Tips For Applying To Film School
Whether you live on the East Coast or the West Coast, you can still apply to any film school you like if you have the credentials. If you are just graduating from High School, you will be entering an undergraduate film school so your applications would be different from someone applying for a graduate films school programs. Here are some things you will find when applying for film school and some tips to help you apply. What you need to have: Undergrads - 1. Extracurricular Activities. If you are applying for an undergraduate film school, you should probably do some extracurricular activities in high school. Film schools look for those people who are friendly and active. They want creative people, people who can talk to others and can get the job done. 2. A good grade point average. They want to see that you work hard obviously but your SAT scores are important as well. Being good in English is the most important because you will have to write your own stories and scripts. 3. A writing sample or video. And I don't mean about yourself. They will definitely ask you for a one or both of these. Grads- 1. Extracurricular Activities. If you are applying for graduate film school, you get involved with the student union, an honors society or even a charity club. They pick really smart and dedicated people. Being involved in your local news or radio stations wouldn't hurt either. The more experienced you are in broadcast, the better. 2. A good grade point average. Most graduate schools won't accept students in without at least 3.0 grade point average. 3. A writing or sample video. If you spent four years in college and didn't do any shorts on video or any kind of writing, it might be hard to get into a film school which requires both. 4. References. For all graduate film schools you have to have 2-3 letters of recommendation from your professors at film school. CHECK YOUR LETTERS OF REFERENCE. Sometimes professors have to write so many that they don't take the time to do it well. Ask them about what they wrote and make sure you can trust the person writing your letters. What you need to do: Undergrads -- 1. Really do research. Take a couple of days out of your schedule to get on the internet and not only look at the campuses of the schools but the cirriculum. See which ones you like. Look up about 10 film schools and print some information out. 2. Look for these things when you research a film school. -The professors. They will have a list of professors on their website. Make sure that you get the hands-on experience. You're just starting out and if you're the kind of person who needs the hands-on approach, then search for that. -Class sizes -- Smaller class sizes are better but they are usually at the private film schools. Make your choices wisely. - The other classes. Check to see what your other classes besides film ones would be. You will have 2 years of Math, Science and English before you are solely working in film classes. You need to keep your grade point average up in college to receive loans. - Internships. You will most definitely have to do internships in film school. It is sometimes required but it is all-important. Check to see if the schools you've researched offer internship programs or if they give out info on them. Doing an internship right before or after you graduate is the best way to get a job. 3) Apply to between 5 and 10 colleges, possibly more. Film schools are getting more and more difficult to get in. They accept more people in undergrad but they will also have more people applying. 4) Apply all across the country. If you really want to make films, you will apply to schools in California. It's hard to move across country and be away from your family but California is where the film industry is. Grads -- 1. Research as much as you can.
2. Look for these things when you research a film school. -The professors. They will have a list of them on the website. See if they've worked in the industry or not. This will tell you how knowledgeable the school's staff is about the industry, which is what you want more than anything. -Class sizes. - Internships. You will most definitely have to do internships in film school. It is sometimes required but it is all-important. Check to see if the schools you've researched offer internship programs or if they give out info on them. Doing an internship right before or after you graduate is the best way to get a job. - Exit strategy. Will they help you find a job after you graduate? This is extremely important. Some film schools claim to have a program that will help you after you graduate. Most of them don't. It's hard to find work in the industry after graduation. 3) Apply to as many schools as you can. 10-15. Graduate film schools are generally smaller than undergraduate film schools. They take less people so you will have less of a chance of getting in. You will most likely get into a few then you will have a choice of where to go. Applications take FOREVER to fill out. You should spend a few hours a day for a week just working on them once you have the packets. Ask your professors for at least fifteen copies of their letters of recommendation. 4) Apply all across the country. If you really want to make films, you will apply to schools in California. It's hard to move across country and be away from your family but California is where the film industry is. What to expect when applying: All students -- 1. Preliminary application. Online you will be able to ask for a packet to be sent to you. 2. The packet. After you receive the packet, you will have to fill out mountains of paperwork. They ask for a bio, a creative sample of your work, recommendations, references. Sometimes film school have their own projects they will give you to do, like an entry video, piece of art that you have to make on their terms. 3. The bio. You will have to write a bio about yourself for most film schools. They want to know who you are, what you have to say about the world and if you can write something interesting. It' all about creativity. 4. The video or writing sample. This shows who you are as a person. It could be a short story, a poem, a video short, an art show -- whatever they require in their packet. 5. Recommendation. If you're an undergrad, you can get these from teachers and family. Grads you have to get them from your professors. References are the same. 6. Specific projects. You will need to be ready to do all of the instructions in the packet for detailed projects. They may have you make and edit a film on flowers, or draw storyboards about a man down at the river. They are always testing your creativity. 7. READ THE APPLICATION ALL THE WAY THROUGH. It's a lot of hard work, yes. They do that on purpose so not just anyone can apply to their school. But you have to everything they way they ask you because they want to make sure you are film school material and that you can follow directions. Other tips: 1. Send them a little extra something. If you have finished the application and you're ready to mail off your packet, put a little something extra in there like another short story or another video just to show them that you have done more than they may think. 2. Add a little color to your application. You will be remembered. 3. Get your applications in early. If you procrastinate, you know what happens. 4. Be serious. Don't slack off when doing your applications. Don't leave anything out, don't do anything sloppily. They will see it and throw it in the trash faster than you can imagine.
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