May Not Be the Best But I Will Fight For USC Cinematic Arts (But I Still Need Your Help)

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
1

Hey, everyone!

I’m not even sure if this is in the right place, but I’m going to need some community help here. So here’s the deal:

I used to be a science major, tanked my GPA, and now I’m an English Language & Literature Major with a minor in Digital Arts & Experimental Media. Currently, I attend the University of Washington and I think I just now decided what I want to do with my life: I want to write for TV and Film. So, I did my research and, normally, I’d be fine with going to just about any school. But I don’t want to just any school, I made that mistake with my current school; I want to go somewhere that can give me the best education possible. I want to go somewhere where I’ll love the location, community, curriculum, and the resources. I’m not about to just sit through the education as if it isn’t anything. I will literally elbow people out of the way (not really because that’s rude) but you get what I mean.

So where do I want to go? I want to go to USC Cinematic Arts to get a MFA in Writing for Screen & Television. Yeah, I know its hard but I’m already putting together my portfolio and speculating my recommendation letters.

For my portfolio, I’m going to take a book that I’ve been writing and turn it into a script. For my minor, I’ve been creating digital sound and manipulating video, and I might put that in there too (do they accept that in the portfolio?). I have other creative works that I can put in there too, mostly scripts. For my recommendation letters, I meet writers for my current internship (I recently met David Simon) and I intend to get information of the trade from them and hopefully build a working relationship for future correspondence (it would be a dream to have one of them look at my drafts). Also, this summer I want to do editorial work for SIFF and hopefully create meaningful relationships there as well.

The only problem is, like I said, my previous major tanked my GPA which is a 2.9. This SUCKS because my major GPA is a 3.8, every time I look at this I get mad at myself but that’s besides the point.

I know that USC is really difficult to get into, and my backup plan is to take a year off to work at a creative agency. But, I don’t know, I really want to work my behind off to apply this upcoming year. I might be a little cocky, but I don’t think rejection is inherent so long as my supplemental materials are killer which I am dedicated to doing.

Also, side note, does anyone know if tattos are looked down upon? I’ve got three, but only one is visible as it’s on my wrist.

Thanks for the help, guys!

I hope I conveyed how much I really want this.

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Persistence is often rewarded in terms of getting into SCA at USC. It took Bryan Singer three times, for example. He first applied to USC/SCA… rejected by both. He applied again as an external transfer… was admitted to USC but denied again by SCA. He then applied a third time as an internal transfer into SCA and was admitted. So it can all work out. Of course, Steven Spielberg was rejected 3 times and never got in. Plenty also make it in the film inducstry without the advantage of having attended SCA. It clearly did not affect Spielberg or the Duffer brothers. A rejection via SCA is thus not the end of the road… but there are many who get in simply through demonstrated interest and the determination to try and try again.

Good luck

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Spend your time/effort on completing scripts/screenplays; move to L.A. after you get your undergrad degree and get a job as industry-adjacent as you can muster. Take screenwriting classes at UCLA Extension Writers Program to network with working screenwriters. Spending years in an MFA program is expensive, delays your entry into a career, and is not pre-professional–in other words: no guarantee of a job after graduation. You don’t need any degree to sell a script, but you do need contacts, perseverance, talent, and to be humble enough to learn from your mistakes. Best of luck.

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UCLA and Chapman also have great reputations for screenwriting. I don’t know if makes sense to put all your eggs into the USC basket.

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i’d look into chapman, too! i currently go there and i’m in dodge (the film school) and i absolutely love it. you’ll get hands on experience, and there are two majors there for you: screenwriting, and tv writing/production. you could also do a minor in a program at dodge. persistence does pay off, but i’d really recommend applying for Chapman as well. it’s a small school and trust me when i say you’ll get that individual attention. most of my film professors use first names and i text some of them when i have questions, and i’ve gotten letters of rec from them. also, if you had to take any GEs or other classes, those are small as well—i’ve never taken a class where the professor didn’t learn my name.

chapman is building an amazing reputation for its film program, and i definitely recommend it. it’s close to LA and OC also has lots of film and creative opportunities. if you have any questions feel free to hmu!

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Lots of people in Hollywood graduated from USC (and UCLA, and NYU, and Chapman…) but there are also plenty of people who graduated from Harvard, and a large number of people who never even finished high school or college undergrad. If you’re a Seattle guy/gal (i.e. tech adjacent) then you’re no doubt familiar with the idea that it matters what you can DO rather than merely where you went to school. It’s a nice credential to have, but see above about high school dropouts and Harvard grads working side by side, along with stories about the film school applications of Steven Spielberg, Michael Bay, etc.

I’d start by reading the book Film School Confidential. I know they put out a second edition and at a minimum it’s worth a look. But you are definitely on the right track in terms of working on improving your grades, networking, and figuring out your path. If you’re finishing undergrad, then you might just look into moving down to L.A. and trying to get an internship or two (be prepared for that internship to be unpaid, and that you’ll work a goober job to pay your bills) and then a job at a place like a talent agency or a studio, while also taking a UCLA Extension class or two. Do that and THEN apply to MFA programs - with letters of rec from people in the industry, along with maybe one from a professor you had from U-Dub - and that’s a good ticket in to any top program.

Good luck! I know people who went into the MFA programs from all sorts of undergrad institutions, ranging from Harvard and Oxford to Cal State Fullerton and the University of Nebraska-Kearney.