Hi,
Has anyone gone to MCAD to major in the filmmaking program or have at least applied? I’m very interested and have completed half the application online. I’m currently at the point of payment but hesitant to pay the fee because the admission requirements say all undergraduates must submit a portfolio with their application. Is this true for the filmmaking major as well or just the art majors? I don’t have a film portfolio, so I’d hate to pay the $50 fee for nothing.
Thanks for any help.
You might want to repost here http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/visual-arts-film-majors/
But if they can’t evaluate your artistic skill, on what basis do they have to admit you? Frankly, you should call their admissions office and see if a lesser requirement exists – such as a normal art portfolio (hopefully you have one of these).
Plus, the $50 fee isn’t the real risk here. It’s the $36K/year tuition for someone who potentially has very little experience in film at the start. Is this something you can afford?
Regardless, the forum above can probably help you. Good luck.
@ashleypatricia12, as we say in MN: Here ya be:
http://mcad.edu/admissions/application-requirements/undergraduate
My D applied to MCAD last year (but as we live in MN she is opting to go out of state - MCAD was her runner-up). MCAD is a great school - small, lots of personal attention, affordable, great campus, great facilities, etc. etc. If you apply early action you are eligible for the laptop scholarship which is wonderful motivation.
I recall from last year that you would not be admitted to a specific major - rather, you are admitted to the foundation year for either a BFA or BSc (depending on what your interest is) and you declare your major either at the end of foundation year. If you are interested in film you’ll want to pursue and be admitted to the BFA program which means that a visual portfolio IS definitely required. You should follow the guidelines in the link above. I don’t believe it will be required that you submit film specifically as a portfolio though your admissions counsellor will be most qualified to address that issue so be sure to bring it up with him/her. I think they are more interested in seeing how your creativity and imagination play into your work in general. Variety is good and makes your portfolio interesting. Film is just the specific medium and you presumably would get all your training once you begin your major. Keep in mind, too, that MCAD is interdisciplinary - they want you to have BFA-level training and conceptual development across a variety of media, not just your major. Even filmmakers will need to put a storyboard together sometimes or sketch out their characters for others to see and understand.
My advice would be to contact your admissions rep and see if they can review your planned portfolio before you submit anything. There are National Portfolio Days that MCAD will be at - and if you live in or near the Twin Cities you can attend MCAD’s NPD in October (see their website for more details). Or you can request an online critique via the link that I provided above.
The better your portfolio, the higher your chances of a scholarship which will lower your attendance costs. So get that feedback first!
Good luck!