Hi everyone! (I am about half way through writing this and didn't know it be so long. I hope that's okay and someone finds value in this. thanks for reading.) I you would rather not read, to save you the time, I was waitlisted March 17th, and just got an email this week on May 5th that I got in! Read on if you like!
I have been following this thread for sometime as I applied to this MFA program! I also applied to two other programs; AFI & USC. After a pretty bad interview with AFI, I was notified I was not chosen to continue further in the selection process. A little scary, as one door of the three had just closed. Things got a lot more real at that point. But to be fully transparent, this program was my 3rd choice as the price tag for their two year program comes in at a whopping -$141,000... and that's not taking into account cost of living in LA; add on that we are going to work in a notoriously difficult industry where stability of employment is not guaranteed upon graduation. For those reasons, I had serious doubts if I would attend if I got admitted. A red flag for me as well, that I may be reading too far into, is they only had two people present for my interview. The head of the department and a recent alumni. Sorry, but if I am going to shell out $70k each year to the highest rated film program in the nation, then I expect the bar to be set extremely high from the very beginning(even if it is just an interview). UCLA had 6+ faculty present during my interview with them... just saying lol
Shortly after I got an email in early March that I made it to the interview phase for this program. I was excited, nervous and ready. I wasn't going to let another opportunity slip through my fingers again without giving it my all. Simply put, I prepared a lot for this. The interview went flawlessly. I truly think it was the best interview I have given in my life up to this point. The faculty felt kind and especially intelligent as though they weren't sizing me up but instead trying to make me comfortable and get to know me in the 15 minute window we had. Simply put, it felt like they cared. I knew after that call that if chosen, UCLA would be my choice.
While waiting to hear back from UCLA, I dealt with the USC process(or lack thereof). Late 2024 I was painstakingly working on my application. I got it in on time and paid the $100 amount. USC is the most upsetting experience across all three only because there is no interview phase. You submit, hear nothing for nearly 4 months and then get an email letting you know they passed. Brutal. You don't get a chance to sell yourself by making an impression during an interview. You don't get to know how close you were to making the cut. Worst of all, you are never told why. Side note, USC and AFI required an introductory video to be submitted. Idk what an introductory video provides that a written prompt cannot? I think self-taped introductory videos directly lend to appearance biases leaking into the decision making process. *Steps off soap box*
Early March I got an email from UCLA notifying me that I made the waitlist! I was still in contention! But I couldn't help but think about it EVERY DAY! The next two years of my life hanged in the balance. Two doors had closed and only one was open and slowly closing. With no data on what my chances were and the longer I waited without news, the more painful it became. Would this post-grad journey really happen for me? What didn't I have that the others did? What did they say that I didn't? Am I good enough? These questions got louder as days past without word. They were the hardest element of being waitlisted.
You already know it worked out for me, and for that I am so SO thankful. Whether you got in or came up short, you went for this because you believed in yourself and the dream. You know you have something special and you wanted to realize your potential. I didn't expect this process to be such a roller coaster myself. Some doors closed on my journey and there were days where I thought this last door would also close. In fact, this was my 2nd time applying to this program. I applied two years ago in 2023. I didn't even make the interview phase. So if you got in, please truly cherish this position. There are people who wanted it just as bad as you and didn't make it. And if you are that person, keep believing that you are worth it. Take it from me. the first time I didn't even interview, and this year it feels like I made it in by the skin of my teeth. I promise you, there would have not been a third try. Don't shut that door yourself. Keep believing.
I have zero reservations that UCLA is where I belong and every bit of it feels earned. Thank you and if you're a part of this incoming cohort, lets have some fun!
Chip