Lost and Disillusioned (NYU)

Colleges & Universities A-Z New York University
1

<p>I'm not sure about a few things right now but I thought I might as well express some of the things I am feeling right now and I thought this forum might be interested in hearing them. So anyway, here you go, read if you want:</p>

<p>I have known that I wanted to be a filmmaker ever since I was in middle school. I'm not exactly sure what about it that captured my imagination. I like the power, I like the process, I like the influence. I have made movies and independently honed my skills all throughout my high school career. When it came around the time to start researching colleges I knew exactly what I wanted: the most prestigious and incredible film program I could find. Many people pointed me to NYU and after visiting the campus and NYC it seemed like the perfect place for me.</p>

<p>I would not say that I am a typical student because of this. I am not only passionate about film but other subjects as well and because of all my extracurricular activities I am willing to take a hit when it comes to my GPA. In my opinion the time spent out of school seems to be so much more worthwhile and original than getting say an A in calculus. I have created my own path more than I have followed one. Instead of becoming the editor of the magazine at my school and distributing around its campus I started my own magazine and distributed it around my community and sent it for friends to distribute in other cities. Instead of joining the debate team I have lobbied numerous organizations (federal and private) on teenage prohibition and submitted editorial pieces to The New York Times and other newspapers. Instead of taking film classes and submitting to student festivals I have independently produced my own movies and created a web-site to showcase them all. My work has screened at underground (and over-ground) festivals in California and has aired on PBS. My website is linked from many places around the web (including a movie from Sony Pictures Classics) and to this day has received over 75,000 hits. A few months ago I was featured, among a few others, in an LA Weekly feature about the next generation of artists. </p>

<p>This morning I opened a rejection letter from NYU, I wasn't even waitlisted. I honestly don't understand this. For the past few years I have been in contact with many students from the program who all said my reel was great and would get me in. I have talked with an NYU professor who said that she really enjoyed my reel as well. The only thing that I can see that may have caused this was my A-B grades (3.4 GPA-unweighted) and my SAT scores which no matter how hard I studied I performed poorly on because I am a slow test taker (580, 560 and I included a note about this in my application). I can see how this might have been a problem for them, but if they really cared about creating the most talented and creative class possible, to a degree, this would be the first thing they overlook.</p>

<p>I may have not been so frustrated with all of this if I had not recently seen the reels of many students who were accepted to Tisch for film. At first, I couldn't believe it. They either were produced so poorly that it was embarrassing to watch them or the content was so overwhelming clich</p>

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<p>Hey man I know what you mean...all my college plans went to crap after I wasn't accepted to NYU. Everything I imagined and had planned kinda vanished. I wish there was some way to still get in, because not only is that my dream school, it has the best music business program out there. And it worries me, that if I don't get into that program, my career aspirations are not gonna be what I thought they would be. What really bothers me about NYU is how many people applied just to see if they would get in, without seriously even considering attending (aka the 35,000 applicants), and what they didn't realize is that they would be reducing the chances for the rest of us, who were really passionate, to get in. Granted, I realized I may have not had the best ACT/SAT scores, or the highest GPA, but I tried my best to get into NYU, and have been receiving information from them since the 10th grade. I visited the campus, went there to audition, (though I was broke) and constantly called NYU til everyone there knew who I was already (hahaha). It just bothers me that so many people would do that, as if its a contest to see if they could get accepted. I don't agree with alot of it, but there are however, MANY deserving people who got into their dream school and ARE attending. I wish them all the best of luck, because they really worked hard, and I just have to hope to get in as a transfer. The only thing that kinda bums me out is the fact that I won't be able to experience things like "welcome week" and establish my friendships and relationships with my professors, early on, putting me at a slight disadvantage, in case that I am able to attend. Ah well, such is the system. But I know that the undergrad office did their best, and I commend them for that.</p>

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<p>As a prospective NYU film major for next year, I find it extremely disheartening that someone with your passion, experience, and obvious talent, got rejected from Tisch School of the Arts.</p>

<p>If it's any consolation, and I don't think it is, I really loved your "Who Could Win a Rabbit" piece.</p>

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<p>awww sry to hear that man. it would've been REALLY cool to be able to know you in real life. But hey, most oscar winning directors didn't go to NYU. Pursue your passion, and you'll succeed no matter what university or degree you get.</p>

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<p>I really feel for you. I know I'm just a mom, but I know a few things. First of all, think of this as paying your dues. That means something else wonderful will happen for you. When a door seems to close a window truely will open. I know this to be true based on experience. Disappointment will make you stronger and better and you will make it. It just may be in a new and different way. You are obviously highly creative. NYU or any other organization cannot tell you if you have the artistic talent to achieve your dreams. Just keep dreaming, working, and believing. Use that creative mind of yours and when you "make it", you can have the satisfaction of telling NYU .."See what you missed?" My D has been rejected from some things and accepted in others. The arts are subjective and NYU seems to play numbers games. She did get in Tisch for dance and we still don't know if that is the best road for her to travel. All I do know is that you artists make a wonderful difference for the rest of us... I know this sounds very cliche, but cliches are based on experiences. You will be OK. Keep your head up and keep putting one foot in front of the other and before you know it, you will be where you want to be.</p>

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<p>Didn't USC reject Spielberg 3X?</p>

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<p>Yeah UCLA also rejected him too.. cough.</p>

<p>I'm sorry but they do look at your SATs and your GPAs... I know it must have been hard to manage them with your awesome ECs, but just like your ECs, it does count.... Sorry... Don't worry, I'm probably getting that letter myself soon...</p>

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<p>Its all good man. Just take a deep breath, and say to yourself, "**** em". You obviously have the talent; no matter where you go, you will succeed. If you really want to go to NYU, just transfer its no big deal. Just don't give up on your dream because of some rejection letter.</p>

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<p>I, too, am disillusioned. Despite what they say, NYU admissions is a numbers game. They really don't look past the sats as far as I see. i am an alum (who would not be admitted these days!) and I have seen MANY instances of talented students denied and lesser lights with good scores admitted. This is not the trend in most college admissions at this time, but NYU definitely weighs SATs more than other schools of its calibre...It is totally their loss. Believe me, they need students like you more than you need them.</p>

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<p>well i also thought that was true...and to an extent that is true...nyu does play the numbers game, but i got admitted yet my scores were really not that impressive. however i personally feel my "soft factors"-- EC's and essays were unique and impressive. so you can't say they dont look past scores...</p>

<p>but to the OP, i do understand what you mean.</p>

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<p>babar - I would say NYU isnt that much of a numbers game. Their average SAT is still lower than many elite universities, and they have admitted talented students into Tisch with low SAT's before. I actually think the problem is NYU is more of a money game. They would prefer to admit kids with high EFC's so they don't have to attempt to meet their need. Its a way to keep money filtering into NYU. This is just my guess.</p>

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<p>Hey Cody.</p>

<p>Don't think your alone in your disapointment.</p>

<p>I've dreamed of being an actress all my life, and needless to say, I've been told I'm pretty good. It's not a pipe dream for me, its reality. There is really nothing else I can do with my life... in my mind, at least. Its such a deep rooted passion for me that everything else pales in comparison.</p>

<p>I applied to a bunch of liberal arts colleges for saftey, but mostly acting programs. NYU, Carnegie Mellon, Umich, CCM, BU, Syracuse, Ithaca, and Julliard. I've already gotten rejections from every acting school but NYU, and I've pretty much given up hope. I know rejections come out later for NYU, and I live in Queens, so the prognosis doesn't look good.</p>

<p>We'll find our way, Cody. It may not be now.. but we will.</p>

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<p>not to burst your bubble about your "i got rejected because of my stats" theory, but if you had a low sat score but they still really wanted you, they would have put you in gsp (i know everyone says tisch kids dont get put in gsp, but they fact is, they can be, and this year i know somebody did: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=163731&page=5%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=163731&page=5&lt;/a> post #68) and i had virtually no ecs (and none relating to film) or volunteer work, and my gpa was the same as yours (3.4 unweighted) and i got in to film/tv with a s@ts invite. and i dont think my video was amazing or anything. and i dont have a high efc either.</p>

<p>okay after i typed all that up, i wanted to look at your videos before i posted it. so i went to your site and watched your demo reel. i dont know if this is what you sent in, but if it is, i think i know why you were rejected now. i really love the music you used, and your camera angles are impressive (i will be the first to tell you that my camera angles need a whole lot of work), but NYU has been very specific that what they are looking for is storytelling ability. the first video on your demo reel is just a bunch of kids running around strangely, the second is just some people in a tshirt, the third does tell a short story about the water fight, but then the fourth is just a water bottle that has different color lights shining through it. i mean, these all look cool, but im just telling you that what nyu was looking for was storytelling, and im afraid thats something your demo reel lacked. now, if you submitted something else entirely, then i dont know, and ignore everything i said.</p>

<p>also, out of curiosity, can i ask where you saw some other videos by accepted tisch students? i would love to look at some.</p>

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<p>Amen brotha!</p>

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<p>"also, out of curiosity, can i ask where you saw some other videos by accepted tisch students? i would love to look at some." <--- this sounds interesting to me too.</p>

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<p>The great thing about this forum is the way one's mind can be opened by others' sharing. I am going to retract my earlier statement since it's clear that the NYC admissions folks, despite how many applications they receive and the complications involved when there are portfolios, auditions or other criteria to sort through, have often been able to see past stats to look at the whole applicant. There will always be individual cases that seem unfair compared to others, but when scrapnel pointed out the reasons he felt your film might not have had the qualities the school was looking for, I think he made sense. So I am once again a proud alum. Whew. I guess I can answer all those fund-raising calls again now...</p>

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<p>:) haha :) good thing!</p>

<p>(scrapnel is a girl, by the way)</p>

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<p>hello everyone,</p>

<p>Thanks for all the replies, I really appreciate the support and kind words.</p>

<p>I saw all my Tisch reels through friends who were accepted into the program and friends, friends, ect. </p>

<p>As for Scrapnel, I would still really disagree about NYU valuing talent over test scores. The examples you pointed out (yourself and post #68) did not really prove your point. #68 posted "ACT: 28 SAT IIs: 650 biom / 640 math ic / 720 us hist. * GPA: 3.55 uw" not to mention she is a girl! A huge rarity in the film world and a big plus for admissions (and she only got into GSP).</p>

<p>You failed to mention, when you were comparing my stats to yours that you also did exceptionally well on the SATs (2140!!) and are a national merit scholar. This proves my point exactly. I tried to visit your website but I couldn't find your reel, maybe you could post it?</p>

<p>However, I think I know what you are saying about my reel. I really haven't made a short film since I was a sophomore, I got much more into music videos and more professional commercial work. While I understand that NYU is looking for great storytellers they are also looking for great producers, DPs, editors, ect. They should know that without production and cinematography talent a film will never come together and if it does, it will look like crap. Maybe it is just me but not taking the time to bring the right people to a project and not spending time to make sure that it at-least looks remotely decent is unprofessional and shows that a director has little respect for their ideas. </p>

<p>I realize that film is (thankfully) subjective so if anyone wants to take a look at my reel they can. (sorry I didn't post the link before) I would love to hear what you think. (and if anyone else wants to post reels to that would be cool)</p>

<p><a href="http://www.codyb.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.codyb.com&lt;/a>
<a href="http://codyb.com/2006demoreel.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://codyb.com/2006demoreel.htm&lt;/a> (demo reel)
<a href="http://codyb.com/eatingin.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://codyb.com/eatingin.htm&lt;/a> (recent 60 second short for a film contest)</p>

<p>As far as I have seen NYU-Tisch is a numbers game and I just wish they would have been more honest about that before I spent so much time on their application. It doesn't matter though, there is a reason they have had such trouble finding undergraduate alumni develop into amazing directors. Most of their famous directors (spike lee, ang lee) come from their grad school and spike actually came because they didn't require GRE's and he just wanted to use their equipment. </p>

<p>But oh well, I was accepted into Chapman's Film Production Program, which I have been really leaning towards. They just built a huge and new 30 million dollar film studio on their campus and competition for their program has gotten crazy, the acceptance rate for the film production program this year was less then 10%. They are attracting all sorts of amazing professors and students alike. It's progressive in a very good way and in a few years I could see it really dominating USC's and NYU's undergraduate film programs. You can check it out here: <a href="http://ftv.chapman.edu/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://ftv.chapman.edu/&lt;/a> .</p>

<p>But anyways, thanks everyone, I really appreciate it. </p>

<p>-cody</p>

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<p>I am soooo sorry Cody. I saw some of your reels and pics and you're amazing. Don't worry, you'll get far in life. I wish you the best.
Just remember that Adcoms are really weird about their decisions. They really do make the weirdest of decisions. My friend got into Cornell with like a 1600 and 92 GPA, while my other friend was waitlisted at Cornell with a 2250 and a 96 GPA. So you can figure that one out...
Best of luck!
P.S: If it makes you feel any better, I was rejected at my top choice also. So yea, that's life.</p>

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<p>your stuff is really neat. you're extremely talented</p>