USC Film Production for Fall 2011

[wonderpony]

I feel like an idiot for asking and I know I know how to do it. But... how do you check your status?

 

[Mirpanda]

https://camel2.usc.edu/AdmGradCertification/

Wonderpony, I went to the link above, put in my USC ID and my date of birth, and it brought me to the intent to enroll page where I can certify that I intend to enroll in the MFA - Film and Television Production program for Fall 2011.

I've been checking it every day since jamesc posted it and haven't been able to log in until today.

Of course, I didn't dare certify yet. Don't want to piss off USC by certifying that I intend to enroll before they even officially invite me to do so.

 

[Mirpanda]

Oh, BTW, I have been checking my application status also. It still says "Submitted" and that it's been forwarded to the academic department for an admission decision, blah blah blah.

That is accessed here: https://app.applyyourself.com/?id=USC-GRAD

 

[Mirpanda]

Oh Witt, I hope it works out. If you don't make it this year, will you reapply next year? I sure as hell hope so. You seem like a freaking awesome dude and I'd love to work with you...

 

[wonderpony]

Thank you very much!

It didn't ask if I wanted to enroll though... oh well.

 

[Mirpanda]

No prob, Wonderpony. I wouldn't worry yet that you can't log into the intent to enroll page. They may not be finished setting everything up for the Production applicants. Starkies are officially hearing back today, but Production wasn't given any firm date - just a time frame of late February - early March. Like I said before, don't fret until you get that letter/email/phone call/whatever with their admission decision.

 

[wonderpony]

Witt,

I spoke with someone who is on a board of admissions for a MFA creative writing program. He said that getting rejected from MFA programs is just the nature of the beast. That some programs reject people their first time applying even if they feel they would/could be do well in the program. Just to gauge their commitment.

It seems sick to me. Like a test of will. But, I can see how it would weed out those not serious.

 

[Mirpanda]

Yeah Witt, I see what you're saying... A year can seem like a waste of valuable time. And there's no one way to get to where you want to go. But I'm of a mind that when the door seems shut, sometimes you just have to pound on that mf'er until they get tired of you and let you in. I told them as much too when I did my phone interview, sans the colorful language of course. She said she really liked that attitude.

But hey, your goal is to ultimately be the head of BBC Nature. And you don't need Stark for that. I'm sure it would help, but I doubt it's necessary.

But hope is not lost yet! You haven't received a rejection! You can still be in!

 

[Mirpanda]

I don't think that it's about testing one's commitment when rejecting a potential applicant. That's a crap reason for not admitting someone who is otherwise qualified. Commitment would be more adequately measured by the application materials rather than by whether or not the applicant will reapply. IMO, any program that would do that is a full of ****. But, it probably does happen.

Reapplying may score a couple of points for the applicant for tenacity's sake, but I'm more inclined to believe that if a re-applicant got in, it was because they submitted stronger application materials or represented themselves better the second time around or just got lucky.

Going back to the conversation I had with an admissions committee member, I was told that reapplication is a good idea for many reasons, and showing commitment was not one she really mentioned. She did like tenacity, but she also said any number of factors can figure into a rejection. As much as they would like for the process to be objective, it does have a degree of subjectivity to it in that you are dealing with fallible human beings. A whole host of factors beyond your control can affect the outcome of your application, including the mood, temperament, and beliefs of your reviewer, the quality of the applicant pool, bias, etc. Yeah, I know biases and mood and beliefs shouldn't mean jack, but they do. Because people and not machines are reviewing your applications.

I don't doubt your commitment Witt. I think you'll make it to the top, regardless of how you get there. I was just hoping that Stark would be the road you take.

Oh, and make sure you put a cap in that decapitated zombie head, or least smash it with a crowbar or a fire poker or something. Gotta get to the brain, man. Otherwise, you'll have a head just lying there crying "Braaainnnnsss.... Braaaaaaaiiiinnnnsss!" and it would be damned annoying. ;-)

 

[Aglick]

Hey all,
First time posted but I've been reading all your comments for quite a while. I tried checking my "intent to enroll" status as well and it said it wasn't working. In addition, my status says its still in the first stage. My guess is they probably have a handful of top picks Mirpanda being one of them (congrats man, if any of us on here were you I'm sure this would be one of the most memorable days of our life - live it up) and they might be processed a little quicker. I called admissions today and they said they haven't even checked many of the applications yet and that they wont know until late march. It'd be interesting to know if anyone else is able to register for intent to enroll so keep posting and best of luck to everyone.

On a side note, if anyone on here is in the NOLA area and involved in the film scene let me know. I'd love to get involved down here.

 

[Tommy]

I just checked the site people have been mentioning and I was directed to the Intent to Enroll page... I'm holding back celebration for the time being, but I do hope it's a good sign. And I hope everyone else hears good news too. I've been a wreck and I know how tough this all is.

I'm wishing you all the best of luck.

 

[xenophilius]

Hey everybody. I've been lurking this thread for about two weeks now, and am finally deciding to post in it.

I got the same phone call that Mirpanda mentioned a couple of weeks ago, and think I did pretty well on the interview, though I've been second-guessing myself ever since. Sadly, when I go to enter my USC ID on that site, it tells me that my login info is not authorized. My application was a little late, though, because some materials got lost in the mail...I'm not giving up hope yet, but I'm very nervous.

When I applied to USC I didn't really think I had a chance, and was really surprised when I got the interview, and then when I read on this thread that nine out of ten people who got that call got in, I suddenly became ridiculously antsy. Every morning I wake up and check this thread to see if anybody's heard anything. I feel like I've got a good shot, but at the same time, it would suck hard to be that one guy out of ten who got the phone call and then got rejected.

Anyway, good luck everyone.

 

[jamesc]

@Tommy. I do agree that one should never celebrate until the check is in your hand (in this case, the acceptance letter), but given the previous history of the link, I'm still going to wish you an early congratulations Tommy !

@Witt: I have several friends who are or were USC MFA grads and have spoken with them at length about their application process. The majority of them were rejected on their first attempt, though some got in on their first try. I personally don't think that they're trying to test people's commitment, but for this school, persistence can pay off.

We were also told by the Vice Dean that USC's selection is based by cohort, meaning that they want each class to be as diverse as possible. So if you happen to be the only person with the background of say, being a cowboy, among the group that year, then you have a good chance of standing out in the admissions director's mind. But if it just so happens that you're part of a year where there are thirty cowboys applying, then your chances are much slimmer, but only for that year.

Something else that I've gleaned from students and words mention by the Vice Dean, was the USC is really looking for fresh perspectives on film. My friends there have told me that a large portion of MFA acceptees come from very different backgrounds and the ones that DO have a strong film background, sometimes are frustrated with why they are there. Your entire first year will be spent making one silent 5-minute short film on an Sony EX1/EX3, then a 10 minute short film using the same cameras. For people who have a lot of experience, this can be a little frustrating.


My guess is that at the end of the day, USC professors want students that they can mold and shape and not have to fight tooth and nail against during their 3 years at the school there. Like it or not, Hollywood and the film world can consist of a lot of big, passionate egos. USC has also recently come under fire of becoming a school that has too much style over substance and so trying to hammer home "Story is the King" while students are focused on visuals and aesthetics could be difficult. All that being said, there is a chance that USC passes over people because they feel they're already ready to go out into the working world of film. The Vice Dean himself mentioned this when a USC BFA grad asked if their chances were better or worse to apply to the MFA. The Vice Dean responded with, chances are the same, but we'd probably wonder why you're not using your BFA to get job in the field. I think he then looked around to room trying to find a poster of Jon Chu .


For everyone applying for the first time, if you unfortunately don't make it into USC this round, USC will automatically want you to re-apply for the next semester (Spring '12) and will waive you application fee. You'll probably be getting an email about this 1-2 months before the Spring '12 deadline. You will be given a choice of either re-submitting the same materials or requesting to add new materials to re-submit.

Something else to think about for Spring: the numbers are all over the map, but traditionally there are 600-900 applicants for Fall and only 200-300 applicants for Spring, but 60 slots for both. I'd wager that about 15 of those Spring slots are taken by Fall waitlisters (as happened in the year I waitlisted for Spring), meaning 45 open spots for Spring. So chances of Fall acceptance: 8-12%. Chances of Spring acceptance: 15-22%.

Aaaand, I've rambled on long enough ...

 

[creativetype]

@jamesc: Thank you! Your posts make me feel so much better.

 

[Joe. Zen]

Has anyone received any notification from USC?
I just got an email notification, saying that I've been on the waitlist of 2011 Fall, and been offered admission to 2012 Spring. And I have to choose to accept the adimission or not.

But, what's the difference between Srping and Fall? I'm so twisted now.

 

[Tommy]

@Jamesc: Thanks for the congrats... I'll save it for if I get something that actually says "accepted" for now haha. I appreciate it though. To tell you the truth, I've been MORE nervous since that weblink was brought to my attention.

It's a bit of a whirlwind week for me. It's my last week at the job I've slaved away at for 1.5 years... I'm leaving to spend my savings (not much) on a short film I'll be shooting in April so an acceptance to any school would mean I needn't worry about leaving a job in this economy.

 

[Procallout]

But, what's the difference between Srping and Fall? I'm so twisted now.[/QUOTE]


DUDE! There's no difference!!!! Other than starting 4 months later than you anticipated. Get stoked!

 

[xenophilius]

I CAN LOG IN!

I have to not get too excited about this.

 

[xenophilius]

I am so tempted to fill out the form and say that I intend to register for courses just in case they decide to rescind my access to the site. I'll be like, stfu, *****es! I'm already enrolled!

 

[Tommy]

I feel the same way.