<p>Hello! I'm currently a sophomore transfer student from Chicago. I was rejected by USC when I applied as a high school senior and went to community college for a year, but I'm currently majoring in Critical Studies within the School of Cinematic Arts. I come from a low-income family and am here on some pretty heavy financial aid. I'm taking some great classes this semester (Intro to Film, History of International Film, Postwar Hollywood, the famous Film Symposium AKA Cinema 466, and Intro to Digital Studies).</p>
<p>If you have any questions about the School of Cinematic Arts, the application process and essays, their classes, the Critical Studies program, the transfer process, financial aid, or even anything about USC in general feel free to ask me! College Confidential was a huge help to me when I was first applying to schools so I feel like I should give back with a little knowledge of my own. :)</p>
<p>I remember you from 2 yrs ago, when S1 was applying. Even back then your posts were informative and helpful. Now S2 will apply and he hopes to go to USC (lower SAT’s than S1 but higher GPA).</p>
<p>He loves USC!! Am praying harder this time for him :)</p>
<p>Hi! I’m applying to USC this year and I really wanna go for neuroscience and business, but lately I’ve started to want to go into film/screenwriting. I know it’s kind of late since I don’t really have much of a portfolio for it, but if I were planning on applying for the SChool of Cinematic Arts next year (if I got in only), would it still be possible? Can people who aren’t in the SChool of cinematic arts still learn about film and filmwriting and possibly pursue it as a minor or do you have to be a part of the school from freshman year? Also, how competitive is it to get into that specific school? </p>
<p>There are several other SCA students and alums on this board too that can probably answer questions, FYI. BFA WST alum here :)</p>
<p>^ The USC screenwriting portfolio is only writing samples. You have to answer a prompt and construct a scene based on a scenario they give you and then fill the rest of the portfolio with poems, stories, etc. If you’re a good creative writer, you TOTALLY have the time between now and when the application is due to write enough to fill out the portfolio. Look and see if SCA posted the Fall 2011 applications instructions and start thinking about/working the prompts. Very simple to do if writing comes easy to you.</p>
<p>I also do believe that SCA doesn’t require films as a portfolio for Production applicants because they know not everyone has the money to buy/access equipment. Check the application and see what it says.</p>
<p>If you are accepted to USC outside of the film school, you can totally take classes and minor in a film-related subject – production, screenwriting, animation, etc. SCA is VERY competitive – for screenwriting only about 26 applicants are accepted each year, production about 50 and critical studies around 100 – so it does require a certain amount of dedication, skill and (primarily) a WHOLE LOT of luck to get into the film programs on the first go. If film is mainly an interest you have (which it seems) a film minor is a GREAT way to use USC’s resources as a top film school and to take classes you’re interested in. I also really recommend the screenwriting minor over the BFA program.</p>
<p>It’s up to you, really. If you’re not 100% certain that film is the career you want to pursue (it’s a tough career, I’ll admit) but you know USC is “your school,” then just apply to USC and not SCA. If you absolutely MUST be in film and SCA is your only “dream” then do it; you probably have the skills to back it up.</p>
<p>I am always happy to read screenwriting applicant’s writing portfolios and there are several BFA students on CC who I am sure would help out as well if you need advice.</p>
<p>@ Zelda Fitzgerald: 1. I love your name. 2. Thanks so much for that info! I think I’m gonna apply to be in screenwriting for SCA since I have time to do those writing samples. The questions already came out so I’m gonna start working on them. Thanks, again! :] :]</p>
<p>Hi, I’m the parent of an applicant for SCA-production. I believe this is the first year that production applicants are required to submit a video (not optional anymore)- and the first year on the common ap. </p>
<p>Dream: I’m so glad you made it there! I was reading your posts and hoping for you- glad it worked out in the end. And its great for you to still be on the boards and giving back. Shows what a great decision they made: you seem like someone who will be a team player and always give back. A great role model. </p>
<p>Zelda: What does BFA WST mean? Is it writing for screen and television? And is that the same as screenwriting?</p>
<p>hi maddenmd–good to see you here. Best of luck to your S in this year’s applications.</p>
<p>Dream–my S2 is a freshman in SCA this year (my S1 is a senior) and I am so glad you are at school with them. Hope it lives up to all your Dream(s).</p>
<p>For everyone–I believe SCA tries for a freshman class of 26 WSC (Writing for Screen & Television; 75 Critical Studies; 50 Production; 15 Interactive Entertainment; 20ish Animation. Or thereabouts. Rumor filtered down that for this year, as an example, 1000 applied for Interactive, 20 were admitted and 17 are attending. I would love to know about other majors if anyone has numbers. </p>
<p>For all applying for SCA (School of Cinematic Arts), you are also allowed to list a second choice major. If you don’t get into SCA, you very well could be admitted to your 2nd major. You could minor in SCA if you wish, or reapply from within USC if you choose. </p>
<p>Dream,
You have had to face challenges to enroll at SC. What positives did you see or experience at SC that drew you to the university over other choices?</p>
<p>Thanks, Madbean. Something happened when he walked on the USC campus. He was enchanted. We visited many other schools, and by the 3rd or 4th hour, he had seen enough. At USC we arrived at 8 AM, and after taking some tours, and sitting in on the admission session, he wanted to stay. So he talked himself into a class- and stayed to talk to the professor at the end, and to dinner, and on another “tour” with someone he met… at 10:00 at night I had to drag him away. Not quite sure how that happens, but he fell in love with the school. I realize that SCA production is a really hard admission… He has great grades and a good (but nowhere near perfect) SAT, and a stellar portfolio- so he has a chance. He and I both know this would be his dream school. So…I would appreciate any advice from Dream or Zelda or others that I can pass along to him as he works towards this goal.</p>
<p>It’s the same thing. At USC the official title of the major/program (what’s printed on your diploma) is “Writing for Screen and Television”. BFA refers to Bachelor of Fine Arts; Critical Studies and Production are BA degrees, screenwriting is a BFA. BFA basically means more units and in-depth “Artistic” work is required for the degree. (Other BFA program at USC included Fine Art and Acting.)</p>
<p>sg6768 - first of all, it’s definitely NOT too late! if you look up the application supplements on the SCA website it seems a little overwhelming but once you sit down and actually write them you’ll see that it’s not. you don’t have to spend months perfecting them. all it takes is a couple of hours and some inspiration. so my advice is GO FOR IT if that’s what you want to do.</p>
<p>you also mentioned that you like business. have you considered the business/cinematic arts program? it’s pretty cool actually.
[Business</a> Cinematic Arts (BCA) | Business Administration | USC Marshall School of Business](<a href=“Home - USC Marshall”>Home - USC Marshall)</p>
<p>anyway, if you do feel like you don’t have enough time to write those essays then you do have a few other options. once you get into USC you can try to transfer internally (basically apply as if you were a freshman, so you’re still competing against everyone else who is applying) into one of the film majors, but keep in mind that the writing for film and tv major is very structured and takes 4 years to complete regardless of how much other credit you have. but don’t feel like you have to major in screenwriting to learn about it. I’m a Critical Studies major and I’m taking production and screenwriting classes next semester. I think you can take a couple of those classes if you’re not a film major but I believe a lot of them are only open to majors/minors. there is a Cinematic Arts minor (my roommate is actually in that program and she loves it) that a lot of people do because you DON’T have to apply to the school to get in and it is open to anybody. you can also try the screenwriting minor but I would recommend the cinematic arts minor over that one because you have a lot more flexibility with it.</p>
<p>yeah, basically reiterated a lot of stuff Zelda said… their numbers are a little off though in terms of how many people get in. the latest statistic (quoted by the dean in my orientation session) is that their acceptance rate is 6% for the entire school. I also thought there was a large amount of CS students but when I went to a mandatory class of 2015/incoming transfers luncheon-type thing there were very few CS students there. the school never really discloses the exact numbers, so don’t pay attention to them.</p>
<p>maddenmd - true that Production applicants must submit a video now. the video was optional (there was a photo alternative) when I applied as a freshman but when I applied as a transfer they took away the photo option. I did not know USC was on the common app though! very interesting.</p>
<p>I’ve probably run into one or the other, I’ve met so many people here already!</p>
<p>like I mentioned to Zelda, those were the numbers I had always read on CC and elsewhere but when I was at the mandatory class of 2015/incoming transfer info thing the numbers seemed a little different… some interesting transfer statistics: there were 2 interactive media majors, 2-3 animation, 2-3 writing majors, 3-4 CS majors, and probably 20-30 production majors. there are 70 students in the official SCA fall transfer 2011 group (run by the SCA). seems like a lot, huh? I was a little surprised. but then again, these numbers include sophomores and juniors. but yeah, the majority of transfers were production students. and when I went to the mandatory thing it seemed like there were almost more production majors than CS majors this year. it was weird.</p>
<p>maddenmd - I’m actually going to PM you with some advice for your son… :)</p>
<p>Georgia Girl - it’s really hard for me to say. I applied and accepted their offer without even visiting, so a lot of it had to do with what I read on their website. for me the top things that drew me in where the film school and its way of embracing technological change, the diversity, and some academic programs that are unique to SC (for example the consumer behavior minor which I intend on declaring), the way that they encourage people to pursue double majors and minors that are completely different from their original major. oh, and their INSANELY GENEROUS FINANCIAL AID. <3</p>
<p>I have a whole bunch of questions! The biggest thing I can’t figure out is how junior and senior year works for someone who majors in linguistics. I’m not majoring in that, but I am looking into it. Anyways I looked on USC’s linguistics page and on the major requirements page it reads "THE LINGUISTICS MAJOR
Linguistics Major Requirements</p>
<p>Lower Division Requirement:
LING 210 Introduction to Linguistics</p>
<p>Upper Division Requirement:
LING 301 Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology
LING 302 Introduction to Syntax and Semantics</p>
<p>Four (4) Courses from the Following:
LING 380 Languages of the World
LING 401 Advanced Phonology
LING 402 Advanced Syntax
LING 403 Advanced Semantics
LING 405 Child Language Acquisition
LING 406 - Psycholinguistics
LING 407 Atypical Languages
LING 410 Second Language Acquisition
LING 415 - Phonetics
LING 466 - Word and Phrase Origins
LING 485 Field Methodology</p>
<p>An additional upper division course in linguistics or a related field
to be chosen in consultation with the department advisor." </p>
<p>Does this mean a person only needs 8 classes for their junior and senior years at USC? It can’t be… lol I don’t fully understand how it works once I transfer to a university. Like there are 60 units left after a person transfers before he or she can graduate so what else do they take besides classes for their major requirements? Thanks!</p>
<p>You also must consider that there are course requirements outside your major – there are 6 required GEs and 2 required writing courses. </p>
<p>You also must consider that most linguistics majors don’t just major in linguistics; even the department posts this on the USC catalogue site:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>It’s probably in your best interest, no matter what school you attend, to double major (or at least minor) if you’re planning on studying linguistics. It’s a course of study that doesn’t stand well on its own and benefits from additional specialization on the part of the student. Many academic subjects would complement this course of study well. (Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology, a foreign language, Anthropology, American Studies, Comparative Literature, East Asian Studies, International Relations, etc.)</p>
<p>DesireUSC: </p>
<p>If there is, such “tricks” pop up around here in March or so. It seems to be different every year.</p>
you don’t have to spend months perfecting them. all it takes is a couple of hours and some inspiration. so my advice is GO FOR IT if that’s what you want to do.</p>