UT Austin MFA Film Production Fall 2018

[Jawmmin]

Thank you Sachin. Be interesting to know if that person was waitlisted prior to being accepted in April. I would assume as much unless they don't cultivate a large waitlist/saw a high turnover for accepted applicants. Be unusual if they went back into the overall applicant pool.

Yes, UT told me I will receive an answer as to if there is a spot available for me in April. So I think it was someone that was waitlisted.

 

[Zeno]

Yes, UT told me I will receive an answer as to if there is a spot available for me in April. So I think it was someone that was waitlisted.

And you were waitlisted so you have a solid shot! Great program so best of luck!

 

[Jawmmin]

And you were waitlisted so you have a solid shot! Great program so best of luck!

Thank you. Sucks to be in this limbo for another two months or so. Good luck to you also!

 

[Zeno]

Thank you. Sucks to be in this limbo for another two months or so. Good luck to you also!

Thanks! Looks like you're doing well overall with the schools you applied to.

 

[Ram GM]

Hi ppl, got my admit today for UTA. I am really excited to go there. My top choices are LMU, UTA and Emerson(coz they are cheap than the others).

I have also applied to the biggies. My AFI interview got over and I am awaiting decisions from NYU, UCLA and USC too. But they're pretty expensive schools, so I might as well go to UTA if there isn't any option for scholarships even if I get into one of the biggies. I really hope all of u wonderful ppl get in too!

On a side note, how will you rate UTAs Film program against LMU and Emerson?! I am an international student and I really would love to have the same level of exposure to the industry as anyone else gets!

 

[BadouBoy]

Congrats @Ram GM! I got an admission email as well- I'm in!

 

[Ram GM]

Awesome @BadouBoy glad that you got in too! We got a wonderful year to look forward to now, don't we? Hope the others get in too!

But I had received a conditional admit it seems, and they have mentioned a list of things I need to achieve academically, to continue after the first semester. Has anyone else received this too?

 

[Sachin Dheeraj]

Awesome @BadouBoy glad that you got in too! We got a wonderful year to look forward to now, don't we? Hope the others get in too!

But I had received a conditional admit it seems, and they have mentioned a list of things I need to achieve academically, to continue after the first semester. Has anyone else received this too?

Interesting. Nothing of that sort was mentioned on my admit letter. They just said I need to send my official transcripts prior to registration. Maybe our graduate coordinator can provide additional details about it?

 

[BadouBoy]

Awesome @BadouBoy

But I had received a conditional admit it seems, and they have mentioned a list of things I need to achieve academically, to continue after the first semester. Has anyone else received this too?

I received a conditional admit too. I'd say check with the graduate coordinator.

It's worth noting also that UT Austin is a state school, and its admission is a two-step process. The department makes a recommendation to the graduate admission office, and they have the final say. It's possible for the Graduate school to veto an acceptance by the department (see @Patrick Clement's application experience with UT here), but I don't think it's common.

 

[Zeno]

I received a conditional admit too. I'd say check with the graduate coordinator.

It's worth noting also that UT Austin is a state school, and its admission is a two-step process. The department makes a recommendation to the graduate admission office, and they have the final say. It's possible for the Graduate school to veto an acceptance by the department (see @Patrick Clement's application experience with UT here), but I don't think it's common.

Thanks for posting with Patrick Clement's story about UT Austin, a great school. But agree that UT Austin has different objectives, given. A school like UCLA has a similar but more flexible process.

UCLA officially requires a 3.0 GPA but the department has veto power over the administration if they want to admit a sub 3.0 applicant who might be strong otherwise. Per your and Patrick's posts, looks like UT Austin's film department does not have that power.

Regardless, been receiving interviews from competitive film schools in two cycles (Columbia University, AFI directing and screenwriting, and UCLA last year) even though not from UT Austin. The aforementioned schools don't require the GRE and, more so, Columbia and AFI have no interest in it. My feeling is that my strength leans more on my portfolio rather than quantitative evaluations.

Interestingly, UT Austin may be attracting more left brain individuals than right brainers. All in all, the film industry requires many types of brains to function and succeed!

 

[BadouBoy]

My theory is that UT's funding for the teaching assistantships offered to their continuing students (which give tuition reduction and a stipend) is contingent on students meeting certain academic criteria to ensure that they can teach college-level courses. That would explain their focus on grades and GRE. Other schools which don't offer that/have students paying fees in full wouldn't need to factor those things in an application. This is all conjecture of course, but like you said, it all comes down to priorities.

 

[Zeno]

My theory is that UT's funding for the teaching assistantships offered to their continuing students (which give tuition reduction and a stipend) is contingent on students meeting certain academic criteria to ensure that they can teach college-level courses. That would explain their focus on grades and GRE. Other schools which don't offer that/have students paying fees in full wouldn't need to factor those things in an application. This is all conjecture of course, but like you said, it all comes down to priorities.

A logical conclusion. However, other high-ranked, competitive schools such as Columbia University, UCLA, and others don't rely as heavily on transcripts, don't use the GRE or use it anecdotally, and, yet, prioritize the portfolio. But, offer funded teaching assistantships too. One must assume that they conclude that these individuals are as capable of excelling in their programs as teaching college level courses as this is a necessary component. Course, AFI is different given it's a conservatory and has mentoring but not teaching assistantships.

 

[BadouBoy]

A logical conclusion. However, other high-ranked, competitive schools such as Columbia University, UCLA, and others don't rely as heavily on transcripts, don't use the GRE or use it anecdotally, and, yet, prioritize the portfolio. But, offer funded teaching assistantships too. One must assume that they conclude that these individuals are as capable of excelling in their programs as teaching college level courses as this is a necessary component. Course, AFI is different given it's a conservatory and has mentoring but not teaching assistantships.

I see - fair point. Didn't know about Columbia and UCLA assistantships.

 

[Sachin Dheeraj]

Hello folks! I'm coming to UT Austin for a campus visit (to meet faculty and current students) on March 20th. Curious to know if anyone else is attending on the same date. Would love to meet and interact with potential cohorts

 

[Zeno]

Hello folks! I'm coming to UT Austin for a campus visit (to meet faculty and current students) on March 20th. Curious to know if anyone else is attending on the same date. Would love to meet and interact with potential cohorts

Looking like you're going with UT Austin? Great job with schools this year.

 

[Sachin Dheeraj]

Looking like you're going with UT Austin? Great job with schools this year.

Thanks Zeno . Haha I haven't confirmed anything with UTA yet. For all practical purposes I feel like UTA is perfect. That's why I'm going to the campus to talk to current students and faculty there to get more info about the school and the program. But when it comes down to choosing the program that's best for me, I'm more inclined towards AFI and Columbia. I'm just waiting to hear back from all the schools before I make the final call. Scholarship is also a huge factor for me to make a decision. Going to any of the top five schools without scholarship or TA will be very difficult for me. So let's see how things go. But good luck to you man. Hope you get into Columbia (Your top choice, I guess ).

 

[Zeno]

Thanks Zeno . Haha I haven't confirmed anything with UTA yet. For all practical purposes I feel like UTA is perfect. That's why I'm going to the campus to talk to current students and faculty there to get more info about the school and the program. But when it comes down to choosing the program that's best for me, I'm more inclined towards AFI and Columbia. I'm just waiting to hear back from all the schools before I make the final call. Scholarship is also a huge factor for me to make a decision. Going to any of the top five schools without scholarship or TA will be very difficult for me. So let's see how things go. But good luck to you man. Hope you get into Columbia (Your top choice, I guess ).

Thanks for the luck man! Columbia is my top choice (although AFI would be great) and the interview is tmrw! Supposed to be a snow storm here on the east coast tmrw so that will be interesting! You have yours yet and how was it?

I hear you about financial aid and scholarship. Given all the interest in you as an applicant from multiple schools, I imagine one or more will accept you and offer you a good package. But, as you know, AFI and Columbia are two of the more expensive ones, along with USC. Honestly, all the top five and top ten school stuff is highly suspect. The criteria for these rankings is pretty opaque. It's a useful tool but not the end all.

UT Austin is ranked 11th on the Hollywood Reporter's list but it's probably more top five when you take into consideration cost, faculty, and location. It's the best deal and they also give you more to make films, the faculty have a competitive blend of veteran/current industry people (my buddy who went to Columbia writes for a Netflix show that has a UT Austin faculty member as senior writer on the team), and it's in Austin which is a cultural mecca with three of the top film festivals in the world (Fantasia Fest, SXSW, and Austin Film Festival).

Agents and other industry people are regularly cycling through town and you'll be a big fish in a small pond at UT Austin. Importantly, these festivals designate spots to Austin filmmakers who enter films so it helps with the sheer numbers odds of fests. Honestly, I would have gone if the offer was made. Course, the others are just fine with me!

 

[Sachin Dheeraj]

Thanks for the luck man! Columbia is my top choice (although AFI would be great) and the interview is tmrw! Supposed to be a snow storm here on the east coast tmrw so that will be interesting! You have yours yet and how was it?

I hear you about financial aid and scholarship. Given all the interest in you as an applicant from multiple schools, I imagine one or more will accept you and offer you a good package. But, as you know, AFI and Columbia are two of the more expensive ones, along with USC. Honestly, all the top five and top ten school stuff is highly suspect. The criteria for these rankings is pretty opaque. It's a useful tool but not the end all.

UT Austin is ranked 11th on the Hollywood Reporter's list but it's probably more top five when you take into consideration cost, faculty, and location. It's the best deal and they also give you more to make films, the faculty have a competitive blend of veteran/current industry people (my buddy who went to Columbia writes for a Netflix show that has a UT Austin faculty member as senior writer on the team), and it's in Austin which is a cultural mecca with three of the top film festivals in the world (Fantasia Fest, SXSW, and Austin Film Festival).

Agents and other industry people are regularly cycling through town and you'll be a big fish in a small pond at UT Austin. Importantly, these festivals designate spots to Austin filmmakers who enter films so it helps with the sheer numbers odds of fests. Honestly, I would have gone if the offer was made. Course, the others are just fine with me!

I'm pretty sure you'll do well tomorrow man! Mine was very good. I can say it was a very comfortable and relaxing one when compared to AFI. Thanks so much for the valuable insight regarding UT Austin. I agree with you on the rankings. UTA is pretty solid (It won gold medals in Student Academy Awards in the past for both narrative and documentary categories). I'm really excited to visit the campus and talk to students. I also heard they got Arri Alexa in the campus which is fantastic. Let's see how things unfold. Do let me know how your interview goes