<p>Hey so my dream is to graduate from SCA and get a job at a film studio. The application gives you two choices for majors and then if you dont get into either you automatically get considered for regular admission. I am a strong student. I have a few clubs and am in honor society, have a 95 weighted GPA and got a 2330 on my SAT (800 R 800 M 730). I also have met the admissions counselor for my area (New York) twice and I feel that my chances for USC general admission are very good. Im not quite sure if I can get into the film program though as it is extremely competitive. I am definitely going to put down as my first choice film production, and I had assumed studies would be my second choice.</p>
<p>During my visit to USC i discovered the existence of the Business of Cinematic Arts joint program. You get a degree from Marshall in Business Administration and take certain film industry classes at SCA for the cinematic arts concentration. This sounds appealing and I would certainly put this as my third choice if I could. </p>
<p>I had figured that if I didnt get into SCA film production or studies I could go undecided and then transfer into BCA (business of cinematic arts). however, it turns out that they are very strict in the sense that BCA students MUST be admitted as freshman. So if i got rejected from film production and studies doing BCA would not be possible. </p>
<p>Although I would probably prefer critical studies over BCA, I would like to choose for my application whichever one I have a better shot at, as my chances for production I think are slim. What bothers me is that you dont actually apply to BCA, you apply to regular Marshall business administration and then you declare BCA. </p>
<p>I had originally assumed that I had a better shot at BCA then critical studies due to the low acceptance rate of SCA. However the more I thought about it I realized that to a business school like Marshall, I may not be a very desirable applicant. My high school has an excellent business program and I only took one course in business ownership and marketing freshman year. I also have not taken part in clubs like FBLA and DECA. So at this point I'm not sure where I have a better shot. </p>
<p>My question for anyone in SCA, Marshall, or even better BCA is do you think I could get into Marshall for BCA (even though you can't acknowledge that on the application, its just business administration). I'm not sure because like I said, I haven't really done much business-wise. But I'm not sure whether they care about that or not, or if its more academic and my SAT score will impress them.</p>
<p>I am the parent of a Junior (where is the time going?) BCA. Iâll share what I know of the program and some of his impressions.</p>
<p>USC in general is a very competitive admit, SCA for film production is particularly tough. I donât know that Marshall in and of itself is any harder to get into than the rest of âregularâ SC. But the BCA program is (I believe) limited to 50 freshman with many more than that applying after theyâve been admitted to Marshall. </p>
<p>My son was a âcompetitiveâ musician in high school, but he knew he wanted a business degree with exposure to the entertainment industry when he went to college. In that sense, the BCA program was and is perfect for him. Within the program you will take a number of classes in SCA with SCA students; heâs loved the film and tv overview classes as well as the exposure to production, writing and film editing. </p>
<p>From his perspective being a BCA is foremost being in Marshall. His internships have centered around finance at a major film studio, sponsorship and promotion at a production company and marketing with a public relations firm. If your true dream is to actually make movies and not âjustâ be part of the support team that facilitates their production, then Iâm not sure if BCA is for you. That said, he has said BCAs fall into three groups: Those that think it might be âcoolâ to work for a studio, they donât last all the way through the program. Those that want to be part of the business of entertainment, they get all that they want and more from the program, and those that are frustrated âartistic sideâ who couldnât get into SCA. They look to use BCA the same way you are, with varying degrees of success. Many of his friends are SCAs and they have helped each other get internships and opportunities. Itâs not hard to see the âTrojan Familyâ at work when you watch the networking heâs doing as a result of the program.</p>
<p>Statistically youâre competitive for SC and the program. I am sure there are plenty of BCAs who didnât study business in high school. Apply and see what happens. We all think itâs a spectacular program, but remember youâre in the Business School, youâre required to take Calculus, Accounting, Finance, Organizational Studies etc. If that doesnât appeal to you, you might find yourself in for four long years.</p>
<p>Iâm seeing competitive for USC but not necessarily for SCA or Marshallâs film program which has equally competitive students in the pool.</p>
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<li><p>The OP âFB1996â hasnât made a case for why Marshall or SCA would want to take him. The generic âget a job in the film industryâ doesnât tell us - or the schools - anything about this personâs motivation, passion, or independent pursuit of the stated goal.</p></li>
<li><p>Getting into SCA is heavily dependent on the supplemental application. The portfolio, the film sample, the script and/or the essays (depending on which field the OP chooses ultimately) are critical. Its VERY time consuming to complete them and has nothing to do with GPA and courses. Theyâre looking for what you did (in your personal life and at school) and why you did it, not stats.</p></li>
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<p>btw - if youâre going for production have you started on your film sample? Or any of the supplemental requirements? If youâre going for CS the application is heavy on personal essays and film analysis. I canât speak to Marshallâs requirements only that I heard the same thing - the combined business/film program is highly competitive and only takes a small number of students Freshman year.</p>
<p>SCA turns down 96% of the applicants who apply. All motivated to work in âthe film industry.â Most are probably extremely talented. So itâs hard to say who will be selected and who will not. </p>
<p>However, saying Critical Studies is âeasierâ to get into is a fallacy that a lot of students are buying into. The odds are still very low - even lower, I suspect, for students who focus on the stats USC (the University) looks for, and completely ignoring the student attributes the SCA programs look for. </p>
<p>Maybe the best place is to start is figuring out what fuels your passion and where that might most be developed. Do that rather than spend so much time figuring out how to âhedgeâ your bets. Ask yourself: WHY film (critical studies, business or other)? And WHY YOU? Thatâs the two questions that are going to weigh heavily in which students SCA selects. Stats will get you in the USC main campus door, but without a compelling reason, not the degree program which has a separate admissions process/ </p>
<p>Unfortunately, you canât approach this like a stastistical model. Just be the best you can and do the best you can, and pick the school the speaks most clearly to your passion. Then pick the one that comes second. And donât look back. You canât control the outcome. Itâs subjective. Just give it your best shot and put all the energy into creating a good supplement.</p>
<p>I know a few people in the cinematic arts - business program at the school, and the program seems to do a great job at getting people internships and connected to influential people in the industry. Full-time employment is another beast altogether, especially given the economic environment of the past few years. The people in that program seem fairly academically talented, but most of them have personalities that exude the characteristics that would gain them acceptance in a program like that: leadership, passion, creativity, and overall common sense. Your stats are great, but I think that many of the people in that program have shown an interest in business or film or both in some way (extracurricular, hobbies, etc.) before applying to the BCA program. Any program in the SCA requires a lot of schmoozing to get a position after graduation, regardless of the selectivity of the program. Keep that in mind when you apply to a program that requires artistry or at least some creativity - the network often matters as much or more than the artistâs actual skill.</p>
<p>As far as your question for transferring, you can still apply undecided and transfer to BCA, but you still have to apply. I applied as undecided, then heard of the BCA program so I applied to transfer to Marshall, then applied to the BCA program. They were very good about the whole thing and it was a smooth transition, no problems whatsoever. BCA, however, is very much the business side of film (and television, and games, and radio). If you want more of the creative aspect itâs probably not for you. But then again, itâs what you make of it. You can be a BCA major and take more âcreativeâ electives and have those internships and still graduate with a good prospective career. Hope that helped!</p>