Hey so I was wondering if you guys estimate my chances of getting into some of my favorite colleges. I posted one of these a while back but a lot has changed sense than
I’m absolutely obsessed with film and definitely want to major in some sort of film production. So my top schools are NYU, LMU, Emerson, BC, UT Austin, and Chapman. I will also be applying to CSUN, and im open to suggestions for others! I just finished 11th grade and hopefully I can boost my gpa up a little bit first semester of my senior year.
Public High School
GPA UW : 3.48 (I dont know if this is weighted or unweighted, this is all my school will say till the school year)
ACT : 30
AP: 3 AP’s so far, I believe im taking 2-3 more senior year
EC’s -
1 year of JV Lacrosse
1 year of Varsity Lacrosse
1 year of my schools Cinema Conservatory
4 summers at film camp
1 summer at a youth leadership event (only 12 people in the whole thing)
2 years Breakfast club
1 week film production intensive at Vancouver film school
3 weeks interning at Gulf Islands Film and Television School
Natural High 2014 video contest winner
Winner of a local 48 hour film festival
2 “seasons” Island Wildlife Natural Care Centre Volunteer
1 “season” Interning at Island Wildlife Natural Care Centre
3 years working on schools local television show
Here is the art supplement that I will be submitting (unless I make something better in time) If you want to take a look:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax7xhnkCXPA
Thanks!
Nobody can chance you for BFA Film programs like NYU/Tisch or USC. Nobody. Ignore any anonymous, unaccountable stranger on the Internet who pretends that he or she can. Tisch Film School has a lower acceptance rate than Harvard or Stanford (under 1% some years), and it’s based primarily on your portfolio submission. Your academic stats are adequate for Tisch. How is your portfolio? UT Austin is inordinately difficult for out-of-state applicants now. Your GPA is not competitive, unless they have a separate application process for film applicants. You need to carefully research admission requirements for any dedicated Film school. Now. FSU is also good, but selective. I’ve heard good things about UNC-Wilmington. Does BC have a separate, talent-based, admission process for Film majors? If it’s a BA program, with standard academic admissions, it’s a reach for your stats. They’re on the low side for BC. I don’t know enough to comment on LMU and Chapman,but I know that Emerson is also a bit of a reach (although not out of the question). Columbia College Chicago is a great safety for potential filmmakers: they have superb facilities and internship opportunities, with open freshman admissions.
I don’t know enough about film school acceptances to be particularly helpful to you. I agree with @woogzmama that getting into places like NYU/Tisch and USC is very difficult, and extremely hard to predict.
I think that you have picked some excellent programs in places like LMU, Emerson and Chapman. I second the Columbia College suggestion. I also think that you have solid film production credentials, with a good balance of experience and some awards, showing sustained and serious interest and some accomplishment. I have no idea how that stacks up in this area, and I certainly don’t want to be the “anonymous, unaccountable person on the Iinternet” who believes that he can chance you; but I was impressed with your short. I have a 10 year old who has done some film production and study programs, including work with older students who are applying to film programs and mentorship by college and grad students who went through the process, and I think that your work is of good quality. It shows some nice technical things (different POV, compelling use of visual concepts, use of light and shadowing and movement effects, and good overall scene and shot composition) that show off that you are not a beginner.
You have some decent non-film ECs (lacrosse and nature care/environmental interests, and a youth leadership experience). I would focus on bringing up your GPA if possible and solidifying your test scores. Look into the specific admissions requirements for your programs of interest. I don’t know if some of these programs require more than 1 submission, so that is something to consider as well.
One of the best youth film programs I know of is Ronald Chase’s SF Arts & Film program in San Francisco. Here’s a shorts by by one of their participants that was screened extensively at film festivals:
http://www.filmworkshopsf.org/comedy/CookieWars.html
Here’s another one, which I believe won the author a Watkins Young Filmmaker award at the Nashville Film Festival:
http://www.filmworkshopsf.org/drama/Overflow.html
These may be useful as a guide to how your work stacks up, and to give you some ideas on other ways to show off your skills and enhance your portfolio.
I’ve very interested to learn more about this through your experience. Good luck!
Thanks! I’m fairly proud of my portfolio which I put in my original post, so give that a click if you’d like. Oops! I didn’t realize i said BC I meant to Say BU sorry about that. From what i’ve read I personally think i’d get into Emerson however I don’t like the school. Thanks for the advice! I’ll definitely look into Columbia college
@chernuffsky, I’m confused. Your OP had a link to a 5 minute short, which you said was your art submission. How does that equate to your “portfolio which I put in my original post”? I already commented on the short which was linked, which should have been clear from reading my response.
It wasnt a reply to you post 
thanks tho!