what are colleges looking at?

[Perry07]

If one were to apply for film is GPA, SAT scores more important,than your talent in making films and the contents in your portfolio, for such schools like CHAPMAN, LMU,NYU, UCLA

 

[Hill Dawson Kane]

what are colleges looking at?

the size of your wallet

 

[titaniumdoughnut]

Welcome! Another Perry. Cool.

Colleges are definitely not looking at the size of your wallet. They'll accept you regardless of your ability to pay, and let you figure that out (with loans and what not) later.

It's really a tricky issue to judge, as to whether or not they're looking at grades and scores or how impressive your portfolio is. Lack in one area can be made up for by the other. I know that they're very good at seeing potential in a portfolio, so it doesn't even need to be that amazing to get you in, just promising. As a general rule, I think grades and scores need to be acceptable, but not necessarily stellar. Best of luck!

 

[Bob A]

UCLA, like any of the other UCs, is a paperwork thing. You need to satisfy their credentials... it's all a bureaucratic mess. If your grades are at their standard, and your SATs are at their standards, or if you're transferring from a communitiy college, then you're in pretty good shape.

I don't know about USC's process because I only got part way through it before I heard from NYU :-D, and I don't know about LMU either.

Tisch is more flexible than most schools. If you've not got good grades, your SATs and portfolio can compensate - but SATs *are* very important (unless you want to do GSP for the first year and transfer to Tisch in the second... which some folks have chosen to do because you get all your academic requirements out of the way). And you need a damn good essay.

Chapman (this is begging to be corrected) is similar to NYU in that there's not as strict a formula as, for instance, USC or UCLA. I think there's a greater emphasis on portfolio than NYU though - SATs that are just satisfactory won't stop you like they would at NYU as long as you've got a strong portfolio.

I hope that's helpful.

And for the record, I hate all people named Perry. Good luck.

 

[Bob A]

And I'm aware I was using the word "credentials" improperly... it's creative license.

 

[Cody Brown]

Hey Bob,

Just Curious, where did you hear that about Tisch's emphasis on SAT scores? I'm not saying that you are wrong, but I have heard mixed things when it comes to that. I know that NYU is a prostitute when it comes to the test (judging by their average alone) but I thought (and hoped) it would be different for Tisch. This is coming from someone who got a relatively average score on the test (580 verbal, 560 math) but might be able to make up for it via portfolio, so it makes me really nervous reading that. I suppose I will find out in a couple weeks anyway...

 

[Perry07]

Hey Cody Brown,
Did you apply for NYU...? If you did let me know because my SATs are alot similar to yours, and i hope my portfolio makes up for it too. What other school did you apply too.

 

[Cody Brown]

I applied to:

Columbia
NYU
Art Center (haven't sent yet)
Chapman
SVA

what about you?

-cody

 

[Perry07]

Well I still have one more year of highschool, but im thinking of ..
CHAPMAN
CAL STATE LONG BEACH
USC
LMU
UCLA
UCSB
NYU
EMERSON


and the SAT blowss that's the only thing sketching me out in getting into college

 

[Hoeks]

NYU has the following system

50% is:

SAT scores, GPA, Application form (background etc).

other 50% is: Essay and Portfolio.

Therefore, the SAT score is probablt around 20% of importance in the whole package.

If you dont get into NYU because of SAT, I highly recommend to go to a small film school, get a 4.0 GPA and 30 credits and transfer in. With a good portfolio thats a very good chance becauuse NYU wont requier your SAT test anymore

 

[Chowderhead]

What about ACT scores? I'm from the Midwest and I've already taken the ACT twice. If I find out I need to take the SAT to get in I think I might just die.

What about SAT II subject tests?

 

[M. Night Fan]

Living costs at NYU are Crizazyyyy

 

[Arrenbas]

Originally posted by Perry07:

and the SAT blowss that's the only thing sketching me out in getting into college

just apply to a range of choices - some that care a lot and some that care less

 

[Awrence of RI]

It;s really a toss up, but some things can definately work against you. For example, a very high SAT score will contrast with an ok gpa. For example, my buddy with a 2290 and a 4.2 gpa (a very involved kid in the community) was rejected from Wesleyan), whereas with my 2140 and 4.55 I was accepted. In such a case, the higher sat score might be indicitive of laziness, something you do not want to show to schools. As I do not know how much weight each school puts on the components of the application, i do have a couple of suggestions that worked for me.

In your reccomendations, ask your teachers to include examples of how you might've incorporated film into the curriculum through individual projects/ discussions.

For short answer questions, play to the film side. For example, on my northwestern application to the radio/tv /film major at the comm school, when asked which two people from history i would have meet and what woudl they discuss, I chose Tarantino and Euripides to discuss the use of violence as a story-telling tool.

some schools do not recquire a portfolio; much like many pro-football players did not play football in high school, many colleges will not expect you to have made a million films by senior year. Try to see what requirements play to your favor and highlight those. If you do not have much experience, show why you don't/ what you have been doing in lieu of making films. If your scores are low, show them what you have made in your spare time. This has been kind of rantish, but hopefully it can be helpful in some way.


(btw I will be attending Northwestern in the fall in the school of communications/ and I did not turn in a portfolio)

 

[JAS]

Thanks people...I'm taking the SAT's tomorrow.....now i'm scared..lol (not really though)

I have actually heard that a lot of schools now are not as focused on the SAT's as they are your high school transcript...AP tests, GPA, challenging courses, etc.

I am actually planning to apply to NYU and Wesleyan, yet i'm not sure where else to apply in New England....(any suggestions?)

Awrence of RI--any advice for applying to Wesleyan? Right now it is my top choice (since it is the closest to me). I am actually going there for 5 weeks during the summer for a pre-college filmmaking program, yet I know that that will not guarantee acceptance. Like I said I don't know how I'll do on the SAT's yet but my GPA is around a 3.9

 

[Arrenbas]

Originally posted by JAS:
I am actually planning to apply to NYU and Wesleyan, yet i'm not sure where else to apply in New England....(any suggestions?)

emerson


and why only new england?

 

[JAS]

It doesn't have to be only new england i suppose, but with financial situations and family and stuff it is easier to stay closer to home.

Thanks though

 

[Awrence of RI]

hey jessica, im me, my sn is awrenceofri and i'll help you as much as i can (more specific stuff than I feel like posting at the moment, i'm on mostly at night)

has anyone else here ever done the northwestern program? I have onyl heard great things, just wondering if anyone had any first hand experience.

 

[Blake Rustmann]

For all of you juniors who are about to be seniors, I would recommend taking a look at one of the most underrated film schools in the country. The University of Texas at Austin's Radio/Television/Film program. I will be attending UT starting this summer. The in-state tuition was a big determining factor for me, and out of state tuition is better than privates. Of course, if you have a bottomless pit of money and can get into USC, NYU, or Chapman, go there. However, if you are looking for a great alternative in a great and up and comming film city take a look at UT Austin!

 

[Chairman Meow]

NYU's approach to the admissions process is amazingly flexible. They do a holistic review of each applicant, so a bad SAT may not be the death knell for your Tisch aspirations. However, Tisch has a number of factors that isn't even approached in General Studies admissions process-- duh! Again, from what I understand, the two admissions processes are separate. How they finally come together is something you'd have to ask an admissions director about. Perhaps you go through the first process, and then if you get this far your tisch portfolio is considered? Maybe they're done simultaneously, and they come to separate conclusions and see where to go with things if a conflict arises? Either way, a bad GPA may not shut you out-- and remember, a lot of the application is under your control. You are writing the essay, you are writing the resume, you are submitting the creative piece... when the requirements aren't set in stone, you have a lot of room to make up for the downfalls. This still doesn't mean it's a walk in the park or NYU's a shoe-in for most people-- an admissions rate like 27% still means your chances are hurt by not having good test scores.

Chapman's admissions process, to me, seemed a lot more in-depth. The regular application was surprisingly long, and they asked for more on the supplemental application than any other school. They also had an interview over the phone...

Chapman's process was wonky this time around. From what I understand, they had a major influx of applicants to Dodge, and figuring out the new standards was difficult. The assistant admissions director told me only 10% of those who applied to Chapman's film school were admitted this year. That's intimidatingly low. A strong portfolio and creative work becomes more important if that specific major is that desireable. It's well below Chapman's regular admissions rate, and that's a big sign that a weaker GPA and test scores will affect your chances less than a dismal portfolio. As a whole, their average GPA is about 3.6 and SAT is 1250-ish (on a 1600 scale). That's lower than NYU's.

The other schools I applied to were slightly different. There was no supplimental app for BU, and Emerson specializes in "Communications" so their idea of a good applicant is built differently than that of a traditional University.

Good luck with your college application adventure. Anyone looking at USC should take a glimpse at their sup. app, because it's a doozy. If you're serious about going there, get your recommendations and materials lined up as soon as you can. But, again, the most important thing to remember is that freaking out gets you nowhere. Be calm. Be confident. And I guess I should say "Say no to drugs", but they work for some people...