<p>Did you call USC admissions to find out if there are openings for transfer students to the Cinema school? From this forum, it is clear that there are spring admits and many transfer students accepted to USC. I just don’t know if any of these new transfer students are for certain departments or if there are truly openings in the areas you are interested in. At least, a phone call on your part will demonstrate interest in the school which is always a good thing.</p>
<p>You can apply to SC with, let’s say, Critical Studies, as your major. But, you might want to list…something else as a back up. You can then transfer into your major. This takes a lot of…using the industry wording networking and schmoozing…but it can be done. My daughter went into SC undeclared and then got into Critical Studies second semester. The original plan was to go into production, but it turned out that Critical Studies was right for her. </p>
<p>But as mdcissp says, call them and see what is up with transfers. If their admissions says that they do not accept transfers outright…go the roundabout way and try to get in the back door. Good luck!</p>
<p>The guy said that they do accept transfers, but he didn’t elaborate as to how many. After I asked he like left me hanging for a full minute, and he sounded angry when he got back… So I thanked him and hung up…</p>
<p>I suggest you apply and see what happens. You now know that they accept transfers. Perhaps number of transfer openings available depends upon how many kids change majors.</p>
<p>My GPA is actually higher now (~3.8+) because I didn’t take into account that one of my professors didn’t actually enter my grade so it wasn’t calculated at midterm.</p>
<p>It looks like I’m taking these:</p>
<p>American Judaism 321 (I’m not Jewish, but my professor’s awesome, and it’s interesting)
Literary Investigations 200
Heredity and Society 103 + lab (biology)
Religious Studies 101
Italian 104
Teaching Writing 406 (it’s supposed to be super intense, and we tutor at a post-Katrina charter school)</p>
<p>That’s 21 hours (22 when they add a service learning credit). So I think I have a good shot academically.</p>
<p>I’m going to pick up a job and a few more activities as well (and not just to fluff my app, but because I actually want to do more).</p>
<p>I don’t work for USC, but I sense that they like to see keen interest on the applicant’s part for the field of study (in your case cinema) applying to. Therefore, I suggest that whatever other extra curriculars you do (job, volunteer)–see if you can find something at Tulane which is related to your interest in cinema.</p>
<p>I always got the impression that they don’t want you “to know anything” about film until you go there, but I guess that’s just for film classes. I do have lots of theatre experience, mostly through set design.</p>
<p>Just a note: yes, they DO want you to know about film/films. If you don’t you are at a distinct disadvantage. What they do not want is for you not to be open to learning new ideas/techniques/story options. If you interview, for example, and a reference is made to a foreign film which isn’t obscure…you better have an idea about the film, be it story or technique or a unique quality that would make it of interest to an American or international audience.</p>
<p>Well, I meant it more like, “they want you to learn about film their way” not so much as “I’ve never seen a movie ever…” Anyway, I think I’d be good for an interview up through the 60’s plus Citizen Kane, Wizard of Oz, Casablanca, Gone with the Wind, etc.</p>
<p>Porfolio-wise it looks like they emphasize film projects in the sense that “Good, this applicant knows how to turn on a camera and point it in whatever direction.” And the critical studies essay is a critical essay on film, so…</p>
<p>If you haven’t already read all the info on the USC SCA admissions website, do check out the following FAQs [USC</a> Cinema - Admissions » Applications » Frequently Asked Questions](<a href=“http://cinema.usc.edu/admissions/applications/frequently-asked-questions.htm]USC”>http://cinema.usc.edu/admissions/applications/frequently-asked-questions.htm) </p>
<p>Regarding transfers, they state: When may I transfer to SCA?</p>
<p>We accept applications from incoming freshmen and transfers. However, consideration for transfers in the Production track is reserved for applicants with 48 transferable semester units (excluding AP & IB, but may include units in progress during the fall or spring semester).</p>
<p>If you are in doubt, you really need to call the admissions person in the SCA 213-740-8358 and make sure you are talking to the full-time person in charge as there are often student workers answering the phones who are well-meaning but really may not be experts in this area. I’d recommend you try to talk to Shala (sp?) and make sure you get all your questions answered. Even if someone sounds “mean” on the phone (which is terrible in itself), you have a right to politely restate your question. If they won’t or can’t answer, politely ask who you should talk to who would know the information. Best of luck working through the system. Like all things that are difficult to attain, it is worthwhile to develop strong talents in perseverance and resourcefulness in order to prepare for a life in Hollywood.</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure I fit the 48 minimum requirement since it counts credits in progress for that semester. Anyway, by the end of this year, I’d have 40-ish. All of the requirements are filled except the lab science (I actually didn’t take the lab because I thought it would be cooler to take a sociology/education class to go with my writing class; and I would just take the importance of science and lab science together if I transfer; the Tulane science schools got liquidated after Hurricane Katrina, so the remnants aren’t so great…).</p>
<p>Over the phone I think I don’t come across as well as I can. In person it’s okay, but when I go on the phone I think I have a “secretary voice” and it’s so weird… I’ll call a little later when I can pool all of the questions I have.</p>
<p>Since the number of transfer openings are unknown, have you considered applying to NYU, Northwestern or Carnegie Mellon? If you want Hollywood, then USC film school is the best and the place to study. However, since you have experience in theatre, I am wondered if you are more inclined for a program focusing on the theatre.</p>
<p>Although I am a huge proponent of SC’s Film School, please be aware of the Wesleyan Mafia. (That’s a joke.) There are ALOT of importent players here in the business who graduated from there;</p>
<p>transfer, I don’t think you mentioned which SCA major are you going for? If we knew, we might be able to offer suggestions for some additional schools you might want to look at. It helps to have some safeties and matches, because SCA is always a reach.</p>
<p>Since the prospective applicant, trojan_transfer, wants to transfer, it is really important to get the transfer choice right. This is why I suggest carefully knowing exactly what you want to study, look at your individual strengths/talents/profile, and apply to programs which best fit. If you think film and related film is right, then do your best for the SCA application. USC is #1 for Cinema. On the other hand, if you are more of a theater person than a cinema person, then NYU maybe a better match.</p>
<p>No, no, I want film-film. And Production and Critical Studies is what I’ll be looking at.</p>
<p>NYU doesn’t appeal to me because there’s no campus.</p>
<p>To TrojanTransfer: I suggest you look at your application and see how you can convey your passion for film/production/critical studies via your essay and activities. My child is not in SCA. But, I sense it is highly competitive and that USC wants to see your talents/strengths shine in your area of interest. How are you going to convey your talent and passion for film in your application? I think the students who are in film are really into the field.</p>
<p>I know, I am. I’ve made films. It’s just that I’ve never took film classes (in high school there were none, and now, I’m taking a full course load with stuff that fulfills GE for USC and Tulane… just in case).</p>
<p>I’ve always been “artsy” and I (guess) I have a really strong showing in my writings and visual arts stuff. I’m filling my portfolio list, but I’m holding off on completing everything until Thanksgiving break.</p>
<p>It sounds like you’ll do fine in conveying your interest in film. Are you a freshman? If so, I don’t see how you would be able to apply to transfer into Production. Before you go to all the trouble of completing the application, be very sure you have 48 transferable credits that are actually in progress as of the Feb 1 deadline. If you don’t have those credits, you could certainly apply to critical studies, and the odds of getting in there are higher anyway.</p>
<p>Thanks for pointing that out! I actually e-mailed them, but actually, now that I read up on it even more, Critical Studies might be a better fit for me if I plan on going into Law (intellectual property stuff)… Since Production is pretty much a professional degree (as in, you’d be equipped to go into the industry), I think that Critical Studies would be better for me since it’s the “omni-humanity” since it’s art, history, literature, econ, politics, etc…</p>
<p>The “in-progress” wording is what confused me, and I thought the ones for that semester counted, but it’s a “before you enter” kinda thing. Since it’s 48, I’m guessing USC students can apply for the spring semester in their sophomore year. I actually followed up with another e-mail.</p>