So, long story short, I just graduated from Hofstra University with a BA in Publishing (haven't even gotten it in the mail yet) but I know I want to get in to television screenwriting...

A friend is moving to Cali in a year, and I want to go with her...the problem is, I've never written a screenplay or teleplay in my life. I've written a scene for a creative writing class and a lot of prose, that's about it.

My plan is to read about it and practice over this year, so that I have material for a portfolio...I know it's crazy...but is it necessarily impossible to do, do you think?

I know the best MFA program for screenwriting is USC, did anyone get in to that with little experience?

Out of the four schools that offer it in Cali, what do you think my best option is as far as getting accepted?

Also, what books or writing exercises do you recommend I read/do to learn teleplay writing?

everybody,
I'm in a similar boat to Esme and would love to see some answers. If this type of question has been answered before then just pop in a link to the relevant thread.
I've noticed this forum is really good at discussing the finer points of certain programs and admission procedures (which can be fine) but has very little general advice about building a portfolio and discussing work.

Read USC's admission requirements: they don't require anything be in script form except the scene challenges.

I was admitted to AFI, UCLA, and USC with the first act of the first screenplay I ever tried to write, some poetry, and their additional creative challenges. No experience beyond one screenwriting class in undergrad, where I wrote that first act.

They want to see a passion and talent for storytelling, not that you've mastered Syd Field and learned how to use Final Draft. They need to know that you can tell stories, you have stories to tell, and that you want to tell stories: the rest is just mechanics of format, etc.

They are looking for storytellers, in case that last paragraph didn't say it enough, they can teach you to be screenwriters.

Plenty of my classmates didn't send any scripts at all.

Regarding books, I never did too well building a foundation with books, it was more that they helped me once I had a general idea of how things worked. Syd Field's book was not very helpful to me as I started out, and even less now that I've gone through USC's program.

I recommend The Tools of Screenwriting by Mobley/Howard, Howard actually teaches at USC, to get you started. William Goldman's books are invaluable.

The best thing, though, that you can possibly do? READ SCRIPTS OF FILMS YOU BOTH LOVE AND HATE.

Get Final Draft, and start writing. Writing scripts is how you get better at writing scripts.

Regarding TV, Pam Douglas' book on writing the television drama is pretty good, she also teaches at USC, and there are a few books that I can't find right now about sitcom/half-hour as well, but I'm moving and I think they're packed.