<p>I am actually surprised to see that almost 20% of enrolled students enter with less than a 3.5. My thought is that some of those students might have come from very demanding high schools with AP heavy schedules and presented high standardized test scores; some might have been strongly recruited athletes whose GPA’s met NCAA standards but not necessarily USC’s usual standards (No offense, althletes, I know that many USC athletes enter with excellent academic credentials,); and some might have been very strong artistically, like Titanator’s brother. </p>
<p>As I understand it, in the talent-related majors (music performance and composition; film production; the BFA in drama; and animation to name a few), the student must be accepted both by the major and by the USC admissions office. If an applicant is, for example, the most promising 18 y.o. soprano Thornton has ever heard but her GPA is low, the major can supposedly run some interference for the soprano with USC admissions. But it sounds as if this can’t happen for a whole bunch of students in a particular major.</p>
<p>All that said, with film production, Wudman’s son would have to be top of a very large heap. There would appear to be single digit admissions with a gigantic applicant pool. </p>
<p>It is a concern that this student thinks that competitive swimming can realistically get him into an arts program at a university where his hs grades are currently in the bottom 1% of enrolled students overall. Think of that soprano. The fact that she had soloed with a major opera company in France or won a significant competition might be helpful – her prowess as a volley ball player probably would not.</p>
<p>This student’s issues are, first, like all other potential film students, putting together a background, portfolio,and artistic experiences that will get him into the film school. And second, making sure that the university that houses the film program that wants him accepts students with his GPA/scores. Even assuming that he gets past the first hurdle, with film schools that are housed in universities where his grades/scores put him in the bottom 5 or 6%, it’s a massive stretch. </p>
<p>But not all good film programs are housed in such universities. It would be wise to take a look at some lists of excellent film programs and check out the statistics of admitted freshmen at those universities. I don’t know what incoming stats look like at Chapman, Loyola Marymount, FSU, UNC School for the Arts, et al – and a sub 3.0 might still be an issue – but take a look. </p>
<p>Also, the film school does take transfers. In CA, there are community colleges with solid preparatory film programs such as Santa Monica, Mount SAC, and LACC. With California cc’s, USC has articulation agreements that will get a cc student into USC as a transfer if the student takes certain courses and maintains a certain GPA. But although that transfer program will get transfers into USC letters and science, it does not guarantee admission to a particular major, such as the film school.</p>
<p>I am not trying to insult Wudman’s kid by suggesting the he widen his search. But film school entrance is very, very competitive and not a sure thing for anyone. Even kids with stellar academic stats and fabulous backgrounds look into programs beyond USC and NYU as a routine thing. (And also, if they’re shooting for USC or NYU, many of them work their tails off in hs to make sure that their stats match what the university demands.)</p>
<p>Also, be aware that there are universities with thriving film majors where any interested student can declare film as his or her major in the same way any interested student could declare himself a history major. This could also be a good way to start, develop film-making chops, amp up the GPA, and then transfer to a more intense film program if desired.</p>