So I’m 90% done with my college applications including supplementals but I want some insight on if I should apply to more safety schools?
Here are the schools I applied to originally:
UCLA
UC BERKELY
UCSD
UCSC
UC DAVIS
SFSU (Accepted)
I am a POSSE Finalist for Boston University so with POSSE Access I had a couple more schools reach out to me with fee waivers:
Syracuse University
Fordham University
Hamilton College
Bard College
Middlebury College
(I applied for any film/ media arts/ film studies major)
Background: I go to a public arts school so with my block schedule half my day consists of academics and the other half is my art which is Media (film, photography, set design, art direction, etc). I have a lot of experience with film I’d say but I’m worried about my academics.
GPA: 3.7 (weighted)
AP: 7 (so far no good scores)
10th grade - AP World History
11th grade - AP Language & Comp, AP US - History
12th grade - AP Government, AP - Psychology, AP Human Geo, AP Stats
SAT: 1320 (took 2 times)
My school doesn’t offer much AP courses, I took as much as I can/ what was offered to me. I am definitely not a “model” student, my background is mostly film.
Extracurriculars:
Film screened at SFMOMA in a school district wide festival
Film screened at best of departments film screening twice a year except freshman year
Historian of Dragonboat team
Job at a Production Company
Taught a camera workshop to 9th graders
Photographed events for moms Bhuddist group
Attended a film program for minority youth
Attended a newer film program where I made short commercials
Intern at a nonprofit editing grant videos
Made 2 independent films twice a year
Worked on 2 soundstage productions where I directed/built set/wrote script
My application is film heavy for sure, I know I applied to competitive colleges but I applied for the arts which I believe is different from me applying for a STEM major. So far, UC Berkely requested I submit letters of rec which may be a good or bad thing…
What do you guys think? I really want to go to UCB or UCLA!
As a film school applicant, your stats are honestly not bad at all. If you were looking to study an academic major, then you might be more at risk, but I think your film work is solid. I don’t know if UCB or UCLA will accept you, they’re tough even for students with better academics, but you’ll definitely get into some of the other schools you mentioned. Best wishes to you!
If the Posse schools are reaching out to you, it probably means that they are seriously considering you. I do not know how good those schools are in film, though Middlebury is a top-notch LAC, while Bard and Hamilton are excellent LACs as well, if the idea of a liberal arts college is attractive for you.
BTW, SFSU is an excellent film school, as is Syracuse, and I’ve found many places that rank them higher in film studies than UCB. So you’ve already been accepted to an excellent school, and you’ve been contacted by another. Congrats and best wishes!
I think that the application deadlines for RD for Vassar, USC’s Cinematic Arts and Music programs, and for Wesleyan University in Connecticut have passed. The application deadline for Loyola Marymount (which IS one of the top film programs in the USA) is Jan 15th, so the OP needs to get that application out there.
USC was one of my top choices however I backed out because I don’t think I’m good enough to receive any scholarship and I rather spend my time doing supplementals for more “realistic” schools! LMU as well was on my list however they’re a Jesuit College and their essay topics stressed me out. I haven’t heard about Vassar or Wesleyan and I wish I applied now! I also had some friends attend summer programs at CalArts and didn’t enjoy the campus at all and even during school tours had students tell them the school isn’t worth it at its price.
I did end up applying to Middlebury! I tried to apply to all the schools that reached out to me through POSSE except for Colby and St. Olaf because they don’t offer any film majors.
I am interested in Film Production! A lot of schools list their major as Film Studies but their curriculum includes the whole package; writing, directing, cinematography, sound, etc!