Columbia University MFA 2015 (Official Thread) (1 Viewer)

[gloucesterb]

How long was your interview gloucerterb? I just had mine, and although I feel it went really good, I also felt it was way too short. Something like 16 minutes. My interview with USC went for 45 min.

It was 20 minutes. The time slots were every half an hour, so the maximum would be 25 I guess. What was your area of focus?

 

[ambber25]

Hi everyone, I was posting on the other general thread and didn't know there was a Columbia one! I am an international student (last name H) and got an interview invite on 2/27 with the only option of 3/12. Anyone have more info/advice for the interview? Also, does it make a big difference to go in person or Skype?

 

[Joshua Aka]

It was 20 minutes. The time slots were every half an hour, so the maximum would be 25 I guess. What was your area of focus?

My undergraduate studies, what particular film areas I would like to improve on

It was 20 minutes. The time slots were every half an hour, so the maximum would be 25 I guess. What was your area of focus?

Oh, that makes me feel a little better, knowing their interviews usually run a bit shorter than the other school's. They asked me about why Columbia, which filmmakers career's inspired me, my undergraduate studies, which areas I'd want to improve the most on.

 

[gloucesterb]

Hey. I got my interview with Hillary and June. Hillary told me she reviewed my application. I think you'll be interviewed by whomever read your application. I got very good vibes but nothing certain of course. Especially after reading 2014 Columbia forum, I'm more confused because mostly everyone had good interviews. We just need to wait and see the results i guess. Hoping for the best

 

[jennyguo]

Yes, I am. How about you??

i am producing

 

[ziggy224]

Has anybody (screenwriting/directing) heard from Columbia recently or does anybody know if they are still reviewing applications? The despair of waiting for a response is killing me, haha.

 

[Point Break]

I'm in the same boat ziggy224. Columbia started out as my #1, so I really want to hear back from them, whether good or bad... Last year, the second wave of SCR/DIR interviews went out around March 18th though (according to the post), so don't lose any hope until you get a definite NO!

I've been trying to deduce why we have to wait so long, and when you factor in the international student interviews, the creative producers, and then (hopefully) a first round of SCR/DIR interviews (possibly alphabetically), this may just be their process and they may need to make us wait. Not to mention the acceptance period where people are moving on and off the WAITlist. This period is always nerve-wracking, but I guess we just have to trust the system and hope it works out . I escape by seeking encouragement from previous threads, finding new music, and helping out on friend's sets. Stay busy and good luck!

Has anybody (screenwriting/directing) heard from Columbia recently or does anybody know if they are still reviewing applications? The despair of waiting for a response is killing me, haha.

 

[ziggy224]

@Point Break I have serious doubts as to whether there will be a second batch of invites being sent out. From what I can gather from this year's posts, most of the candidates were approached during the period between 2/11 and 2/13 with the exception of @ambber25, who got the invite on 2/26. Last year there was a single mention of a positive email (the one on 3/18 you are referring to) received past the initial wave of invites.

I was born always anticipating the worst and I sincerely hope I'm wrong when I say this, but I have a bad feeling we've missed the last train – maybe some applicants will still get a chance to hitch their wagons, but I would be wildly surprized if it's more than a few.

P.S.: I'm an international applicant by the way.

 

[JakeHannaford]

Hey everyone! Just returned from my trip to NYC for my Columbia screenwriting/directing interview. I think it went well, but in the past most people felt the same so I'm cautiously optimistic. It was just as everyone in the past has said: very informal and conversational. It was conducted by two full-time faculty members, one from directing and one from writing. They asked me about how I came into film, asked me to talk about my visual submission (which one characterized as "strong") and talked about what kind of filmmaker I want to be. It lasted 28 minutes (the time slots are 30min). They asked if I had any questions.

For those who did interview, did you find out when/how they will be notifying applicants? Good luck to everyone with upcoming interviews, and I was really nervous but it was very laid back, so try not to stress too much.

 

[Sush]

Hey everyone! Just returned from my trip to NYC for my Columbia screenwriting/directing interview. I think it went well, but in the past most people felt the same so I'm cautiously optimistic. It was just as everyone in the past has said: very informal and conversational. It was conducted by two full-time faculty members, one from directing and one from writing. They asked me about how I came into film, asked me to talk about my visual submission (which one characterized as "strong") and talked about what kind of filmmaker I want to be. It lasted 28 minutes (the time slots are 30min). They asked if I had any questions.

For those who did interview, did you find out when/how they will be notifying applicants? Good luck to everyone with upcoming interviews, and I was really nervous but it was very laid back, so try not to stress too much.

Thanks for sharing, @JakeHannaford! I'll try to stay calm but totally hating this long wait! 2 more weeks before mine. Good luck to you! Hope you'll get in!

 

[Johnny Cee]

Sounds like things went well, I'm rootin for you @JakeHannaford ! Congrats on getting Top Poster of the Month too. Were you notified of who you would be interviewing with prior at all (this is a question for anyone else too)?

 

[Nagham]

I am an international student from Egypt. I have an interview on thursday. I hope it goes well. (Screenwriting/directing)

 

[sweatpantspapi]

Long time lurker, had my interview for Scr/Dir yesterday. Mine was about 28 minutes long and I feel cautiously indifferent about it. Had to staunchly defend why I'm applying for grad school right out of undergrad. Here's to hoping for the best though.

 

[Nagham]

Good luck.

 

[JakeHannaford]

Long time lurker, had my interview for Scr/Dir yesterday. Mine was about 28 minutes long and I feel cautiously indifferent about it. Had to staunchly defend why I'm applying for grad school right out of undergrad. Here's to hoping for the best though.

Good luck! I'm sure they just wanted to test your resolve. Did you interview in person? Were you told when you could expect to hear a decision?

 

[sweatpantspapi]

Good luck! I'm sure they just wanted to test your resolve. Did you interview in person? Were you told when you could expect to hear a decision?

Yup, in person with a professor from each department. I wasn't told about the decision timeline and it completely slipped my mind to ask.

 

[JakeHannaford]

Yup, in person with a professor from each department. I wasn't told about the decision timeline and it completely slipped my mind to ask.

Same here! I actually asked them and they said they didn't know, haha, and I should ask Garette. But then Garette was with someone else. I may just call the office and ask.

 

[han]

Same here! I actually asked them and they said they didn't know, haha, and I should ask Garette. But then Garette was with someone else. I may just call the office and ask.

They told me it would be early April. I asked both of them, the interviewers and Garette, and all of them gave me same answer

 

[bleh]

They told me it would be early April. I asked both of them, the interviewers and Garette, and all of them gave me same answer

Thanks everyone whos reported back from their interviews! its very helpful. I have mine coming up soon and will keep you guys posted. Does anyone know whats Garette's role in the decision making process?

 

[bblens88]

Has anyone received a recent interview invitation for Columbia's Screenwriting/Directing program?