Hi, I am an African-American, middle class, female with a single mom. I’m a rising high-school senior. I go to a pretty competitive boarding school. My gpa is an 87% or 3.2 and my first sat score was a 1690 but I’m retaking it in October. I want to be a film major in college. My top choices are USC, Syracuse, Notre Dame, Howard U, Brown, NYU, and more. Besides Howard, am I ridiculous for having my heart set on these schools considering my gpa? If so, what are some other college options with good film programs (not art schools) that I can get into?
What advice does the college-placement team at your boarding school have for you? They should be able to tell you exactly which places students with your stats have been admitted to in recent years.
Yes, my counselor has showed me all of the trends from previous years. However, I am different than most of the students who applied in previous years, but the graphs are a good guideline. She has given me a few schools which I will be touring soon to look at. Hopefully I will like those schools, but I doubt they will top my previously mentioned favorites. I really want to know if I have at chance at any of them 
What makes you different from prior students with the same GPA trying to get into the same schools? Have you toured all the schools you listed?
Those schools are very selective, but I would apply to them if I were you and try to stand out in ways beyond your grades (i.e. film projects…). Its good to have a list of reach schools, in between, and back ups. Have an open mind, there are many good schools that aren’t the top ones, and you can transfer. You can try using schoolinks.com to network with people from the schools you want to go to. Good Luck.
Your GPA is holding you back. Get your SAT/ACT score up to par with those schools and you can have a decent shot at most excluding Brown which is a reach for everyone.
Thanks so much! Do you happen to know any colleges with film programs that aren’t necessarily at the top?
You should get into Howard. Maybe Syracuse as well but not Newhouse. VERY low chance at the other schools listed.
Are you open to West Coast schools?
Chapman and LMU would review you holistically, looking at your GPA in context of your competitive boarding school, and both have excellent film programs.
Other good options might include Emerson, Ithaca, BU, Goucher, RIT, DePaul, and Purchase.
Do you have a portfolio? Many schools will give additional weight to the strength of your demonstrated artistic output,
which could make you slightly more competitive for the USC’s & NYU’s film departments.
I do think you are reaching very high with schools like Brown, ND, USC, NYU. It is fine to apply to one or two reaches, but don’t let your list get too reach-heavy. Continue to explore other options that are more aligned with your stats. Your schools should have good guidance counselors. I would look into Emerson, SUNY Purchase, Ithaca (above poster recommended as well) and also Quinnipiac.
The GPA is holding the OP back? what about the SAT of 1690/2400? @hop’s suggestion of Chapman is particularly good, as USA Today ranks it the #4 film school in the US (now don’t go picking on USA Today)- and the OPs test scores are average there, v. nearly off the charts low at places like Brown & ND.
OP, you’ve said that you are different than the other students from your school with comparable stats - not knowing what that difference is makes it hard to give helpful suggestions.
Thanks a lot, I actually have visited chapman and I like it a lot. I’m interested in the west coast, yes.
I have also been looking at DePaul, Ithaca, and BU so I think I have a good start.
I do a lot of community service and leadership at my school that is different than most other students from the past, that’s all.
Apply wide and far and at the HBSC. You are AA and that will help you as a major hook.
I hope you are not overlooking the affordability issue. I agree with most of the comments. You may get lucky but you can’t have your whole list be lottery tickets. Film work, either creative or production would go a long way for colleges with film specific schools. For the ones that don’t admit by school, then yes all your EC will be important. While I do see occasional reports of a URM with lower stats getting a Brown accept, they are usually Rhode Island residents that were mentored by Brown programs. I do know of an Afr Amer last year from CA accepted with reportedly 1700-1800 but higher gpa in an IB program. Couldn’t afford the EFC and took a full ride Presidential at a top 20 LAC.
87% is about a 3.4, not a 3.2. (90= 3.7, 84= 3.0) In addition, since it’s a competitive boarding school, you’ll get a little pass on that due to the rigor in grading there.
Your SAT score will be a bigger roadblock. Try the ACT and take several SAT Subjects (since your boarding school preparation should allow you to get high scores in those, to mitigate the SAT Reasoning scores).
With reaches, odds are against you. Keep that in mind when you apply to your top schools, have good matches and safeties, and you’ll be fine.
This is a good list of undergraduate film schools:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1795076-am-i-out-of-luck.html#latest
Those are all over the map, geographically and academically, but a good place to start.
Many of these schools will consider supplemental materials very important in your application (perhaps weighted more heavily than your test scores, for instance) - if you have some examples of short films you have made, that could be a real game changer for you.
(And remember, you don’t have to have professional equipment to produce a short film - you could shoot with a cell phone or inexpensive camera, edit on a computer with free software and produce something that shows your ability.)
Good luck.