Just thought I'd start a discussion for accepted Columbia University students. Congratulations to all of you who have been notified.

This is a catch all discussion -- anything pertaining to the moving process, financial, and just general, good-ole, movie talk.

Hope this can help out!

Accepted as a screenwriting concentrate on Wednesday. I'm a graduating senior in the undergrad program at Columbia, and I love the school and the professors. So I think you all will have a great time if you decide to go.

I'm currently deciding between Columbia and Boston. They gave me comparable merit scholarships (I don't know if Columbia gives need-based grants, but Boston doesn't). I'm up for a teaching fellowship at Boston, which will be worth quite a bit of money. So whether or not I get the fellowship will probably be the deciding factor between the two schools. Anyway, I might be making someone on the Columbia waitlist very happy. We'll see.

Congrats to both of you. Just checking to see if they told you during your acceptance call when you would have to make your decision by. I was accepted to CP but didn't get a deadline yet.

@ prospect

i didn't get a deadline. i think eric was trying to make his rounds, so we just sort of chatted, then parted ways (i had to go into work, haha). didn't get to speak too long. i would imagine it would be in the email he said we'd be getting...

@atown

congrats on the merit scholarships. i'm glad to hear columbia is a wonderful place. i think it will be quite a wonderful experience. let us know what happens with boston!

The deadline is April 15th. I specifically asked Eric this question because I'm a little older and there is much for me to consider.

Hi everyone,
Accepted to the screenwriting/directing program.
Still waiting for the email Eric told us about on the phone...

quite right, cs. i'm getting the impression that they'll send out the email when all are notified... so probably around april 1st. but that's just my own speculation.

april 15th - that is quite soon! anyone hear of students in the past able to defer acceptance for a year? as an international student I have heard of lots of trouble in getting the J-1 visa in time for fall semesters...

I don't think you're allowed to defer. But no fears. Columbia (the whole university, not just the film school) has thousands of international students. I'm sure they know how to expedite the process. My experience with Columbia (contra- my experience with, say, the other big school in Manhattan) has been that they will do anything in their power to help the students they accept.

@Prospect you should be able to manage to get the F-1 Visa asap, once you pay your SEVIS fees and submit your financial documents to the school this will take no more than couple months.

Thanks for the responses. After some checking I realized that Canadians don't need student visas, so that shouldn't be a problem at all. Has anyone heard of Columbia deferring acceptances due to financing? This decision is pretty big for me and I'm not sure I'll be ready in 2 weeks.

They only make exceptions for medical reasons. I realize grad school is a financial strain (I'm right there with you, worrying about money), but the class size is already tiny. It wouldn't really be fair to the people who apply next year. I think every single one of us would defer for a year or two to raise funds if possible.

Think about it this way: compare your earning potential before and after the MFA. You're more likely to pay off the tuition with your salary after getting the MFA than right now in the year before getting it.

http://arts.columbia.edu/files...s_and_Procedures.pdf Page 5.

Also, in that link I just posted. It says we have until May 2nd to send the deposit.

Just wanted to say "Hi" and that I am so thrilled to be able to join this group. Haha!
Exhilarating!!!!
Can't wait to meet you all.
I also did undergrad at Columbia, it is a truly amazing place and the film department is particularly intimate. So honored to be a part of it.

aresee, when did you graduate? did you study film?

Hey ATown,
I am an older student...went to CU years ago and left for various reasons unrelated to Columbia. Returned in 2009 to GS as Film major.
Great experience. Got to know a lot of these guys, like Chris Kelly, McKenna, Falk, Insdorf, Sarris, Schamus, Regan. Great, great people.
You are there now?

quote:

Originally posted by aresee:
Hey ATown,
I am an older student...went to CU years ago and left for various reasons unrelated to Columbia. Returned in 2009 to GS as Film major.
Great experience. Got to know a lot of these guys, like Chris Kelly, McKenna, Falk, Insdorf, Sarris, Schamus, Regan. Great, great people.
You are there now?

yep. didn't want to leave.

Hi again everyone - I have heard that there are automatic scholarships (in varying amounts) for students entering 2nd year as well as at least one fellowship guaranteed to 2nd year students as well. Any clue on how much you are actually going to get as merit in 2nd year? I know it varies but a ballpark would be helpful. Right now I have no scholarships and the funding is looking like an issue. Thanks!

Hey guys, 23 year old admitted into screenwriting, very excited and interested in going.

I am a little worried about housing. Does anyone know anything about that?

23rd year old accepted from the UK for screenwriting!

Absolutely gobsmacked to be accepted..never thought my writing was any good.

Wonder what the success ratio is?