USC MFA - Writing for Screen & Television - Fall 2025

[meyerlemon]

I also got an acceptance on Saturday. Total surprise since I've heard nothing from AFI or UCLA. Good luck to those waiting!

 

[Moe]

Looks like the SCA Admitted Graduate Student Day is April 4th this year. I already RSVP'd here:
USC Cinematic Arts | Admitted Graduate Student Day

 

[Chris W]

Anyone who got rejected I suggest reading this. Heck even if you got accepted. It's a great read

When all the noise went away, I asked 'why?' And that was wrong.

Scrolling past all of my classmates successes on FB (and mostly being OK with it) I came across a post asking for film school advice. 'What should I know before applying to film school?' The replies spanned from mundane financial issues to sour grape rejects listing all the successful directors...

• Patrick Clement
• Jun 17, 2019
• 5.00 star(s) 2 reviews
• Comments: 4
• Category: Film School
• Blog: Explaing Myself in a Silent Voice Using Words.

That was actually the wrong Patrick piece I was thinking about.

The correct one is in this link here:

Thread 'To all those who were rejected - don't give up or feel disheartened!'

Feb 23, 2025

I've noticed some decisions have started to come in. If you've been rejected please know this isn't a reflection on you as a person. It's extremely competitive. Try to take it as a learning opportunity to get better. Also know that rejection is quite common even in the film business so might as well start learning how to grow from it now.

For inspiration, here are some amazing articles and blogs on the subject written by our members. Feel free to write one yourself if you feel inspired.

After Three Years of Rejection, I Got Into The Two Best Film Schools in The World. Here Are The Five Things I Learned...

So...you’re applying for film school, huh? I mean, that’s just my assumption. Not sure why you would bother reading this otherwise, especially with where we are currently in The Cycle of Applications. These next couple weeks are pretty much when all the major film school programs have their...

• Septopus7
• Nov 19, 2020
• 5.00 star(s) 2 reviews
• Comments: 9
• Reviews: 2
• Category: Applying to Film School

So you've been denied to grad school, now what?

It's nearly the end of March and for the second year in a row, I have not received any acceptances for the MFA screenwriting programs I applied to. Of the 4 programs, currently I have two denials, one interview, and one I have not heard anything from. So now what? First, I admit to myself that...

• IndecisiveElle
• Mar 18, 2017
• Comments: 9
• Category: Film School
• Blog: There and Back Again

How to Handle Rejections from Film School

You didn’t get in. Now what? First of all, you’re not alone. I’ve been there. If you want to read more about my personal experiences with rejection, I have a blog post on it. But what this article is going to focus on is the steps you can take now to either move on or improve your chances for...

• IndecisiveElle
• Apr 5, 2018
• Category: Applying to Film School

And one of my absolute favorites:

Q & A With Patrick Clement, Columbia MFA Screenwriting & Directing Student

"I went to Columbia because I wanted to be a better storyteller and understanding structure... and I do think my storytelling has gotten better and more complex and deeper and I'm really grateful to Columbia.... they delivered exactly what I expected them to deliver." Recently I had the...

• Chris W
• May 19, 2019
• 5.00 star(s) 1 reviews
• Comments: 5
• Reviews: 1
• Category: Film Student Interviews

"I mean not, not to be too...

• Chris W

 

[Doran]

Hi there!
Question from a recently admitted gal, still waiting to hear from AFI. I read a review by someone in the film production track who said a couple of alarming things that I'm hoping you can either confirm or debunk?
1. You're not necessarily guaranteed a seat in classes you are required to take.
2. The faculty is overwhelmingly old white men.
3. The school has a fairly narrow scope of the kinds of movies it wants students to make.
And then a 4th bonus question unrelated to that review- do you have any insight/knowledge on the major differences between the USC MFA screenwriting program and the AFI MFA screenwriting program?
Thanks!

1. Absolutely not in the screenwriting program, you can dismiss this concern. You’ll get a seat and they have several professor options for most things so you’ll get some choice in your journey. Worse that could happen is you have a professor you’re dead set on but the class fills up and you take it with somebody else. There are many good choices, almost can’t go wrong.

2. I don’t really know how to answer this. There is diversity in the faculty but it is more white than not white, if that matters to you. The chair is a woman, Mary Sweeney. There are a few old white men who teach, all of whom are accomplished, dynamic, passionate, kind mentors. I’m biased because I know them but I struggle to look at their presence as a bad thing. You do get some choice of professors so if this is important to you, I think you’ll be able to take classes with people of many different backgrounds.

3. I don’t think so. In general I’ve heard we lean a little more “Hollywood” than some other film schools. Personally, I find it a good thing. But they want you to write the best version of the stories you care about. It isn’t prescriptive at all. They want to set you up to be successful at whatever you want to do. If that’s like incredibly Indy or avante garde, I’m sure they’d meet you where you’re at. Good story fundamentals translate to everything.

4. Genuinely no clue.

 

[HatsOnHatsOnHats]

1. Absolutely not in the screenwriting program, you can dismiss this concern. You’ll get a seat and they have several professor options for most things so you’ll get some choice in your journey. Worse that could happen is you have a professor you’re dead set on but the class fills up and you take it with somebody else. There are many good choices, almost can’t go wrong.

2. I don’t really know how to answer this. There is diversity in the faculty but it is more white than not white, if that matters to you. The chair is a woman, Mary Sweeney. There are a few old white men who teach, all of whom are accomplished, dynamic, passionate, kind mentors. I’m biased because I know them but I struggle to look at their presence as a bad thing. You do get some choice of professors so if this is important to you, I think you’ll be able to take classes with people of many different backgrounds.

3. I don’t think so. In general I’ve heard we lean a little more “Hollywood” than some other film schools. Personally, I find it a good thing. But they want you to write the best version of the stories you care about. It isn’t prescriptive at all. They want to set you up to be successful at whatever you want to do. If that’s like incredibly Indy or avante garde, I’m sure they’d meet you where you’re at. Good story fundamentals translate to everything.

4. Genuinely no clue.

Thank you so much for this! Extremely helpful.

 

[coder-writer]

Hi everyone! Late to the party, but also was accepted on the 22nd - wanted to say hi and make friends .

Also, I was looking at previous threads (still new to this forum/site), and I noticed that there were admitted applicant group threads and/or possibly a groupme? Has anyone started one yet?

Congrats to everyone else that was accepted and best of luck to those who're waiting!

 

[Chris W]

Also, I was looking at previous threads (still new to this forum/site), and I noticed that there were admitted applicant group threads and/or possibly a groupme? Has anyone started one yet?

Yes feel free to create a private thread in that forum.

Admitted Applicant Private Group Threads

Create private group threads to meet your fellow future classmates, form a screenwriting group, or anything else. It works similar to GroupMe and only invited members can see the thread or get notified about the thread.

www.filmschool.org

Let me know if you have questions on how to do it.

 

[coder-writer]

Thread created! Come introduce yourself!!

https://www.filmschool.org/threads/usc-sca-admitted-mfa-applicants-fall-2025-private-thread.31532/

I went ahead and combed through the application database and pre-added everyone who marked themselves as admitted. If I missed anyone (and/or as people are admitted) feel free to add them or DM me as needed!

 

[Chris W]

heyyyy! I made this account just to reply to this and join! I got in as well on Feb 20th!

Congrats! Log your application when you can.

Application Database

A database of thousands of film school applications to calculate acceptance rates to film programs and the minimum GPAs, minimum SAT and GRE scores, experience of accepted applicants, and much more....

www.filmschool.org

 

[HatsOnHatsOnHats]

Another question I have that I want to throw out there to any USC grads of the program- there's no denying that the USC alumni network is substantial and impressive. But in what practical ways have you experienced that network directly benefitting you or other grads that you know of?

 

[coder-writer]

Another question I have that I want to throw out there to any USC grads of the program- there's no denying that the USC alumni network is substantial and impressive. But in what practical ways have you experienced that network directly benefitting you or other grads that you know of?

+1 on this! I've heard a bit about the USC mafia but would love to know exactly to what extent the notoriety is true and any first/second-hand stories people might have!

 

[zoo11]

Hey I was admitted but have not heard anything about scholarships. Has anyone gotten any scholarship notifications for USC, I can't attend if i didn't get any

 

[Chris W]

Hey I was admitted but have not heard anything about scholarships. Has anyone gotten any scholarship notifications for USC, I can't attend if i didn't get any

I'm not sure anyone has received scholarship info yet.

Don't forget to log your applications in our database. Very helpful to people.

Application Database

A database of thousands of film school applications to calculate acceptance rates to film programs and the minimum GPAs, minimum SAT and GRE scores, experience of accepted applicants, and much more....

www.filmschool.org

 

[LadyBird11]

Hi! I was also admitted. First time posting. Heard back from admissions that we will be finding out about scholarships today. They will let us know either way. Good luck everyone!

 

[zoo11]

anyone hear form scholarships yet? i got an email from sca of them congratulating me again but nothing about aid

 

[Moe]

anyone hear form scholarships yet? i got an email from sca of them congratulating me again but nothing about aid

I just got the same email. No scholarship news on my end yet.

 

[Moe]

Scholarship emails are starting to go out. Received one at 2:45 PM today.

 

[Chris W]

Scholarship emails are starting to go out. Received one at 2:45 PM today.

Nice! Be sure to update your application with the scholarship info. Hopefully it was a helpful amount?

 

[zoo11]

Scholarship emails are starting to go out. Received one at 2:45 PM today.

congrats! if you dont mind me asking how much did you get? no worries if you don't want to share. i have not received anything yet, not sure if their still sending out

 

[Moe]

Nice! Be sure to update your application with the scholarship info. Hopefully it was a helpful amount?

Yes, definitely helpful! I just logged the notification date on my application. I received a notice for a specific renewable award and according to the wording of the letter ("It is important to note that if you receive $10,000 or more in another award or fellowship, this may affect your renewable award.") it seems like they send each scholarship letter individually, so some people may get more than one. Is that how you would interpret it?