Hello all.

I am a junior in high school, and desperately looking for a film school to attend after high school.Problem is these last 2 years and a half of high school have been a complete mess for me.I went through a lot in those 2yrs+.Family problems just started piling up one after another.

My freshman year i missed upwards of 40 days and 20 something odd tardys.I couldn't concentrate on anything because I was thinking of personal problems ALL.THE TIME.Sophomore year I thought it was going to be better but no...within the first month of school we lost our house(fire) and my mother got sued, i missed even more days than my freshman year.

Did I mention due to so many absent days I was put into loss of credit two years in a row? I had to bring in my mom like every other week to appeal stuff and write letters and whatnot.I spent the entire summer thinking about how I was probably going to be a freshman again.Anyways i got the credits for my freshman/sophomore year and I was a junior now, hooray! Start of junior year my father had a heart attack.Now we're nearing the end of the year and I'm finally having a chance to actually concentrate on my classes.My grades have just been horrible(c's,d's,f's) the entire time I've been in high school.

Around second marking period this year I realized the way I was going wasn't going to help me achieve my dream(becoming a filmmaker) and started focusing on MYSELF and tried to get some stress from home off myself.Right now I'm passing every class except chemistry, and My senior year I'm going to be perfect.

Now I talked with my counselor and he told me there is no way I was going to get into NYU or USC with those grades..he told me I could attend a community college, attend for 1 or two years and then transfer into a bigger university or w/e ? I'd like to know if someone could tell me more about this..if I transfer will can I get the same full experience other students would be getting? would I be considered a Grad or an Undergrad? are there any requirements I must meet to transfer? I just want a way to get in..I doubt uni's and colleges are going to care about my life story during high school, they'll take one glance at my grades and deny me.

Sorry for the long thread, sorry for any grammar errors.

Thanks in advance.

Oh and P.S I want to direct.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Darwyn,

What kind of film experience do you have so far?

The specific rules about transferring will depend on the school you're going into. Generally speaking, the new school will look at your transcripts and determine which of your credits can transfer -- like, a film program might let you keep, say, your math credits, but insist that you start again with film basics. It just depends on the school. They'll let you know.

Transferring is a totally legitimate, very common, perfectly fine way to go -- tons of people have trouble in high school. I had similar experiences.

Personally, I think it's too soon for you to know if you have to do the community college route. Not all schools evaluate students the same way. Some will look at your grades and throw your application in the trash, but some will give your personal statement and writing samples more consideration. You want progressive schools that will look at the big picture. You might consider The School of Visual Arts (SVA) in N.Y., for example. They have a strong undergraduate film program. CalArts might be a good choice too if they have an undergraduate program.

Here's the main thing: if you turn your grades around now then schools can look at your high school career as a success story. This can be very persuasive to schools. But, seriously, do EVERYTHING you can think of now to improve your record. Do something film-related over the summer and put it on your resume. Your work will pay off.

In the end, apply to as many schools as you can. Cover all of your bases, and apply to your dream schools too. Because you never know. Anyway, it's great that you've had this realization about filmmaking -- good luck.

Thank you for the reply Jerry.

ATM I have very basic film experience, I am in the computer club and I've done some things with them, I will be taking TV production next year and will take part of a little project the school psychiatrist is planning.He wants his patients to film their lives and I will help him with that(I am one of his patients haha so maybe I'll be the first to do so).That's about it.I'm working this summer to buy me a nice Mac and a Camera, haven't decided what ones I want though.

Yeah maybe it is too early to do the cummunity college route..I like what you said about a resume, I think I'll start getting more and more involved in school activities..I will look into that school you recommended and more.I am eager for my senior year to start, I want to do work, I want to be perfect.

Thanks for the help.I will post again if anything interesting happens..

Darwyn,

One thing to also consider is waiting until grad school to pursue your dreams, and major in something else for you undergrad degree in a local college or universtiy, especially since it looks like your going to have a very hard time getting accepted to the best film schools at this point. If you worked your but off even more while getting your undergrad you could have a way better chance to get in where you actually want to go (and plus it seems that Film grad students are more highly thought of than undergrads).

Of course, that could also be your back up plan too, and definately keep working hard now. Still go for your dreams; some of the greatest filmmakers didn't really do that great in school, but they're amazing at what they do. So don't give up!

And so you know I'm also a junior in high school so it looks like we'll be heading to college in the same year...Let me know how it all turns out

Hello again!

I am more pumped for this than ever! day after my last post, I spent like 3 hours inside my counselor's office haha.I went online and got as many catalogs from as many different film schools as I could.LA film school, NYU:tisch, Columbia, Art institute of philadelphia, etc etc lol.I also talked to my counselor about general college stuff(I was really uninformed about college, Ive only been in the USA for 4-5 years..never bothered thinking about it I guess)so now I have a general idea of how things work.

I've also been working my butt off these last couple of days, not missed an assignment, nothing.Too bad this school year is almost over..I wish I could have felt like this since the beginning of my junior year.Anyways I picked my senior classes and all is good.Looks like I'll have to go to summer school for chemistry(or some other type of lab science)..no problem though.

I am also in the process of getting a job, I want an iMac and a camcorder.I was looking at that Canon HV20, it's looking really good..I'll be saving up for the Cam first(should be around 1k or 1.1k) and then later comes the mac, Was thinking of a 20" imac, Intel Core 2 Duo 2.16Ghz, 2gb DDR2 RAM, 250GB HDD, ATI Radeion X1600/128MB VRAM.Don't know if I should get Final Cut Express HD or not..If I do it would come at about 2k if not around 1.7k.I can buy the canon myself if I save up, gotta ask dad to help me with the mac though haha.

Anyways yeah I'm really excited about all this.This is definitely what I want to do with my life.I can't see myself doing anything else really(unless I need $$$ of course ).

But uh yeah, Finals are coming up..gotta get ready for that.All good.

- Darwyn out!

You'd be surprised what universities like USC and NYU will allow. All those schools have sections that allow you to explain why you may have lower grades. If you're a good writer, and if you buckle down and get good grades next year, along with good SATs, there's no telling what you may be able to accomplish.

Also, remember that getting in to the actual film schools is completely dependent on your writing skills. Develop those, and you're good there. Getting in to the university is where the academics primarily factor in.

It sounds like you've really been energized about filmmaking. Good for you; I know the feeling. Use that energy and excitement to really push yourself - work hard this summer, write some shorts, read some books, make some short films, and really get started on your college apps. Regardless of what happens, if you are able to keep this enthusiasm, you will succeed.

Good luck.

Exciting to hear that you are making some positive changes.

Before you buy any cameras or equipment I would consider sitting down and writing up some goals. Or else you will end up with a nice computer and a DVcam and nothing to do with them.

Im not sure how bad your GPA is or if it is still in rescuable range...but North Carolina School Of The Arts Admissions are generally pretty lenient concerning highschool grades/SAT scores. Also it is a great school

My GPA can't be higher than a 1 right now(should be around a 2+ by the end of this year), I'd have to check again tomorrow when I go back to school..

About the equipment stuff well I just want to make some shorts, nothing too fancy right now.What I'm planning to buy I think is pretty nice mid-range stuff..but yeah I think I'll start brainstorming, writing down some ideas!

And my writing skills are so-so, still write too much in spanish...I've been working on it though, bought some books the other day(screenplay, how to write stories etc) also planning to stay after school with my english teacher to ask for some tips.


As always thanks for the replies.

The best way to get better at writing (and really, college, films, its ALL about the writing) is to write and write and write and write. Make yourself do it, even if you don't want to. Eventually, you'll find a style that you enjoy to write, and things will become much easier. Colleges look at your writing closely: they look for how effective you can be in making a personal connection to prompts.

It sounds like you are adequately planning for your future. My advice would be to not worry too much about where you'll be in 2 years. Try and focus on living in the moment. Join some film clubs, or even shoot some yourself. Good luck to ya on your journey mang.

-Chaser

Thanks guys.Yeah I started focusing on the now a bit more, after all high school is still not over..Anyways I just found out I might be a junior again next year because I only passed about 3 classes last year.I would need about 10 more credits to be a senior(2 more classes) and thinking about Night school for next year but not really sure.There is also another way, I have to look into it a bit more with my counselor.

I will update tomorrow or on Monday :|

Hey im goin to be a junior this year and i went threw some of the same types of events. I had two friends kill themselves and then i got depressed and al this other stuff. I had the same grades as you and a real good film school that is starting to take off is KU in lawrence. It is cheaper then NYU and all the "big" film schools and you will get more attention there from the teachers. That would be my suggestion you need to get a 2.1 or have all c's to get into KU. Do some research on the internet. Just a suggestion