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<p>Try reading through some of the other USC/Cinematic Arts threads on College Confidential - existing SCA students have already posted answers to many of your questions over the last year. But to answer the above question - . SCA doesn’t look at your grades to determine acceptance - only your portfolio and supplemental materials. USC looks at grades and scores to determine if you can do college level work. And grades are dependent on what USC considers to be the school rigor. </p>
<p>You can’t change your grades now - just take the hardest courses you can handle, and get the highest grades you’re capable of. </p>
<p>Also - If you are determined to go into film, then my advice is to get ready to apply to more than just USC. Most take only a handful of kids (Florida State University, for instance, takes only 30 and has an application deadline of October. Chapman has closer to a 40% admit rate for Dodge but that is changing as they become more popular. CalArts doesn’t look at grades or scores at all, just portfolio. Loyola Marymount has a film program as do others such as Pitzer, Northwestern, Boston University, Temple, Emerson and Wesleyan. There are quite a few options, but you have to be open to something other than USC as a back-up plan. Temple has automatic merit aid based on grades and scores for instance, which might help. </p>
<p>I’m not trying to burst your dreams. Just helping add some realism. If every film school in the U.S. took a different kid (i.e. no duplicate offers of admission) there still isn’t enough spots for them all. So I agree with USCAlum05 - there are many ways to break into film if you don’t get into film school, including making films on your own, and applying for jobs and networking in the industry. </p>