Tisch Asia Interviews

[Dream of a Rarebit Fiend]

Hiya fellow dreamers!

I wanted to start a thread for those who are considering/interviewing for the Singapore program. I, myself, constantly go back and forth as to what I think of the program as well as what I think about shipping out to Singapore.
On the one hand I imagine that it would be a pretty fantastical, inspiring, experience and on the other hand, well, going all the way to Singapore for three years is a little terrifying; not to say that I am scared of living abroad, but, more to the point, I am a bit scared of that 100,000+ dept with the increase of plane tickets/taking a somewhat substantial risk as a second run, proverbial, "guinia pig".

So here are my questions (feel free to answer an to add to them!)

1) Are you choosing a phone interview vs video conference vs actually heading to Singapore?

2) As far as I am concerned: a MFA from Tisch Asia is still an MFA from the NYU film program. Do all of you feel the same way or disagree?

3) If given an offer to enroll in the Fall 2008 class would you accept?

 

[Dream of a Rarebit Fiend]

I go to school at the University of Colorado in Boulder.

I have 3 majors:

Film Critical Studies
Film Production
Classical Civilizations(that is if I pass Latin!)

I feel pretty lucky that I made it through the gauntlet of NYU with a heavy background in avant garde cinema, yet narrative is where my heart lies!

I think that Tisch Asia seems to lean towards those who have experience abroad. It makes sense seeing as how the program is a bit of a pressure cooker on its own - throwing in a foreign country could be hard for those who haven't been abroad (though that's not to say that those who haven't been abroad wouldn't do well).

 

[heywetried]

Perhaps. I am a white middle-American from Minneapolis with a generally unremarkable cultural history (although my personal history is fairly interesting/unique). I've never studied abroad (A health condition partially impedes my ability to travel for extended periods and I eventually lost any passion I might have had for it, although I'm not unable to, nor fully set against it, of course).

I was interviewed but not accepted (not as far as I know, anyway), but I don't think I could begrudge NYU for using international experience and cultural diversity as a criteria (if they did), nor could I justifiably blame my vanilla background for not getting accepted.

Since I was interviewed, I had about as equal of a shot as those who were accepted. That's my opinion.

Of course, once AFI decisions come tomorrow I may feel differently. I wonder what others think.

 

[Bandar Albuliwi]

AFI...

(Drum Rolls)

...

 

[krosenbe]

Good luck to all of the AFI prospects.

 

[Bandar Albuliwi]

I just got the call from AFI, I've been accepted into their Directing program!

wow...

 

[Dream of a Rarebit Fiend]

May I be the first to say CONGRATULATIONS!!

What's your gut feeling on the decision at hand. Will you still visit Singapore?

Heywetried,
I can't stress it enough, but the waitlist is fair game. I think that diversity involves all spectrums - even those who haven't been abroad! I love your outlook and hope that you get good news from AFI!

Spineless-
Are you going to Tisch Asia in the fall?

 

[spineless]

No, Dream of a Rabit Fiend, I am planning to go to Columbia Film MFA. It was my number one school.

I was having second thoughts, because two friends of mine will be at CalArts next year, plus, I like the school's philosophy, it has some professors-directors I admire and very original courses.

I was also amazed with the program at Tisch Asia; the professors, who interviewed me, gave me its synopsis, and it sounded great: structured, varied and very intensive.

After a lot of research at the web, talking to students, staring at the wall for a long time thinking, I decided to stick to my original plan. I think it suits me best.

What do you guys think about Tisch Asia? Todd Solondz's visit/workshop really adds a lot of credit to the school -I am a fan!

Dream, in which Greek university did you study and what?

 

[Frodo24]

Hey there everyone,

Have been curiously reading the posts on here. I applied and was accepted for Tisch Asia around the same time as you all. I am from New Zealand and flew all the way over there just to have a look at the place a couple of weeks ago. I really liked Singapore and could see myself being there - but I am currently struggling with the decision as I'm not quite sure how I'm going to pay for the course and live at the same time. Should money be no object? It would be an amaazing opportunity but I am seriously wondering how it's going to work financially speaking! Others thoughts about this? Loans supplemented with little scholarships here and there?

Congrats to everyone on here who made it through so far

T.

 

[Siddharth]

Hi! I am from New Delhi, India and have been accepted to Tisch Singapore. I have been reading quite a few posts about those with some international education being selected to the program .... prior to the interview at Singapore, I had not even traveled outside India
Also, how s everone planning to raise money for the Film education. That is the biggest immediate concern I have....!

 

[R. Nelson]

For those who haven't heard back yet...

Got this email:

Dear Graduate Film Applicant,

Please be advised that notification regarding your status with NYU Tisch School of the Arts Asia is being processed and sent out from the Tisch Graduate Admissions office in New York. If you have not received your notification as yet, you should receive it before the end of the week.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

All the best,
Virginia

 

[luverbouy]

Hi all,
I am new to this topic thread. Currently, I am wait listed to NYU's Dramatic Writing MFA program in NYC. I just received an email inviting me to be placed on the wait list to the Tisch Asia program. What does anyone make of this? I live in NYC and the program here would be great, but the prospect of somewhere new and exciting seems appealing. I had not considered this before. Thoughts anyone? The email says being on the wait list for Tisch Asia would NOT affect my standing on the wait list for Tisch NYC. thanks!

 

[krosenbe]

Luverboy,

If you are open to the possibility of going, then of course you should put yourself on the Tisch Asia waitlist. There is no harm in it. I also live in NYC and was recently accepted into the production tract of the Asia program. I initially applied for the NY campus and was hit from left field when I was asked to consider Asia. Its a tough call, but, Asia does offer a new environment for inspiration, and that is pretty cool.

 

[heywetried]

Allow me to translate...

Please be advised that notification regarding your rejection from NYU Tisch School of the Arts Asia is being processed and sent out from the Tisch Graduate Admissions office in New York. If you have not received your rejection as yet, you should receive it before the end of the week.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me, even though I pretty much sealed your fate right here, so stop calling already!

All the best,
Virginia

Ha!

 

[Allen Ho]

I received the same email about notifications being processed and sent out. I got an acceptance call and this email so I think that it might just mean everyone, acceptance or rejection...

 

[heywetried]

Right, it's probably just a measure to reduce the number of phone calls they receive (yes, I know, it says "not to hesitate" with questions, but they always say that).

However, additionally, for those of us know already know we would have heard of an acceptance by now, the message is rather stark and amounts to hair-splitting.

It just comes off as a little insensitive.

I mean, when I was asked if I wanted to be considered for Tisch Asia, the email also included a flat out rejection from the NYC campus, so why does my final rejection (or waitlist status, perhaps) need to be sent via snail-mail at all?

Why didn't the email we all got just have our status in it?

 

[Dream of a Rarebit Fiend]

Spineless,
I think it's great you are going to Columbia (wow what a program!). I went to a school called College Year in Athens - it focuses mainly on Classics and isn't integrated with a Greek University (though I wish it had been).

Frodo,
I am heading for the route of loans (unless by some miracle I get a big scholarship). It's rather scary thinking of all that debt, but to me it's worth it. It's such a personal choice and it's very hard to make. Some would argue that you should just take all that money and make a film, but I'm opting for more training.

luverbouy,

Definitely take that option. The more choices you have the better! It's worth considering. Honestly, I was wary of the Singapore program initially, but have become exponentially excited about it. And you have a much better chance of getting accepted if you are on two lists as opposed to just one.


Is anyone visiting Singapore during the week of the 28th?

 

[luverbouy]

Hey Dream of a Rarebit Fiend and krosenbe,
Thanks for being so positive about the program. I don't know anything about the Dramatic Writing program at Tisch Asia, as I had not looked into it--I did not even apply to that program (in my mind, maybe NYU sees that differently). I am curious about instructors as they are not listed on the website. If anyone does visit in the next month or so could you check out the Dramatic Writing program; get the ground-level 411 and report back here? That would be great. Best of luck to everyone.

 

[Dream of a Rarebit Fiend]

I just booked my ticket to visit Singapore! Is anyone else planning on going?

Cheers!

 

[krosenbe]

Yes!

I'll be there from the 29th to the 5th.

Cheers.

 

[krosenbe]

Did anyone else receive the acceptance package?