Chance Me – USC BFA in Writing for Screen & Television (Fall 2028)
Demographics
International student
Country of residence: Mexico
High school: Private high school
Other special factors: None
Cost Constraints / Budget
I will be applying for financial aid and merit scholarships if available.
Intended Major
BFA in Writing for Screen & Television (USC School of Cinematic Arts)
GPA, Rank, and Test Scores
Unweighted GPA: 4.0
Weighted GPA: N/A
Class Rank: N/A
SAT/ACT: Not taken yet (planning to take if beneficial)
High School Coursework
English
Standard high school English curriculum
Math
5 years of advanced mathematics classes
Science
Standard high school science curriculum
History & Social Studies
Standard high school curriculum
Languages
Native Spanish
English (fluent)
1 year of German
About 6 months of French
Visual & Performing Arts
4 years of acting school
Acting classes in Los Angeles
Other Academic Courses
2 years of programming classes
2 years of chess classes
Awards
None at the moment
Extracurriculars
4 years of acting training, including acting schools in Los Angeles.
2 years of Track & Field.
5+ years of competitive swimming.
2 years of programming classes.
2 years of chess classes.
5 years of advanced mathematics classes.
1 year of German classes.
About 6 months of French classes.
Currently writing and developing my own comic.
Helping write scripts for short films.
Writing and planning to produce my own short film.
Essays / LORs / Other
I’m spending the next year focusing on building the strongest creative portfolio possible. I’m also receiving screenwriting tutoring from a writer who has worked with Guillermo del Toro and continuing to improve my storytelling skills.
Schools
Dream
USC – BFA in Writing for Screen & Television
My main question is:
Do my extracurriculars seem competitive enough for USC Screenwriting, or should I focus on adding different experiences during my last year before applying? If so, what would you recommend?
A loan is not a scholarship, because you have to pay it back. Scholarships don’t have to be paid back. I would take USC BFA off your list, unless you win a major award or something like that in this next year. As a potential filmmaking major, I would minimize loans. What would be your approximate annual budget with no loans?
I would encourage you to continue with your filmmaking activities, take rigorous classes and do well in them. Prep for the ACT or SAT and take it sooner rather than later (so you have time to take it again as necessary.)
How will your mom pay back a quarter of $1 million dollars with interest?
USC is a very expensive school and most US citizens cannot afford it.
It is called the University of Spoiled Children. They are trying to change that image so they tend to focus more of their dollars on students with exceptional SAT scores and academics, recruitable athletes, and students with a history of community causes.
My sister attended USC, and although she was on a scholarship for athletics, it was still a struggle.
Our son received an offer for a full tuition, but he was a national merit winner and an athlete and he just couldn’t see himself there.
It’s a FIT school.
The school is in a community that can be dangerous at times.. They’re trying to improve the area.
You have listed this for several course areas. Can you please list out the exact courses you have already taken and what you plan for the last two years of high school?
You aren’t graduating HS for almost two years. Do ECs that you enjoy, not something that you think will impress an adcom. You need to find out if you need a film portfolio for USC. I have no idea.
You will need about $400,000 in “loans” if you go that route. Frankly, I would not suggest you do this.
Where do you plan to work after your college graduation…because it’s very likely you will need to return to your home country once your student visa ends.
You tagged American-University. That looks like a specific college. I think you didn’t mean to tag that specific college. Would you like me to delete that tag?
I’d take more French and German, if you have time in your schedule. 2 years of French plus 2 years of German is fairly solid. If you grew tired of German, then maybe 3 years of French. You are fluent in English and a native speaker of Spanish. Achieving fluency in four languages, transforming into a master polyglot, is a definite plus!
In answer to the title question, my understanding is BFA film programs will be very focused on film-related activities. I am not qualified to say what will be “enough”, but I think the more sincere enthusiasm, time, energy, and creativity you can put into film stuff, the better.
Then I agree in general, you need to be aware of whether specific US colleges will even possibly be affordable for you.
I would stop trying to compile a heap of varied ECs and focus in on what you love doing. It looks as if you have a little over a year before you’re going be writing applications, and you’re very focused on screenwriting. You’re an int’l student - don’t expect fin aid. Even merit aid is going to be a long shot.
If you can manage to get a very high ACT or SAT score to support that 4.0 GPA, you will have checked off the “plenty good enough” box on academics for any school, for someone who is interested in screenwriting. So yes to the standardized test.
Other than that, I think that your plan to focus on writing and producing short films is exactly what you should be doing now. I would do it at least partially in English, since you’re applying in the US. You are building your portfolio for submission.
In terms of meeting class requirements, continue with either French or German for the rest of high school, because some schools like to see at least 3 years of a foreign language. You, of course, are already fully bilingual, but still. Then look at the numbers of years of math, English, science, history, etc that schools generally want, and make sure you have that.
Do not focus on USC. Focus on building your portfolio. Make sure that you will have the required coursework for applying to US colleges. When it comes time, next summer, you’ll look at what schools are good for screenwriting, and are possibly going to be affordable for you. That’s going to be your biggest issue - paying for it. If it’s possible for you to submit films for festivals and competitions, you should do that. When applying in the arts, your portfolio is the most important thing, but a resume of awards from festivals or competitions will help to support your application.