<p>I know ED1 results are coming out next week, and I remember from last year how informative (and stressful) these forums could be. So any questions you got, I'd be happy to give my best answer!</p>
<p>How hard is it really to get into CAS? I mean the average SAT range online on most websites seems to be 1840-2160. But, everyone on here is making it seem so much more challenging. To the point where I’m doubting my 31/2200 will get me in. I really want to get in. I realize NYU is so much more than test scores and my EC’s/essays are on point. I just dont want my quantitative data bringing my chances for my dream school down.</p>
<p>^ OP said he’s a FILM major… I get that you’re desperate but Tisch admissions is completely different from any other school’s admissions.</p>
<p>Hello, I applied to the Film/TV program at Tisch. It’s been my dream school for way too many years.</p>
<p>How do you like the program? How hands on is it so far? Did you submit/will you to the First Run festival?</p>
<p>@ram0276 Unfortunately, I don’t know much about CAS admissions. Two of my suitemates are in CAS, though. They are both very well-rounded students; so test scores definitely aren’t everything. NYU takes a holistic approach when evaluating applications (I know that’s said a lot, but it’s so true), and I can see that when I look at the student body. Everyone here contributes more than their test scores. So don’t doubt yourself! I think it’s equally important to show who you are through your essays. There’s only so much you can tell about a person from his or her SAT score. If you got good grades, were involved in school, and were passionate in your essays, you have a decent shot. Good luck! :)</p>
<p>@Zimfan I like the program a lot! Some students don’t like how we start with still photography rather than video, but I think it makes you appreciate the still image. Freshman year is very much about exploration, in my opinion. Many have an idea of what they want to do and what kind of story they want to tell, but it’s cool to have the ability to push these ideas and find out things we never knew. I find inspiration in things and from people every day. It’s daunting to be around so many talented people, but it’s also so cool to be able to work with them. I would say it’s pretty hands-on. There are lectures and whatnot, but our studio classes allow us to create something small every couple of weeks. As sophomores, we take Sight & Sound studio and make about five projects per semester, I think. It becomes more and more hands-on as the years progress. Freshman year is all about learning the foundations of film. But I certainly find everything we learn important. I’m glad we don’t just jump right into making a feature film - filmmaking and its production are a process. One thing I don’t like about the program is that it’s very film focused. I want to go into television, but freshman year really only discusses film. However, we get to take more specialized courses starting next year, I think, so I’m excited for that! I won’t be submitting to the First Run Festival this year; I think it’s only for intermediate or advanced students. Good luck with your application! :)</p>
<p>Haha, I’m going to keep asking questions if you don’t mind, because I’m incredibly interested! </p>
<p>Which dorm are you living in and how do like it?
How much free time does a film/tv student have and would it be possible to work PT?
Shouldn’t you be studying for finals instead of helping anxious HS seniors? :P</p>
<p>Thanks for taking the time to answer questions regarding Tish film school.
What made you decide on NYU?
What other film schools did you consider?
Did you have a lot of film experience prior to coming to NYU?
Did you participate in any pre college film programs?</p>
<p>@Zimfan Ask away! I’m avoiding finals, haha. I unfortunately don’t live in a freshman dorm. One of the freshman dorms (Brittany) is getting renovated this year, so I live in an upperclassman dorm. I wish I lived in an all-freshmen dorm because it’s harder to socialize and there seem to be less activities in my dorm. My top choice was Third North. Were you interested in any particular dorm?</p>
<p>I would say you’ll have time for a part-time job. The work is very manageable. I think the studio classes require the most work (Frame & Sequence or Sound Image). I often find myself having more free time than my suitemates in CAS. But it’s definitely based on how much work you want to put in. Some people will spend days and days doing preproduction, shooting, and editing their studio projects. Some will do it all in one day. I think the best part is that we all actually enjoy our major/classes, so the work is rarely painful to do. Most of the time, I actually like doing my class assignments! As long as you work efficiently and don’t procrastinate as much as I do, you will definitely have lots of time to work, hang out, and explore NYC!</p>
<p>Way to make me feel even more guilty. 
Film students actually don’t have finals during finals week. I wrapped up all my film classes this week! I just have one final for my gen ed next week, which is probably my most difficult class this semester and I just would rather forget it exists right now.</p>
<p>@muf123 No problem!</p>
<p>I decided on NYU because it’s an excellent film school, and I thought living in NYC would certainly ground my work. Also, I think it’s a common conception that USC is more Hollywood while NYU is more… artistic? I can’t really think of the right word just now. I liked that idea. I felt like I could grow so much here. Well actually USC was my first choice, but I didn’t get in. Funny enough, NYU wasn’t my dream school. I wanted a school with an actual college campus. I mainly chose it for its film program. And living in NYC is pretty awesome.</p>
<p>I considered USC, Northwestern, Emerson, Loyola Marymount, Syracuse, and Chapman.</p>
<p>I actually had almost no film experience… it’s kind of embarrassing. But don’t discredit me or anything. I only submitted writing for my Tisch portfolio, as I want to become a film/TV writer. And certainly I’m here to learn about other things like camera, lights, and editing - which I have. In high school, I did some small videos for clubs and whatnot, but mostly concentrated on writing. That just goes to show that you should play to your strengths. I doubt I’d impress anyone with my iMovie skills, so I showed my passion for and creativity in film and TV through my writing.</p>
<p>I am in a committee for a student film festival and am in a club that connects Stern and Tisch. I also am on the newspaper staff. I’m currently looking for a part-time job for next semester, hopefully one that is entertainment related.</p>
<p>Thanks tveeaddict :)</p>
<p>I transferred into Tisch, so I can’t answer questions about being a freshman, but I can give you some insight on being an upperclassman.</p>
<p>As far as free time, it really depends on what you’re doing. In Sight & Sound film, you have to direct 5 shorts and crew on 15 other, but you have two full days a week allotted to you specifically for shooting.</p>
<p>After sophomore year, you don’t have to take any more production classes, meaning it’s really up to you how much free time you have. Some people crew on intermediate and advanced productions every weekend, while others focus more on editing or post-sound. Some people direct both intermediate and advanced projects, some just intermediate, and some neither.</p>
<p>Also, one thing that is really worth noting is the horrible amount of paper work and bureaucracy you have to go through for intermediate and advanced shoots. A kid died on a film shoot a few years ago, so now the insurance company has pretty much gone insane. You need permits for everything, you aren’t allowed to use certain outside gear, and pretty much have to get everything you do cleared by the insurance. In many cases, students have to deceive the school in order to make their films.</p>
<p>@muf123 No problem. :)</p>
<p>@sittle Thanks for the upperclassman insight!</p>
<p>Hey, I applied early decision to tisch and am now torturing myself for the next 48 hours by reading college confidential.</p>
<p>I have a couple of questions: How do you like your professors so far? How big are your classes? And, is there anything you wish you would have known or done prior to entering NYU? Also, in your opinion, does it matter how expansive your knowledge of film/ film history is before attending? </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>@lauradiv27 Ahhh! Good luck. 
I was a notorious College Confidential browser last year. In a weird way, it helps. But it also makes you crazy.</p>
<p>Anyway, I love my professors. In lectures, it can be hard to get to know them one-on-one, but all of them always welcome students to stop by during office hours. I really like that. They genuinely want to talk to you and like getting to know their students. Your studio class (Frame & Sequence or Sound Image) only has 12 students, so your professor gets to know you and your work very well in that class. I actually haven’t heard of any bad film professors, now that I think about it. Everyone has preferences, of course, and if you really care about your professors (like me) then you’ll check ratemyprofessors.com before creating your schedule. But they’re all very knowledgeable in their own ways and all very nice and caring, from what I can tell from my first semester.</p>
<p>Like I said, my studio class is 12 people. That’s my smallest class. My Writing the Essay is about 15 people. I have two huge lectures with half the film freshman class (about 125 people?), then a recitation for one of my lecture classes with about… 30-40? That covers the film classes. Gen eds vary. My gen ed lecture has 150ish people. My recitation for my gen ed has 25ish.</p>
<p>I don’t really wish there was anything I had known or done before coming to NYU. The purpose of coming here is to learn everything, which I like. However, definitely try to be outgoing and be open to meeting people. There are lots of awesome minds here to collaborate with, and I feel like I was a little slow to adjusting to that idea at the beginning of the semester. But don’t try to cram in knowledge of cameras and editing and whatnot before you come. They don’t jump right into difficult stuff, so don’t worry. I hardly had any editing experience before this semester.</p>
<p>Language of Film (part of the freshman Visual semester) is dedicated to film history and watching a classic film every week. So don’t worry about that! I took a film class in high school, so I already knew some film history. It wouldn’t hurt to watch films before coming to school, just to be well-versed. But I didn’t watch many classic films before coming, so don’t worry. Like I keep saying, you’re coming to learn! What’s great, though, is that my professors will constantly reference films and I’ll just add them to my movies list. I have a whole great list of films to tackle during winter break! :)</p>
<p>@tveeaddict, just wondering, do you know how many Film students Tish takes each year?
Thanks</p>
<p>@muf123 I don’t know how many are accepted (NYU doesn’t really break down the numbers that often), but I know that there are around 250 in the current film freshman class.</p>
<p>I have grades that wouldn’t make me a great candidate, for, say CAS, or Stern, but I would apply to Tisch. I have been a student at an intensive film camp for the past two summers, and this next one I will be interning there. I have made several short films that I consider very good, and know several notable NYU film grad students who would be willing to write recommendations. Also, I know a LOT of people who will be in the film program at NYU next year (all from the same film summer camp), and they have asked me if I would be able to help them out on their crews, as I live near New York.</p>
<p>Is this experience enough to make up for what I lack in grades? (3.8 gpa weighted, 30 on ACT. but keep in mind i’m a junior, grades are improving still, and I am retaking the ACT again)?</p>
<p>Thanks so much.</p>
<p>I just had a quick question and Im sorry its not as much about tisch but financial aid in general. First, on my financial aid statement it says there are loan options but they aren’t clickable. Are those mine or no? How do I get them? </p>
<p>Also I got a hefty $26,000 scholarship to tisch a year. I was completely surprised by this. My grades aren’t even close to te averages so I wouldn’t get any merit based scholarships. Is this scholarship based on need or my talent in my tisch dramatic writing portfolio? I would like to relieve it was my talent but I am just curious. </p>
<p>But mostly I want to know about those loans that aren’t clickable. Are they mine? My parents don’t seem to think so. Just want to clear it up because with those loans more than all of my need would be met. </p>
<p>I am still surprised I got in. My gpa is a 3.24 and sat is 1830. Did tisch really like me that much?</p>
<p>@fairverona Experience and recommendations are definitely important components of the Tisch portfolio - but keep in mind that those two are not the only things considered. I don’t work in the admissions office or anything, but from what I can tell, NYU admits well-rounded students. But specifically for Tisch, they look at both your academics and your portfolio. I think the two are weighted pretty equally. Lots of students in my class have experience and probably had great recommendations, but your recommender can only get you so far. Also, referring to experience, the dean of film said something during an orientation event that really stuck with me. A kid asked how the admitting process worked and if prior experience really mattered. The dean said that it was more about potential and the passion you showed through your portfolio than a list of everything you’ve done. The dean also said that sometimes you can’t teach anything else to the kids who have done it all.</p>
<p>That was not to discourage you by any means. If anything, experience will help you build an amazing portfolio. Definitely use these camps to your advantage and grow as a filmmaker there. Also, ask the grad students and prospective film students questions and have them review and better your projects. I’m just going to say that experience and recommendations will not tip the admissions officers in your favor. It just depends on if they like your portfolio or not. I had recommendations from teachers that aren’t in the film industry at all and I hardly had any experience. But like I said, a lot of people in my class do have those things, so all I can say is that those factors help, but not enough to guarantee anything.</p>
<p>A 30 is very good for the ACT! You’re in the range for NYU. Definitely don’t slack the rest of your junior year and your senior year. Keep up the grades and continue working on your portfolio, and I would say you’re a good candidate!</p>
<p>@Idreamofscreen Yes those are yours. From what I can remember and from what I can tell from my own financial aid statement, there’s a button to “Accept/Decline Awards.” That’s all I can figure out… Definitely give the financial aid office a call if you’re still having trouble.</p>
<p>I’m not sure, but I think that scholarship is based off need. I don’t think Tisch offers talent-based scholarships through their financial aid packages. All merit and talent scholarships are through separate applications, I believe. Usually each award has a name and you can usually tell why you’re getting it based off the name. I know there’s a general Tisch scholarship where we each get a couple thousand just for being in Tisch - a lady in the Tisch financial aid office told me this. But I know that’s not what you’re referring to, haha.</p>
<p>I don’t know why there would be loans on there that aren’t yours. I’m pretty sure they are all yours. Like I said, call the financial aid office and they’ll be able to provide you with a better answer than me. 
Financial aid is a big deal, and I don’t want to lead you astray!</p>
<p>You and me both. I was completely surprised that I was admitted. My grades are decent, but not top notch. And I’m not an experienced filmmaker. But I really enjoy writing and absolutely love television, and I think Tisch saw that. Clearly Tisch saw something in you, too. Don’t spend too much time questioning it - Tisch factors in academics and creativity, so you’re more than your GPA and test scores! I’m sure your portfolio was amazing. If you got into Tisch, don’t doubt yourself. Congratulations!</p>