USC Screenwriting MFA - Fall 2019

[StarChild]

Nothing here. Awaiting rejection can take a minute! Hoping for a twist ending though.
I think the 2 that posted on reddit are actually 1 person that posted in 2 spots. IDK if they are the same person as here.

 

[amlena]

Welp, after days of distracting myself, just checked my YouSC and still... nothing. If waitlist has already gone out, it looks like I'm just waiting for the straight-up rejection letter now.

 

[alanray]

At this point I've already come to terms with the fact that I have been rejected. I have moved on. Just hoping for some other schools now. I've been trying to avoid coming to this site too much the last few days to assuage my anxiety over these apps but it's not helping too much lol. This thread doesn't make me anxious tho cuz I've already accepted it.

 

[StarChild]

At this point I've already come to terms with the fact that I have been rejected. I have moved on. Just hoping for some other schools now. I've been trying to avoid coming to this site too much the last few days to assuage my anxiety over these apps but it's not helping too much lol. This thread doesn't make me anxious tho cuz I've already accepted it.

Agree. I do want the closure though. And I gotta admit, I enjoy the banter on here, but honestly I think, mentally, I did better when I didn't search out who finds out when etc.

 

[GoAndLoveSomeMore]

I’m still in limbo with USC production because I haven’t heard any waitlists. ?

 

[StarChild]

I’m still in limbo with USC production because I haven’t heard any waitlists. ?

I’m surprised they haven’t sent waitlists yet :/ Hopefully that’s a good sign for you.

 

[GoAndLoveSomeMore]

I’m surprised they haven’t sent waitlists yet :/ Hopefully that’s a good sign for you.

I’m hoping! Prayers please ?

 

[Mike Cho]

I saw someone said they were waitlisted on Facebook for screenwriting. But yeah, I’ve given up hope too. So now looking back all I can do is ask myself where I went wrong.
One thing that comes to mind. When I submitted my app, I called the office to ask when letters of rec were due. Some guy said they’re due one week after the application deadline and anything submitted after that date is disqualified. My last letter of was submitted two weeks after the deadline. Not sure if this was the reason I didn’t get in, but I don’t think it’s that serious a crime. What do you guys think? Anyone get in with a late letter of rec?

 

[StarChild]

@Mike Cho I didn’t get in- but I think if they really liked your material they would still accept a late rec letter knowing that it’s not you it’s the recommended that was late.

 

[Septopus7]

I saw someone said they were waitlisted on Facebook for screenwriting. But yeah, I’ve given up hope too. So now looking back all I can do is ask myself where I went wrong.
One thing that comes to mind. When I submitted my app, I called the office to ask when letters of rec were due. Some guy said they’re due one week after the application deadline and anything submitted after that date is disqualified. My last letter of was submitted two weeks after the deadline. Not sure if this was the reason I didn’t get in, but I don’t think it’s that serious a crime. What do you guys think? Anyone get in with a late letter of rec?

I did, although my letter wasn't quite as late as yours was. But my recommender didn't submit her letter in until about three days after the 15th deadline -- I had a whole freakout about it, which you might still be able to find somewhere here on this forum. I wished I got a response like yours from the admissions office! They just kept telling me the same "all material were due on the 15th, blah blah blah" shtick. Hearing that one week thing would have put months of nerves at ease!

In any case, it (apparently) didn't make a difference for me. Honestly though, two weeks is a bit steep. My gut says it depends entirely on when they actually started reviewing the applications, and yours in particular -- if they started on yours within the first couple weeks and it didn't have a third letter, they might have disqualified you based on that. It's hard to say, and my gut says the University won't tell you if you were disqualified right out the gate or not. I know I was prepared to ask them this year if I didn't get in, but not sure if that is truly the best course at the end of the day (primarily because there's a 98% chance nothing will actually come from that line of questioning). All I can say is that being late with a letter is acceptable from my experience. How late is the question, and that I'm unsure of.

 

[Mike Cho]

@Mike Cho I didn’t get in- but I think if they really liked your material they would still accept a late rec letter knowing that it’s not you it’s the recommended that was late.

This was my initial thought, but of course that’s if they got to the materials which is the question.

I did, although my letter wasn't quite as late as yours was. But my recommender didn't submit her letter in until about three days after the 15th deadline -- I had a whole freakout about it, which you might still be able to find somewhere here on this forum. I wished I got a response like yours from the admissions office! They just kept telling me the same "all material were due on the 15th, blah blah blah" shtick. Hearing that one week thing would have put months of nerves at ease!

In any case, it (apparently) didn't make a difference for me. Honestly though, two weeks is a bit steep. My gut says it depends entirely on when they actually started reviewing the applications, and yours in particular -- if they started on yours within the first couple weeks and it didn't have a third letter, they might have disqualified you based on that. It's hard to say, and my gut says the University won't tell you if you were disqualified right out the gate or not. I know I was prepared to ask them this year if I didn't get in, but not sure if that is truly the best course at the end of the day (primarily because there's a 98% chance nothing will actually come from that line of questioning). All I can say is that being late with a letter is acceptable from my experience. How late is the question, and that I'm unsure of.

I wasn’t sure when they started the review process, but I thought it was much later around the new year. The reason I didn’t take what that admissions guy said seriously was because of how like you pointed out, what one guy says is always different than if someone else answers the phone. So who knows, it was probably just a regular rejection. I will post my application materials to this site and hopefully get some feedback from whoever is willing. And ya I’ve heard you can ask them why you didn’t get in, but I too doubt anything will come of it and wouldn’t even know where to start.

 

[StarChild]

@Mike Cho an admissions counselor would be your best bet. But I wouldn’t specifically ask about you. That’s listed as a nope on most school websites.

I hope you have better luck with the other places you applied!

 

[dorkydiana]

so i see some ppl have given up hope and now i’m sad so i’m gonna give up as well i guess :/

 

[StarChild]

@dorkydiana keep an ounce of hope, but look to whatever other school is also your favorite! ??

 

[BuddernScotch]

They began

This was my initial thought, but of course that’s if they got to the materials which is the question.




I wasn’t sure when they started the review process, but I thought it was much later around the new year. The reason I didn’t take what that admissions guy said seriously was because of how like you pointed out, what one guy says is always different than if someone else answers the phone. So who knows, it was probably just a regular rejection. I will post my application materials to this site and hopefully get some feedback from whoever is willing. And ya I’ve heard you can ask them why you didn’t get in, but I too doubt anything will come of it and wouldn’t even know where to start.

They began review the 13th of December. At least, that's what I was told when I called on the 14th because I had uploaded all my material but failed to click a "confirm" button after trying to submit (it was a whole thing. I cried for an hour with the usc staff over the phone). I was somehow allowed to submit the material anyway. But I'm not sure if they even read it as they started a day before I called. I think they did, though, but I'm just not what they're looking for.

I slightly regret putting 80% of my effort into USC app because now my first choice is UCLA, after digging a bit deeper and perhaps some biased thinking as USC had already sent out their acceptances, unless the "rolling basis" thing is actually true which this year it doesn't really seem like...

 

[jaweber2010]

anyone got anything? i saw two waitlists on reddit dunno if it’s the same ones from here tho

I was one of those waitlists on here and I didn't post anything on reddit, though I do follow the screenwriting subreddit.

 

[jaweber2010]

Also has anyone run into any issues with electronic delivery of transcripts through Parchment? I sent my transcript to them and have a delivery confirmation through Parchment, but got an email from the head of admissions saying that they never received my official transcript. I'm hoping that they're reviewing the application for full entry, so fingers crossed there.

 

[theeff]

Also has anyone run into any issues with electronic delivery of transcripts through Parchment? I sent my transcript to them and have a delivery confirmation through Parchment, but got an email from the head of admissions saying that they never received my official transcript. I'm hoping that they're reviewing the application for full entry, so fingers crossed there.

I had this issue--I had to call three or four different times. Apparently they thought I was two different people because my transcripts had my middle initial and my application had my full middle name. It got sorted out, but some of the admissions staff voiced their displeasure. If you're on the waitlist, it can't have been too much of an issue... but I'd contact them ASAP and get it sorted out, assuming they are still doing rolling admissions/if you're at the top of the waitlist.

 

[jaweber2010]

I had this issue--I had to call three or four different times. Apparently they thought I was two different people because my transcripts had my middle initial and my application had my full middle name. It got sorted out, but some of the admissions staff voiced their displeasure. If you're on the waitlist, it can't have been too much of an issue... but I'd contact them ASAP and get it sorted out, assuming they are still doing rolling admissions/if you're at the top of the waitlist.

The admissions guy was actually really nice about it in the email. He just told me to call him personally as soon as I have confirmation of delivery, but it doesn't reflect well when you're application isn't put together correctly.

 

[theeff]

The admissions guy was actually really nice about it in the email. He just told me to call him personally as soon as I have confirmation of delivery, but it doesn't reflect well when you're application isn't put together correctly.

This was back in November for me; I wasn't talking to the head of the department, I was just calling "admissions" in general to double check everything was okay--I had a gut feeling something was off--so I think the people I spoke with were the ones digging around trying to find my transcript. I didn't blame them for being less than thrilled.
As long as you sent the transcripts, I have to believe you won't be penalized! Once they're out of your hands, there's a limit to what you can control.