Film School 2016

[katavi08]

Where is everyone applying to for Fall 2016 admissions?
My list:
Columbia University
NYU
UCLA
Chapman University
University of Miami

Curious where others are applying.

 

[Quee]

Why not USC LOL.

 

[katavi08]

Oops! Yes, USC is also on the list! haha!

 

[Indigo]

I'm applying to

Columbia
NYU
UCLA
UT Austin
Chapman
CalArts

 

[granados_1111]

Columbia University
NYU
AFI
UCLA
USC

 

[granados_1111]

Do you have any tips or recommendations for making a great application?
My top choice is Columbia for its focus in storytelling.

 

[katavi08]

I was fortunate enough to get a tour with five of the six schools on my list (Columbia, NYU, UCLA, Chapman, and Miami) and asked every single admissions person I met the exact same question. I got the same answer for all of them: they are looking for people who want to tell stories.
Also, looking at the older threads on here and reading other people's experiences it seems that the ones who were most successful were those that let their personality shine through in the application. That's a cliche answer, but I do think these schools are looking for people who have a passion for storytelling, and bring a unique vision to the table.

 

[Nic L. Kelly]

Schools are in the sig... Just came back home(Baltimore) from my visits. Love the Cali weather and the schools are very nice. Waitlisted on the day of my USC visit by USC. Everyone(other schools), talks about not being guaranteed to direct at USC. I did not actually get to speak with anyone there so, I didn't hear their side of it.

I was most impressed with Chapman's program, but the location is not the greatest as far as being close to LA for actors. I really liked the vibe at LMU as well. I felt like a number at USC, maybe it was because I didn't speak to anyone. They do have a beauty of a campus... I have tried several times to visit NYU and it has never worked out(last time I was turned away due to a snow storm). I would like to try again but I really think Cali is the place for me at this point; I really love it out there.

 

[Chris W]

Schools are in the sig...

That's a great thing to do that people have done in the past. It helps other users for sure.

Good luck getting into your schools!

 

[Salva Figueroa]

Schools are in the sig... Just came back home(Baltimore) from my visits. Love the Cali weather and the schools are very nice. Waitlisted on the day of my USC visit by USC. Everyone(other schools), talks about not being guaranteed to direct at USC. I did not actually get to speak with anyone there so, I didn't hear their side of it.

I was most impressed with Chapman's program, but the location is not the greatest as far as being close to LA for actors. I really liked the vibe at LMU as well. I felt like a number at USC, maybe it was because I didn't speak to anyone. They do have a beauty of a campus... I have tried several times to visit NYU and it has never worked out(last time I was turned away due to a snow storm). I would like to try again but I really think Cali is the place for me at this point; I really love it out there.

As a combination of factors it depends on you, considering your main theme, the location its and will be one of the most important things in the soon future; being UCLA, USC, and NYU(L:A) the best options, chapman´s programs seems very nice, unfortunately, i haven´t had the pleasure to visit any of these schools... it all depends on your wishes and tastes, take advantage of the schools wich programs, reinforce your special skills; but remember to polish your weakness to... A successfull filmaker needs to known the whole film mechanism inside out!
sorry for the bad grammar amigo, if you want to learn spanish just tell me haha.
Good luck!!!!!, it would be great to continue the conversation.

 

[Nic L. Kelly]

As a combination of factors it depends on you, considering your main theme, the location its and will be one of the most important things in the soon future; being UCLA, USC, and NYU(L:A) the best options, chapman´s programs seems very nice, unfortunately, i haven´t had the pleasure to visit any of these schools... it all depends on your wishes and tastes, take advantage of the schools wich programs, reinforce your special skills; but remember to polish your weakness to... A successfull filmaker needs to known the whole film mechanism inside out!
sorry for the bad grammar amigo, if you want to learn spanish just tell me haha.
Good luck!!!!!, it would be great to continue the conversation.

Gracias mi amigo, learning now, sure once I get to Cali it will get better.

I agree with you. I think/hope Chapman is it for me. I like the program's opportunities (directing 4 films including thesis, with other opportunities to direct more) and that it's has the AFI feel minus the AFI cost. Going out to visit the schools is great if you can, it changed my entire perspective on where I wanted to go. Good Luck you as well.

 

[katavi08]

Has anyone applying to UCLA submitted their application yet? The fact that it is due this Sunday is freaking me out! I think I've looked over my treatments and personal statement 500 times making sure they're all perfect. Lol.

 

[lady-vengeance]

Has anyone applying to UCLA submitted their application yet? The fact that it is due this Sunday is freaking me out! I think I've looked over my treatments and personal statement 500 times making sure they're all perfect. Lol.

Yeah, I'm applying. Buuuut I'm probably not applying until a leetle later this week. Maybe Thursday. What are you applying for? I'm doing screenwriting.

 

[katavi08]

Yeah, I'm applying. Buuuut I'm probably not applying until a leetle later this week. Maybe Thursday. What are you applying for? I'm doing screenwriting.

I'm applying to the Producer's Program. Will probably submit everything Thursday as well.

 

[lady-vengeance]

Right on, right on. Out of all the schools you're applying to, which one are you leaning towards the most? I think, for me, I'm really feeling UCLA and Chapman because of how intensive they can be in their writing programmes.

 

[katavi08]

Chapman is definitely my #1 choice right now, followed closely by Columbia University.

 

[Chris W]

Check out the new Film School Review system on FilmSchool.org!

The database is going to be very extensive and searchable. I've only added 4 schools so far. Please go ahead and review the schools that you are familiar with.

If you want to help add schools to the database please let me know.

Here are the schools that are added so far:

http://www.filmschool.org/filmschools/chapman-university-dodge-college-of-film-and-media-arts.6/
http://www.filmschool.org/filmschools/american-film-institute.5/
http://www.filmschool.org/filmschools/nyu-tisch-school-of-the-arts.8/
http://www.filmschool.org/filmschools/usc-school-of-cinematic-arts.7/

 

[Salva Figueroa]

Gracias mi amigo, learning now, sure once I get to Cali it will get better.

I agree with you. I think/hope Chapman is it for me. I like the program's opportunities (directing 4 films including thesis, with other opportunities to direct more) and that it's has the AFI feel minus the AFI cost. Going out to visit the schools is great if you can, it changed my entire perspective on where I wanted to go. Good Luck you as well.

Now, as you being a writer, i need your opinion...
Should i add camera movements, framing etc to my writing USC sample? this one---->
***A dialogue scene between two people. Provide a one-paragraph introduction describing the two characters in screenplay format. (no more than three pages)**
As a "visual teller" , i would like to enhance my script with an optical perspective, what are your thoughts about adding this to the sample???

 

[lady-vengeance]

Well, UCLA is knocked out. I'm onto brushing up my stuff for USC. what's next for everybody else? How goes the process?

 

[katavi08]

UCLA is done and submitted!! It's nice to have one thing off my plate. Planning on spending the next month revising/ polishing my material for the other five schools I'm applying too. I'll be excited when this month is over!