<p>"usc is a great school, but if it's not film, there's no reason i would want to go there."
I insulted the school mad bean? Why don't you just read that line again.</p>
<p>Nester, bmom, FauxNom, madbean, Columbia: You guys are part of the greatest group of parents on cc. No question. You (and the several others who help out here every day - even Groovy gets all nice and helps out every now and then) have helped me so many times. And you are always so nice! Even though the OP started this thread off with that pretentious "I have substantially higher…” post, you all gave him the benefit of the doubt and gave him tons of useful information and encouragement. He has insulted USC and you are all still being patient with him.</p>
<p>He may no longer be interested in USC film, but you have inspired me to apply to a minor in Cinema-Television!!! (I just submitted it!!!) So you lost Tony… but gained tocollege.</p>
<p>You guys are the greatest</p>
<p>Thank you! You have also been extraordinarily helpful on this forum, and I really hope you get accepted to the SCA. Just think of going to class in that gorgeous new building!</p>
<p>I think I can extrapolate on Tony's situation...</p>
<p>When I applied to USC, I had no intention on attending if I did not get into screenwriting. I did, and here I am. Of course, this isn't because I didn't like USC, but because of distance. Like Tony, I'm from the East Coast and going across country to an extremely expensive university to get the same education I could get at NYU or BU seemed a little silly. </p>
<p>It's not an insult to the university to say I wouldn't be here if I wasn't a screenwriting BFA, but a credit to the program I'm in. It was so amazing and such an opportunity that I took a huge risk and left everything I've ever known. Yes, USC is wonderful. I love the university, both within SCA and without, it's a perfect fit for me, but uprooting myself wasn't, well, worth it without the reassurance I have from being in my major.</p>
<p>However, I will say that it pays to be polite in every post. This is a large forum and there are bound to be many different opinions on the same subjects, but we don't need to jump down each other's throats.</p>
<p>We're reading the same line, but seeing different meanings. You have ticked off several USC cc-posters here by the implication that you find no value at USC at all except for one highly selective program. If you had instead said you hoped to study international relations at perhaps Pomona or Stanford, but also had a dream of studying screenwriting at USC, (which I think may be what you meant?) it wouldn't have struck the same nerve.</p>
<p>You are right that we see different meanings. I think madbean knows USC well enough to support the fact that USC has a lot to offer beyond any particular major/school within the university. For example, USC offers school spirit, alumni network, a huge variety of clubs,
study abroad, etc.</p>
<p>I have read with interest tonysnowm1291's thread. I do not find the theory of following the possibilities of different colleges with different majors extraordinary. Is there not a large percentage of college freshmen that change their majors not just once but several times. It could well be that tonysnowm1291's portfolio's acceptance at the film school would be a major confidence booster that he/she does have enough talent to succeed in that major and that career path, while a rejection of the portfolio's work may indicate to him/her that another area of interest should be pursued.</p>
<p>Interesting point. However, at USC, you have to apply to individual professional schools.
Just because someone is accepted to the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences (general acceptance), is no guarantee that you will be able to transfer to one of the professional schools. It is true that some freshmen change their majors but there is no guarantee that you will be able to change your major to a specific, highly competitive program (such as the Cinema school). I sense it would be fairly easy to change some majors (such as switching from History to Political Science or English), but transferring from a Social Sciences/Humanities major to Cinema, Annenberg or Viterbi Engineering is more involved and not guaranteed.</p>
<p>mdcissp, actually I meant, if student A has talents in English-enjoys script writing, talents in Math-enjoys programming, and an interest in politics-enjoys history. Then would it not be understandable/even prudent if he applies to different universities, some which may have an excellent film/script major and additional universities that have strong programs for programming or politics? Some students have and excell at a variety of interests. </p>
<p>Thanks for responding.</p>
<p>Interesting thread. Good luck tonysnowm1291</p>
<p>rileyobo - I agree that a student might have good reasons for pursuing a particular college for only one major, but that college isn't necessarily a top pick if the student doesn't succeed in gaining admission to that major. I think the direction the thread has taken reflects differing views about tony's level of tact, humility and politeness. </p>
<p>This forum is one where many posters are willing respond to an inquiry that might be interpreted as a bit arrogant or overly vague or the like. When people do take the time to give helpful and/or thoughtful responses, good manners dictate that the OP shows some degree of gratitude. Most people do, but that didn't happen here. Nary a thank you in the thread, until tocollege's post.</p>
<p>Tact and humility were also notably absent from Tony's posts. When he said (in effect) that he would just go to Stanford or Pomona instead because there was nothing else worthwhile at SC, I had to cringe and then laugh at his cockiness about being admitted to those highly selective colleges. He may say people are questioning his motives (a common retort on CC that reminds me of a sandbox quarrel), but I think most people would read his post as an indication that he thinks he's overqualified for SC, and could get in anywhere. That's what raises hackles. </p>
<p>But sure, one can't reasonably quarrel with a person's interest in a college being tied to a specific program. So tony, you're absolutely welcome here, but try to understand, and curb the arrogant tone. If you do, everyone will love you and you might get some good advice.</p>
<p>Fauxnom, Yes, I see your point. Tact and humility are important qualities. Dare I say 'learned" qualities for some/maybe for all. Not being accepted at a few colleges/universities may start his learning curve in this area. And realizing at college that you are now only 1 of many bright talented people may also be an eye-opener. Not all learning at college takes place in the classroom:)
rileyobo</p>
<p>Wow, learning the fact that you're not only parents, but that you also spent this much time attempting psychoanalyze my forum posts is extremely impressive.</p>
<p>Let me add that if my son hadn't been accepted to the film school, he would probably not have gone to USC. In saying so, I am not knocking USC, but considering that he was accepted to UVA (in-state), FSU's film school, and UNC-Chapel Hill we would have been hard pressed to spend the money to sent him to LA. We had the pre-paid tuition plan for Virginia colleges and I once guesstimated that the cost of a semester and a half at USC equaled eight semesters cost at UVA.</p>
<p>I laughed a little bit when I read "i'll go to pomona or stanford ". Our high school's valedictorian with 4.0uw GPA and 2400 SAT were rejected from Stanford last year.</p>
<p>Anyone know when undergraduates should hear a decision? I applied for Production major, and had a surprise phone interview from the SCA earlier this week, and I'm just wondering if I should expect an acceptance/rejection earlier or later in March. I assume earlier, because it would make sense to give us time to hear back from the SCA and still have time to decide before the decision deadline, but I am basing that on absolutely nothing. Thanks for any help</p>
<p>Hey rower,
My son went through this a year ago. Got a call (as you did), chatted with a prof for 10 or 15 minutes.
He heard nothing for a couple of weeks ... and then got accepted March 21 (we remember because it was Good Friday).
He never found out what the phone interview was all about, but I suspect it's to confirm you're a normal kid who wrote his/her own essays and is truly psyched about USC.
That is, it's meant to confirm their good thoughts about you, not to put you on the spot to convince them you belong there.
Of course, who really knows? I'm curious what your numbers were, and any special qualifications...? Feel free to ignore my prying.</p>
<p>As for my numbers, I go to a school which considers all its classes honors, but they don't weight, so with that, my GPA is a 3.67. I got a 32 on the ACT, felt I had good essays. I also had recs from an experienced actor, and a CEO of a small production company I interned with. And many short films on the portfolio list. I'm still very nervous about admission to USC in general, let alone the film school... hopefully it will turn out like your son's.</p>
<p>I finished Explore yesterday and when I was talking to the Assistant Dean of the Film School on Thursday he told me they do not send admissions in waves. They sent one out in January and they will send the next one by April 1st. He assured me he knows about College Confidential (so did the actual Dean of Admissions) and he thinks we are all wrong about everything... his advice was to just relax and wait and stop reading the tea leaves.</p>
<p>Easy for him to say!
FWIW, rower, your ACT is much better than my son's.
But who knows what they're looking for ...</p>
<p>Hello rower, I row too.</p>
<p>Where do you row?</p>