USC MFA Fall 2016 Applicants

[Point Break]

This is perfect @Paul J.

Just remember that the per unit cost is valid for one academic year, and it will likely increase based on inflation. Some courses, in production specifically, have additional lab fees and production budgets to consider. And each MFA program has their own unit requirement for degree - Writing (44), Starkies (44), Production (52 in 3yrs), etc. So adjust financial aid packages accordingly if you take more than the 10 units/semester this estimates.

FEES are automatically added by the university (as shown above), and you're also required to have health insurance (either on your own or through the university). That should round everything out to an approximate $60,000, more or less. You can adjust everything else if you bike to school, eat out and go out less, and live in a cheap place if you choose.

 

[peace.]

THANK YOU @Point Break !

One last question guys: anyone knows how big is the producing (not Starkies) program? I found figures for Writing and Stark but nothing for Producing for Film and TV

 

[Point Break]

I thought I saw 40 somewhere in the catalogue, but now I can't find it...

 

[Paul J.]

@Point Break Based on your experience, how well do they choose production students to fill all disiplines? I mean the experience would be vastly different if nobody would want to be a production designer or DoP compaired to a good mix match of drive in all departments?

 

[Point Break]

I have very limited experience with everyone's background in the production program. From the students that I've met, I can say that they all have varied experience and skills and there's a bit of self-selection during the 3-yr program.

Everyone I've met came into the production MFA wanting to either write or direct. They find a way to specialize, hopefully before they graduate: editing, production design, producing, children's television, etc. Some people have very little production experience, some have worked in the industry. Some come in with animation and CGI talent, wanting to break from that and write.

I don't know if this answers your question. Everyone's truly different. I don't know how they choose cohorts or how much attention is given to fill a quota for cinematographers and editors (like AFI), but people find out what they're good at and pursue that.

 

[Paul J.]

@Point Break Thanks for providing all the insight! It seems like there is a good mix match of people attending. Do you guys collaborate with the production program? I mean do you write for Starkies to produce and production ppl to shoot or are all programs apart from each other?

Oh and to other internationally located ppl - I received this from USC:

"We don’t mail physical letters to international admits, however you can pick up a physical copy of your letter once you arrive on campus. The first day of classes begin on Monday, August 22nd."

 

[peace.]

Ahaaaaa!!!! The physical letter mailing mystery solved! Thanks @Paul J.

And yes on August 22nd, that's what I had found in my research...it's so soon! I'm far from being ready, I'm still in the middle of nowhere, far far away! haha
Anyways, if it is USC that is ...

Good luck all!

 

[Point Break]

There are official opportunities to collaborate with Stakies and Production students (for shorts and sometimes features). But it's heavily regimented (in my opinion) and the faculty goes through a selection process.

There is an equally positive and negative quality to each division attempting to train their cohorts to be complete filmmakers (TV included). Starkies write. Production students produce. Writers take a production class. And I'm sure animators, critical studies phd's, and media arts are told they are gods. I actually appreciate this because you feel like you're getting your money's worth in such a prestigious and expensive school.

But this also means not everyone has the time or is willing to collaborate if they think they can do it themselves. We all want to, but it's an additional hurdle some times... I've also heard horror stories of writers coming in to write and the creative/collaborative process morphing their work into something it wasn't. Now this is a true industry experience, so it's very valuable. But some are not ready to sacrifice their "vision" for the greater good of the project. Vince Gilligan visited earlier this year and said "Don't let your good idea stand in the way of someone else's better idea".

I'm glad you're asking about collaboration, bc film/tv is a collaborative art. Generally, each division could work in their own lane and graduate w/o branching out to other divisions, but a major goal for all film school students should be to collaborate with at least one other division (which I personally haven't done yet) or develop a network of artists that you would collaborate with (which I'm more drawn to). Time is against us all.

*I really hope this rambling is coherent lol

 

[Nic L. Kelly]

Hello all, figured I would bump this guy up a bit. I know some of us got in for Fall 16' and some for Spring 17'(like myself). I'd like to congratulate all who got in, as well as those who didn't and will try again as I did.

I would also like to keep the lines of communication open for those that will be starting in the Fall as it can only help prepare the Spring class. Has any one made their decision to go or not to go? Also has anyone received a financial package from the school? Where do you who are going plan to live?

 

[DCMaker]

I would also like to keep the lines of communication open for those that will be starting in the Fall as it can only help prepare the Spring class. Has any one made their decision to go or not to go? Also has anyone received a financial package from the school? Where do you who are going plan to live?

Hi Nic! I, like you, am a Spring admit, and this forum, though I found it very late in the game (read: about a month ago), has been very useful in my decision making. I'll be going to USC, and probably moving out to LA in August even though I'm a Spring admit -- this is because I'm also waitlisted for the fall, and you can't opt to go in for the Spring on purpose -- you have to be ready to start August 22nd, even if they move you off the waitlist on August 19th!

So I haven't received a financial package -- as they said in the webinar, waitlists will not be required to submit their deposit until their spot is determined. I'm not sure what the ultimate spring deposit deadline will be.

One heartening thing -- they also said that waitlist applicants will not receive scholarship information until they are taken off the waitlist, and so I'm not sure what that means for spring admits, but it keeps hope alive that there may be a little financial help still coming. TBD. Nice to know someone else who is in a similar boat.

 

[Nic L. Kelly]

Hi Nic! I, like you, am a Spring admit, and this forum, though I found it very late in the game (read: about a month ago), has been very useful in my decision making. I'll be going to USC, and probably moving out to LA in August even though I'm a Spring admit -- this is because I'm also waitlisted for the fall, and you can't opt to go in for the Spring on purpose -- you have to be ready to start August 22nd, even if they move you off the waitlist on August 19th!

So I haven't received a financial package -- as they said in the webinar, waitlists will not be required to submit their deposit until their spot is determined. I'm not sure what the ultimate spring deposit deadline will be.

One heartening thing -- they also said that waitlist applicants will not receive scholarship information until they are taken off the waitlist, and so I'm not sure what that means for spring admits, but it keeps hope alive that there may be a little financial help still coming. TBD. Nice to know someone else who is in a similar boat.

Hey DC, What's your specialty? I know USC is general production, but do you prefer to direct, edit, etc.? I'm very nervous about the possible rush move part of being wait-listed. I do have a friend who stays in Burbank, so it wouldn't be the worst thing, having to move last minute. Otherwise, I'm planing to move in December. I'm in Baltimore, so ill be driving cross-country likely by myself.

I was also on the webinar and am looking forward to a scholarship but not letting it bother me. I have started researching some of the one's offered by the school, but it seems like they are almost all closed. What do you plan to do out there if you're not called off the wait-list? Summer in LA sounds fun. What are your housing plans? I've been out there twice since Oct 2015, still don't have my mind wrapped around the cost, locations, and bug issues that come with renting in LA lol. That said, I'm freaking excited!

 

[WriterGirl]

A little bit random, but is anyone that has accepted their offer/received the welcome packet, willing to share the official costs as given by the school? There's a lot of info missing from their website, and I would like to see what the real cost of attendance (everything included) really is.

I'm trying to compare some schools from a financial perspective.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Sibi Naayagam]

Yesterday, I received a mail from USC with the subject "Scholarship Opportunities & Other Reminders for New SCA Grad Students" and the first line started with "Congratulations once again on your admission to the USC School of Cinematic Arts!". This is slightly confusing as I'm waitlisted for Fall 2016 and offered a place in Spring 2017 batch. The mail talks about the 2016 batch and nothing about the spring batch either.

Did anyone else receive this mail, especially the waitlisted students?

And @WriterGirl , this link was included in the mail. Maybe it would be helpful to you... http://www.usc.edu/admission/fa/graduates/prospective/how-much-wil-my-education-cost.html

 

[Nic L. Kelly]

Yesterday, I received a mail from USC with the subject "Scholarship Opportunities & Other Reminders for New SCA Grad Students" and the first line started with "Congratulations once again on your admission to the USC School of Cinematic Arts!". This is slightly confusing as I'm waitlisted for Fall 2016 and offered a place in Spring 2017 batch. The mail talks about the 2016 batch and nothing about the spring batch either.

Did anyone else receive this mail, especially the waitlisted students?

And @WriterGirl , this link was included in the mail. Maybe it would be helpful to you... http://www.usc.edu/admission/fa/graduates/prospective/how-much-wil-my-education-cost.html

Yes I got that yesterday as well. I'm in the same boat as you with the WL(Fall 16/In for Spring).

 

[DCMaker]

Yesterday, I received a mail from USC with the subject "Scholarship Opportunities & Other Reminders for New SCA Grad Students" and the first line started with "Congratulations once again on your admission to the USC School of Cinematic Arts!". This is slightly confusing as I'm waitlisted for Fall 2016 and offered a place in Spring 2017 batch. The mail talks about the 2016 batch and nothing about the spring batch either.

Same boat here, waitlist 16/admitted 17, and got the email.

 

[WriterGirl]

Thanks for sharing the info!

 

[Paul J.]

Has anyone who was accepted got any furer info after paying the deposit? I was under the impression that we would hear something shortly after but only radio silence here (and the occasional invitation to a aid webinar)

 

[Paul J.]

I guess people have abandoned the boards? Anyways if someone could help me, would be great. And also, if you could ask someone from the fb group to finally accept me - that also would be nice

 

[panda]

@Paul J. yep, pretty much radio silence on their end so far. It's been posted in the FB group that people will be hearing from their division about registering for classes and other general info in June or July. I'm unable to accept you to the group, I think only the admin (aka USC staff who created it) can do that unfortunately.

 

[Paul J.]

@panda thanks for the info? Is the fb group active? I tried pm:ing Katie and sent a mail to student services but no response