USC MFA in Screenwriting Applicants 2018

[Michel Lichand]

I received an e-mail from USC today that they are currently reviewing Applications. Im international and they were still missing one of financial forms that they need from international students. That’s why I received the email. I thought I would share so everyone knows they have started/are working on reviewing the applications
Though, the waiting game never ends till each of us hears that final decision...

I got in that same e-mail and now I'm in quite the pickle, seeing as my family doesn't have the kind of money they're asking for, so I can't provide a financial document saying that I do have the money. In other words, oh boy.

 

[snoopdog]

I got in that same e-mail and now I'm in quite the pickle, seeing as my family doesn't have the kind of money they're asking for, so I can't provide a financial document saying that I do have the money. In other words, oh boy.

You should definitely try to contact the international admissions office about this. Would be a shame if your application can't be viewed simply because of insufficient family funding! I know there are multiple financial sources you can use like from your own government or artistic awards from your home country that help you pay for the education or private organisations, you could even do a fundraiser. Though, you need to be able to verify all the amounts available at this moment. Proving you are able to afford the program in case you get accepted... It's just a lot of money for education, and as internationals, we aren't used to seeing those amounts put towards education. Hopefully, the international admissions office can help you out! Maybe there is some sort of waiver available?

 

[Michel Lichand]

You should definitely try to contact the international admissions office about this. Would be a shame if your application can't be viewed simply because of insufficient family funding! I know there are multiple financial sources you can use like from your own government or artistic awards from your home country that help you pay for the education or private organisations, you could even do a fundraiser. Though, you need to be able to verify all the amounts available at this moment. Proving you are able to afford the program in case you get accepted... It's just a lot of money for education, and as internationals, we aren't used to seeing those amounts put towards education. Hopefully, the international admissions office can help you out! Maybe there is some sort of waiver available?

I read the e-mail three times, and it says "the academic review of your application will continue, even if we do not receive these documents immediately."

So I'm basically doing the ol' wait and see whilst me and my family try to figure out what to do about these documents.

 

[luckypig]

I read the e-mail three times, and it says "the academic review of your application will continue, even if we do not receive these documents immediately."

So I'm basically doing the ol' wait and see whilst me and my family try to figure out what to do about these documents.

@Michel Lichand Haha same here. I didn't submit anything with my application. I haven't received an email about it yet, but I really think there's nothing to worry about. They'll review your application anyway. If you are admitted though, you will have to submit those documents. It's not for USC, it's for the Visa.

 

[Cynthia Atuhaire]

I read the e-mail three times, and it says "the academic review of your application will continue, even if we do not receive these documents immediately."

So I'm basically doing the ol' wait and see whilst me and my family try to figure out what to do about these documents.

I got the same email too and i'm doing the very same thing... waiting!
Things will work out.

 

[Jaida Rukiya]

I literally almost freaked out when I saw there was a new post in the thread, I thought acceptances started going out. Yes I know 0-100. Anybody going to kill over any minute aside from me? No? Oh ok...

 

[Kjpermen]

I literally almost freaked out when I saw there was a new post in the thread, I thought acceptances started going out. Yes I know 0-100. Anybody going to kill over any minute aside from me? No? Oh ok...

No don't worry. I'm right there with you. Good Luck!

 

[Septopus7]

I literally almost freaked out when I saw there was a new post in the thread, I thought acceptances started going out. Yes I know 0-100. Anybody going to kill over any minute aside from me? No? Oh ok...

Nope, not quite yet! Although we are riding the devil's edge now. Last year the first acceptances were issued out the last weekend of February...which is of course next weekend. In 2016, though, acceptances weren't issued out until the first weekend of March. Only a week difference but, in confirmation time, that's like a thousand years. Either way, buckle up for extreme excitement or extreme disappointment within the next 14 days.

Judgement Day is coming.

 

[DamienA]

Not to worry for anybody not interviewed. I had gotten the chance to have a thirtish minute conversation with a lady who I believe is named "Susan Park" who handles some kind of direction within admissions, and in it I raised the question about the spreadsheet saying many "Accepted without interview" and she related that that is entirely accurate.

I do not plan to go to USC but I know two SOCA students who I went to undergraduate with, and one of them said they didn't upload their transcript onto the electronic packet until much later and they were accepted with scholarship to USC despite the email saying the information is needed in two weeks from the date of notification. With that said I wouldn't be surprised if some of you were missing minor things like that in the electronic upload and got treated similarly as transcript sounds pretty heavy.

 

[Twilight98]

I did not report my status to this website in the past, but I was accepted with an interview into USC. What I can say though is my peers were all shocked when I told them this because none of them had been interviewed. You can get into this school without an interview. Rest easy guys, the interview doesnt seem like a big deal for this school apparently.

For those who do get in: please take advantage of the resources youre given. I say this time and time again that there are some people in the program who dont put a lot of effort when getting in is like getting into Harvard. The whole idea that you will get a job after you leave USC is all based on the premise that you attended USC and made noteworthy projects. I cannot tell you how many of my upper classmen friends have graduated and complained to me they cant find a job when in all honesty the reason they cant get one is because they never put in the effort to build a portfolio.

Best of luck. DO NOT FRET OVER THE INTERVIEW REQUEST

 

[Johnella18]

Hey everyone! I'm waiting to hear back just like everybody else.

I'd figured we'd get a conversation going to make this wait more bearable. Is anybody working on anything they want to chat about and/or want feedback on?

 

[Michel Lichand]

Hey everyone! I'm waiting to hear back just like everybody else.

I'd figured we'd get a conversation going to make this wait more bearable. Is anybody working on anything they want to chat about and/or want feedback on?

Good idea!

I'm writing a pilot called "Toon PD". It's a cop show, except it's in a modern day LA where cartoon characters co-exist with humans. I know what you're thinking... that sounds a lot like "Who Framed Roger Rabbit"! And the answer is yes, it does. I just really wanted to write something in a 'modern' version of that world for fun.

 

[Johnella18]

Good idea!

I'm writing a pilot called "Toon PD". It's a cop show, except it's in a modern day LA where cartoon characters co-exist with humans. I know what you're thinking... that sounds a lot like "Who Framed Roger Rabbit"! And the answer is yes, it does. I just really wanted to write something in a 'modern' version of that world for fun.

Oh wow that does sound fun! I loved Roger Rabbit. Turning it into a television series is smart idea. I'd watch it, anyway.

 

[Kira]

I did not report my status to this website in the past, but I was accepted with an interview into USC. What I can say though is my peers were all shocked when I told them this because none of them had been interviewed. You can get into this school without an interview. Rest easy guys, the interview doesnt seem like a big deal for this school apparently.

Agreed. For last year (2017 start), everyone I know who was accepted to USC did so without an interview.

 

[GoAndLoveSomeMore]

@Michel Lichand I love the Toon PD idea! It sounds so fun! And just because you were inspired by something, doesn't mean your work is derivative!

I'm pretty busy right now with a lot of projects, but in the realm of writing I need to write a feature film (conception to final draft) in the next to weeks... so fingers crossed for me. haha

 

[Shuyao Chen]

I'm not anxious about getting an interview but really anxious about my short film not being viewed by Slideroom USC...

 

[Adrien Levy]

I'm not anxious about getting an interview but really anxious about my short film not being viewed by Slideroom USC...

Same thing here :/

 

[Septopus7]

Short film @Shuyao Chen? I was unaware there was a way to upload a short film...I thought only written work was accepted. Are you a screenwriting applicant?

 

[Jaida Rukiya]

I think some people replying are unaware this is the screenwriting thread. There is no interview for screenwriting applicants it says that on the website. Also we didn't have the option to submit a video on our application. On another note I would like some conversation the wait is unbearable! What Genre do you guys write? I'm more of drama and sci-fi!

 

[Septopus7]

I think some people replying are unaware this is the screenwriting thread. There is no interview for screenwriting applicants it says that on the website. Also we didn't have the option to submit a video on our application. On another note I would like some conversation the wait is unbearable! What Genre do you guys write? I'm more of drama and sci-fi!

Yeah, I think that's correct. I don't want to sound like I'm pushing anyone out of the club or anything (I read pretty much every thread on the site, and respond to many too -- we're all in similar boats, even if the schools and focus are different), but if you have a comment specifically about your own school/major (like the interview anxiety, for instance), I suggest you post on forums relevant to that. There are active threads for the other big Cinematic Arts majors at USC (Stark, Production), so I suggest expressing specifics There!

To answer your question though @Jaida Rukiya , my main focus is comedy writing. But I have stuff that's dramatic and science fiction and noir and superhero and pretty much any genre out there. A classic Master of None, I am. Anywho, also curious what you guys put as your preferred medium -- TV or Film? I'm fine with and have written both, but last year I put film, so decided to change things up and put TV this time around. Figured that a majority want to write movies (maybe? Not so sure anymore), so putting something different might give me another leg up. And for the application process, you need as many legs as you can get.