I go to a fairly prestigious arts magnet school in Cincinnati (home of MTV’s infamous Taking the Stage), where I major in creative writing. I plan on going to school for screenwriting, and Tisch is my obvious first choice because I would be cross-trained in writing for screen, stage and television. I’ve been doing fairly well artistically, but I’ve been majorly slacking academically. We’re talking mostly Bs, some As and consistent Cs in math. How badly is my GPA going to affect my chances of getting accepted, especially considering my background in the field I’m applying to?
Extracurriculars:
-newspaper staff (lead editor) (2 years)
-yearbook staff (lead editor) (2 years), Unified for Uganda club (2 years)
-Cincinnati-New Taipei Sister City Association student ambassador (exchange program)
-New Voices photojournalism classes with exhibitions at Xavier University, Recovery Hotel and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center (3 years)
Awards:
-YoungArts winner for Writing (Script) (2015)
-National Gold Medal from the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards (Dramatic Writing) (2015)
-Finalist in the Nashville Film Festival Screenwriting Competition (winners TBA) (2015)
-Joseph Beth Young Writer Award (2013)
I know people who have gotten into Tisch with similar GPAs, but you’re right on the edge. Also, the one guy I know who go into dramatic writing with a GPA around there wrote and directed a feature film in high school with a $40K budget. The film’s poster is on the 11th floor alongside posters for films by NYU Alumni like Scorsese.
What will really make you stand out is if you have something unique to say in your portfolio. Experience is great, but they feel they can teach you the technical aspects of writing a script or making a film. They can’t teach you to have something important to say.
Thank you! I was recently commissions to collaborate with the author of a book on the history of baseball to turn the manuscript into a play that would travel nationally. It won’t premiere until next April, but would it be worth mentioning to the school as a hook? Sort of like, “If you’re on the fence about me, don’t look away quite yet”?
I think you’re looking fantastic right now! You’ve clearly shown a long term commitment to and passion for this and, especially for Tisch, your GPA isn’t something you need to be too concerned about. (Math is my kryponite too and brought my ACT score down way lower than it should have been).
But like sittle said, they’re going to really want to see you and your unique perspective through your essays. I can’t stress that enough. Luckily for you it seems like you’re a great writer! Remember that NYU is looking for the next generation of ground breaking artists and trailblazers. That’s what a friend told me while I was writing my essays and I don’t think I would’ve gotten accepted (or received my $23,000 scholarship from Tisch) without going in with that mentality.
D got accepted with a 610 math SAT and a 25 Math ACT. But that was balanced by a 720 verbal and a 35 English ACT. Her gpa was a 90.1 weighted. That was in Steinhart for studio art, but very similar criteria was used–the same 50% portfolio/ 50% academics mix. I would try to get a letter of recommendation written by someone at the NYU summer program. I would also try to show a strength in any and all English/ writing classes you take and try to really nail your verbal/English test scores.
I got accepted into Dramatic Writing with a 3.4 GPA, man, and I got accepted as an incoming freshman this year.
And the thing is, I see that you received an award from Youngarts- which is considerably harder to get than an acceptance from Tisch’s Dramatic Writing. At this point, just as long as the quality of your writing doesn’t go down, consider yourself already accepted into the program. The program is not as selective as people think it is.
I can’t imagine how anyone on this thread can reasonably predict your chances of admission to Tisch, especially any particular school within Tisch. As a school of the arts your talent and artistic abilities, as evaluated by Tisch admissions officers and possibly faculty, carries considerable weight. NYU attempts to admit students that are passionate and who will thrive at NYU. Certainly GPA and SAT/ACT is relevant at Tisch but presumably less so than CAS and stern. Apply, and see what happens. Good luck!