Columbia University MFA Fall 2016

[Mister K]

@bvels probably a mistake. They are not even finished with interviews at the moment. Why else would they change it?

 

[DPark]

Hey all,

Interviewed with Columbia last weekend.(I'm a Directing applicant)

Actually soooo~~ tensed with the interview duration(30min) at first(because I'm an international, thought my English is not that perfect..., but the time passed like a lightning as if it felt like just 5~10min. There are two faculties as you all know, and the atmosphere was pretty informal/conversational, so I could feel a bit more relaxed than I was waiting outside of the door.

We started our conversation with some simple/private questions about film. And then the next questions were derived from/based on the previous things, I thought like that. I felt like, most of the questions might look like simple/basic/not that tenacious like some notorious schools(?) out there, but you know, I had to be ready with my clear/firm/unique perspectives about film to answer them.

Anyway, it was very conversational even though I was pretty tensed in the room, I enjoyed it. I was trying to be myself like I originally am, that was all for me. All I can do for now is just be waiting for the final decision like everyone you guys. Now feeling unburdened anyway.


Oh, just one quick question. When do you guys think will be the date/period for the final announcement...? I presume it might be the last week of this month based on the data of last year, but who knows. Just curious.

 

[tutenkhamen]

Hey all,

Interviewed with Columbia last weekend.(I'm a Directing applicant)

When do you guys think will be the date/period for the final announcement...? I presume it might be the last week of this month based on the data of last year, but who knows. Just curious.

Pretty sure it'll be sometime around next week, as soon as all the Creative Producing notifications go out. So yes, we can expect to hear from them by March end! -eek-

Hope your interview went well! Goodluck to all the future Producers! Hope everyone gets in!

 

[granados_1111]

Hi everyone!

I just had my interview today. I think it went well even though I was very nervous.

I got interviewed by Eric Medelsohn and Dan Kleinman who were extremely nice and interested in the material I sent.

I got asked about many films and I was so nervous I forgot names or directors some hope that didn't create a negative image of me.

Good luck to everyone and I hope we can meet there next semester!

 

[Stein01]

So I received some good news from the creative producers program...anyone else planning on being there this fall?

 

[Mister K]

Hey All!
Had my interview a couple of days back (Skype), and let me tell you that I was nervous as hell on the days leading up to the interview. I tried to prepare myself, went over the questions posted in this forum, came up with my own questions, and prepared myself to get grilled !
The skype call came 5mins later than my appointed time (got worried, and thought that I probably got the time wrong because of different time zone ). But... then came the call. I met with Eric and Dan, and it took me a couple of minutes to ease the tension and get into groove .
It was informal and conversational (like everybody else's). They started off by asking me questions about myself and what I am doing professionally, and my experience in the creative sector (have been part of the theatre for more than 7 years, mainly acting). Then they moved onto my portfolio which we talked for majority of the time. They seemed really impressed with my visual submissions as well as writing samples (about which they asked very in-depth questions). Then they asked me about my favourite films and directors, and whose work I like. We again went back to my work, my country, and the type of films I like.
Finally they asked me whether I had any questions (which I did), and Eric answered them. Just as we were finishing, Dan asked me a question (which seemed a little tricky) and I gave the answer that first popped into my mind. Interview was done after 25 mins and the weight was lifted off my shoulders after nearly 1 month!
Bottom line... It was a good interview to be honest (from my perspective). I tried to speak from the heart, and left out saying all the bullshit I was planning on saying. Its made me cautiously hopeful about my prospects. Although I must say that I have been wrong about these things before.
Now, its another agonizing wait before they finally reach their decision. **fingers crossed**

 

[granados_1111]

Does anyone have a good guess of how many people get interviewed and what percentage of interviewed students get accepted?

 

[Mister K]

Does anyone have a good guess of how many people get interviewed and what percentage of interviewed students get accepted?

Umm... I've been doing the math for quite sometime now... lol. Well.... as far as I know they accept around 48 students. So my guess is (and its only a guess), they interview somewhere between 72 and 96 students.
Basing this on one thing only... the number of days interviews were held. first day of interview was on the 25th and the last day was 18th. It wasn't all continuous, so interviews were held for 12-15days maximum.
Total number of days for interviews: (MAX) 16 and 12 (MIN)
Total number of slots for each day: 6
MAX: 96 and MIN: 72.
As for percentage, its somewhere between 50% - 67% i.e. 1 in 2 students or 2 in 3 students! Not bad if you ask me.
(Yes, I had nothing better to do - kind of obsessed with this)

 

[granados_1111]

Haha wow! This is amazing. Thanks for these estimates

 

[Mister K]

by the way, @granados_1111 they told me at the interview that international students make up around 50% of a class. So that's something that is positive for us

 

[NeilMichaels]

Guys I just checked my account and here I see two congratulation messages about invitation for interview, I relogged and same bars still there

]

Does Anyone else have the same situation, and any ideas what it can mean? I dont know why but i got a bit excited actually.

 

[Paul J.]

@NeilMichaels Have you interviewed yet? Did you click to go further? Have you received an congrats email from columbia inviting you to an interview?

 

[NeilMichaels]

@NeilMichaels Have you interviewed yet? Did you click to go further? Have you received an congrats email from columbia inviting you to an interview?

Yes I was interviewed and I had first interview invitation bar, now second appeared.

 

[juliabulia]

Guys I just checked my account and here I see two congratulation messages about invitation for interview, I relogged and same bars still there View attachment 442]

Does Anyone else have the same situation, and any ideas what it can mean? I dont know why but i got a bit excited actually.

I have the same thing - probably a bug in the website, reloading the same content twice. I wouldn't read too much into it and wait until we hear directly from the school!

 

[Paul J.]

Yeah, shows the same thing over here too.

 

[tutenkhamen]

Checked my application status too, shows the same thing! Weird. ._.

Is this a sign, ladies & gentlemen?!

-gulps-

 

[OJNY]

Yeah, mine shows the same thing as well. Also, do you guys know when we'd possibly hear back for the screenwriting/directing applicants? This coming week?

 

[juliabulia]

Yeah, mine shows the same thing as well. Also, do you guys know when we'd possibly hear back for the screenwriting/directing applicants? This coming week?

I think before April 1st similar to last year, but some people were still interviewing last week. So I assume they'll use this week to go over applications and make decisions, and then we'll hear the week after.

 

[tutenkhamen]

Also, do you guys know when we'd possibly hear back for the screenwriting/directing applicants? This coming week?

Ideally, yes. Quite a few forum members got accepted into the Creative Producing program last week.

So I guess it's going to be this week for all of us SCR/DIR applicants!

 

[Patrick Clement]

Hang in there everyone!