<p>Hello. I'm new around here so I'll try to get your opinion on my chances for college application. I am applying this fall for 2012-13 enrollment, and my choice of major is film production. I am white, Romanian, have studied for the first 2 years of highschool in one of the top highschools in the country, and currently studying abroad on a full scholarship in an international IB school in Italy. I will be a first-generation college student, I will need financial aid close to 100% because family income wouldn't allow me to study in the US. </p>
<p>My academics are pretty good, over 94% in the first two years and currently studying in the IB system, so I don't have yet official grades, but I'm reasonably expecting a 39 or 40 out of 45. I took the SATs in May, scored 1860 but ruined my math as I never did before in any exam, so I am going to retake them for at least 2000+. </p>
<p>My ECs are very varied: founding member of a fundraising programme in my city, student government representative, representative of my highschool in the local student council, editor for several magazines throughout highschool (an ecology magazine, highschool newspaper, online publication for highschool students, published articles in a philosophy magazine; currently editor for my current highschool magazine, which I collaborated to relaunch in March); photography classes for one year; member of a theater group, acted in two plays (one major role); volleyball player (three years); leader and founder of a filmmaking club (going to continue and improve next year). On top of that, finished a six-month leadership course, another course for IT and currently participating in the peer support program of my highschool. </p>
<p>Regarding the portfolio, I have a couple of short films shot for different purposes, more or less artistic. I am writing scripts since I was 15, first for theatre then for film. Submitted to some competitions but never won anything (most of the competitions were for 18+ age). I know awards are usually a big plus, but are they absolutely essential?</p>
<p>Having said all that, I am applying to USC, NYU Tisch, CalArts, Chapman, SFAI, SCAD and considering programs at Northwestern, Emerson or Boston University. </p>
<p>Additional questions: should I even mention all of those ECs in my application, or it won't matter since film schools look mostly at portfolio? should I mention participations to competitions, or only awards count?</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>