how old are you guys applying to the NYU Grad Film program? (How important is age?)

[juliaxx]

out of curiosity, how old are you guys applying to the NYU Grad Film programme?

 

[Mike_V]

Guys and Gals, please note that while this is the internet, we are also communicating in text. As such, we are missing A LOT of elements of a regular conversation like facial expression, tone of voice, and body language.
I don't believe this thread is meant to be some sort of ruler to measure if someone is going to get admitted or not. It's just a point of curiousity.
My experience in grad school is that I've seen people as young as 21 (I was 22 when I got into chapman) to those who are in their late 40s in the program. While the vast majority of us do not have insight on how the admins make their decision, lets not go and accuse each other of things that the admission board may or may not do/have done.
If anything, this forum is here for prospective students and alums to provide advice and help each other, not to start theoretical fights over something no one here has control or first hand knowledge about.

TL : DR be nice. This thread isn't supposed to be a fight. Have a good night.

 

[Jo96]

Everyone needs to take a moment. Context, inflections, and subtlety are lost in text. Let's keep it to a pleasant conversation here please.

I agree with you! Apologies everyone for this, it definitely got out of hand! I know this isn't the place for arguments, and that having those types of conversations online isn't the best thing (It's easy to misinterpret someone's words when that person is not in front of you, we got carried away and that wasn't necessary)!

 

[Jo96]

I shouldn't have lost my temper in here

 

[Jo96]

And thanks everyone for sharing their point of view on this age thing!

 

[aaaaa]

Guys and Gals, please note that while this is the internet, we are also communicating in text. As such, we are missing A LOT of elements of a regular conversation like facial expression, tone of voice, and body language.
I don't believe this thread is meant to be some sort of ruler to measure if someone is going to get admitted or not. It's just a point of curiousity.
My experience in grad school is that I've seen people as young as 21 (I was 22 when I got into chapman) to those who are in their late 40s in the program. While the vast majority of us do not have insight on how the admins make their decision, lets not go and accuse each other of things that the admission board may or may not do/have done.
If anything, this forum is here for prospective students and alums to provide advice and help each other, not to start theoretical fights over something no one here has control or first hand knowledge about.

TL : DR be nice. This thread isn't supposed to be a fight. Have a good night.

We read this comment a little too late. Joe96 and I have taken this offline and have decided to duel to the death to decide a winner. Feel free to DM either one of us to place bets. We take venmo and Paypal.

 

[Mike_V]

We read this comment a little too late. Joe96 and I have taken this offline and have decided to duel to the death to decide a winner. Feel free to DM either one of us to place bets. We take venmo and Paypal.

You telling me all this and have no video to the deeds? C'mon! how are we supposed to make bets if we don't get to see the fight!
I expect at minimum this:

 

[Jo96]

You telling me all this and have no video to the deeds? C'mon! how are we supposed to make bets if we don't get to see the fight!
I expect at minimum this:

You've got the perfect representation of what's going on at the moment!

 

[Chris W]

 

[Vicky H]

Hey I'm also very curious about age. But my point is not about application, it's only about the life planning thing.
My undergraduate major is film and tv (mostly screenwriting courses) but worked in a non-film-related industry.
My dream is always making films but my financial issue forced me to choose another industry.
Now I am turning to 30 years old and I feel a little bit tired.
People around me suggest me to enter the film industry first. But I hope to spend 3-4 yrs to study at Graduate school but no one else believes it is a good idea to start all over again.

If you were me, what would you choose?

 

[Soleil]

Hey I'm also very curious about age. But my point is not about application, it's only about the life planning thing.
My undergraduate major is film and tv (mostly screenwriting courses) but worked in a non-film-related industry.
My dream is always making films but my financial issue forced me to choose another industry.
Now I am turning to 30 years old and I feel a little bit tired.
People around me suggest me to enter the film industry first. But I hope to spend 3-4 yrs to study at Graduate school but no one else believes it is a good idea to start all over again.

If you were me, what would you choose?

I am in the same boat as you being in my 30s and so many others have been as well. I was partly inspired by writer/directors Stella Meghie and Dee Rees to go ahead and apply because they had other careers before they went to film school. Also, I was flat out told “We love grownups” in an interview (not sharing where), so I believe programs do have a preference for people with life experience and I would focus on that experience in your personal statement. Hope this helps!

 

[Vicky H]

I am in the same boat as you being in my 30s and so many others have been as well. I was partly inspired by writer/directors Stella Meghie and Dee Rees to go ahead and apply because they had other careers before they went to film school. Also, I was flat out told “We love grownups” in an interview (not sharing where), so I believe programs do have a preference for people with life experience and I would focus on that experience in your personal statement. Hope this helps!

Thank u for sharing. You made me feel much better and confident now during the anxious waiting time

 

[bornfromcelluloid]

Hey guys, the question of age is actually really interesting to discuss - I’ve also been curious. I very much relate to the feeling of being “tired”. I just turned 31, and have 10 years (crazy to think!) of industry experience. I applied, because I’ve found it incredibly difficult to transition from a technical crew member to a creative. And it’s always been my goal to direct. Even before the pandemic, I was getting antsy to make the change - and there is no way to make the jump to directing, as they say, other than to direct! I’ve realized there is so much more to learn, and it’d be a dream to focus on developing the skills full time at NYU. In the interview, they did mention they are looking to admit people who have stories to tell and who don’t necessarily need any film/technical experience. So it seems, like we’ve all read before, that there is a mix of experience level, and therefore age. The biggest seller always seems to be about being authentic to who you are. Has anyone listened to Neil Gaiman on MasterClass? I watched his first few lessons when starting my Dramatic Story prompt for the application, because I have no creative writing experience, and he had really interesting points about how to write with your own voice. Good luck everyone!! Historically speaking, there should only be a few more nauseating anxiety-filled days left until we will hear some decisions!

 

[Vicky H]

Hey guys, the question of age is actually really interesting to discuss - I’ve also been curious. I very much relate to the feeling of being “tired”. I just turned 31, and have 10 years (crazy to think!) of industry experience. I applied, because I’ve found it incredibly difficult to transition from a technical crew member to a creative. And it’s always been my goal to direct. Even before the pandemic, I was getting antsy to make the change - and there is no way to make the jump to directing, as they say, other than to direct! I’ve realized there is so much more to learn, and it’d be a dream to focus on developing the skills full time at NYU. Instead of continuing to develop side projects outside of the long days at work. In the interview, they did mention they are looking to admit people who have stories to tell and who don’t necessarily need any film/technical experience. So it seems, like we’ve all read before, that there is a mix of experience level, and therefore age. The biggest seller always seems to be about being authentic to who you are. Has anyone listened to Neil Gaiman on MasterClass? I watched his first few lessons when starting my Dramatic Story prompt for the application, because I have no creative writing experience, and he had a really interesting points about how to write with your own voice. Good luck everyone!! Historically speaking, there should only be a few more nauseating anxiety-filled days left until we will hear some decisions!

Gonna watch the master class you mentioned right away. Thank u for sharing!! Btw, have you received the interview from NYU?

 

[Chris W]

To settle this debate for good I added a required age selection in the application tracker.

Also added a film experience checkmark.

 

[Chris W]

To settle this debate for good I added a required age selection in the application tracker.

Also added a film experience checkmark.

Will use this data to create glorious pie charts on pages like this:

Admission statistics for USC School of Cinematic Arts ()

Acceptance rate, minimum GPA, SAT, GRE, and demographics of admitted applicants for USC School of Cinematic Arts calculated from our database of thousands of film school applications.

www.filmschool.org

 

[Mike_V]

Will use this data to create glorious pie charts on pages like this:

Admission statistics for USC School of Cinematic Arts ()

Acceptance rate, minimum GPA, SAT, GRE, and demographics of admitted applicants for USC School of Cinematic Arts calculated from our database of thousands of film school applications.

www.filmschool.org

dude....
i'm trying to lose weight here... why you gonna plant ideas of delicious pies in my head this early in the morning?

 

[eSe]

Hi. I do not think that age is important. BUT, I know they are looking for maturity, and sometimes that means that some years have passed after your undergrad. A former professor from one of the top schools told me that they want to be sure you are applying because you have something to say, you have been out there doing things, traveling, venturing, working, etc. In addition, they want to be sure this is what you really want. That this is not just a romantic idea about filmmaking you have and that means several years out in the world trying things and now you are committed to making films.

 

[Chris W]

out of curiosity, how old are you guys applying to the NYU Grad Film programme?

Btw our new Acceptance Rates & Admissions Data pages for film programs have this information.

That's for another school but you can see NYU's here:

NYU Tisch Kanbar Institute of Film & Television Acceptance Rate (All Programs/All Years)

21.3%

Admitted

111 out of 520

11.9%

Waitlisted

62 out of 520

66.7%

Not Admitted

347 out of 520

Click here for our full Admission Statistics for this program including interview and acceptance notification dates, accepted GPAs, waitlist acceptance rate, demographics of accepted applicants, $ amount of scholarship awarded, and more...

More info on the the new stats pages here:

Your Chances of Getting into Film School: Acceptance Rates, GPA Requirements, Waitlist Data, and More...

You've been wondering how hard it is to get into film school and what your are chances getting into top film programs such as USC. Maybe you’ve heard that their acceptance rate is 2% — but what is it, really? You've been wondering what is the lowest GPA a film program will accept and what is the...

• Chris W
• Jun 3, 2021
• Category: Admissions Data

 

[Blueberry70s]

I am 46 and didn't get in. Next year when I apply, I'll be 47. I ain't giving up. There's nothing else I can do

 

[Chris W]

Honestly some programs I think value the experience older applicants bring to the table.