UCLA TFT Film School Supplement Life Challenge essay

If applying to the School of TFT for film, applicants need to write a Life Challenge essay for the supplemental application. It is supposed to be two pages max and on the worksheet with information about the supplemental application, at the end of the description of this essay it says in bold: Please Note: This question is identical to optional Question #5 on the UC Application.

My question is: should applicants to TFT for film not do question 5 of the PIQs because they will be writing about this topic on the supplemental application? Do different people review the main UCLA application with the 4 PIQs than review the film school supplemental application so that it will not seem repetitive if the same challenge is written about in both places? Anyone have any idea? @Gumbymom

Thanks.

I would say if they are letting you know that the TFT supplemental essay is the same as #5 PIQ that UCLA would prefer that you use another prompt for the 4 required PIQ’s on the UC application.

I cannot answer if both the required 4 PIQ’s and the supplemental essay will be reviewed by the same individuals or the TFT essay will be reviewed by the department. Sorry I cannot be more help.

Thanks @Gumbymom - I appreciate your input.

For any other applicants looking at this, wanted to update. I called the School of TFT today and the woman who answered told me that the reason they mention that the Life Challenge essay required on the supplement is exactly the same as PIQ #5 is that they DO want the student to realize they could use the same topic both places so they don’t have to do an ‘extra’ essay essentially. I mentioned that one is 350 words limit while the other is “2 pages max” and she said yes, so the student could expand upon the topic in the version for the supplement since there is more room, if they like.

@CAtransplant: Thank you for the update.