USC MFA Fall 2014 (film & tv)

[Jennifer Hightower]

Yep, also recieved financial stuff. I hope it's a good sign, although we are international.

Sounds pretty good to me :
"International applicants (those who are, or will be, in the United States on a non-immigrant visa) must submit documented evidence of financial support. The U.S. government requires that all international student applicants provide proof of ability to pay tuition and living expenses for themselves and their dependents (if applicable) before a formal letter of admission and an I-20 or DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility can be issued. For visa information or to check whether you will need an I-20/DS-2019 issued by USC, please see Obtaining a Visa."

Yeah, It's an International student thing. We do it for the students at our university too.

 

[Wonderland]

Yep, also recieved financial stuff. I hope it's a good sign, although we are international.

Sounds pretty good to me :
"International applicants (those who are, or will be, in the United States on a non-immigrant visa) must submit documented evidence of financial support. The U.S. government requires that all international student applicants provide proof of ability to pay tuition and living expenses for themselves and their dependents (if applicable) before a formal letter of admission and an I-20 or DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility can be issued. For visa information or to check whether you will need an I-20/DS-2019 issued by USC, please see Obtaining a Visa."

As an international student, I replied USC that I am not gonna provide it at this time. It's optional and it doesn't influence the admission decision.

 

[Ovsanna]

Yep, also recieved financial stuff. I hope it's a good sign, although we are international.

Sounds pretty good to me :
"International applicants (those who are, or will be, in the United States on a non-immigrant visa) must submit documented evidence of financial support. The U.S. government requires that all international student applicants provide proof of ability to pay tuition and living expenses for themselves and their dependents (if applicable) before a formal letter of admission and an I-20 or DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility can be issued. For visa information or to check whether you will need an I-20/DS-2019 issued by USC, please see Obtaining a Visa."

I don't understand one thing. It is well known that international students usually apply to a bunch of scholarships to cover their tuition, and in fact all these scholarship programs require an acceptance letter from university as a part of application. What shall we do in this situation? I'm a little confused

 

[Ovsanna]

As an international student, I replied USC that I am not gonna provide it at this time. It's optional and it doesn't influence the admission decision.

Are you sure that it is optional? I mean are you going to submit you financial support documentation "after you have received your 10-digit USC ID", when you say that you are not going to provide it at this time???

 

[Arijit]

Hi guys !

I have been absent for such a long time
so much to catch up !

mcholman : thank you so much for all the information regarding the interviewing process! I am getting super nervous now that they’ve started calling people… I keep checking my emails like a crazy! But I wouldn’t worry too much about the status on the online application system

BkBred: good luck for your interview!!! (fingers crossed) Who is interviewing you?

Amina: thanks! I only applied to USC. Are you also interested in documentary? I’d love to see your film

Arijit: nice film! I received the same email this morning… This is the tricky part I guess… Do you already have all your financing ready ? I am still in the process getting the funding… and this email made me even more nervous!

kazedragon: good luck to you!! I hope you’ll get in this time



Good luck to you all!!!

Thanks G_F
It seems its optional not mandatory to submit the financial proof. However, as an international student we need to keep our financial statements ready (showing a year's estimate), because there is this whole thing of expediting the I20 & visa process.
As far as i have observed, most scholarships are merit based (correct me if I am wrong) rather than need based. Besides, the scholarships announce the winners around April. So scholarship or not, I guess we need the financial proof ready.
Later if the force is strong wit u my friend, u hit the scholarship jackpot...

 

[Wonderland]

Are you sure that it is optional? I mean are you going to submit you financial support documentation "after you have received your 10-digit USC ID", when you say that you are not going to provide it at this time???

It is optional. Keep reading the letter they sent you.

 

[peterlolzy]

Did anyone apply Animation&Digital Arts MFA? I received an email indicates I need to provide my financial proof, but my application status is still first stage.

 

[Africana]

Hi guys, I'm also an international student and also received that email. You really do need to submit that document and it's not optional, they may be able to extend the deadline to submit it but you have to show it to get your admission decision results after the interview.

In the case of needing an acceptance letter before you get your funds I suggest you email and ask about that but based on my experience they will ask you to show proof of funds in another way and you can change the method of how you pay later.

I applied to USC for Sprint 2014 had an interview and then the proof of financial doc became an issue because in order to get your admission decision after the interview round you need to be able to show you can attend

"International applicants (those who are, or will be, in the United States on a non-immigrant visa) must submit documented evidence of financial support. The U.S. government requires that all international student applicants provide proof of ability to pay tuition and living expenses for themselves and their dependents (if applicable) before a formal letter of admission and an I-20 or DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility can be issued." - http://www.usc.edu/admission/graduate/international/financialsupport.html

So I emailed explaining that I didn't have another way of showing proof of funds and my student loan request is still being reviwed for funding outside of The Netherlands.

And then I got this response:

"Unfortunately, we will not be able to place a final decision until this documentation is received, and given the short turnaround (classes being about 3 months away), there is a cutoff time to which we can wait for these to be processed. The only thing I can think of is that may want to reapply and be considered for Fall 2014. You will have go through the admissions process again of having your application reviewed. What I might be able to do is have your application updated (which means that you will not have to resubmit the application and fee). If you wish to do this, I would make sure that you will be able to have your documentation in order and have it sent to usci20@usc.edu, that way it's all in your file.
Let me know what you plan on doing."
So I've been limbo since then. I think out of all the schools USC has less funding/scholarship options for internationals (which sucks).

I thought that because they really wanted me or that I got in (vain moment) cause they kept on sending me emails like when we need your proof of financial etc. but then I searched in this forum and found someone who had a similar situation but when he submitted his proof of funds he still got rejected and he was annoyed that he had to jump through hoops to get dissed. It's a really odd system they have.

Last piece of not so fun news:

Financial Aid and Scholarships

International students are not eligible for federal or university need-based financial aid nor are they eligible for application fee waivers.
International students are eligible for academic department fellowships, teaching and research assistantships, and merit-based tuition waivers. For more information, contact the department to which you are seeking admission
- http://www.usc.edu/admission/graduate/international/financialsupport.html
Good luck everyone I hope we survive this process and get rewarded with some good news!

 

[G_F]

Hi guys, I'm also an international student and also received that email. You really do need to submit that document and it's not optional, they may be able to extend the deadline to submit it but you have to show it to get your admission decision results after the interview.

In the case of needing an acceptance letter before you get your funds I suggest you email and ask about that but based on my experience they will ask you to show proof of funds in another way and you can change the method of how you pay later.

I applied to USC for Sprint 2014 had an interview and then the proof of financial doc became an issue because in order to get your admission decision after the interview round you need to be able to show you can attend

"International applicants (those who are, or will be, in the United States on a non-immigrant visa) must submit documented evidence of financial support. The U.S. government requires that all international student applicants provide proof of ability to pay tuition and living expenses for themselves and their dependents (if applicable) before a formal letter of admission and an I-20 or DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility can be issued." - http://www.usc.edu/admission/graduate/international/financialsupport.html

So I emailed explaining that I didn't have another way of showing proof of funds and my student loan request is still being reviwed for funding outside of The Netherlands.

And then I got this response:

"Unfortunately, we will not be able to place a final decision until this documentation is received, and given the short turnaround (classes being about 3 months away), there is a cutoff time to which we can wait for these to be processed. The only thing I can think of is that may want to reapply and be considered for Fall 2014. You will have go through the admissions process again of having your application reviewed. What I might be able to do is have your application updated (which means that you will not have to resubmit the application and fee). If you wish to do this, I would make sure that you will be able to have your documentation in order and have it sent to usci20@usc.edu, that way it's all in your file.
Let me know what you plan on doing."
So I've been limbo since then. I think out of all the schools USC has less funding/scholarship options for internationals (which sucks).

I thought that because they really wanted me or that I got in (vain moment) cause they kept on sending me emails like when we need your proof of financial etc. but then I searched in this forum and found someone who had a similar situation but when he submitted his proof of funds he still got rejected and he was annoyed that he had to jump through hoops to get dissed. It's a really odd system they have.

Last piece of not so fun news:

Financial Aid and Scholarships

International students are not eligible for federal or university need-based financial aid nor are they eligible for application fee waivers.
International students are eligible for academic department fellowships, teaching and research assistantships, and merit-based tuition waivers. For more information, contact the department to which you are seeking admission
- http://www.usc.edu/admission/graduate/international/financialsupport.html
Good luck everyone I hope we survive this process and get rewarded with some good news!

Africana, thank you so much for sharing your experience and clarifying this process. I hope you'll get in this time!

 

[Fightclub]

Any new interview invitations?

 

[mcholman]

Hey Fightclub! Glad you could join us!

 

[mcholman]

 

[Fightclub]

mcholman Thnx. I am an international applicant and I have applied to USC, UCLA, Columbia and NYU. I have received an interview invitation from Columbia but not from USC. My TOEFL that I have reported to USC is 95 and the staff told me they did not send my file to the admission committee because this score was under their minimum requirement.

 

[mcholman]

mcholman Thnx. I am an international applicant and I have applied to USC, UCLA, Columbia and NYU. I have received an interview invitation from Columbia but not from USC. My TOEFL that I have reported to USC is 95 and the staff told me they did not send my file to the admission committee because this score was under their minimum requirement.

Sorry to hear that! Do keep us posted as to where you end up.

 

[peterlolzy]

Africana, thank you so much for sharing your experience and clarifying this process. I hope you'll get in this time!

Did every International student receive the financial proof request? I am wondering it is a good sign because last year I was rejected by the same program and didn't receive any requests such as financial proof request and copy of passport.

 

[Ilovefilms]

I was waitlisted for the spring 2014 semester and reapplied for the fall semester. Anyone else? I am just asuming I didn;t get in.. there so many more students applying in the fall... wait.. i am suppose to be positive right? lol

 

[Ovsanna]

Hey guys,
I'm sorry for the stupid question, but does anyone know where my USC ID# is written? Ineed it for the USC scholarship application, but can't find it. I wrote to Office of Student Services and they told me that "A USC Student ID# is generated for all applicants" .

 

[JFadley]

it's the number you used to sign into and review your application. Act's like a user ID for the USC application login screen

 

[Ovsanna]

it's the number you used to sign into and review your application. Act's like a user ID for the USC application login screen

I got an email from Office of Student Services saying that after submitting my application I must have received my 10-digit ID number via email. I didn't receive anything like that, so I thought that it is USC account login pin (like you said). Today I wrote to Student Office once more sending my full name, program, term and date of birth as it is required if one didn't receive ID number after submitting application.

 

[swaggy]

Hey guys,
I'm sorry for the stupid question, but does anyone know where my USC ID# is written? Ineed it for the USC scholarship application, but can't find it. I wrote to Office of Student Services and they told me that "A USC Student ID# is generated for all applicants" .

Hi The USC ID isn't the same as the username that you use to log into your application. Its a 10 digit number. I didnt receive mine. So I mailed them yesterday and they let me know mine. But I spoke to them on phone and they said that it didnt matter if we did or did not include the number. But I included my ID on the scholarship application. Hope this helps. Best of luck.