<p>@ArtsandLetters I got rejected from both USC and NYU for Film, I live in Texas so I also applied to Texas Christian University which is in Fort Worth about 2 hours away. They don’y really have a great film program, so I’m thinking about taking a few years off and move to Dallas or Austin and try to just make film connections and get myself out there and learn from experience more than anything, and then maybe re-apply as a transfer or just apply to jobs and internships and stuff. </p>
<p>I did a lot of crying last night when I found out and my family is devastated with the news but honestly it just isn’t in God’s plans for me at this point in my life, and when one door closes another opens. For example my short film that I created for my application which actually made selection at a Film Festival in Austin and it will be showing in a week or two, and I’m up for some awards. So I just have to keep my head high and I am actually thinking about framing my rejection letters when they come in the mail to keep me focused on my goal.</p>
<p>Although I did not get what I wanted, I want to congratulate everyone who got accepted and I’m sure your work is amazing, and I would also like to thank everyone on the forum for the info and help I have been reading for the last 6 months! Good luck and maybe we will work together one day!</p>
<p>Oh and I did get accepted to TCU back in November just to clarify. haha</p>
<p>@WDriskolM Please don’t be discouraged by those rejections. When the pool is so small, it is hard to fit everyone in who is worthy. My daughter was not accepted at USC or Chapman for Film (both schools offered second choice major), but she was accepted at NYU, and that came as a big surprise. I can only think that the short story requirement at NYU made the difference for her. Whatever you do, please don’t rule out going to college because ultimately what you learn there will make you a better filmmaker in the future. Do well in your studies, and you will have a good shot at transferring or later, going to a good grad school. I’m sure there are many doors that are ready to open for you.</p>
<p>WDriskolM - might try Boulder (in Colorado). I know of some students who went there after not getting into USC or NYU. The film program isn’t on “the radar” but their are some fierce film kids there. Wesleyan (program starts in junior year) has Josh Whedon among others as a grad. And Pitzer is very holistic and small. Same with Chapman which was recommended to us by a friend at CalArts, although upon visiting the campus they really didn’t work hard to keep our interests - most of the talks were about “knowing” they were competing with USC. I thought that was an odd way to pitch themselves. (CalArts, by the way, puts more emphasis only at portfolio instead of grades and scores).</p>
<p>Or use the college that accepted you to pull out the stops on your general education credits. Rumor has it that USC is increasing the requirement for incoming students anyway - so why not get those out of the way? It wouldn’t hurt to talk to USC admissions and ask what they’d want to see if you wanted to transfer in the future. Some people do it as a way of cutting costs.</p>
<p>Or a gap year and try again. According to one of the Chapman faculty during Preview Day - studying abroad is attractive in a candidate.</p>
<p>Florida’s deadline is August (very early) and they wait until spring to select 30 kids from finalists. Also look at Temple in PA. They have an internship program that allows students to spend a semester in LA or London working on film projects. Merit aid is pretty generous along the ACT scale.</p>
<p>We kept getting info from SCAD but honestly - they act like they take everyone and their local recruitment session felt more like a time share presentation. Very low on specifics.</p>
<p>And remember - even Spielberg was rejected by USC three times. So as they say in Galaxy Quest - never give up - never surrender! Or as I tell my children - success using the resources available is the best revenge on those who didn’t see your spark! </p>
<p>Okay - those are all my ideas. Sorry for the long post. Good luck!</p>
<p>@WDriskolM In addition to the schools ArtsandLetters mentioned, you might look into Depaul’s program. They gave my daughter a very generous scholarship and they are partnering with a big production company in Chicago over the next five years to provide facilities to students. Also, a little-known department that is on the rise is at Indiana University at Bloomington. Former actor and NYU film instructor Robbie Benson is teaching there and strongly encouraged my daughter to consider it. He said it is a very nurturing environment. See link below.</p>
<p><a href=“News at IU”>News at IU;
<p>Depending on FA I might attend the local school I got into, then work on my craft for a year then try and reapply as a transfer, or wait till grad school. Most of the schools you guys talked about have already closed admission so its too late for that. Do you guys have any info on transfer numbers and stuff about admission and the process?</p>
<p>Check Columbia College Chicago. I believe admission is still open there and they are pretty flexible.</p>
<p>@mrssoffel Columbia College Chicago is open till May 1st so I have sometime to decide. I already did the Common App so all I have to do is just add them and re-submit it and also do their Slideroom. I’ll think about it, thanks for your help!</p>
<p>The envelope I just received is very very very tiny. :(</p>
<p>My D has met several of USC’s star alum and they went elsewhere for undergrad and then to USC for grad school. So yes - transfer later, or grad school - there are still options open for you to consider.</p>
<p>I often post on this board after decisions from SCA come out to remind everyone who got bad news that Spielberg was rejected 3 times from USC. But I thought I’d bring up another excellent example of resilience and persistence + talent. At the 2012 SCA graduation ceremony, alum Bryan Singer was an award recipient and speaker. Singer directed, among other films, The Usual Suspects and X-Men movies, and more. He was a great speaker and told the story about how much he wanted to attend USC as a Production major. Alas, he was denied. Instead, he attended another college for 2 years. When he reapplied, he was admitted to USC (hooray) as a transfer, but denied from SCA. He came anyway and tried to transfer in while here. At last, he was admitted to Critical Studies major and got his degree. He loved USC and I think he also felt a bit triumphant at getting there and getting what he was determined to get–an SCA education and degree. Just one story, but it can illustrate how much your future is really in your own hands. </p>
<p>My S got a phone call end of February, beginning of March. He was “interviewed” by someone from the faculty at SCA who told him how impressed he was with his work, told him he had made it to the next level, and asked him some other questions, very casual. I think my S was completely thrown off since he had no idea that a phone call was even a possibility. But he was also very hopeful that it was a good sign. Alas, he got a rejection letter from USC in the mail on Friday. It was pretty crushing, but he understands how competitive the process it is. Did anyone else get the phone call and then get rejected? Looking at this forum, it seems that eveyone called eventually got in. Also, S would of course like to re-apply next year, and is hopeful since it seems that he got pretty far into the process. But it would be helpful to know what he needs to improve so that he might have an even better shot next round. Any advice would be very helpful. Thank you!</p>
<p>CC is self-reporting - so many who get turned down tend to be working through the sting of the rejection. That’s why it seems like so many had positive outcomes. The reality is that SCA turns down 96% of the qualified applicants due to space. In one program, the number of accepted students is determined by how many workstations they have. </p>
<p>If your son got “close” and became a finalist, he might consider transferring at a later date (usually at the two year mark). Did he get turned down from both USC and SCA - or just SCA. If he’s accepted at USC but not SCA, he can still take courses at SCA and get to know faculty then try to transfer at a later date. </p>
<p>So sorry for your news. I think being told he’s made it to the next level makes the sting even worse. But from what I hear, whittling down the final lists are similar to other colleges - with committee members advocating (and fighting for) their favorites and in the end there just isn’t enough room for everyone. :(</p>
<p>Thank you so much ArtandLetters. That was very helpful. Are you a student/former student at SCA? </p>
<p>He was turned down from USC so he will go to an excellent small liberal arts college with a strong English/creative writing program and try again next year. </p>
<p>@6767676 My son also got the phone call and was rejected. We knew the chances were slim, but really hoped the phone call was an indication that he might actually make the cut. So your son was not alone. Good luck!</p>
<p>@my2sonsfromca
Thanks so much for letting me know. My son was also very hopeful, especially since the faculty member who interviewed him was very positive and knowledgable, and seemed to suggest that he would be having to choose between sac and ucla - which was also really odd because my son had not told him he had applied to ucla. It was all very mysterious so I am glad someone else had a similar experience. Is your son going to try again next year, or did he get into another program? Good luck!</p>
<p>@6767676 right now Emerson is the front runner, but he will stay on the waitlist at LMU. I don’t think he will try to transfer unless he’s not happy with where he ends up. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. :-)</p>
<p>@madbean, Bryan Singer’s speech and work actually helped me finally decide on Crit. Studies!</p>
<p>@ennaquini:
My son applied to SCA, received a “surprise” phone call in late february from a faculty member who praised his work, told him he had made the next “cut” and talked to him at length about the program (he took this as very hopeful) . Then he got a rejection letter last Friday. Pretty crushing. </p>
<p>A few questions: is there a waitlist for SCA? If he got the rejection letter from USC (not cinema studies) that means he probably is not on a waitlist, correct?</p>
<p>What does the next “cut” mean? At that point, is your application pretty high up there? or not really?</p>
<p>Should he try to re-apply in a year? In 2 years? </p>
<p>Should he, after all the dust settles, follow up with the faculty member who chatted with him? Just to see if he could give him any creative feedback. Or is that a total no-no? </p>
<p>Thanks so much in advance for your advice - my son’s guidance counselor is not familiar with these creative applications at all. After the rejection letter, she reached out to his USC rep who she said she didn’t know about any phone calls, and said that SCA can make admissions decisions unilaterally (this contradicts what has been said on this forum). </p>
<p>Were the phone calls only for production? I got no phone call or any real notification that I was being seriously considered for Writing for Screen and TV, so when I was accepted, it was a real surprise. And I’d imagine there’s some sort of wait list since most of the programs have very specific numbers for admissions. However, I’d think that if someone were rejected from USC and not admitted to any second choice major, they are not on a wait list. I think I chose a second choice major in creative writing or something not so selective, but I’m not sure how many they admit to second choices. </p>