Film Major Transfer student in need of some advice/help (USC/NYU/UCLA)

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hey guys, I am a transfer student from a California Community College. I am now in my Junior year in college with over 60 units. Here is my current situation and some info about me...</p>

<p>Major: Film/Production
GPA: 3.86
Applying this year to (In order from what I want most): USC (2 Sisters are Alum), UCLA, NYU, UCSD, UCI, UCSB
Prereqs: Finished for all schools listed above.
IGETC: Finished last year
TAG: TAG-UCSD, UCI, UCSB</p>

<p>I applied to several schools last year as a sophmore with my GPA at 3.8, decent letters of recs, and good portfolio for film. Schools I applied to were such as USC with Production (First choice) and Critical Studies (Second choice) and UCLA for Film, but sadly was rejected from both. This year I have worked hard into getting my portfolio better organized and ready to give it a shot one last time for the Fall 2011 school year. Although, this year I am applying to many more schools. I have TAG'd several UC schools and plan to apply to UCLA, Berkley, USC, and NYU this year as well.</p>

<p>My problem is that even though I am applying to all these schools, the only ones I care about are USC, UCLA, and NYU. I want to major in FILM PRODUCTION. The only schools I have listed are all either film studies or do not have a very good film production institute. I am not going to sit here and cry about not getting in last year because I understand it is competitive. I am here to try it one more time and just want to ask for your advice on what to do to better my chances. </p>

<p>In the past few months since my rejection I have gotten a very good internship at a production house for about 6 months now (will get a new letter of rec from here from a producer who is very big in the industry) and have made 2 new short films. I will be sending these films to schools that require a supplement. </p>

<p>I want to know what else does it take? Good letters of recs, good grades, solid essays, and decent video sample did not do it last time. Apparently I am missing something here.</p>

<p>Any tips will be greatly appreciated! What do film schools look for?! What should I do when I am applying? They do not want to hear in the application "Oh I love this movie", they want to hear the story you have to tell but I did all that last time. What should I do now?</p>

<p>ANYONE WHO GOT INTO USC, UCLA, or NYU FILM SCHOOL PLEASE CHIME IN AS WELL!!</p>

<p>Thank you,</p>

<p>Ed</p>

2

<p>I’m pretty sure UCLA only accepts Film majors in their junior year, so that would explain why you were rejected…</p>

<p>and no one can really tell you what film schools want to see because it’s so subjective. I got into Tisch, but USC rejected me (as a freshman), so even those two don’t look for the same things.</p>

3

<p>UCSD, UCI, and UCSB will all be theory. You should consider CSUN.</p>

4

<p>@Dream, it says nothing about needing to be a Junior for the undergraduate app.</p>

<p>[Admissions</a> | Undergraduate Film | UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television](<a href=“http://www.tft.ucla.edu/programs/undergraduate-film/admissions/]Admissions”>Admissions - UCLA School of TFTUCLA School of TFT)</p>

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<p>“Attention: The Bachelor of Arts in Film and Television is a two year, upper division program for students who have completed two years of general college studies.”</p>

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<p>Oh that’s what you mean well yes I had completed two years of general college studies. I AM CURRENTLY in my Junior year now.</p>

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<p>Well then you have a decent chance this year… yeah, when I was researching UCLA’s film school as a freshman applicant they said that you can’t declare a film major until you have junior standing. That’s the reason I didn’t want to go there. :x</p>

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<p>Are you at a film school now? If so which one?</p>

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<p>No, I’m not. Sorry! Declined NYU so that I could try to transfer to USC this year. :)</p>

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<p>Haha same for me man. You applying production or critical studies?</p>

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<p>Critical Studies. You? I’ll add you to our transfer list. :)</p>

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<p>Production for me! Feel free to add me</p>

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<p>Dream, I worked with film production companies in Chicago and assisted film students at Columbia. Granted that was 11 years ago but thought the quality of students and education Columbia provided was quite good. Since then all colleges have jacked up their tuition but curious to why you didn’t choose Columbia? </p>

<p>I also worked in film and TV in NYC and had tons of fun chillin with the NYU students. I wasn’t as impressed when I took a trip back and don’t think their program is as good as it use to be, at least not worth the $50 grand a year price tag and crappy aid packages they offer. </p>

<p>Clutch, really work on a quality reel, it’s basically a visual resume. You can’t half ass it if want to be taken seriously. You may have to cough up some money for quality actors, a script editor, an experienced DP, and good equipment. You don’t need to buy the Red one but it wouldn’t hurt investing into a Canon 5D mark iii and quality lenses. These days, one doesn’t need a full length feature but you should submit some quality shorts to festivals, have them exhibited and receive positive press. Also do you know what aspect of production you want to excel in yet?</p>

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<p>@Kmazza, I agree with everything you have said for me. I am not going cheap on this one, I have a script ready along with quality actors. Good equipment as well, the area of Production that I excel in is Editing. I of coarse want to learn how to do all the other positions at whatever school I get into. I have experience with directing as well since I do many short films in my spare time but have much to learn. </p>

<p>They want to see a good story from what I hear for a visual sample.</p>

15

<p>kmazza - Columbia College (assuming you meant the College in Chicago) is ridiculously expensive now, and the quality there has gone downhill a lot. :confused: I have friends who went there for a semester and chose to drop out and transfer to a community college because it was more academically challenging. One of my friends took a Calculus course at Columbia and said that his biggest assignment in the class was to write a short story about math. I guess some people would prefer to take classes that focus solely on film/music/whatever and not have to worry about fulfilling difficult gen eds, but I would like to focus on film while still being able to get a well-rounded education.</p>

<p>Another reason I didn’t want to go there was because it wasn’t selective at all, which led to a large proportion of the student body being affluent hipsters who want to break into the music industry. :P</p>

<p>And, yeah, NYU doesn’t seem worth it. 50 grand? Dang, my price tag last year went up to 60 grand! Ridiculous.</p>

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<p>So Dream where are you applying this year?</p>

<p>Applying to USC again?</p>

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<p>Have you try looking into Chapman University? They also have an excellent film school. I understand that it is also very hard to get in. I have a child at their film school now. It is worth looking into. Chapman is my child’s first choice school. We’ve made the right choice.</p>

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<p>@Ocelite, yes I have even gone on a tour of the film school there it is very nice but the campus life seems so dull. No offense, to your son and all. I am applying though still.</p>

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<p>clutchm3 - USC and UChicago are my top two choices this year (USC being number one ;)), and I’m considering a few other schools. How about you?</p>

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<p>Dream - USC, NYU, UCLA, and Chapman are my top film school choices, got a lot of back ups though like UC’s and whatnot</p>