<p>Well I'm a high school senior that basically applied to reach schools. 5 universities in total 3 reaches 2 safeties. was rejected by all my reaches (USC, UCLA, and NYU) and got into my two safeties(Concordia and University of Bridgeport) My High school transcript is pretty good in my opinion, could be better, tons of leadership activities and APs. Anyway I am now left with 2 schools i wished i would have not applied to. They both really suck, i get what people mean now when they say apply to safeties you like. Anyway neither college offers a major in film production, which also is a let down. I wish I would have guessed how competitive college admissions were, or at least been counseled right on the matter.</p>
<p>Anyway I'm leaning towards Concordia because they are offering me a full scholarship, and I will walk away debt free, and can save up money for USC. Anyone have any tips on how to transfer, what classes to take, and how to make myself competitive again through Concordia. I wanted to stay all four years at one university, but I know Concordia will not challenge me enough and for that reason I wish to transfer in two years to USC film school.</p>
<p>What will make my application stand out for USC film? What should I be doing my 2 years before transferring? Should I contact USC about my intent to transfer, or just tell Concordia? I will also apply to other schools. I know now not to put all my eggs in one basket so to speak. Also will my grades and leadership activities in high school be completely useless, or can I still list them on my application? USC film is a 4 year program, will I have to make up for the two years I missed there? Will I have to graduate late?</p>
<p>Anyway thanks for reading and if you can be of any help, please don't hesitate to respond!</p>
<p>Many people are in your position - don't dispair.
I'm not an expert in this but my daughter did get into the film production at USC. I would check out the gen ed requirements at USC and work on those for next year. Try to get all A's. Maybe write your admissions advisor at USC and ask how you could make your application stronger. I would get to know one or two professors at your new school and let them see the quality of your work and your work commitment so that they can write great letters of reco. I would volunteer to be on the film crew of someone's film in your community and work hard (another great source for letter of reco). You might also get on Studentfilms.com</a> - Online Short Film Festival - Online Film School - Filmmaking Forums - Film School Advice - Digital Filmmaking Tutorials to learn more about film schools. There are several great ones out there - not just USC. The better known ones include Chapman, NYU, USC, FSU, UT. My daughter also really liked the Art Center in Pasadena. CalArts is another. When you apply to the film school, work hard on your essays. They are very important. </p>
<p>Many people skip film school altogether and start volunteering and then working on professional sets or even make their own films. There is no one school or one way to "make it" in the film industry.</p>
<p>Thank you so much, i already have an internship at Zoic studios in culver city so I'm hoping that will help, thanks for the great links, my essays were really good(many teachers told me so) but of course they might have been biased. I never really wanted to just hop on a set because that always seemed to risky, at a university i know i can always fall back on a degree.</p>
<p>I have heard that they like letters of reco from people working in the industry so that's great you are working at Zoic studios. I have heard that if you do a summer program at USC it might help. But you have to get into the university as well. We had no idea if my daughter would get in....I think it is kind of the luck of the draw. We had made plans to go to a community college for a year and then re-apply to USC and several other schools. Sounds like you are on the right track. Best of luck!</p>
<p>Go to Concordia. Fine tune your writing skills so you'll end up with great essays.</p>
<p>Make some independent shorts to enter in contests, and crew on some films. If you're in the LA area, then PAing on USC student films is probably a very nice idea. Try to keep your college GPA up too though (although once you're in, GPA doesn't matter nearly as much).</p>
<p>For general reference, I am a current student in Production and have lots of connections who are always looking for help on their student productions (including myself at times) so anyone interested should feel free to contact me.</p>
<p>As for getting behind, it will only delay you one semester from most of those entering as freshmen, and it won't delay graduation at all, since the last semester is fulfilling extra credits and electives like trying to direct a senior thesis.</p>
<p>If you don't get in as a transfer, complete your free education at Concordia while getting lots of experience in your spare time/summers, and shoot for grad school. Unless you truly hate it, in which case you should transfer to a less-competitive film school.</p>
<p>Just adding my 2 cents--I think you should contact the admissions person in the school of cinematic arts with your questions. She may have more valuable suggestions. I know they look at the variety and depth of a student's creative involvements, often seeking ones who show creativity in many areas outside of filmmaking. If you have these sorts of ECs already, keep them up during college, whether it's music, acting, writing, painting, or anything else that lets you express yourself. They also may have a specific set of transferable GE reqs that you could take to more easily transfer to USC. Good luck!! You seem like just the sort of person to make it in the film business--you are not letting this disappointment stop you. It is that sort of perseverance which will take you to the top someday.</p>
<p>My sister goes to Concordia, it's not so bad! There are plenty of cool people despite the size. It's small, personal, and the administration care A LOT about you... they'll talk to you about your classes, issues, any time you need. She knew someone that had an issue with a roommate and Concordia rectified the situation overnight. My sister had trouble adjusting her freshman year, and seriously, they were so nice and supportive. Free psychologist, woo! The dorms are awesome too... out of all the dorms I toured in my college endeavors, hers are by far the best and have the most space. You practically get your own room! Their debate team is good, if you like debate. Be ready for religion though, the force is strong there. And Welcome Week is cheesy, but it's cheesy at all schools... lots of ice breaker games. But with Yogurtland close by, how can anything be bad? Good luck, and seriously, you'll have a good time. Don't let your presuppositions ruin it for you!</p>