MFA in Film Production - chances in California?

Graduate School
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<p>Hello, I am new here and in the throes of my graduate school search and preparation for application. I have a few questions and I hope that I may find help here.</p>

<p>While I believe I have a near-4.0 GPA in my major (English with a film studies minor), my undergraduate institution believes in "well-roundedness" and the required "core" classes have brought me down. Is it possible (and if so, I probably should) to indicate a major/field GPA instead of my cumulative GPA? That being said, my cumulative is currently 3.49.</p>

<p>I am interested in some major film production MFA programs in Los Angeles, including USC and UCLA. While I have heard graduate admissions is generally less harsh, I am worried about not being admitted to these prestigious programs. My small film portfolio only exists on Youtube, and I am a bit afraid that the very short films I created entirely myself save for additional actors may not be the best quality. I am also worried about my transcript, but if my suspicions are correct, graduate schools are more interested in grades in my field vs. the gen-eds.</p>

<p>If it helps, I founded a very successful Harry Potter club on campus and have presided over it for the past two years (I am entering my third and final year here). I am also in the university Honors program and am writing a science fiction novel for my senior capstone project. I have Asperger's syndrome and an interesting background regarding mental health and disability.</p>

<p>I guess my main question is, if I apply sooner than later, how are my chances? If they are bad, what can I do?</p>

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<p>I am interested in knowing that as well. Thank you for posting! I graduated a (LONG) time ago from a UC school and with honors. Is that necessarily good enough if my creative submisssions are solid? Which is harder UCLA or USC?</p>

3

<p>Very few people post on film school here.</p>

<p>No one gives chances for grad school because it is so subjective. For MFA, it would be at the high end of the subjective spectrum. I’m willing to bet that a good gpa is worth having but not a major factor. That your high gpa is in English can only help, though.</p>

<p>It seems more important to pick a school based on fit than geography with most any grad school. This blog entry reinforces that idea for film school:
[Applying</a> for Your MFA: Tips, Tricks and General Straight Talk « Kat Asharya | Notes on Writing, Life and Other Enchantments](<a href=“Unavailable”>Applying for Your MFA: Tips, Tricks and General Straight Talk « Kat Asharya | Notes on Writing, Life and Other Enchantments)</p>