanks.

 

[beyondbugun]

Hey! I'm wondering the same. My dramatic writing file, with the cover, is 11 pages. 10 pages of screenplay + 1 page of cover. I dunno if this is right ot not, any of you knows anything about it?

 

[patty]

Does anyone know for the 10-page dramatic writing sample and 3-page prompt continuation, are we supposed to include a title page? Since the 10-page screenplay also requires a logline, do you guys just put it on that page? Thanks.

Yes, you can do that. I confirmed this over mail. The only rule is that the logline must be on top of this 'additional' page.

 

[beyondbugun]

Yes, you can do that. I confirmed this over mail. The only rule is that the logline must be on top of this 'additional' page.

so, basically it can be 11 pages, right?

 

[teletubby405]

Yes, you can do that. I confirmed this over mail. The only rule is that the logline must be on top of this 'additional' page.

Thanks for the reply! So just to confirm, it would be something like:

Title Page:
log line: XXX
Title: XXX
*****************************
Page 1 of Screenplay
...
Page 10

(just kinda weird to see log line above title haha)

 

[beyondbugun]

Thanks for the reply! So just to confirm, it would be something like:

Title Page:
log line: XXX
Title: XXX
*****************************
Page 1 of Screenplay
...
Page 10

(just kinda weird to see log line above title haha)

lol! we are looking for the same thing )