Chance me please. Interested in film production/major studies.

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi I am a senior student now. I have applied to NYU Abu Dhabi as ED, but didn’t even get a chance for the candidate weekend. Since my maximum expected family contribution is about $30,000, I really need a shot for the scholarships, merit or need based whatever. I am interested in film production/major studies, but are really into other humanities major such as economics, English literature, business, philosophy. That’s why I am thinking of applying to top LACs. Here’s my profile.

SAT I (breakdown): not going to submit
ACT (breakdown): Composite 35, English 33, Math 36, Reading 35, Science 36
SAT II: World History 640
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.89
Weighted GPA:
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): not going to submit
AP (place score in parenthesis): Calculus BC (5), Calculus AB (5), Statistics (4), Micro/ Macro economics (5 for both)
IB (place score in parenthesis): school does not offer
Senior Year Course Load: English Literature (Honors), Essay Writing (Honors), Global Business and Marketing (Honors), Advanced Calculus BC (Honors), Cultural Anthropology (Honors), Spanish Language and Culture (Honors), Korean History (Honors), PE

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
Film/ Marketing production:
-HAFSNL film production (2 years, Founder)
-Ulrimbit film production (1 year)
-Marathon Marketing Production (3 years, Founder)
-Louie (1 year, Founder)

International Relations:
-Students Amending the World/ NYIF (Forum for the youth, 3 years)
-HYMUN, UNEP delegate of Brazil (1 year)

Journalism/ Publication:
-EU refugee policies and Brexit (Wrtier, Published in school newspaper)
-Repercussions of Syrian Refugee

Volunteer/Community service:
-Edu Eng English Mentoring (2 years)

Athletics/Clubs:
-Badminton (3 years)

My activities are quite lacking compared to my GPA and ACT scores. Also, they are quite diverse, in a good way, but it might look quite unfocused in one major.

Essays: 9/10, talk about using film as a tool for social change. Form of the essay is quite unique, i’d say.

Additional Information: Wrote an essay about an uncertainty of my life. Made an excuse about my unfocused activities by saying that my dreams have constantly been changed. Talked about my philosophy of my interest in social issues and eagerness to change those social inequalities.

Awards: Academic Excellence Awards for Statistics (11th year)

Recommendation Letters:
never had an opportunity to read them.

Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major: Film Production/Studies
State (if domestic applicant):
Country (if international applicant): South Korea
School Type: Private, Considered as top school in my country
Ethnicity: Korean
Gender: Male
Income Bracket:
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):

Reflection

Strengths:
Weaknesses:

Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected:
-Accepted to:
-Waitlisted:
-Rejected: NYU Abu Dhabi
Flag

My school lists (not quite complete):

Emerson
Wesleyan University
Vanderbilt
Amherst
Northwestern
Washington University in St. Louis
Hamilton
CMC
Vassar
Middlebury
Carleton
Emory
Oberlin
Occidental
Loyola Marymount University
Boston

Let me know if I will have a shot for the top LACs. Thanks!

2

Pitzer and Pomona share the 5C Media Studies major with CMC. Most of the production facilities are located at Pitzer, which actually might be a better fit for your social justice interests.

3

I concur that Pitzer would appear to be a better choice for you than CMC.

I think you will be offered some great choices in the spring. Of your nine currently listed LACs, you would be likely to get into at least (or about) four of them.

For some analysis of department strength with respect to the social science economics, you can view this link:

https://ideas.repec.org/top/top.uslacecon.html

Good luck.

4

otisp, thanks for your reply. I am fully aware of 5C Media Studies major in California, and I would really love to be part of the system. But what I am concerned, along with my FA counselor, is that those 5C schools aren’t that generous for international students in terms of financial aid. And I really need that money to study overseas.

5

merc81. Well, considering that CMC is one of the most selective schools in accepting international students (I heard that they only offer 3 international students a chance to get in), Pitzer would be a better fit. But I don’t think I will have an opportunity to get financial aid. So, Pitzer wouldn’t count as my top priority school.

My top priority schools are Wesleyan and Vassar, both of them have spectacular film studies major. Do you think I’ll have a good shot for those schools with enough financial aid?

6

Figuring you intended Boston University, not Boston College?

I’d expect you to get into one (or maybe both) of Vassar or Wes with good financial support.

If Pitzer wouldn’t work financially for you, then Pomona would be the comparable (in terms of your interests) academic option. CMC, btw, matriculates over 50 international students annually (and therefore accepts well over 50 of course).

You should consider eliminating highly selective schools that would not be particularly strong for your academic/artistic interests. Maybe Vanderbilt, Amherst, WUStL, CMC, Middlebury, Carleton and Emory would fall into this category. However, if you like any of these schools based upon other particular or general criteria, you should by all means continue your interest in them.

However, you have asked here primarily for your chances. I think they will be fine at lots of colleges. (So choose each one carefully.)