Florida State 2009

[Justin18]

Anybody else going to interview w/ Florida State on Feb. 20 or 27? I'm going on the 27th for Writing for the Screen + Stage.

From the posts written last year, FSU's interview process seems pretty intense. Yikes! I better keep preparing!

 

[Buckie]

Hey Justin,
I have applied to FSU as a transfer, but I have not heard from them (acceptance or rejection). I was just wondering when you were notified and how....

Thanks and good luck to you!

 

[Justin18]

Hey Buckie,

Just yesterday by phone and email. Unfortunately, the number supplied in the email was 'out of service' this morning, so I could not glean any additional information from admissions about where they are in the process of calling people. But via email, the actual interview sounded very similar to the format of last year, ie a one-on-one interview as well as as a group one.

Best of luck, Justin

 

[jthamilton]

I was called about an interview yesterday. Just in case anyone is wondering about FSU's process.

 

[fiorile]

hi there i was also notified to attend FSU's interview (film production)by email. but the question is that i'm now in china, don't know how to get a US visa in such a short time, and don't know if they pay for the interview trip~~~anyway it's a good news!
will ask them first,good luck everyone.

 

[Jayimess]

They won't pay for your interview...that's just for the fancy programs! Bummer, isn't it? I spent almost USD$2000 on my interviews, and another 500 or so on the apps...gettin' into film school is pricey!

Best of luck to all of you!

 

[fiorile]

Jayimess thanks for your frank remind~~~
that will be a problem, get to know the visa thing first. do you know how many international students they accept each year?

cheers

 

[Jayimess]

Nope, I don't know much about FSU, but as a rule they don't pay for interviews, and if I recall correctly, their website actually says "at the applicant's expense."

FSU only takes six students per year, so I don't think there are quotas re: international students.

At USC, we have plenty of international students, I can only assume it's the same elsewhere. I think these programs care about the student, not their hometown.

 

[drmadham]

Yes, Jayimess is right. The candidate has to pay for expenses, though FSU helps look for discounted hotels and offers a shuttle service from airport-hotel-school-etc.

The bad part about it is that Tallahassee tickets tend to be more expensive since you most likely need a number of transfer flights to it.

 

[deus_ex_machina85]

Hey guys,

I'm an MFA production student at FSU, and I'll be leading some of the tours during the interview process.

I'll be happy to answer any questions you have.

 

[KOHR]

Hey you guys-- I've actually applied to the undergrad program but it seems like no one knows anything about that so I figured I could just ask this here. Does anyone know what the general contact calendar is like? Do they call graduate interviewees in from Feb. 1st to March 1st and then call undergrads from March to April 1st? Then transfers last? I'm just speculating but thats what I've been able to come up with from bits of information here and there. I've been anxiously waiting through these last couple weeks and I just want to make sure the time hasn't already come and gone without me knowing it. Thanks!

 

[Justin18]

Hey Deus,

A couple questions...

1) Admissions didn't mention anything regarding pitching stories for the interviews, but inevitably, I assume some question along the lines of 'What kind of stories do you want to tell?' will come up. Do you know how specific we'd have to be for that type of question? (I'm going for screen/stage writing). Just the genre? Common themes we want to explore? Specific pitches for plays/movies/shorts/adaptations?

2) Do you have any idea who does the interviews and some examples of work they've done, so that we might become familiar with their work b/f the interviews?

I don't wanna overthink the thing. Just curious.

 

[HeatherG]

I am applying for the graduate program at FSU. My interview is tomorrow afternoon. I am really nervous. They are taking 24 production students. They are interviewing 84. Al I know so far is that there is a group interview as well as the individual interview. I'll post my experience when I get back in town.

 

[WicketBF2]

Heather, check your PMs.

 

[deus_ex_machina85]

Hey Justin,

You don't have to pitch this year. They do however want to know a lot about your creative voice. What can you contribute to the program?

I'm not sure who is on the writing panel besides Tim Long and Reb Braddock. Tim is mainly a horror, spec writer. There are also a few people from the playwriting program. Not sure who they are though.

-Stephen

 

[Justin18]

Had a Florida State screen/playwriting interview last Friday. Tallahassee is....hilarious. Lots of undergrads walking around in shorts, doing homework at un-air-conditioned coffee shops, drinking Miller Lite by palm trees, lounging on couches in front yards of frats. Yes, the big school experience was new to me, as was the warm climate.

I didn't think the interview was as intense as last year's threads might lead you to believe. No mind games. That being said, do read last year's FSU threads to prepare. They do kinda put you up in the front of a room and grill you with questions. But nothing an undergraduate theatre directing prof wouldn't do.

Thanks for the "articulate your creative voice" advice, Stephen. Their questions WERE in line with that topic. I was impressed that the panel - Tim, Vicky, Reb, and Dan - was very familiar with my app. materials. I guess you have to be if you're gonna pick 6 people to work with for the next couple of years.

It was comforting to have 5 other writers interviewing with me. The hardest part was the suspense of waiting in the "green room" for 2 hours, watching student films, until your name got called. The student films were cool, but the suspense part wasn't. Luckily I've had life experiences that have taught me to be calm in tense situations.

They're doing some really interesting things down there in terms of student films in an intimately creative environment. The town and college def. has a lot of characters to draw inspiration from. You'd have more freedom to take risks in Florida in a small, supportive environment, and when you're not paying $2500 for rent in a place like NYC. I had a positive vibe overall. Anxious to hear what they thought of me.

 

[HeatherG]

OK, so I went to the afternoon session and was there with five other guys. We were all there for production. We were told they were interviewing 114 people for 24 spots. The dean of the school came in and gave us a rundown of the two years. What you do, what the time frames are, etc.
After that, they started bringing in everyone for their individual interviews that last between 20 and 30 minutes. You sit and watch student films while you wait. There are snacks, but in general, no one ate anything until after their interview because they were too nervous.
When everyone was done, they took us in for a group interview where we had to come up with a script idea as a group.
During the individual interview, they mainly asked about the application. They wanted more details about what you put. They basically want to get to know you better and try to see what you would bring as a director.
I only found it intimidating in that you just don't know what they are thinking.
After everything was done, we went on a tour of the film school. Which was amazing.
What everyone else said about FSU being a typical big college school is completely true. It is ranked in the top 10 party schools in the country. However, you don't really have much time to party when in the film school. You definitely won't have time for a job.
They told me that they have two more weekends of interviews: this weekend and next and then they will start the first round of acceptances. They have to clear everyone through the admissions office before they make any calls. He said it would be five to seven weeks before everyone knew. Maybe longer.
I hope this helps everyone. Sorry I didn't respond to the pms, but I thought that I could do this and answer everyone at once.

 

[AJIsaacs]

Hey, I'm set up to interview this Friday. I was wondering if I could see what a few other interviewees thought of the campus, curriculum, and faculty. Good luck to you guys!

 

[londoncalling]

Hey everyone, I have been asked for an interview, but I live in England... does anyone know how these are conducted, or do I have to fly all the way to Florida to do it? Also, do all the interviews include the group work? Congratulations everyone by the way! haha

 

[HeatherG]

I think if you can't make it, they do a phone interview, but you wouldn't be able to do the group interview. Did you apply for the graduate production or writing?