Applying to Film School: Columbia University

(NOTE: These requirements are based on my application for Fall 2006. They may have changed.)

Program: Graduate Film Program (Graduate: MFA)

Website: http://wwwapp.cc.columbia.edu/art/app/arts/film/index.jsp
Application Deadline: December 1st

Components (for Fall 2006):

• Online Application
• Transcripts
• Recommendations (Three)
• Statement of Purpose (Columbia calls it an autobiographical essay.)
• Dramatic Writing Sample (up to 15 pages)
• Feature Film Treatment
• 2 Page Personal Response to a Film
• Portfolio: Video Sample

My Application:

I spent last November in India, so I remember working on my Columbia application in the afternoons while everyone else was enjoying their midday nap.  The online application, the transcripts, and the recommendations were pretty straightforward.  I slightly tweaked my personal statement to fit their description of an autobiographical essay without too much fuss.  I had already submitted a feature film treatment for some other applications so I also already had that.

The two new components were the dramatic writing sample and the film response.  For the writing sample, I was a little torn as to what to do.  I had three film screenplays that I could submit portions from.  I had a few short theatre scripts.  And I had one full length theatre script.  Would it be better to send a screenplay because it was film?  Or would it be better to send a short script because it would be complete within the 15 pages?  Or would it be better to send an excerpt from my strongest work, the play?  Ultimately, I choose to lead with my strongest work with only a few minor modifications.

As for the film response, I choose the racial slur monologues from one of my favorite films, Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing.  This worked out well because it not only gave me a place to analyze a scene, but also talk about styles, subjects, and a type of filmmaking that I am interested in.  I used talking about the film to inform the reviewers about what kind of filmmaker I would be.  Sure I could have used any film, but I think that in an application, you make every choice with the idea of finding the best launching pad to reveal more about yourself.

The last leg of the application was a phone interview with three professors.  By the time of my interview, I pretty much had decided that I wasn’t going to attend Columbia, so I didn’t fly to New York for the interview.  However, in retrospect, if I had been serious about the school, and I could afford it, and they would have let me go, I should have interviewed in person.  My UT and USC interviews were both over the phone, but they were both extremely informal with just one person.  My Columbia interview was a formal interview with a scheduled time and a panel of professors.  Interviewing in person gives you a chance to really get to know the faculty and the school, and it shows your interest.  Most importantly, you can better gauge what the interviewers are looking for and better shape your answers.  Over the phone, I never knew if I was talking too much or not enough.  Luckily, I still got in, but as I hung up the phone, I felt miserable.

My Take:I honestly do not think that Columbia would be considered a top ranking film school if it wasn’t an Ivy League School and wasn’t located in New York City.  It’s got some famous alumni.  It has some high-flying teachers (Mira Nair teaches at Columbia).  And it’s located in New York City — a mecca for independent film, theatre, culture, and the South Asian art scene.

The school focuses on developing the director as a storyteller.  That sounds great in theory, but I’m going to film school to get lots of hands on experience and also to master the technical elements.  As a director, I want to have a firm grasp of all of the technical craft as well.  Sure you can learn those on your own, but than why should I pay for film school?  I just heard from too many alumni and students that Columbia doesn’t have the equipment to give you a high level of technical training.  On the other hand, it’s supposed to be a good writing and story school.  So if you have the technical know-how, than maybe it could be a good place for you.

Like USC, Columbia also accepts a larger incoming graduate class (50 students) and requires less experience.  The net result is that the average age of the class falls in the mid twenties as opposed to the late twenties.  One student at USC told me that he would rather have a larger class because he has more people to work with, more projects to choose from, more crew to help him, and more contacts coming out.  This is a preference thing, but I vote towards a smaller, older class with more experience.

Columbia is located towards the north of Manhattan.  It’s not surrounded by the greatest parts of the city, but the campus itself is enclosed and is beautiful.  And as an Ivy League school, there are definite advantages.  I think that the day I visited, Al Gore was giving a speech.  It seems like it would be a great place to get exposure to everything that’s happening in the world.  Of course all of that comes with a price.  Neither Columbia nor New York are cheap.

I’ll be honest.  There was a part of me thinking that I should go to Columbia just because it’s an Ivy.  I mean, I could just picture myself at some Indian family function and some uncle asking me what I’m doing.  I would say I’m going to film school, and everyone would look at me with concern.  Then another uncle would say, “It’s okay, he’s going to Columbia.”  And suddenly calm would return to the room, and I would once again be marry-able.

I guess that just wasn’t reason enough for the price tag.

~ by soham on January 11, 2007.