UCLA MFA Screenwriting 2019

[Naya86]

Okay so it's GOOD THAT I NEVER TRIED TO DO ANYTHING WITH MATH because I straight up thought LMU was 15k a year.

And trying to communicate with JV has been a little difficult too. I know she must be crazy busy right now but the struggle is still real.

I'm really just super scared UCLA will be like: nvm we got you confused with someone else you can't sit with us after all. But I don't want to pay the LMU deposit. And it's due tomorrow. Ayayayay

LMU's tuition is a little weird. The School of Television charges $1,268 per unit. The MFA in screenwriting takes 51 semester hours, so it will be around $64, 668 total, or roughly $20,000 a year. Corroborated in another thread.

 

[biacelani]

If you're not accepted you can maybe do the Professional Program at UCLA (it's the same as the master's, even the same teachers, just less classes per week, half the tuition) and that way you'd still have a student visa, could live with @biacelani , and reapply next year? You'd even have the same schedule, just different classes/peers

Yes yes yes, loving this idea! And so sweet that you are trying to keep us together ?

 

[Naya86]

Definitely look at the financial aspect that I replied to @BuddernScotch with! I think that might help a bit in terms of that side of things.

As for the rest... When it comes to location, being in LA is a big deal to me because it's where everything is happening at. The ultimate goal for me is to be signed by an agent before I graduate from college. I've also been lucky to have a bit of success in the acting world, so I think my path toward a screenwriting agent will be through an acting agent. LA is the perfect place for me to make that happen. I will say I don't think NY is that far behind! Also, if you have any aspirations for theater then NY is the clear pick.

UCLA just has such an impressive reputation, especially when it comes to their screenwriting program. Here's a fun list to drool over if you want to see how well some of their current graduates did in the past year's award season:

-http://www.tft.ucla.edu/2019/01/awards-season-roundup/

The more I think about it, the more I like the 2-year aspect vs. a 3-year program. There's a sense of urgency without the extra year, and I love that. There's no time to think about it, only time to make it happen. The other huge thing on UCLA is that the students write their asses off. Their forced to write more than other schools, and the students can choose to write even more than that if they want to. More writing, revising, then writing again will always be a good thing.

LMU has the nicest facilities I've ever seen. To be honest, they wipe UCLA's out of the water. It's really not close. But I'm not going to school for facilities, I'm going for screenwriting. I believe I would graduate from UCLA as a better writer, and I would graduate from LMU as a better creator. If I busted my ass then I think I could make up the "creator" aspect if I went to LMU. I don't think I could make up the writing difference by going to UCLA, though.

The cherry on UCLA's top is their relationship with the Cannes Film Festival. It sounds like a dream come true and something I will be working as hard as I can to accomplish.

-http://www.tft.ucla.edu/2018/08/2019-cannes-storytelling-institute/

You're really doing a good job persuading me to just accept the offer. Thanks for sharing those stories. Also, I'm sure you can get a slot into the Cannes Institute with your dedication. During my interview, Neil told me how some of the current students got to go to a festival (pretty sure it was this one) and have a group session with Christopher Nolan. Blown away.

 

[Zach0323]

You're really doing a good job persuading me to just accept the offer. Thanks for sharing those stories. Also, I'm sure you can get a slot into the Cannes Institute with your dedication. During my interview, Neil told me how some of the current students got to go to a festival (pretty sure it was this one) and have a group session with Christopher Nolan. Blown away.

I genuinely appreciate the kind words!! Reading everyone's thought process on everything has really helped focus me toward what is important to me. It just feels like UCLA consistently checks each box in those areas.

 

[BuddernScotch]

Anyone get the "official" letter yet? I'm getting worried.

 

[amlena]

I'm wondering if more acceptances will go out this week, or if that was it. I have until Thursday to commit to Chapman. I might ask for an extension, buuuut. I don't know. I'd love to have options, but Chapman is looking more realistic at this point. They do have a strong relationship with Netflix, so that's cool.

 

[BuddernScotch]

I'm wondering if more acceptances will go out this week, or if that was it. I have until Thursday to commit to Chapman. I might ask for an extension, buuuut. I don't know. I'd love to have options, but Chapman is looking more realistic at this point. They do have a strong relationship with Netflix, so that's cool.

More acceptances will most likely go out soon. There's no way these few people got in. But I'd like their official letter already so they can't retract it... cus I can't really paying LMU's deposit... ugh. Rent. For a place that is super unsafe, sanitarily. Sigh.

 

[Naya86]

Anyone get the "official" letter yet? I'm getting worried.

No official letter yet, but a nice email from Phyllis.

 

[BuddernScotch]

Y

No official letter yet, but a nice email from Phyllis.

Yeah same. She outlined the funding options so clearly.

 

[FirstTimer]

Definitely look at the financial aspect that I replied to @BuddernScotch with! I think that might help a bit in terms of that side of things.

As for the rest... When it comes to location, being in LA is a big deal to me because it's where everything is happening at. The ultimate goal for me is to be signed by an agent before I graduate from college. I've also been lucky to have a bit of success in the acting world, so I think my path toward a screenwriting agent will be through an acting agent. LA is the perfect place for me to make that happen. I will say I don't think NY is that far behind! Also, if you have any aspirations for theater then NY is the clear pick.

UCLA just has such an impressive reputation, especially when it comes to their screenwriting program. Here's a fun list to drool over if you want to see how well some of their current graduates did in the past year's award season:

-http://www.tft.ucla.edu/2019/01/awards-season-roundup/

The more I think about it, the more I like the 2-year aspect vs. a 3-year program. There's a sense of urgency without the extra year, and I love that. There's no time to think about it, only time to make it happen. The other huge thing on UCLA is that the students write their asses off. Their forced to write more than other schools, and the students can choose to write even more than that if they want to. More writing, revising, then writing again will always be a good thing.

LMU has the nicest facilities I've ever seen. To be honest, they wipe UCLA's out of the water. It's really not close. But I'm not going to school for facilities, I'm going for screenwriting. I believe I would graduate from UCLA as a better writer, and I would graduate from LMU as a better creator. If I busted my ass then I think I could make up the "creator" aspect if I went to LMU. I don't think I could make up the writing difference by going to UCLA, though.

The cherry on UCLA's top is their relationship with the Cannes Film Festival. It sounds like a dream come true and something I will be working as hard as I can to accomplish.

-http://www.tft.ucla.edu/2018/08/2019-cannes-storytelling-institute/

Cosigning

 

[JLWilco]

Hey guys, sorry I've not really been on the forums much at all this year, but I'm on spring break (first year UCLA MFA screenwriter here) and decided to check out who might be coming here next year.

If Phyllis is sending you an e-mail telling you you're in, then you're in. It's just a matter of paperwork for the UCLA graduate school to admit you. That's the "official" letter that tells you that you can enroll at UCLA. No deposit required (or at least there wasn't last year)

Could there be something that trips them up and makes them look over your application again, possibly rejecting you? I sure as hell have never heard of that happening.

So congrats to all who made it in! And for those who didn't, don't be discouraged. If you got an interview that means you had all the qualities UCLA wanted in a screenwriting student, and I'm sure a lot of tough decisions had to be made.

If anybody has any questions about the program, UCLA, living in LA in general, feel free to message me. Good luck all!

 

[j18]

@Shade wow, that's actually a great idea! I still want an MFA, but maybe I could get both ?
Thank you so much for your encouragement, I honestly can't imagine not sharing a cheap apartment with @biacelani ?

 

[StarChild]

I could be wrong!! Not sure. It says 15k "per semester Fall/Spring". I literally don't know what that means.
I got in but I have to defer until next year so I honestly haven't taken a super thorough look at the rates. Alas

Make sure you touch base with the school about deferring. A lot of grad schools don't allow for that (there's probably some case by case and IDK for UCLA specifically).

 

[Cd23]

So for anyone else still waiting on a decision, I tried emailing them asking to see if they could release my decision bc of another impending deadline (shot in the dark ik), or if admissions are still going to be sent out and I got 2 of the SAME response email that basically said nothing and that "decisions go out late March/early April" so i have no idea

 

[Naya86]

She did

Y
Yeah same. She outlined the funding options so clearly.

She did! It doesn't seem so bad (for CA residents, at least).

So for anyone else still waiting on a decision, I tried emailing them asking to see if they could release my decision bc of another impending deadline (shot in the dark ik), or if admissions are still going to be sent out and I got 2 of the SAME response email that basically said nothing and that "decisions go out late March/early April" so i have no idea

I would email Phyllis or Neil directly. Neil said he was getting tons of emails about the decisions, but he has been replying to them. Very accessible guy.

 

[Cd23]

She did
She did! It doesn't seem so bad (for CA residents, at least).
I would email Phyllis or Neil directly. Neil said he was getting tons of emails about the decisions, but he has been replying to them. Very accessible guy.

Emailing one of them feels like infinitely worse to me and sounds like a huge annoyance to them. I only interviewed with Phyllis but I don't have her email anyway

 

[JLWilco]

UCLA Campus Directory

 

[Cd23]

Well maybe my email worked because they sent me my rejection letter

 

[sortofawriter]

Well maybe my email worked because they sent me my rejection letter

Same!

 

[amlena]

I still don't have anything from them. ?