Screenwriting MFA applications Fall 2015

[antbear]

Neither the USC nor the UCLA screenwriting program requires the GRE but accept the scores if you feel it would contribute positively to your application.

That's what I thought, thank you!

 

[Whitney]

Hi! Grateful for this thread.

I'm a University of Arkansas graduate (BA - Theatre, with Playwriting emphasis) who is applying to Columbia, NYU, and UT Austin. I've spent the majority of my time as an actor and playwright, but I took a screenwriting class two semesters ago and fell in love. I've since focused on writing several full-length screenplays and am preparing my submission materials for those schools.

@Point Break. I am interested in the interdisciplinary aspect of the Dramatic Writing program at NYU because I think that blending playwriting and screenwriting makes for great storytelling. Something that freaks me out AND appeals to me about grad school is the idea that you're supposed to focus so intensively on ONE subject, so I'm a little bit worried about being a playwright trying to get into film school for screenwriting.

Writing programs that allow for some fluidity in your coursework appeal to me for this reason. UT Austin has theatre and film programs and the Michener Center for Writers, so there's more opportunity to work with a wide variety of artists and different media. Columbia also seems to encourage some variety. NYU's playwriting/screenwriting thing is candy-like, as someone with more experience in playwriting.

I'm sure I'll have some specific questions for you all, but generally - yay for discussion about all of this!

Is there anything y'all have learned in the application processes that you wish you would have understood prior to applying? Broad question, I know - but I'm in the Oh God This Is Actually Happening stage of beginning my applications, so any encouragement/advice would be heavenly!

 

[TheArsenal1886]

Submitted my applications to USC and UCLA this weekend, and it feels very good. Everybody keep pushing! You're almost there!

Now I'm going to take two weeks to not think about writing at all, and it will be fantastic. Then, I'll break out the notecards again and hit the ground running in case the schools decide they don't want me. In four-to-six months, I'm either going to be a guy headed to film school with a polished portfolio of work, or I'm going to be a film-school reject with a polished portfolio of work and a chip on my shoulder.

Either way, good luck to all!

 

[TSK]

Hi again! Does anyone applying to USC know if we're meant to double space our essays?

 

[TheArsenal1886]

There's been a lot of discussion on this in past years, but there's never been a concrete resolution to the question that I could find. I chose to go single-spaced because 1) I like the way it looks better, and 2) it afforded me twice as much room to state my case.

That being said, I was sure to leave plenty of white space. I had a small outline of sorts within the essay, and I made sure to keep my paragraphs relatively short. The practice of double-spacing essays usually results from a reader wishing to have room to mark-up and annotate the essay during their review. Since they're not returning those to us, I didn't suppose it affected the readability of the essay to single-space... 12 pt. Times New Roman is the same size regardless of the space between lines.

 

[Travis Leake]

So is this where we're going to have the support group for those who've applied for the Fall 2015 semester?

 

[TheArsenal1886]

Seems like just as good a place as any! Who all are you waiting to hear back from?

I applied just to USC and UCLA.

Judging on past years, we should be getting emails about interviews from UCLA starting here in the next couple of weeks through mid-February.

USC's changed up their application process a bit this year with their "Priority Deadline" (11/1) and "General Deadline" (11/15), so not really sure how to judge that based on the past timeline. They normally started sending out acceptance notices mid-to-late February when it was just one deadline on 12/1. I suppose we could get a decision from USC at any point now, since they don't interview. Kind of scary...

What are you doing in the meantime to keep yourself sane?

 

[Travis Leake]

What are you doing in the meantime to keep yourself sane?

Your question presupposes that I am remaining sane.

I applied at USC for their Fall 2015 MFA in Screenwriting program.

I did manage to get everything in before their priority deadline (as well as all the referrals, one of which is an industry person).

Decided not to apply to any other film schools for a simple reason: While it's of course true that the educational value is amazing at USC, as it would be at any number of schools: UCLA, AFI, et al, it can't realistically be argued that any other school provides you with the same number of contacts as USC. No matter how good your screenplay may be... if no one reads it, your film isn't getting made.

Thus.. waiting. If I do not get in this year, they will receive an application from me each year until they tire of receiving them and admit me. I'd prefer to enter their program before my hair turns grey, however.

 

[Chris W]

If I do not get in this year, they will receive an application from me each year until they tire of receiving them and admit me.

I've heard of people who kept showing up at a film set everyday until they tired and made them an intern.

 

[Layne Inselman]

U GUIZE I'm very jealous of all you screenwriters having a little support group. What about me and my Directing MFA applications?! I have no one to fret with!

 

[Travis Leake]

Well, create a thread. This one isn't exactly what I was looking for so I made one in the graduate school forum. Hopefully see you in the fall at USC. I'll write it, you direct it

 

[AmyPops]

Hello there creative bunch, I also applied to only USC and UCLA but for the Film and TV production program (F15). I'm so excited and nervous. Sometimes I wish I applied to NYU and Columbia too but I lived in NYC before and umm I don't want to do it again. I would like to experience LA and learn from the best over there. I think I will move there wether I get in or not... Praying I'll get in though. It'll make a hole lot of sense... Good luck to everybody!!

 

[TheArsenal1886]

Heyyy, welcome Amy! Do you have an idea of what you might want to focus on production-wise?

 

[AmyPops]

Cinematography and editing

 

[PrincessJellyshoes]

Hey guys! I've been lurking here for a while and figured I should finally start posting. I applied to Screenwriting MFA programs at USC, UCLA, NYU, AFI, and UT. I just got a call from AFI admissions to schedule an in-person interview in NYC in early February. Yay! That's all I've heard from any of my schools so far. Good luck to everyone!

 

[TheArsenal1886]

Good to see you come out of the dark! I'd like to think the fact that none of us have heard back from UCLA means that they haven't started sending interview invites, but who knows... Maybe we ALL missed the cut.

Congrats on the AFI interview by the way-- hopefully it's the first of many!

 

[jufebato]

Hi everyone,

I just received a call from AFI. I have an interview in New York!

I also applied to UCLA but haven't heard from them.

 

[Travis Leake]

Reminder to USC applicants: this Thursday, Feb 5 is the LAST financial aid webinar before decisions are announced, and also the last before the scholarship and aid deadline on Feb 13.

 

[laubosky]

Hey guys! I've been checking this forum for awhile now, seeing what you guys are up to with the applications. I'm also really anxious about the results, and like many of you here, I only applied to USC and UCLA.
I have a question though... I'm a foreigner, any of you lovely people are from outside the US?
Does anybody have any information about the international student acceptance rate at these universities? I'm really apprehensive about it :/
Thanks!! Hope to see all of you in september!

 

[Travis Leake]

Not sure about acceptance rates whatsoever. At this point, a medically induced coma to help speed the time is seeming a more and more reasonable course that waiting for a decision from USC.