UCLA Screenwriting 2012

[honeybadger]

quote:
Originally posted by Minakshishekar:
Hi All
Am so glad I found this forum. I applied to the Screenwriting Professional program about a week ago. And I am waiting to hear back from them on my acceptance or denial(hopefully not)
I have been a journalist for two years plus a creative editor at an Indian animation company for two years so I am hoping my experience counts for something.
I just wanted to know more about the Program. Especially if you are an international student, what are your chances of getting in, the procedure for the J-1 visa, etc. I would be grateful if someone could throw some light on this.
In terms of housing,etc, would there be someone at UCLA who will help you. How good is the program especially if I have not written too many scripts before? Are they open to teaching you the basics?
this is really the ideal course for me since I cannot afford MFA programs. I look forward to hearing from anyone who can help.



Merged from a thread witht he same exact topic.

@Minakshishekar: As you applied to the Professional Program, and not the MFA program, you would not be eligible for applying for on campus housing. But, that being said, most UCLA students live off campus, and if you are planning on moving to Los Angeles for the Professional Program, I would suggest looking for housing in the Palms, Venice, West LA, or Westwood areas.

The Professional Program is also available via Skype, so you do not necessarily need to move to LA, unless you want to. The Skype classes meet online at a time that is more conducive to international students, and it meets once a week for 3 hours over Skype. I am currently in the Skype class developed for international students, and I've found it to be a great experience that is just as good as the in-class programs, which also meet once a week on the UCLA campus. That being said, I know people in the campus program, and I've sat in on a class to know that the quality of the Skype professional program is just as good. Each class is different, depending on the professor and their teaching pedagogy. The Skype program changes up the instructors after 20 weeks, so you will have to different instructors, and your classmates will come from all over the world, South Africa, Japan, France, etc... Regardless of whether you do the program via Skype or on campus in LA, there are about 8 people per class, so it is quite small.

As far as the visa situation, I live in the United States, so I have no idea how you would handle it. If you do the Skype class, you wouldn't have to deal with it. I would contact the UCLA Professional Program by phone or email and ask them.

As for what your chances are of getting in, I don't know. I honestly have no idea how many people apply, or how many people they take in total, both on campus and through Skype. I would say the chances are much better than if you applied to the MFA program, obviously. I suspect you should find out in the next month or so whether you got in.

As for the quality of the program, the same instructors who teach at the UCLA MFA and undergraduate program are the Professional Program. In fact, I know that one of the chairs, Hal Ackerman, is currently teaching one of the Professional Program classes on campus, so the quality is quite excellent. I've found all of the UCLA faculty to be quite welcoming, gracious, and friendly. They take all of their classes seriously, and they have quite high standards. They also model their Professional Program classes after the 434 graduate level screenwriting classes offered to the MFA students, so you should have no concern about the quality of the program whether it is over Skype or on campus. You will be a better screenwriter by taking the class, as long as you are committed to it.

I hope that I've been helpful.

 

[Diehl]

@ N_A_Fitz & Honeybadger

Thanks for the info. Yeah, I'm not too stressed about not getting a handbook. Sounds like everybody's experience has been a little unique.

I really appreciate everyone who's been posting on this board. It helped me relax a little in my interview.

For those who have yet to go, although I can't speak to how the other interviewers might go about things, my interview was more like a conversation rather than some sort of hardcore interrogation. It was fun and terrifying and over way too quick. Enjoy it.

 

[Nowon]

Hey guys, I finally got an e-mail about setting up a time for a Skype interview on the 28th. Just a heads up!

 

[Minakshishekar]

@honeybadger
Thank you so much for the info. Well I actually do want to do the Online course. It has been a dream to study in a country outside of mine. And I am hoping my experience as well as my passion for screenwriting will get me through. I am quite hopeful. So fingers crossed. I also think it would be great exposure to be on campus and interact with others from the same field. I am sure the online program is just as good, but I really do want to do the campus program.
I agree with you, I think the offcampus housing makes more sense for me in any case

I have been reading all these threads about the Professional Program so I have no doubt that its a great program and I will definitely learn a lot and improve my writing abilities.

Maybe once I hear back on whether I have been admitted, I can send them an email about the visa, etc. I am sure the UCLA staff will ensure that they provide me with all information. But thank you so much for answering my query... It helps that someone is willing to help you Thanks again Honeybadger.

I would have loved to do the MFA, unfortunately I cannot afford the tuition.

Congratulations and fingers crossed for all those have got through the MFA program.

Thanks
Minakshi

 

[selinabina]

Based on what I've read, acceptances will go out soon after the last interview. Is anyone else waiting for an interview to be scheduled? It would be great to find out if there are anymore interviews scheduled for this week or next week, other than Nowon who I believe is interviewing tomorrow (good luck!). Lumaloo and SVC914, are you still waiting for your interview to be scheduled on campus?

 

[honeybadger]

I know some interviews are occurring out into mid-March, according to my professional program professor, so it will be a while until we hear, I have a feeling. I didn't ask about the interview or the admission process. I was told this when some of my classmates asked about my interview, during class, for what it's worth. It won't be much longer until we find out, so be patient. I know we all want an immediate answer, but it isn't too far away.

 

[graffiti281]

Originally posted by Nowon:
Hey guys, I finally got an e-mail about setting up a time for a Skype interview on the 28th. Just a heads up!

Hi,

I got the email, too. But the time difference is being a real pain. It's already the 28th here, and I still don't know the time I'll be interviewing. I understand it's really late in the night there, so I won't be hearing back from them until tonight my time - which is JUST not enough time to prepare myself! I suppose I'll just have to stay up all night tonight, and be prepared for whenever they will interview me. Oh dear.

Well, anyway. Good luck to all the Skypees! Hope we all do well, and some of us get to meet this fall!

 

[N_A_Fitz]

How many ppl are definitely going to go if they get in? Anyone have a different school or program as their first choice.

I only applied to UCLA, but i wonder if there are some who would turn down an offer from them.

I know it is a personal question.. i am just curious

 

[honeybadger]

I would absolutely go to UCLA. It is the only place i want to go.

 

[selinabina]

I was leaning towards USC, but after learning more about the program and interviewing with Hal and Richard last week, UCLA is now my top choice.

 

[SVC914]

@Selinabina- My interview has been scheduled! I'll be on campus Wednesday.

@N_A_Fitz- Similar to Honeybadger, UCLA is where I want to be. I would accept.

 

[selinabina]

Good luck, SVC914!

I'm really hoping interviews do not go out into mid-March as honeybadger has said. I know that all the east coast interviews are done and it sound like the Skype and remaining LA interviews are this week. If anyone has an interview scheduled in March, please respond but I hope they're being finished up this week!

 

[Nowon]

Originally posted by N_A_Fitz:
I only applied to UCLA, but i wonder if there are some who would turn down an offer from them.

I know it is a personal question.. i am just curious

I was leaning towards USC, but I've just read UCLA's handbook and now I'm COMPLETELY TORN. Interviewing in five hours! Good luck everyone!

 

[N_A_Fitz]

Good luck Nowon Let us know how the Skype interview goes

 

[PeopleGetReady]

Good luck to everybody who's interviewing today!

To answer the question of whether I would choose UCLA or another school, I would choose UCLA. Hands down, no question. I think that no matter where you go, you still have the ability to turn yourself into a working screenwriter. But I want to go to UCLA for the people””the other students and faculty. And from what I've seen so far, these Bruins rock. I want to be a part of what they do, along with all of you guys .

On a less sappy note, my interviewer told me that we would know about admission decisions "a couple weeks into March." That sounds about right, given the schedule of interviews we've been able to deduce.

 

[Lumaloo]

Hi Selinabina! I'm scheduled for this Thursday on campus.

Originally posted by selinabina:
Based on what I've read, acceptances will go out soon after the last interview. Is anyone else waiting for an interview to be scheduled? It would be great to find out if there are anymore interviews scheduled for this week or next week, other than Nowon who I believe is interviewing tomorrow (good luck!). Lumaloo and SVC914, are you still waiting for your interview to be scheduled on campus?

 

[selinabina]

Thanks for the info, Lumaloo. Good luck!

I just called UCLA because I couldnt stand it anymore and they said that decisions would go out anytime within March and April. Ugghhh! April? Oh well. I guess we can just sit tight and wait...

 

[graffiti281]

Originally posted by N_A_Fitz:
How many ppl are definitely going to go if they get in? Anyone have a different school or program as their first choice.

I also applied to AFIC and interviewed with them a couple of weeks back. But if I get UCLA, I'm definitely going there.

BTW, Nowon, The handbook simply blew me away. I'm interviewing in an hour. Good luck! Let's hope we do well!

 

[N_A_Fitz]

What's in the handbook. Some of us missed out on getting one

 

[darkew]

It's the student's handbook. It has information on student's online resources, suggested first quarter classes, events, housing, people you should know, etc.

Basically, a "Getting Started" guide.