Hey Everyone... Let's Build Better Admissions Data Together! Log Your Applications (It Takes Just a Few Minutes) (1 Viewer)

[Chris W]

Hi everyone,

As many of you know, FilmSchool.org's Application Database & Tracker is one of the most valuable tools here... It's tracking over 4,800 applications dating back to 2015 (4,825 total entries, 4,532 comments, and millions of views), giving real, crowdsourced insights into acceptance rates, minimum GPAs, test scores (GRE/SAT/TOEFL), applicant demographics (age, experience, undergrad degrees), notification/decision dates, after-interview success, off-waitlist outcomes, and more—stuff film schools rarely share openly.

It's already tracking thousands of applications dating back to 2015, giving everyone real insights into acceptance rates, minimum GPAs, test scores (GRE/SAT/TOEFL), applicant demographics (age, experience, undergrad degrees), notification/decision dates, after-interview success, off-waitlist outcomes, and more... stuff film schools rarely share openly.

But the more we log, the better those stats get... especially for the current Fall 2026 cycle, where we're only at 57 applications so far. That's still pretty thin compared to past years (e.g., 300-600+ for recent cycles), so every entry right now makes a big difference in tracking interview timelines, no-interview admits, waitlist patterns, etc.

No matter where you are in the process, your entry matters! Logging even basic info helps balance the dataset (not just acceptances) and gives future applicants that much-needed "peek behind the curtain."

Why it's worth the quick effort:

• Improves stats for everyone: More data = more reliable acceptance rates, lowest admitted GPAs, trends on portfolios/interviews, etc... all pulled from real logged applications.
• Community-driven transparency: We're crowdsourcing what schools won't publish.
• Quick and mostly private: Start with just dates/outcomes/demographics/etc... add portfolio links, materials, or notes later if you want. Most details stay hidden from the public and visible only to logged-in members.
• Community vibe: Update as things progress (e.g., interview received, decision in), cheer others on, and see trends in real time.
• Bonus: If you're comfortable, attaching/sharing your portfolio or materials is hugely helpful for others prepping apps.

Head over here to log yours (or edit if you started one):

Application Database

(Quick tip: If applying to multiple programs, use the "Copy Application" feature to save time on repeating info like GPA, experience, etc.)

Let's keep building this resource... every entry counts!

Thanks so much, and fingers crossed for everyone!

-Chris
FilmSchool.org

 

[Chris W]

Huge thanks to @JC94 and @MatthewCG for adding their applications yesterday - extremely helpful to everyone.

Also big shout out to @zayahohihi @ryanv @Pryde Pierce @Zeezaweez @VinnieJacked @featherless @jonathanjlee @twurness and others who've recently updated their apps with new info as things progress (interviews, decisions, etc.). Your updates are gold!

All this data is incredibly valuable for current and future applicants... the more details shared (while keeping privacy in mind), the more accurate and useful the stats become on things like invite timelines, acceptance patterns, and now even first-time vs. repeat applicant trends.

Speaking of which: We've added a new "Applications Submitted" required field to note if this is your first time applying or another go (e.g., reapplicant insights can be super eye-opening). If you haven't already, please edit your entry when you get a chance to include that... takes seconds and helps round out the picture!

Keep the updates coming! If you haven't logged yet, here's the link:

Application Database

A database of thousands of film school applications to calculate acceptance rates to film programs and the minimum GPAs, minimum SAT and GRE scores, experience of accepted applicants, and much more....

www.filmschool.org

 

[Chris W]

I should note that the Copy Application feature makes it super easy to log multiple applications as it'll copy over the stuff that doesn't change from one application to the next.