Is it possible to transfer to USC’s School of Cinematic Arts as a sophomore, or are only junior applicants considered?
I’m specifically asking for the Film Production major. Thank You!
hi! you may already have your answer by now, but you need 48 semester units in order to transfer into film/tv production. i did the conversion from my school (which uses a different measurement unit) and found that 48 semester units was equivalent to 3 semesters, 4 classes each… meaning, i think it’s possible to transfer in 2nd semester sophomore year, but i believe it’s more common to transfer in as a junior (given that you never know whether or not the courses at the school you’re currently enrolled in will actually transfer over). for the record, i applied to cinema/media studies as a sophomore transfer to bypass the minimum credit requirement, with hopes of transferring later to film/tv production (if i get in). hope this helps!
Were either of you successful transfering into SCA?
If you are a current USC student looking to transfer into the B.A. Film & TV Production program, the application deadlines are Feb 1st for the subsequent Fall semester or Sept 1st for the subsequent Spring semester. (with Spring admission only available to Current USC students / external transfers can only apply for Fall admission)
For current USC Applicants, you must first obtain 48 transferable semester units (excluding AP & IB, but may include units in progress) So, in theory, a current USC student could apply by Sept 1st during their 3rd semester at USC & potentially start the program the Spring semester of their Sophomore year (if they average taking 16 units per semester at USC, so that they have 48 units completed before the start of that Spring semester).
External transfers into USC can only apply by Feb 1st for the following Fall semester and must have completed 48 units before that Fall semester begins (so in progress units can count while applying). So basically, external transfers can only apply as Sophomores to start at USC in that program as a Junior.
Good Luck…
Thanks wwward. My son is a HS junior working towards USC SCA. Given the low acceptance rate even for high academic stats, we’re thinking of realistic contingency plans that would lead to SCA film production. I assume internal transfers are equally, if not more, competitive. Is that correct or is it possible to take film classes as a non-film major and convince film professors of your fit into the film program?
@romns116 You’re welcome.
It is certainly possible to apply to USC in general & to USC SCA as a BFA in Film & TV Production, to then be admitted to USC Undeclared (which means passed on by both of your top two major choices) or accepted by USC generally and then only to your 2nd choice major (if not to BFA in Film & TV Production as your first choice) and then take SCA courses and attempt to transfer into SCA thereafter. It occurs often. Not all SCA classes are open to non-film majors, but many are. Your son could also volunteer for student productions and possibly get noticed that way as well.
I have heard that the internal transfer process into SCA is still competitive (especially to Film/TV Production), and it is clearly on a space available basis, but overall - it may be a potentially easier path than the original one that only succeeds for roughly 4% of applicants. I would not bypass the normal path though. Applying initially, even if unsuccessful, at least shows the interest/commitment.
All transfers into Film & TV Production are automatically on a different path though… B.A. vs B.F.A. – so the programs are different, simply due to the two year program vs a four year B.F.A. undertaking. So, unless admitted initially as a freshman, the B.F.A. path is lost. But being a B.A. in Film & TV Production at USC SCA is still clearly the next best thing.
It took Bryan Singer three tries himself to get into SCA, and now there is an SCA program named after him. So persistence can clearly pay off 
And SCA even turned down Steven Spielberg three times, so clearly success does not hinge on SCA either. Talent and creativity can shine regardless. While I believe that SCA is the best among the undergraduate film school programs, I would certainly consider some others too… UCLA, Chapman, LMU, FSU MPA, UTexas, NYU, UMiami, UNC, UCF, CalArts, etc.
Here’s a good list to start considering:
Good Luck to your son.
I’ve talked to alumni of the undergrad program and they tell me that it’s not a great as it seems. On the other hand I asked them about their grad programs and they tell me they are worth it for meaningful connections to the industry (not grunt work) that you don’t get at the undergrad level. Grad alumni told me that they also get more opportunities for production and funding. You should talk to alumni to get a feel for the program(s), unless you dead set.
As an update, my younger daughter - a current USC freshman - just received news today that she has been accepted as an internal transfer into SCA for the Cinema and Media Studies program beginning Spring 2018. She had previously been admitted as Undeclared. She had applied for Film / TV Production and CMS when applying originally, but was unsuccessful. So… persistence may be rewarded.
Congratulations WWWard! That’s great news! Inspiring for all of us as well.
Thanks, @romns116 We were not sure when she would hear the news. We are glad that it occurred before her registering for the Spring semester in November. And I guess in theory that she could still apply again by next Sept 1st for Film and TV Production, but I now suspect that she may just be content taking the key production related courses of interest while also Minoring in something else of interest.
@WWWard a few follow question regarding your D’s acceptance into CMS.
- Is the SCA CMS Program any different than Cinema studies program at another college?
- Would SCA CMS include production courses or has it changed your daughter’s plans for Film production?
I imagine the CMS program still providing opportunity for production, or atleast give her a slight advantage if she decides to pursue an SCA MFA.
Just saw your post answering most of my questions. So D would still like to do production eventually. What’s the reputation of the CMS program? Similar to Wesleyan?
@romns116 The primary difference of attending SCA overall, at least as I see it, is the interdisciplinary approach… and that is especially true of CMS. Most schools do not offer specific programs in Animation and Digital Arts, Writing, Media Arts and Practice and Interactive Media and Games to go along with Film and TV Production. FSU MPA for example is singularly focused on feature film production period. USC SCA offers a great deal more flexibility in terms of personal exploration.
CMS especially seems to be a way to sort of dabble in all of them. It seems broad in scope by design, allowing the student to be the primary architect of their own cinema education.
And yes - she will be able to major as CMS and still take a # of production courses of interest to her. It clearly cannot replace exactly or even likely closely the Film/TV Production program of study, but it may hopefully allow her the closest means of approximating it – without being in that specific program of study.
Bryan Singer himself is likely the best known alum of the program that now carries his name… but there are a host of CMS alum succeeding in many different career paths within the entertainment industry spectrum. My daughter’s main interest is in production specifically. While there is a specific production path within the BFA and BA majors in Film/TV Production, I think that her CMS path may allow the flexibility to take most of the courses that are of key interest to her.
SCA itself can likely explain it better than I can… so here are a couple links to assist you further:
http://cinema.usc.edu/mediastudies/index.cfm
I recommend watching the Overview Video on that page.
http://catalogue.usc.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=7&poid=7029
Extremely valuable and helpful information! I understand now why SCA sets itself apart from everyone.
Is the acceptance rate of CMS close to the Production rate (3-4%)?
@romns116 Yes… there are a # of extra links, videos and further descriptions all accessible once you get to SCA’s main web portal:
When my daughter compared the resources and info via SCA’s online presence versus all of the other film schools that she was considering, there really was no comparison. SCA out distanced them all & by a very large margin.
I also suggest these two excellent youtube videos (among others there):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdksXo63bAk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxKqMJxw6vc
Well, I have heard many different things related to SCA’s acceptance rates. Since they do not publish such, I guess that we are all sort of just speculating and going by what we hear over time. The range for the acceptance rates overall for SCA, as I have most often heard them, is in the 2-11% range, depending on the major… with Writing likely being 2-3% or so, Film/TV Production likely being 3-4% or so. For CMS, I have heard as low as 4% to as high as 11%. But again… this is all just hearsay. I do know that each of the 6 undergrad major programs are highly competitive and thus extremely hard to get into… especially initially. I suspect that each may be a little easier to get into from a sheer percentage point of view as an internal USC transfer… as you are simply competing with less overall applicants. Of course, spots are also subject to availability. I also hear that SCA has among the highest yield rates among freshman admits… approaching something like 80% (vs around 34% for USC overall). So those who get in to SCA do tend to find a way to attend.
I recently applied to Film Production for Spring 2018 as an internal transfer. Do you have any idea when the decisions come out? They said mid-October which is right now. @WWWard your daughter heard regarding CMS when?
@swanko She heard via email on Friday, the 20th… at the end of the work day. CMS and Production though are two different programs with a completely different set of decision-makers, so I would not take that as any indication necessarily. But it would certainly make sense for all internal transfer programs to let applicants know before you are scheduled to register for Spring. The upperclassmen start registering this week… so maybe this week?
Good luck…
@WWWard Sorry, I am a bit confused, I thought you need 48 units before applying but your daughter got in during freshmen, Will appreciate your clarification.
@anxious911 For Cinema & Media Studies, you can apply immediately – for admission as early as the Spring semester of your freshman year. For the Film & Television Production B.A. program, you have to have completed or have in progress 48 semester units (AP/IB credits excluded)… i.e. you can apply before Sept 1st of your sophomore year (in theory) and potentially start the program during the Spring semester of your sophomore year. My daughter did not want to wait until her third semester at USC to apply, so she applied over the summer – even before the freshman year began – and got in to SCA as a CMS major on Oct 20th.
Here are the links related to internal and external transfer procedures related to Film & TV Production specifically:
External –
http://cinema.usc.edu/admissions/procedures/production/transferprocedures.cfm
Internal –
http://cinema.usc.edu/admissions/procedures/production/usctransferprocedures.cfm