<p>I have a few questions about USC's film school:</p>
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<li><p>I have read from people on this forum that the film school doesn't care much about grades and is more focused on your creative materials. But don't you also have to apply to the University and they care a lot about grades?</p></li>
<li><p>Do freshmen(first-year) applicants receive priority consideration for the Film/TV Production program? I noticed on SCA's webpage on Film/TV Prod. under application procedures for current USC students and transfer students it says "Admission is granted on a space-available basis." It does not say this for freshmen applicants. What does space-available basis mean?</p></li>
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<p>My daughter will be a freshman in the screenwriting program and it is absolutely false that grades don’t matter. You have to be approved by the university admissions committee first before your application is even considered by SCA. My understanding of “space available” is that if there are 30 spots in the program offered to freshman and only 28 accept, the remaining two become available for transfer students. It’s very competitive but you’ll never know unless you try.</p>
<p>I emailed SCA admissions about the space-available basis thing. They said space available depends on how many students are graduating, how many are dropping out of the major and how many are getting kicked out for bad grades. They said the space available changes each year. </p>
<p>I would think that they put a limit on how many freshmen and transfer students they accept. For example if they have 50 spots open they will accept a limit of 30 freshmen and 20 internal(USC students) and external transfer students.</p>
<p>Does anyone know how many film/TV production transfer students are accepted each year. I know the numbers fluctuate but can someone give me a general idea? I think I read on here that there were 25 people on this forum who were accepted as transfer students to the Production program. That seems like a lot more than I was thinking would be accepted.</p>
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<li>The SCA admissions committee reviews your portfolio and when they get the files down to the ones they are most interested in, they look at things like grades, scores, etc. From past experience, they know the range of stats that will be admissible to USC academically, and will eliminate the very gifted film students who will not pass that hurdle. No one posting on CC knows what that range of permissible might be, alas.<br></li>
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<p>At the same time SCA is reviewing their candidates, USC admissions is also reading files. Some students will be deemed admissible on the basis of their high academic, EC, overall stats, and if SCA passes on them, they will be offered admission to their 2nd choice major or undeclared. For certain borderline cases–if SCA is really determined to have them at SCA, they can meet with general admissions and try to make a case for the student they want. SCA will only do this for a very few, however, and most often that student is admitted with extra academic support–including a program they attend the summer before freshman year. This is the same as any highly talent-based program/major at USC–including superior athletes, musicians, actors, etc. The level of talent and proven ability/awards must be extremely high plus the candidate will often have other desired attributes in diversity, national/international honors, etc. The point is: a student will have a hard time succeeding in the academic classes required at USC if they are not prepared, motivated, and show a history of doing well in balancing school work and creative projects.</p>
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<li><p>In the past, SCA enrolls a freshman class of around 75 Crit Studies, 50 Production, 26 Screenwriting, 26 animation and 15 Interactive Media majors. They admit a number slightly higher to take into account yield–which is very high in SCA. </p></li>
<li><p>Over the course of each year, a small number of SCA students change majors or leave USC. Those are the spots that open up for transfer students. These may be filled by internal (USC students in other majors) or external transfers. Perhaps 2-3 transfers in IMD and animation soph and junior years, perhaps 5-10 in Production and Critical Studies. Of course SCA knows the number they have to admit as transfers to matriculate the correct number of students to fill those spots. These are guesses based on anecdotal evidence over the past few years. Others may have more realistic numbers to offer.</p></li>
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<p>madbean: So there’s not many spots open for the internal and external transfers! Freshmen(first-year) applicants receive the priority consideration. </p>
<p>How does this idea sound:
I’m about to be a freshmen at a community college outside of California this upcoming school year and what I’m thinking about doing is trying to transfer to USC as an undeclared major and start my sophomore year at USC. If I’m accepted I’ll start USC in Fall 2013 and the credits I’ll be taking that semester will put me up to 48 total credits so I can apply by the September 1st deadline for internal transfers to Film/TV Prod. and if I’m not accepted then I can reapply to the major the next semester by February 1st. This will give me higher chances of getting into the major compared to trying to get in as an external junior transfer. I’d have two chances to get in.</p>
<p>It sounds like a more expensive option to switch earlier, but if you can handle the expense and have really good grades in cc, it could give you more options. Best of luck.</p>
<p>I should also mention that SCA may open up some additional slots for junior transfers. I really do not know this but I’m speculating because there were more than 50 Production majors at SCA’s graduation ceremony this year. Hmmm… :)</p>
<p>I’m not too worried about the cost. I have heard dozens of people say that USC provides very generous financial aid and they will meet 100% of your need most of it with money that does not need to be paid back. I’m a high need student so I think I’ll get a great deal on the cost.</p>
<p>^^^ Please remember that USC will meet %100 of the USC calculated need which can be vastly different than what you think your need is. Take some time and read through the financial aid thread at the top of this page to understand what that means so you will be prepared. Run the financial aid calculator and get an estimate of what your aid may look like, but know that people reported varying degrees of problems with this estimator this past spring. USC also usually includes loans in its packages as well.</p>
<p>I agree with camomof3. While USC will meet 100% of what THEY determine is your need, they will take into consideration both parents’ incomes, savings, assets (homes), businesses and more. When they calculate the amount they feel your family should pay (this may not be anything near what your parents are prepared or able to pay), they will meet that “need” with a combination of loans and grants, and often work-study. Just make sure you understand all these aspects before you make assumptions about FinAid and you’ll be set.</p>
<p>I’ve done a bunch of research on USC and there financial aid. I know there are two different types of need:</p>
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<li>CSS Profile: Used to figure out “University Need” </li>
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<p>I’ve read that the “university need” is based on your parents home equity. I live in Michigan and Michigan was one of the states that was hit horribly by the financial crisis and our housing prices lowered a lot! My parents are divorced and each own there own house. Both of them owe a lot more on there house than what it is currently worth. My parents are not rich and barely have any money to put towards my college tuition. I also have a younger brother who goes to college. My dad recently owned two houses. He was living in one and couldn’t sell the other one so he rented it out to people and the house ended up going into foreclosure. </p>
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<li>FASFA: Used to figure out EFC for federal aid.</li>
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<p>I’ll be over 24 meaning I’m an independent student so I do not include my parents info on the FASFA. I make a low income and my EFC is very low.</p>
<p>For the CSS Profile does independent or dependent mean anything? Do I give my parents info no matter how old I am?</p>