UCLA Screenwriting - Housing, transport, visa etc.

[Kira]

This shocker came in the mail. I was expecting something closer to the average Masters, and I'm pretty sure the price was closer to that last year.

The Professional Degree Supplemental Tuition really increases the price (by 10k), unfortunately. I, too, had thought it was the cheaper price until I dug some more.

In state tuition and fees should be about 17k not including books and living expenses. Log onto myucla and check out your award letter.

The Financial Aid Award Letter? Mine isn't available at this time :/ Is yours up?

 

[hopefulstudent]

The Professional Degree Supplemental Tuition really increases the price (by 10k), unfortunately. I, too, had thought it was the cheaper price until I dug some more.


The Financial Aid Award Letter? Mine isn't available at this time :/ Is yours up?

Mine isn't up either... Also @Kira - Do you know what that PDST is?

 

[Kira]

Mine isn't up either... Also @Kira - Do you know what that PDST is?

I'm glad I'm not the only one. PDST is the Professional Degree Supplemental Tuition. I'm not sure exactly what it is, but it looks like it's just extra tuition because it is a Professional degree and not an "Academic Masters" (MFA vs MA?)

 

[hopefulstudent]

I'm glad I'm not the only one. PDST is the Professional Degree Supplemental Tuition. I'm not sure exactly what it is, but it looks like it's just extra tuition because it is a Professional degree and not an "Academic Masters" (MFA vs MA?)

Dang... Really wish I knew this upfront. Not that it would have changed my decision to enroll at UCLA, but still. I might try calling in a little bit to get some additional information.

 

[bimshine]

Ok, after some sleuthing I found out the following: Scholarships, not a thing till fall. TAing, most likely not a thing till second year. Work study is likely a thing. Grants and Aid are a thing, and will be listed in your MyUCLA as an award letter. To sign up for MyUCLA, ou need your nine digit number that you were assigned when you completed your application.

My Letter was not there, and it's because they need your fafsa AND your social security number. To update your social, go to settings in the top left corner and fill it in. I'm told I will receive my financial aid package in a week. Hope this helps somebody!

 

[hopefulstudent]

Ok, after some sleuthing I found out the following: Scholarships, not a thing till fall. TAing, most likely not a thing till second year. Work study is likely a thing. Grants and Aid are a thing, and will be listed in your MyUCLA as an award letter. To sign up for MyUCLA, ou need your nine digit number that you were assigned when you completed your application.

My Letter was not there, and it's because they need your fafsa AND your social security number. To update your social, go to settings in the top left corner and fill it in. I'm told I will receive my financial aid package in a week. Hope this helps somebody!

Thanks! Just submitted my social. Hopefully my Financial Aid Award Letter updates soon.

 

[Zeno]

thanks again, zeno - that's great to hear. i'm with you on the weather. hang in there - you're absolutely right about spots opening up. thank you for asking - i was accepted into ucla MFA screenwriting (the only place i want to go) but it's looking like i won't be able to make it out there this fall. i have three young kids, and pulling them out of school doesn't seem like the best move right now. still trying to find a way to make it work, but we'll see.
for what it's worth, my cousin went to AFI grad for editing, and loved the program. i think they've been very helpful about setting him up with job interviews since graduation as well. i don't know how much contact he had with the screenwriting program, but i can ask.
best of luck - hope it all works it out.
PS - i've heard that "no one gets into columbia on their first try" - a different cousin applied to columbia's graduate theater (or theater management?) program and was told that straight up. have you found that to be the case? thanks again!

MFA screenwriting at UCLA is quite an honor and a good way to launch one's career. I would hesitate to kick that gift horse in the mouth but I completely understand the reality of kids. I don't have kids yet so I have a little flexibility. Still, hope you find a way. As they say, doors open infrequently so best to walk through.

AFI for editing, huh. Be interesting to hear how much advancement the school offered. It seems to have the equation of raw talent and hard work + the resources and connections of AFI = well on one's way to a career in film. It's never that simple but seems solid given its reputation. Would love if you could ping him regarding the screenwriting program.

The spots opening up is more what a couple people have said odds-wise but have you heard things directly? I would assume that things open up just because I see these applicant pools are pretty dynamic. Full disclosure is that this is the first time I've applied to any MFA film program so the "no one gets into columbia on their first try" formula may/may not apply. Waitlist ain't bad on my first try by my reckoning. Maybe I get a spot on my first. Have no idea as this is my first time on a waitlist.

 

[JAY JAY]

This is my first post, but i've been following the forum diligently! I got into UCLA screenwriting! I am so excited to meet all of my class mates. I'm an international and trying to figure it all out. I'm trying to find out if I'm eligible for a fellowship and what sort of chances I have receiving one. I'm also seeking scholarships in my own country, so hoping I'll have this sorted soon. Do we have a facebook group yet? It would be awesome to start meeting people. I've read a little bit about people wanting to live on/off campus. I thought I would live off campus but now I'm leaning towards graduate housing on campus, so I don't have to have a car first up. I'm thinking I'll move out in the summer when I intern and then I can get a car. What is everyone else thinking? I am beyond shocked I got in. I've had a couple of days to process all of this and it's still completely freaking me out.

 

[Kira]

This is my first post, but i've been following the forum diligently! I got into UCLA screenwriting! I am so excited to meet all of my class mates. I'm an international and trying to figure it all out. I'm trying to find out if I'm eligible for a fellowship and what sort of chances I have receiving one. I'm also seeking scholarships in my own country, so hoping I'll have this sorted soon. Do we have a facebook group yet? It would be awesome to start meeting people. I've read a little bit about people wanting to live on/off campus. I thought I would live off campus but now I'm leaning towards graduate housing on campus, so I don't have to have a car first up. I'm thinking I'll move out in the summer when I intern and then I can get a car. What is everyone else thinking? I am beyond shocked I got in. I've had a couple of days to process all of this and it's still completely freaking me out.

Jay Jay, congrats on your UCLA acceptance!!! That is very exciting As far as I know, we do not have a Facebook group yet, but I think it'll appear in mid/late April (after the 15th deadline). I know that there are a few people who are interested in on campus housing (myself included) - but it's doable either way

 

[louweaver]

hey Zeno, congratulations on columbia. you should absolutely be proud of that. sorry i haven't heard anything specific about spots opening up, but you're right about it being very dynamic. as far as the AFI editing, i shot him an email. it's been a while since we talked, but i know for a fact they at least set him up with several good interviews/connections, and he worked hard, did a good job, etc and built his career from there. he's been making a living at it almost ten years. i know he works a lot of hours, but i don't think that's unusual for that field. as soon as he gets back to me i'll pass it on. and thank you for the encouragement. i wish it would work out too. i was really excited and i think it's a great opportunity, but i just don't think it's in the cards this fall. i can't be away from the kids that long, and UCLA isn't allowing me to do my work remotely (which i understand) best of luck, and i'll let you know what i hear about AFI

 

[Zeno]

hey Zeno, congratulations on columbia. you should absolutely be proud of that. sorry i haven't heard anything specific about spots opening up, but you're right about it being very dynamic. as far as the AFI editing, i shot him an email. it's been a while since we talked, but i know for a fact they at least set him up with several good interviews/connections, and he worked hard, did a good job, etc and built his career from there. he's been making a living at it almost ten years. i know he works a lot of hours, but i don't think that's unusual for that field. as soon as he gets back to me i'll pass it on. and thank you for the encouragement. i wish it would work out too. i was really excited and i think it's a great opportunity, but i just don't think it's in the cards this fall. i can't be away from the kids that long, and UCLA isn't allowing me to do my work remotely (which i understand) best of luck, and i'll let you know what i hear about AFI

Thank you, sir. Appreciate your thoughts and efforts. You'll surely find a time to do grad school one day and you can always apply to contests in the meantime. Would love to read your stuff.

 

[JAY JAY]

Jay Jay, congrats on your UCLA acceptance!!! That is very exciting As far as I know, we do not have a Facebook group yet, but I think it'll appear in mid/late April (after the 15th deadline). I know that there are a few people who are interested in on campus housing (myself included) - but it's doable either way

Thanks Kira. Yes I'm really leaning towards on campus housing now. Looking forward to getting to know everyone in our course.

 

[Bruin17]

Hey all, I'm Matthew. Since undergrad I've mostly been a pastry chef working in hotels and have also taught ESL and a few other jobs. I moved to LA for my 30th birthday and have been taking screenwriting at the community college here and once at UCLA. I did a really cool internship at a film company in town (which has since shut down :/ ) which taught me a lot about what I didn't know about the "biz". I'm excited to have time to just focus on writing, and looking forward to meeting you all.
p.s. anyone looking for apartments, a popular apartment website in the area around UCLA is westsiderentals.

 

[turburr]

Would anybody be down to make a FB group to find all the new attending students? It might be nice to get to know each other

 

[turburr]

Also - I'm Taylor. I'm 22 years old and will be graduating as a duel major in Film / Creative Writing from the University of Colorado. I'm originally from Long Island, New York, and have never in my life wanted to do anything but write. I'm nervous because of my lack of experience, but unbelievably excited to be started school at UCLA, which has been my dream more or less since I was a kid.

 

[bestcoast]

Hey all - first-time posting here. I'm going to UCLA for screenwriting in the fall and wanted to say hi to everyone here. I'm 28, have lived most of my life on the east coast but always had a thing for LA. I read this forum a lot during the past few months, and it was a huge help in reassuring me that I wasn't crazy (or at least not about application stuff), so thank you. I can't wait to get to know everyone!

Also, does anyone know which areas right around campus are the most desirable? I want to live close by, but there are a lot of options, so I'm trying to learn as much as I can to help narrow it down. Thanks!

 

[Kira]

Hey all - first-time posting here. I'm going to UCLA for screenwriting in the fall and wanted to say hi to everyone here. I'm 28, have lived most of my life on the east coast but always had a thing for LA. I read this forum a lot during the past few months, and it was a huge help in reassuring me that I wasn't crazy (or at least not about application stuff), so thank you. I can't wait to get to know everyone!

Also, does anyone know which areas right around campus are the most desirable? I want to live close by, but there are a lot of options, so I'm trying to learn as much as I can to help narrow it down. Thanks!

Congrats and welcome! I am glad that our posts (and ramblings) were of use for you

I don't know UCLA area that well, but I know Westwood Village is south of campus: Target, CVS, Starbucks, movie theaters, and a variety of restaurants and shops in the area. The Film/TV building is the very northeast of campus and Westwood is in the south, but I think there are buses if you are not feeling up to walking for 20-25 minutes haha

Edit: I can make the group if people message me their FB names on PM!

 

[bimshine]

Does anybody have any idea how many people are in each program?

 

[louweaver]

Hey, i had to formally decline the UCLA offer today. I wanted to thank everyone for all the help, and wish you all the best of luck out there in the fall.

 

[hopefulstudent]

Would anybody be down to make a FB group to find all the new attending students? It might be nice to get to know each other

If no one's taken this on, I'd be happy to do it! Anyone know if UCLA was eventually going to create one for us? I think I read USC does that for incoming students. Otherwise I'll set it up.