Film School 2016

[Chris W]

Next stop, I guess would be to start figuring out different grants and funds to make it through school if one would be so lucky to get in. I wonder do you automatically qualify for school based aid or do you have to throw in essays or such? During the application phase there was only a simple yes no question on "will you be requesting aid". Any insight? My piggy bank is about 150k shy.

This would be a good topic for a new thread in the Film School Financial Aid & Scholarships (http://www.filmschool.org/forums/film-school-financial-aid-scholarships.97/) forum if you'd like to start one.

 

[IndecisiveElle]

Congrats for getting everything in to everyone!!

I'm starting to hit submit on my uploads for Columbia. I'm waiting one my biggest recommendation for them too. I'll be assembling the final pieces the rest of this weekend. Then I'll start to dig into my materials for LMU and Northwestern.

 

[tzompantli]

I think I'm ready to submit everything, but one of my references still hasn't come through yet and I can't get in touch with them. Might have to pull out some sort of Plan B...

 

[IndecisiveElle]

I think I'm ready to submit everything, but one of my references still hasn't come through yet and I can't get in touch with them. Might have to pull out some sort of Plan B...

I followed up with my reference I'm waiting on. He's good about responding but he's busy and it can take a few days. I'm nervous because I had a backup plan but I 'excluded' it so I could use this one instead.

 

[tzompantli]

I've got someone who might be able to give a last-minute reference in their place but I don't know whether to ask them for it. My situation is complicated by the fact that I'm also applying for a film studies PhD (hedging my bets, as it were), and I asked two of my three referees for that if they would consider writing another for this MFA.

 

[katavi08]

@katavi08 thanks! Now I guess it's time to breathe a little. And open an ice cold beer to pat myself on the back.

Next stop, I guess would be to start figuring out different grants and funds to make it through school if one would be so lucky to get in. I wonder do you automatically qualify for school based aid or do you have to throw in essays or such? During the application phase there was only a simple yes no question on "will you be requesting aid". Any insight? My piggy bank is about 150k shy.

Oh, right funding...I've been trying to forget about that piece!
My impression is that if you indicated in your application that would be requesting aid you would automatically qualify for school based aid, but I could be wrong. The University of Miami sent me a fellowship application that I need to fill out and send back to them. Columbia also has an financial aid application to be filled out, but I don't know when that will be available. I know for U.S. citizens filling out the FASFA is going to play a big role in getting loans. Not sure what the process looks like for international applicants.

I also know that a lot of schools offer outside scholarships. Here are some links to take a look at:
http://arts.columbia.edu/admissions/financing-your-degree
http://tisch.nyu.edu/admissions/financial-aid
https://www.chapman.edu/dodge/apply/graduate/tuition.aspx
http://cinema.usc.edu/scholarships/index.cfm

I only have links for the schools I applied for, but hopefully they can offer some insight!

 

[tzompantli]

Application completed and submitted! Good luck to everyone who's already applied, and I hope everyone still working on their applications gets their stuff in on time.

 

[Nic L. Kelly]

AFI & Chapman done and submitted as of 11/25/15. Finishing touches on LMU. Good luck to everyone.

 

[IndecisiveElle]

I've got someone who might be able to give a last-minute reference in their place but I don't know whether to ask them for it. My situation is complicated by the fact that I'm also applying for a film studies PhD (hedging my bets, as it were), and I asked two of my three referees for that if they would consider writing another for this MFA.

My last rec emailed me today and said it'll be emailed today. I'm feeling a huge wave of relief and hit submit on my application a little a while ago.

Applying for a PhD and Masters concurrently sounds like a lot of work! Impressive.

 

[tzompantli]

It was actually the result of an unusual amount of indecisiveness. I think I should probably co-opt your username, hehe. Congrats on getting it all in on time!

 

[katavi08]

So what's everyone's plan to pass the time now? This is the first time in while that I have no big projects or deadlines to meet, and I don't know how to deal. I also keep thinking back on my creative materials and thinking about how I could have done things differently, which is not good. I need to find something to distract me!

 

[Kevin Wilson]

Thanks for the virtual tour links! Not as cool as getting a tour from a T-800 but I guess they will have to suffice. As stated, they are very general and little is said specifically on film departments (in the Columbia tour for example). But you do get a feel of the campus itself which is way better than just googling pics

And Kevin, your insight is highly appreciated! Would be cool if you could go by a typical day/week in NYU? What kind of projects does it seem you will be shooting the first year? And what would you say the ratio is on theory vs. practice. -tough questions, I know. But I'll allow a +- 3% error margin

Googoo, I had some difficulties with transcripts on my USC application but I blame myself. I shot them to the school before actually turning in my application so that made it a bit hard to pinpoint them. Also, the SCA admissions tossed the ball to the general admissions guys and back. I would rest easy, though. They clearly are reviewing your application and want your transcripts. It's not as if they are just tossing the whole application into the shredder due to them not yet having your transcripts. I bet they have a ton of apps on their table right now so it might just take some time to get back to you. I kinda wish they would disregard my transcripts since my undergrad GPA wasn't up there. Hopefully, they check the rest of my application none the less and are convinced by my portfolio. - Or the measly 5 mins they allowed material to be shown

No problem! The program is almost entirely practice. Everything we do in every class is geared toward the project that we're working on at the time. We are assigned and taught how to use certain cameras during orientation and are out shooting by the first week of class. It never slows down. Every week there's a new directing exercise (short film) that we shoot that is meant to help us strengthen our chops for our 1st semester films (4 min MOS). We're required to work on our classmates films (at least 5) each semester in addition to directing our own, so that keeps us extremely busy. We cover theory in class and apply it to practice (in class and outside of class).

 

[Kevin Wilson]

Awesome! Glad you're liking the program so far!! Were you from the NYC area or did you have to move? I've visited the city a few times, but have always wondered what it would be like to actually live there.
Thank you for the advice! In your personal statement did you talk about your goals as a filmmaker at all or did you just stick to telling your story? Right now my personal statement is half story half goals. I'm wondering if I should incorporate more story in there...
Thanks again!

I'm not sure that I remember exactly what I wrote. I'd be happy email you my personal statement if it isn't too late. Just DM me your email address. I'm from North Carolina originally, but was working in LA when I applied... then I was living in DC because I thought I was going to attend Howard University since NYU hadn't gotten back to me until the very last minute. Prior to all of that, I lived in NYC for three years... It really is a beautiful place to live and study film... so much culture!!

 

[Chris W]

Prior to all of that, I lived in NYC for three years... It really is a beautiful place to live and study film... so much culture!!

I'm thinking of possibly moving back to the east coast eventually to be closer to family. (my wife's family is in PA and mine in MA, MD, and NH) I'd have to do some jobs in NYC while I'll still live in LA though to see how it goes. There definitely wouldn't be as much work as LA but some shows cut there.

This is many years off if it happens at all... but something I have in the back of my mind as a possibility.

 

[Chris W]

So what's everyone's plan to pass the time now? This is the first time in while that I have no big projects or deadlines to meet, and I don't know how to deal. I also keep thinking back on my creative materials and thinking about how I could have done things differently, which is not good. I need to find something to distract me!

Go nuts with chit chat and fun discussions in the Off-Topic forums of course.

 

[Chris W]

So what's everyone's plan to pass the time now? This is the first time in while that I have no big projects or deadlines to meet, and I don't know how to deal. I also keep thinking back on my creative materials and thinking about how I could have done things differently, which is not good. I need to find something to distract me!

I stared a screenwriting game for everyone to have fun and pass the time. It's also Monday and I'm starting a new episode and it's so easy to get distracted while watching raw footage... sigh.. need to get back to work.

http://www.filmschool.org/threads/screenwriting-game-01-nick-sally.24946/

Feel free to create your own too. Have fun.

 

[tzompantli]

So what's everyone's plan to pass the time now? This is the first time in while that I have no big projects or deadlines to meet, and I don't know how to deal. I also keep thinking back on my creative materials and thinking about how I could have done things differently, which is not good. I need to find something to distract me!

That's the worst, postmortem-ing an application. I'm going to apply for a few other creative opportunities until the end of the year so that I don't have time to think about the last thing I did.

 

[tzompantli]

I'm not sure that I remember exactly what I wrote. I'd be happy email you my personal statement if it isn't too late. Just DM me your email address. I'm from North Carolina originally, but was working in LA when I applied... then I was living in DC because I thought I was going to attend Howard University since NYU hadn't gotten back to me until the very last minute. Prior to all of that, I lived in NYC for three years... It really is a beautiful place to live and study film... so much culture!!

Out of curiosity, where in NC are you from? I ask as it's one of the two states in the US that I've been to.

 

[Paul J.]

I also started a thread under "Film School Financial Aid & Scholarships" where I was hoping we could pool our knowledge. Present students such as @Kevin Wilson are more than welcome to chime in!

It is the next big piece of the puzzle and I bet everyone would be better off not having to loan the whole chunk of mulah. A little work now could mean a whole lot in three years time.

On another topic, thanks a lot @Kevin Wilson for your insight on a typical NYU day! Sounds good that everything revolves around practice! So you crew each others projects? If everyone is studying to specifically become directors, how is the quality of other areas of the films you make? (sound, cinematography, props, lighting, etc?) Also, what kind of resources do NYU students have at their disposal equipment and facility wise? Sorry for all the questions - and there will be a ton more but damn it is great to get answers from an "insider"

 

[googoomuck]

I heard back from USC today (7 days later). They didn't have much to tell me, just that it can take them a while to sort through the mail. They asked for an unofficial copy of my academic history to tide them over. Meanwhile, one of my letter-writers is holding out on me, argh!! This is really frustrating because there's nothing I can do about it myself. I think I was spoiled by my UCLA application which only required a transcript from the school that granted me my degree. (I took classes at 2 community colleges before transferring to my university.)

Oh well, on a happier note, AWESOME JOB to those of you who got everything done!! Reward yourself with something nice!