Tips for Applying to Film School: Interview with USC School of Cinematic Arts Admissions

The process for applying to film school is somewhat different from that of most other university degree programs. Beyond the standard application materials, there is usually a creative portfolio requirement; academic performance isn’t the only factor considered, so it can be tricky for students to know what guidance to look for and listen to as they prepare their applications.

As several mentees in our Mentorship program for ages 14-18 have begun their film school application process, we realized that there is nobody better suited to answer their questions and provide tips for than the film school admissions teams themselves.

To begin our ongoing series of blog posts providing students with direct tips on applying to film school, Babel Film Workshop’s Matthew Leung, spoke with Victoria Esquer from the admissions team of USC School of Cinematic Arts (SCA), from which Matthew graduated, and which is consistently ranked as one of the top film schools in the world.

Below are excerpts from Matthew’s recent interview with Ms. Esquer over Zoom.

Who do you think film school is for?

SCA is specifically for students who want to continue to dive into their storytelling abilities… to collaborate with one another, and hone in on their creative narrative voices and specific skill sets, whether that be making an animated short, coding a game, or film production, focusing on both the entertainment and business sides of the film industry.

What’s the greatest benefit of going to film school?

The greatest benefit is the network that you’re going to graduate with, including the people in your cohort, and also the broader alumni network of around 16,000 permeating through various aspects of the industry. For example, we have a First Jobs program that helps students find jobs and internships once they graduate.

What are some career paths for students who graduate from film school?

It really depends on what the student is interested in. There are a variety of paths that students pursue depending on the major they graduate from. Some students go work at specific companies, like Amazon Studios, Disney, Warner Brothers, Sundance, Paramount, Dreamworks… but some students pursue jobs at smaller boutique studios, too.

Some recent alumni from our Media Arts and Practice division have also gone on to work at Apple and Microsoft as designers. This program focuses more on media making, including app building, and learning how to integrate emerging media technologies.

What film-related experiences do students appreciate most at SCA?

Our most famous class at SCA is Film Symposium. That’s where, for example, we brought La La Land before it was released, and the director came for a post-screening talk. They will sometimes bring an editor or someone who worked on the movie as well.

Within the SCA, we also have several student organizations, such as Women in Cinematic Arts, African American Cinema Society, Asian Pacific Cinema Association, and Queer Students in Cinematic Arts. These help connect, celebrate, and represent the diversity of filmmakers in different communities.

What sets SCA apart from other schools?

Our dean always says that students choose to attend SCA for three reasons. First, our top tier faculty, who all still or previously worked in the industry–they are a really great resource for our students. Next is our building and facilities. We have sound stages, a scoring stage, ADR booths, editing bays–everything that you need to make a film from start to finish.

The last thing students come here for is each other. As graduates move on to other things, they may call upon a former classmate to assist them on a project. For example, Ryan Coogler (director of Black Panther, Creed) is an alum from the MFA program, and he’s notorious for hiring previous classmates on his films.

What qualities do successful applicants have in common?

We’re not necessarily looking for students who have a background in film or have a full portfolio. We are just looking for students who have a strong storytelling ability. Can they tell a story from beginning, middle, to end in their visual or media sample?

We also want to see if the student is going to be able to collaborate, because this is huge in the industry. So something that really successful applicants have in common is that keen sense of collaboration, and interest in storytelling. That’s what the faculty are focused on when they review your application.

How much consideration is put into students’ academic performance vs their creative abilities?

At the undergraduate level, it’s a dual admissions review process. While the SCA faculty look at your creative supplements, the general admissions office looks at your Common Application and USC writing supplement–what courses did you take in high school, your GPA, and letters of recommendation.

At the SCA, we would rather admit a student who has a 3.0 GPA and amazing creativity rather than someone who has a 4.0 GPA with very little creativity. Ultimately, our faculty are the ones recommending students for admission, and our Director of Admissions will sometimes go in and fight for students who the general admissions office might be on the fence about. But it really depends, so we always tell students in their junior and senior year to keep up their grades, and take challenging courses.

What are some misconceptions about the film school application process?

A common misconception is that students think, “Oh, I won’t get in, so I’m not going to apply.” They may see that our acceptance rate is relatively low (8.8% in 2020). But I always tell students: if you don’t apply, you won’t get in. We want to hear the unique voices that you have to bring to the table, which is why we are also really big on admitting international students from diverse backgrounds and voices.

What are some things international students should keep in mind when applying?

The most important thing is for them to know who their audience is when they’re writing their different supplements. For example, anything they submit on the Common App and USC writing supplement will be reviewed by the USC Office of Admissions, so students should talk about why they think USC is a good fit for them in a general university sense. Whereas for the SCA, we really want the students to talk about why that specific major in the SCA would be a good fit for them.

Students should make sure they take the time, to ask questions and have people review their application and visual sample. Another thing specific to international students is the English proficiency exams, which some students can waive out of based on the English requirement on the SAT and/or ACT.

When is the best time to start thinking about applying?

It’s never too early. You can always work on things even in your sophomore or junior year that can help pave the way for creativity, or relate to what you want to write about or create in the future. For seniors, the application opens on August 1 through December 1, so the summer going into senior year would be the best time to start preparing materials, then you won’t be overly stressed about regular classwork as well as your application, which can be overwhelming.

Something that’s good to know is that we do not start reviewing applications until after December 1, so you don’t have to rush and submit your application ASAP. Students can also look into different scholarships, some of which apply to international students.

Thanks to Ms. Esquer for taking the time to speak with us. The full interview video is available to all students at Babel Film Workshop.

To request access or to speak with Matthew, who’s a USC alumnus, email him here. You may also reach the USC School of Cinematic Arts Admissions team here.