<p>I am a junior right now, and have decided that I want to pursue an education in filmmaking. The school I want to attend the most right now is Dodge at Chapman. I've taken 2 years of video tech at my school and will be doing broadcasting senior year, but what do they want on an application? I heard 8-12% of applicants get accepted (as opposed to 50% into their regular college) What steps do I need to be taking to ensure acceptance to Dodge other than academic statistics?</p>
<p>Maverick</p>
<p>Have you read digmedia’s very sound advice above entitled “Advice for Future Film Production Majors?” That’s a good place to start.</p>
<p>Be advised that, unlike other application deadlines, Chapman’s ap for film pro majors is due VERY EARLY in the fall. That’s the first thing to keep in mind. And your Dodge ap will require some advance planning. (But it sounds like you are already doing that!) For Chapman’s film production major, applicants are required to submit a 2 minute autobiographical video essay. I am guessing that next year’s application may have the same requirement. There are very strict parameters here; you yourself are not allowed to be in the video; not even a picture of you. Your voice IS allowed. (I am talking about last year, so do check and make sure requirements are the same before you make your 2 minute video.) It has to reflect something about yourself. And it should tell a visually interesting STORY. This last point is crucial. Some applicants create films that are basically a dull laundry list of their hobbies and interests. Bo-ring! To get ideas, just look up things like “Chapman video essay accepted” and you will find some of these short films students have posted to the internet. Think about it over the summer and try to come up with something innovative for your video essay.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>^^Good advice. DS also heeded advice that suggested: “go deep, not broad” for the Dodge video and written essays. As S-fan said, tell a story. Be yourself. Be interesting to your audience. It’s a good idea to start working on the written essay early (DS started in August). The Dodge deadline is <em>early</em> and once school starts up the application season is crazy busy. Edit your essay…and let it sit. Come back to it. Polish it. Keep strictly to the word limit (and time limit for the video essay). </p>
<p>Visit the campus if you can and connect to someone at Dodge and in the Admissions office, at least via email. It sounds like you are planning far ahead, Maverick, and that’s very smart!</p>
<p>I don’t know if this is still one of their questions, but 5 years ago they asked, in so many words, for an essay about your favorite film and why you think it works. So you might think through all the feature films you’ve ever seen (plus those you’ll see between now and the time you write) for one you’d like to write about (one page). As you watch films, think about breaking it out into elements - screenplay, acting, sound, score, cinematography, editing - to explain how they were pulled together to make the film work to tell the story.</p>
<p>And yes, with those slim percentages for admission, you’d also be wise to identify several other colleges with film programs as your safeties! It’s great to have a first choice but don’t let Chapman be your only choice.</p>
<p>2 minute film is big, essay is important, so many applicants that you need to grab attention somehow. In hind sight I think D’s video was too subtle (she was wait listed). Also agree that you need to make contact with admissions, your area contact and also someone in Dodge if possible. Admission percentages are very competitive. Top film schools all have pretty low admission rates, so apply to others, don’t put all your hope in Dodge.</p>
<p>As an FYI, we never made contact with admissions or visited Chapman before D sent in her application. We are pretty far out of state, so going there for a campus visit was tough. I do think that, all other things being equal, (talent, test scores, GPA), being OOS is an advantage because it makes you a more exotic applicant. Obviously, most of the applicants are going to be from CA.</p>