How tough is it to get into the film department?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Wesleyan University
1

I’m an admitted transfer student who is looking to double major in film & English. I know Wesleyan’s film program is amazing, but the way the film major was presented during my info session makes it sound fairly difficult to get into? Like is this something I should not count on being admitted to? I’m just worried because being able to major in film is one of the reasons I’m transferring, and I don’t want to transfer to Wesleyan only to not have a shot at getting into the major.

For context, I was a freshman this year at Colgate University, where I maintained at least A-'s in all my classes. I took an intro to film class and got an A+.

2

It will require a bit of patience, but, I think you can do it. The biggest obstacle will not be your grades (I’m assuming that combined with your work at Colgate, you’ll obtain at least a B average by the end your sophomore year at Wesleyan.) Here’s the problem: The department wants you to complete two gateway courses “by the middle of sophomore year.” As a sophomore transfer, you won’t have completed the second of the two, which is only offered in the spring semester. The department states that in that eventuality, a sophomore would have to temporarily declare a different major until they’ve completed the second gateway course, Film304 “History of World Cinema to the 1960s”. Here are the department guidelines:

http://www.wesleyan.edu/filmstudies/for-majors/applying.html

In addition, you should probably be aware of some of the internal politics of the department as it stands now. I would describe them as essentially problems associated with “success.” As any enterprise reaches a certain maturity, it begins to experience a surge in expectations. Marginalized groups will begin to see it as an engine for socio-economic change; imperfections will be exaggerated. This is normal for a department which essentially grew from nothing to international recognition over the space of forty years. I think the watchword here is “collegiality.” Do you think you have it? You sound like you do:

http://wesleyanargus.com/2017/04/20/students-and-faculty-of-the-college-of-film-and-moving-image-clash-over-departments-direction/