How to get into Film School without actually having Films for portfolio?

Hey everyone, I’m new on here and a Junior. I’ve narrowed my list down for colleges and I know that I really really want to make films. To make this story short, I really want to get into Film at NYU, USC, or UCLA, but I haven’t really made any good films since all I’ve focused on was creating an animation portfolio (and that’s probably all I will focus on in Summer/Fall this year since my dream school is an animation school.) My plan was to be like Brad Bird and start off with animation, and eventually delve into both animated films and live-action films with actors. However, the animation school I want to apply to is EXTREMELY competitive, so I wanted to have regular Film backups (like the ones mentioned above) but I have a problem.

I don’t have anything to put into my portfolio. I have the grades, lots of extracurricular activities, and I’m good at writing essays, but I completely lack the portfolio part. What can I do to change this and can I submit animated films/storyboards for my film/TV portfolio? The only film that I know I will be creating in school will be after admission deadlines in April/May for my Senior Exhibition so I’m in a pickle. Any advice please?

Have you looked at the portfolio submission requirements for any of the schools you’re interested in?

See the attached link for NYU. Under Creative Submission Requirements, Part 5, you have a CHOICE of submitting a film/video; a portfolio of photos, drawings, painting; a sequence of still images that tell a story OR even a creative writing sample of a story. See the link for complete details. You don’t have to submit a film.

http://filmtv.tisch.nyu.edu/object/ugfilmportfolio.html

USC also allows for a non-film option for the Visual Sample. You can submit photos. Here’s the link.
http://cinema.usc.edu/production/firstyearprocedures.cfm

The film schools can teach you the technical side of how to make a film. What they are looking for is your creative ability to tell a story.

They are also looking for kids who know how to research, read and comply with submission instructions.