I got rejected from everywhere last year when I applied. So I know the hopelessness your feeling. But two months later (after I got rejected from everywhere), I was offered a full time job with benefits, and realized that it was a perfect job to do while I was writing on the side, too. So you never know. Things could turn up soon, all yous!
Posts: 482 | Location: Pasadena, CA | Registered: March 04, 2009
I got rejected (0-1) straight out of College. So trust me I know how it feels. Just remember anything is possible. I applied to 5 schools this year and got rejected my most of them except one. Remember it only takes one yes. Don't give up on the dream and apply next year.
SilverLenz
Posts: 447 | Location: LoneStar State | Registered: June 23, 2009
Originally posted by Ben: 0 for 2 last year, 8 for 8 this year (and at the same schools!) Anything can happen, Pleiades, do not give up.
Wow, Ben.
I mostly know what to do to improve my apps for next year, (I'm 0 - 5 this year...) but what did you do so differently this year on your apps? 8 - 8 is amazing!
Posts: 140 | Location: Computer | Registered: February 27, 2010
wow...totally did not expect the outpouring of sympathy from all you tenacious winners (and one time losers). Thanks sincerely everyone. I'm sure the victory is twice as sweet this year. And for some of you, maybe it's four times as sweet?! I guess a lot of people really do re-apply.
And I guess a lot of miserable people are probably avoiding these boards right now, and not interested in clicking on a thread that says "reject"...
Posts: 52 | Location: Pangea | Registered: September 09, 2009
The only thing I can really think of is realizing that every school is different, thus you've got to know EXACTLY what you want out of each specific program you apply to--and let them know that in the essay. Fundamentally there is a whole lot different between the 12 person UT Austin program and the behemoth 150+ AFI Conservatory, but I applied to both (along with a lot of other schools) because there were very specific things I could see myself getting out of each program. I also don't think it hurts to let them know somehow that you truly see yourself as a unique person, and that no matter what program you choose it WON'T change your vision as an artist--it will simply facilitate it--if I was on an admissions committee, that would excite me to read.
Also, I got really lucky. I had a very very productive year professionally but also in which a lot of personal stuff made my writing that much more mature and rich. It also doesn't hurt to expose yourself to a program (I did so with Columbia), get on campus, shoot films for the directors and just start getting those karma juices going.
i'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal labotomy
Posts: 199 | Location: New York | Registered: October 24, 2004
A recomendation a mentor gave me was, once you know what you want to do in films (what department you want to do, production, direction, art, cinematography) get into a library or amazon buy a few books about it, read them, ask yourseld the same question, do i still like this am I willing to keep going forward, and reapply. With all the knowledge youll get from those books, your aplication is gonna be way more stronger.
Posts: 24 | Location: Mexico | Registered: March 06, 2010
I think the only thing that got me into Columbia was the interview. It's the only interview I felt 100% satisfied with. After collecting rejection after rejection, I came to realize that on paper, I didn't look like a good bet. I walked out of Columbia College feeling like I had been given the third degree, and my UCLA interview was awkward and too quick. With Columbia, I was relaxed and my answers flowed from a more natural place.
I walked into Columbia prepped with pointed questions that would allow me to discuss topics that I wanted to touch on, and at no time did I relinquish control of the conversation for more then a moment or two. I think this, more then anything, showed how determined I was to succeed in the program and in the film world in general.
Anyway, I'm sorry so many awesome people had to such disappointment this year. I'm 1 and 6 myself, so I'm not far off.
I hope everyone reapplies next year and finds a school that fits them, although I think it's perfectly natural to want to lick you wounds for a bit before facing this all again.
Best of luck to everyone!
Posts: 95 | Location: New York | Registered: July 29, 2009
If it makes you feel any better, had I not applied to UM, I'd be sipping the bitter rejection coffee with y'all. Also, this comes after being unceremoniously shut out of FSU's BFA program (with increasingly mean comments from certain staffers there) three times in a row.
Posts: 25 | Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL | Registered: March 11, 2010
I just want to emphasize Ben's solid advice. He's the only one I know who got into, I think, all of the most prestigious schools.
All schools look for a certain type. Obviously, Ben is everybody's type - but not many of us are. Off the top of my head I know people who got into Columbia but not USC, whereas I got into USC but got flatly rejected from both Columbia and NYU.
I had applied for Spring 2010 program in USC and got rejected. The single thing I changed was my personal statement, I sent in the exact written and visual samples.
My first personal statement was cookie-cutter... General. It was solid but I had asked too many professional advisers, took their advice a bit too much. They had... bogged down my personality a notch.
This year my personal statement was so... ummm... " out there ", the advisers I mentioned in the previous paragraph said USC would never allow me in if I sent that statement. Not " in ", as in into the program but into the school. I basically admitted all my morbid curiosities and confessed to a felony or two
But alas, it turned out just fine. When my Spring application got rejected, I was crushed. As in: " ****, what will I do? Work in commercials? Sell shoes and skateboards 'till I die? " crushed. And it reflected on my application, trust me, but... it did so creatively. It made it somewhat richer, I suppose.
So, hold on there and enrich yourself in the meantime, life-wise. Between Spring and Fall I backpacked through Europe, learned how to cook, connected with my parents, read books, watched movies... Everything matters. You'd think it wouldn't show in a 1000 worded statement, but it does.
And one last thing I learned through this application process is this; nobody cares about the boundaries as long as you have a good reason for it. My personal statement was longer than 1000 words, and both of my written challenges for the USC screenwriting application involved a third person. But they were there purely for exposition, so I guess they didn't mind.
So, good luck. Work on your applications... And remember it's not a pipe-dream; it can happen.. Simply because it did and does happen.
Take care.
Posts: 90 | Location: Huh? | Registered: May 03, 2009
Wow, thanks LVN! Great advice. I really was struggling with the personal statement! And just like you during Spring apps, I followed the advice of others and made a generic essay. But reading posts here, I realized how Personal Statements should be.
Would anyone like to share their Personal Statements here??? Please PM me!!! Thanks!!! Would be really helpful!
Posts: 35 | Location: indianapolis, in | Registered: February 19, 2010
Originally posted by Lvn: I just want to emphasize Ben's solid advice. He's the only one I know who got into, I think, all of the most prestigious schools.
All schools look for a certain type. Obviously, Ben is everybody's type - but not many of us are. Off the top of my head I know people who got into Columbia but not USC, whereas I got into USC but got flatly rejected from both Columbia and NYU.
I had applied for Spring 2010 program in USC and got rejected. The single thing I changed was my personal statement, I sent in the exact written and visual samples.
My first personal statement was cookie-cutter... General. It was solid but I had asked too many professional advisers, took their advice a bit too much. They had... bogged down my personality a notch.
This year my personal statement was so... ummm... " out there ", the advisers I mentioned in the previous paragraph said USC would never allow me in if I sent that statement. Not " in ", as in into the program but into the school. I basically admitted all my morbid curiosities and confessed to a felony or two
But alas, it turned out just fine. When my Spring application got rejected, I was crushed. As in: " ****, what will I do? Work in commercials? Sell shoes and skateboards 'till I die? " crushed. And it reflected on my application, trust me, but... it did so creatively. It made it somewhat richer, I suppose.
So, hold on there and enrich yourself in the meantime, life-wise. Between Spring and Fall I backpacked through Europe, learned how to cook, connected with my parents, read books, watched movies... Everything matters. You'd think it wouldn't show in a 1000 worded statement, but it does.
And one last thing I learned through this application process is this; nobody cares about the boundaries as long as you have a good reason for it. My personal statement was longer than 1000 words, and both of my written challenges for the USC screenwriting application involved a third person. But they were there purely for exposition, so I guess they didn't mind.
So, good luck. Work on your applications... And remember it's not a pipe-dream; it can happen.. Simply because it did and does happen.
Take care.
Thx for the insight, Lvn.
Good luck to you! Hope USC is awesome for you.
Posts: 140 | Location: Computer | Registered: February 27, 2010
OMG you guys are all making it completely IMPOSSIBLE to have a pity party!!! ha ha I love it.
Thanks for all the advice. My personal statement was cookie cutter too. shucks. wish I coulda see it at the time.
Ok & while you guys are in such a generous mood, I'm going to divulge what I wrote for my scenes for USC and ask for feedback too. For the elevator, a vampire feels pity for a lonely fat guy and eventually decides to let her prey go.
Then, for the house, husband and wife are on a houseboat that's drifted into a violent storm, damaging the boat. He wants to swim for it, she wants to stay. Twist - it's not cuz she's scared to swim, but cuz she wants to kill him.
Too contrived? Corny? Cheesy? Familiar? just plain silly? any thoughts?
Posts: 52 | Location: Pangea | Registered: September 09, 2009
Studentfilms.com Filmmaking Forums 
- but not many of us are. Off the top of my head I know people who got into Columbia but not USC, whereas I got into USC but got flatly rejected from both Columbia and NYU. 
I basically admitted all my morbid curiosities and confessed to a felony or two 