<p>Here’s an article in Time stating that USC enrolls 350 in its film program, and NYU enrolls 250 in its. Strange.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,837841-2,00.html[/url]”>http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,837841-2,00.html</a></p>
<p>Of course, it calls NYU, UCLA, and USC “big state universities”, when NYU and USC are both private!</p>
<p>According to the article, USC film school total enrollment (all four years) is 350 students - that makes sense 90 students accepted each year, maybe like 35 production, 55 divided between Screenwriting and Critical studies? The 250 students at NYU I think they are talking about are all solely production. They aren’t factoring in Screenwriting (called Dramatic Writing at NYU and there may be another film major at NYU like a film studies)
It always has been puzzling and hard to pinpoint the exact figures, I have been trying to guess for 2 years. But I do think there are a total of 350 undergrads total at USC.</p>
<p>Thats interesting. They guy said ‘he felt like a number at USC’. I feel like whenever i call they know me.</p>
<p>Strange.</p>
<p>‘‘Twenty-five hundred miles away, the N.Y.U. film school (enrollment: 250) lacks the advantages of California sunshine and nearby Hollywood expertise’’</p>
<p>Exactly! You cannot beat the networks and resources in Hollywood. In NY you cannot just shoot down to Panavision and Kodak and ask some questions, pick up leaflets and stuff. Camera rentals houses etc.</p>
<p>This is why i want USC so badly.</p>
<p>Hey everybody! I’m currently a sophmore production major at USC, so if you guys have any questions I’d be happy to try to answer them. As far as how many people get in, I don’t know about getting into the film school as a whole, but I know that when I got in to the production program they accepted 50 students out of the 1000 that applied. I wouldn’t be surprised if the percentage has gotten even lower since then.</p>
<p>For all of you guys who don’t have those super impressive long resumes, don’t worry! That doesn’t mean you can’t still wow them! On my resume most of my creative work was related to writing, and I had only made one short film with a second one partially done. Your list of projects is important, but the written work you submit is much more important. USC SCA would much rather have a student with no experience but amazing potential than a student with a lot of experience but only mediocre potential. They are completely willing to teach the student whatever he/she needs to be taught as far as technical skills, but as far as creativity - well either you are or you aren’t. In addition, some people are luckier than others in their access to film resources in high school, and USC does not want to give those with more money or better connections a high chance of getting into the film school when someone else might actually be more talented, but who just didn’t have the chance in high school to prove themselves.</p>
<p>Hmm, think I got a bit repetitive there. Lol. Oh well! Sorry about that. :)</p>
<p>Oh yeah, and I’ve never felt like just a number during my entire time here at USC. Actually, in comparing my visit to NYU to my visit to USC, I felt a lot more like a number at NYU than at USC. When I visited USC’s film school I actually felt like I was already part of the family, not like I was just somebody they were shuttling through the tour to make room for the next group.</p>
<p>I recently (Jan) got into USC Film school. I did not apply early but was admitted early. They invited me to attend a few days to visit the school and try for the Presidential scholarship. So, they do send out early letters.</p>
<p>wow, congrats, how do you think you managed that?</p>
<p>ooh and ragnarok do you think you could post your stats, or explain what you think got you in? thanks :]</p>
<p>Morgan, is that you? It’s Hillary!</p>
<p>Anyway, at the info session at the presidential scholarship explore usc, our advisor told us that nyu accepts about twice to three times as many students as usc does for film.</p>
<p>Thanks ragnarok for the information! I sure would like to know more about what you think they are looking for in the personal statement. How did you approach it?</p>
<p>ragnarok, did you get your film acceptance and regular acceptance seperately?</p>
<p>I am one of the 50 production students incoming as a fresh(wo)man this Fall. My portfolio list was about 3 pages i think. I put anything and everything on it – it definitely doesn’t have to be related to film! I put that I made a Quilt on there. I participated in Cal Berkeley’s ATDP movies course and made 13 brief digital film projects in 6 weeks, which my explore usc interviewers thought was impressive. If you get free choices in an essay topic for any of your english classes, choose to write them on some element of film and add it to your portfolio (they were interested in the one I wrote on Contemporary J-Cinema). Write a lot, do a lot of creative stuff. And focus on your supplemental application essays!</p>
<p>well that sucks, i have written about 10 film essays in the last 2 years and that didnt even thing to put it on there.</p>
<p>I wrote about surrealism in the 1920’s, French New wave, shocking cinema, and all that stuff :(</p>
<p>I also did about 3 analytical essays focussing on 3 scenes from a French film ‘La Haine’</p>
<p>Damn it!</p>
<p>Why didn’t you post earlier! Grrr :)</p>
<p>^ 3 pages! I thought it was limited to 1 page?? I was fudging the margins just to get things to fit and I thought it was creative works only. I wish I had listed my paper on Godard…but damn, some of you have explored a whole lot of genres.</p>
<p>When you guys call up USC, what do you ask them? How do you get the feeling that they ‘know’ you?</p>
<p>Has anyone who hasn’t been up for scholarships been accepted into SCA?</p>
<p>All this talk about USC and SCA is gonna make me one sad puppy come April.</p>
<p>I am interested in the programs everybody is applying to. I applied to the Screenwriting Program. My portfolio consisted of about 55 pages of screenplay formatted work along with another 50-60 pages of essays, short stories and other such work. I submitted my application by 12/01 and I am still waiting to hear from them. According to them, they will proceed with reviewing the application but obviously will not consider you if you don’t get accepted into the University. This kinda sucks because it means that we may not get a notice from them until mid to late April if we are the unlucky ones to get accepted late.</p>
<p>i applied to undergraduate writing for screen and television… sent the maximum they allowed me, 20 pgs creative plus the script prompts and essays</p>
<p>i rechecked and mine was not a full 3 pages, it was like 2 pages and a few lines, but people generally go anywhere from 1 to 3 pages. Also, a lot of times the USC people don’t care about length. It doesn’t matter whether you double or single-space your 1 page character profile or 2 page emotional moment paper… meaning you have the freedom to halve or double your length.</p>
<p>An essay about film is creative- I think I used the rubric for Chapman’s portfolio list to help me develop my USC Portfolio list, since their details were more outlined</p>
<p>and jamiedp, I’m going there in the Fall… of '07… for the first time… meaning we applied at the same time : ) That’s why I didn’t post earlier, because then I was frantically trying to assemble my own application!</p>
<p>Any applicants here/you know who took a gap year? One of my schoolmates is taking a year off to work on his portfolio/get work experience before applying.</p>
<p>The maximum number of pages for the creative samples was 20; however the portfolio could have included 1000 pages, there was no page limit.</p>
<p>mainevent: But aren’t “essays, short stories” and a “screenplay” considered creative pieces? And so you should have submitted a maximum of 20 pages of them?</p>
<p>There is a part of the process specifically designated for creative writing samples; this is 20 pages maximum. The rest of the portfolio, however, can include any previous creative pieces you have done. </p>
<p>Here is the exact admissions procedure as listed from the Cinematic Arts Website:</p>
<p>Autobiographical Character Sketch This statement is in addition to and separate from the general admissions essay. This is not a resume. It should reflect your individuality and evoke an understanding of how you became who you are. You may write a creative essay or short story. Your autobiographical character sketch should be 1-2 pages in length. </p>
<p>Most Emotional Moment Convey in writing the most intensely emotional moment?positive or negative?you have ever experienced. This may, but does not have to be, an elaboration of something touched on in your Autobiographical Character Sketch. 1-2 pages in length. </p>
<p>Creative Challenges ? 2 scenes with assigned parameters: </p>
<p>Part A: Write a 2-5 page scene between two very different kinds of people who get stuck in an elevator on New Year?s Eve. Please use screenplay format. </p>
<p>Part B: Write a 2-5 page scene between two people (e.g. a parent and child) who live together. The first character strongly desires to go out; the second desperately wants the first to stay home. Emphasize visual elements as well as dialogue. Again, please use screenplay format. </p>
<p>Writing Sample At least two samples of your creative writing. These may be excerpts with a note explaining the context. Writing in script form is not required. Maximum 20 pages combined. If you send more than 20, only the first 20 will be read. </p>
<p>Portfolio List A list of all available creative material and experience with a concise description of each item listed. Items need not be film related, but should give an idea of your creative ability. If your creativity has been recognized in some way, please include brief details. DO NOT send the material itself unless requested to do so by the Admissions Committee. </p>
<p>Letters of Recommendation Three to five letters of recommendation from a variety of sources (not exclusively from teachers) are required. These letters should be addressed to the Writing for Screen and Television Admissions Committee. Applicants are responsible for verifying that the letters have been received.</p>