USC SCA Writing for Screen & TV MFA Fall 2023

[margotcat]

Aaaand… the second week of April is going strong with nothing still!

yuuup. i have been watching the film production group as they’ve been a bit more active recently. problems w/ admission seem to be across the school. still, it’s ridiculously late rn

 

[Bradyb]

Aaaand… the second week of April is going strong with nothing still!

Same.... I can't even get upset at this point. I have to look at it like if it is meant to be it will be.

 

[margotcat]

I just got my rejection email! wow! finally lmao

 

[Bradyb]

I just got my rejection email! wow! finally lmao

SAME!!!

 

[tryingmybest]

Finally got my rejection

 

[notaprincess]

Same

 

[Chris W]

Bummer! Sorry to hear guys.

 

[nsaufert]

same

 

[Deleted member 27219]

I just received an email saying that I didn't get in... I'm really sad, I'm not going to lie but whatever, there's nothing I can do at this point

 

[Chris W]

Everyone be sure to log or update your applications so we can improve our stats for future applicants.

Are you applying again next year or accepting elsewhere?

 

[Arl1857]

Got rejected too
Still think they should have informed people way earlier. Some schools request decisions at the beginning of April. Should have emailed far earlier.

 

[tryingmybest]

Got rejected too
Still think they should have informed people way earlier. Some schools request decisions at the beginning of April. Should have emailed far earlier.

Very disappointed in how they handled the whole situation tbh

 

[zzhang28]

That's so weird. I haven't heard back from the program yet. I will ask them for a rejection now...

 

[tryingmybest]

admissions@cinema.usc.edu

 

[Chris W]

Everyone don't forget to log or edit your application in our database with your admission decision. It'll really help future applicants quite a bit.

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

Log application to…

www.filmschool.org

Please let us know if you are attending or will be trying again next year.

 

[gmaltz]

hello! I'm attending the program in the fall and would love to get in touch with the rest of the cohort! if anyone knows of any groupchats or anything let me know

 

[taurusdiaries]

hello! I'm attending the program in the fall and would love to get in touch with the rest of the cohort! if anyone knows of any groupchats or anything let me know

Messaged you!

 

[katiebonnie]

Messaged you!

I would also love to know if there are any group chats or anything!

 

[taurusdiaries]

I got my acceptance yesterday with the rest of the international crew and promised myself that, if I got in, I'd share as much of my application materials as I could (click here for application log).

I know Supporting Memberships are what makes this site possible and I hope everyone who can afford it subscribes, but I also know that the cost can be prohibitive for some folks (the USD exchange rate is brutal!). So, I also wanted to share a very brief description of the materials I sent in in hopes that it will be helpful for future applicants (Chris, let me know if this isn't alright and I'll take it down).

1. Autobiographical Character Sketch: I talked about my relationship to stories, literature, and the act of storytelling through the lens of all the languages I've acquired in my life.
2. Creative Challenge A: the infamous elevator scene! I wrote about a trans woman and drag queen getting stuck with an uptight businessman. They talk about unhappiness, understanding/acceptance, and how you just have to give things (and people) time. Whether the businessman is the trans woman's former self, or just someone who strongly resembles the person she once was, is left ambiguous.
3. Creative Challenge B: At the end of the world (literally—Earth is about to be destroyed), a teenage girl tries to sneak out so she can lose her virginity at a party. Her dad isn't pleased. She thinks he's stifled her; he thinks he's just protecting her from the world. They argue/talk it out and eventually reach a truce.
4. Most Challenging Moment: I used a tabletop roleplaying game as a framing device for a deeply emotional (and arguably traumatic?) experience.
5. Writing Sample: A one-page summary followed by the last 10 pages of a feature script. I figured I'd already shown with the creative challenges that I could set up a good story; I wanted to demonstrate instead how I could pull together multiple storylines and character arcs into one big, explosive climax.

Best of luck to everyone still waiting for a decision! I hope this helps, if not this year's cohort of applicants, then the next.

Hi, Kris. If you're attending, there's a small group chat of admitted students on Instagram if you want to join Message me!

 

[tls]

Hi all, MFA Film Prod student here, going into my 4th semester in the fall.

Congrats on getting into SCA! It's been the dream of a lifetime. I remember my filmschool.org days well - such a wonderful resource.

Wanted to pop on to offer a housing suggestion as I told my landlord I'd help promote his building. There are several SCA students in it, and it's super safe and close to campus. More info here: University of Southern California (USC) Housing, Sublets & Roommates | Facebook

In general, if you're looking to live walking distance from campus, directly north of campus is safest. Some students live west of campus as well, although it starts to get dodgier there. And south of campus or East of Figueroa street, in my opinion, is not very safe. Anything near the USC village is great because it has a grocery store, Target, and stores and restaurants.

I'm prob not gonna check this a lot over the summer but feel free to reach out to me on insta if you have any further questions! @Shannon.Morrall - And if you want to live in my building, tell George (landlord) I sent you!