<p>Hey guys,
I'm currently a junior in high school and Emerson has been my top choice as a school for about a year now. I plan on doing early action to the film program in November and am wondering what you guys think of my chances of getting in. I dont have everything here, and I cant show you my video as it is not completed, but let me know what you think of my chances based on these things I've done. Thanks a lot, I really appreciate it.</p>
<ul>
<li> About 3.8 GPA Freshman through Junior Year (Still a junior but will probably have about the same for senior year)</li>
<li> Three AP classes and six Honors (all available honors except for two)</li>
<li> Was the first student at my high school to ever take an online AP class</li>
<li> Taken five math classes as opposed to three</li>
<li> Taken 4.5 sciences as opposed to three</li>
<li> Three years of Spanish</li>
<li> Enrolled in two college classes already (one sophomore year and one junior year) and received an A in both class (4.0 College GPA) I will also be taking a third class this summer</li>
<li> Founded the school’s creative writing class and wrote curriculum along with teacher Freshman/Sophomore years</li>
<li> Been member of the non-profit group Operation Friendship for four years, in which I volunteered to raise money for European teenagers to stay in the US and learn of our culture.</li>
<li> Enrolled in the eight week cable producer training program at my town’s local TV station.</li>
<li> A member of National Honors Society.</li>
<li> Member of Academic Decathlon for one year.</li>
<li> Member of theatre for three years.</li>
<li> Member of newspaper for two years.</li>
<li> Future member of Senior Leaders</li>
<li> Elected as my school’s only representative to attend student government day in the state house in Boston. </li>
<li> Attended a student conference in Boston to discuss ways to prevent cyber bullying.</li>
<li> Created an hour long movie with two other students in school to raise money for my class.</li>
<li> Volunteered over ten hours for ‘Worcester State College’s Annual Auction for the Homeless’ in both 2008 and 2009.</li>
<li> Spent a day with students working with the ‘YOUniversity’ company to film a promotional video about Worcester State College.</li>
<li> Attended a tour of Emerson and Emerson’s ‘Junior Day.’</li>
<li> Petitioned to create an Ultimate Frisbee team at my High School, although a coach was never found.</li>
<li> Am in the process of writing a novel, with 90 pages completed so far.</li>
<li> Taking a Senior Independent Study next year</li>
<li> Received a 1950 on PSATs and expect a similar if not better score on the SATs</li>
<li> Will have extremely good recommendations from the teacher who wrote Creative Writing Curriculum along with me</li>
</ul>
<p>If you have any feedback, I'd really appreciate it. Thank you!</p>
<p>I had comparable SATS, EC’s, and courseload and they gave me a 14k merit scholarship–and you have a better gpa. The thing with Emerson is that you must know what you want to do. If film is your passion, invest your time into it. For example, Emerson will respect you more for taking a film class in high school than AP statistics. You look great academically, just make a good film and you should be in.</p>
<p>Well you sound like the poster child for it… but listen with fair warning… Your resume looks great and challenging. Film is THE MOST COMPETETIVE program at Emerson, and they have a very low acceptance rate. That is the reality, that is what you are working with. They don’t always go for the most academically gifted, as much as they go for the spunk. </p>
<p>Be aware of that. </p>
<p>Now… what you should do is visit Emerson during the day, (if you’re close) and take a look at the film students. They are obsessed, and highly neurotically into and competitive with their work. I would take some serious time, and look into getting another film or some beginning screenplays together and build a small portfolio. Its not about professionality (you are a kid) as much as it is that you are developing your own sense of style and determined. </p>
<p>You can’t be the kid that is obsessed with film because you idolize Spielberg, in your essay and your work, they want to see that you are scratching at something deeper and more urgent. </p>
<p>You have a good chance academically, but again as I’ve said to a few others… grades as a freshie will only get you so far. Your personality and spunk is what will set you apart, you have to break away from being the “good Student” and just be you with not a care in the world … </p>
<p>You should get in, get some more film, youtube, screenplay, visual cuts, whatever stuff under your belt =) Even better, volunteer for a cable access show during the summer, they love that stuff!</p>
<p>Remember, your film could be crap interms of shooting, but it should shine with your vision =) good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for the advice. I helped shoot and produce shows for my town’s cable station as part of my Cable Producing Class. I’ll be sure to elaborate on that in my application. I’ve been very nervous about making my video, as I haven’t filmed it yet. I have an idea though and I think it will come out alright.</p>
<p>Sounds like you’ve got a very good chance. One thing I found from working with admissions is that they really don’t care about math; they care about your writing and reading scores. </p>
<p>Also, if you’re going for film, make sure you’ve got some film experience to put on your resume. Emerson is all about people who are focused and prepared for their major.</p>
<p>Thanks! I’ve taken both video and television production at my school and received A’s in both of them. I also enrolled in a Cable Producer Class last summer at my town’s local television studio and am certified to direct and film shows. Through my television production class I also created an hour long movie that premiered in four fifteen minute segments on my town’s channel. In addition, I worked with and assisted members of the YOUniversity company (makes films about colleges) for a day when they were making a video about Worcester state college. </p>
<p>I’m not sure what I could do more before early action come November, as I am in an exchange program that takes up the summer. Does what I’ve done so far sound decent though? I really appreciate your feedback</p>