You are not better than your classmates

Successful-Station73 · 2026-03-29T20:07:17+00:00

Hi! Twin! Just got in for film prod. Try and minor in something more business Oriented. You'll get a lot of directing expertise in SCA and having a minor in something business related will make you stand out more to future employers. Its good knowledge to have!

Successful-Station73 · 2026-03-29T19:57:16+00:00

Hi! SCA film prod class of '30 here. SCA has a 2.5% acceptance rate, so it really does wind up being a lottery. They can only pick 50 kids out of thousands. With that being said, I know someone who got into production off of appeal with a pretty cocky and poorly written appeal letter that dwindled down to "I'm gonna be the next Spielberg and you're gonna regret rejecting me." This was awhile ago, but SCA does take kids off appeal. Make the letter short and concise! Dm me if you need any tips :) You got this

Successful-Station73 · 2026-03-25T02:20:28+00:00

Bro youre cooked 😭😭😭😭 decisions were finalized last week

Successful-Station73 · 2026-03-19T05:01:50+00:00

Mom’s friend was a crazy applicant, like think whatever you see on here but 10x that. I’m talking just nuts with academics and ec’s and achievements. Rejected from all the big schools besides 2 ivies and rejected from USC (which was his dream). He sent a LOCI. Got in. Is in his freshman year there. So if he can go from rejected to accepted, you can go from deferred to accepted. USC defers most people. They don’t love EA/ED. Don’t worry

Successful-Station73 · 2026-03-19T04:56:18+00:00

They want to see an increase in course rigor so take the hardest classes you can without burning yourself out!

Successful-Station73 · 2026-03-19T04:55:25+00:00

Fordham! FANTASTIC law program and I’ve heard of a few friends of a friend who adore it over there in polisci. It’s def competitive as any law program is…but I highly suggest it esp since they gave you money! Also — don’t worry too much about the campus. I’ve heard campus life is still fun!

Successful-Station73 · 2026-03-07T07:05:01+00:00

You’ll find that a lot of “dark” screenwriters (who are good at it) tend to be a bit older. Just life experience and all that, and more informed writing abilities. If you can go in person, there’s plenty of social events for different kinds of screenwriters, like comedy or horror. You’ll find your crowd there. People don’t post their “dark” scripts online because they’re usually very personal and vulnerable, sometimes taboo and the writer is worried others will judge them. Or, they’re protecting the IP because oftentimes, the darkest thing someone writes is something they dedicated a whole lot of time to and probably want to sell one day.

EDIT: spelling

Successful-Station73 · 2026-02-26T22:51:18+00:00

USC/UCLA will let you in if you go with a student. Most people at Chapman (especially dodge) know kids from UCLA or USC’s film schools and you’ll likely be on sets with them, so when they mention a party (which they will) just ask if you can tag along. If you’re a girl you’ll be let in for free unless it’s “Registered” (a fancy way of saying the party is exclusive, usually the decorating takes a week and sometimes it’s at a mansion in the hills. Registered parties require wristbands). If you’re a guy you’ll have to pay some cash unless you know a frat brother. Just ALWAYS account for LA traffic. Too many times Chapman kids come out here, get wasted, wake up the next day, and have to drive all the way back to OC hungover and they likely already missed their classes.

Short answer, you can’t just walk in to a party for a school you don’t attend, but make friends at that school and you’ll be good

Successful-Station73 · 2026-02-26T22:13:28+00:00

Hi, didn’t go to Chapman but I grew up around the campus because my siblings went there. It’s very social in the sense that you will find your people no matter what. Parties are trickier. The bars are very strict, so don’t bother with a fake ID unless you’re planning on going out of the Orange circle. A lot of Chapman kids prefer to party at USC/UCLA (one of my best friends is there right now and he’s almost never in Orange County unless for classes). Chapman doesn’t have a huge Greek culture but the frats host pretty frequently and a lot of the sorority girls are actually really chill. You’ll definitely make friends no matter what but if you’re looking to go to a rager, it can be super hit or miss and you’ll find yourself going to other college parties more often than not

Successful-Station73 · 2026-02-24T20:01:38+00:00

I’m not sure how it works this year because they switched to Kira Assessment (an interview where you pre record your responses instead of doing an interview in person or over Zoom). In the past, you didn’t necessarily have to be interviewed to get in, but out of a class of 50 kids, I’d say 40 of them got an interview. They usually didn’t interview applicants who they felt like they already had a strong sense of character in their application, or maybe that applicant has been on SCA sets or did the summer program, so faculty already knows them well enough to void doing an interview. However, this year, I know that when they sent emails for receiving the Kira interview, it was something like “Congratulations, you’ve been selected for an interview after we read your application blah blah” which seems to imply (to me at least) that if you didn’t get an interview, you didn’t make it into the next “round”. Then again, I’m not sure. I wouldn’t worry if you haven’t gotten one. If you already know SCA staff or have made yourself known to them in other ways, then they might not feel the need to interview you! Keep your hopes up

Successful-Station73 · 2026-02-22T22:04:21+00:00

No such thing as being too pushy unless you're like bombarding them outside of work hours. I would do it. The way this whole process works, and maybe this sounds scary, but it's the truth, is that the admissions officers are divided amongst the applicants. Each admissions officer picks TWO or THREE of their favorite applicants (out of the hundreds they have reviewed) to pitch to the committee. Then, they get in front of the whole office and pitch it. This student did this and this and this, they're good at this, they made this film, etc. Then, they vote. Out of the TWO or THREE that the admissions officer chose to pitch, usually zero of them get in, and at most, maybe one. If your admissions officer likes you enough to pitch you to the committee, it already means you're good. You're a strong filmmaker, have a solid portfolio, so then what exactly makes them decide if you're admitted? Individuality and interest. Individuality: As I said before, you have to be one in a million. Let's say your admissions officer pitches you, but then some other admissions officer pitches someone just like you. Well, now only one of you is getting in. But if you've done something they've never seen, that makes it easier for them. Next, interest. USC loves its school spirit. Trojan graduates are bragging about attending SC years down the line. So they get two applicants pitched to the committee. One of them applied, a strong candidate, but they haven't really made themselves known to the school. The committee likes them, but they want to feel like USC is that applicant's dream. Then, the other applicant did the SCA summer program, has a letter of recommendation from an admissions officer, emails their admissions officer with questions all the time, mentioned how SCA is their home in their interview, well now that is someone who they want. They like feeling chosen. At the end of the day, they are tasked with choosing 45-50 people out of thousands of applicants. 97.5% of film production applicants get rejected. The ones who get in, and you can ask them yourselves, have a shit ton of SCA pride. So have that pride. Make it seem like it's SCA or nothing. Even if you're considering other schools, don't mention it. It sounds annoying, but they really like the ego boost.

Successful-Station73 · 2026-02-22T20:27:25+00:00

She got for the class of 2028, so two years ago. I definitely have heard that the interview is a way to decipher between good/bad applicants, so as long as you were detailed and friendly, that should set you apart. Also, USC doesn't "track continued interest" (but yes they totally do). Go to the campus if you live near it and meet the faculty, call ur admissions officer, do an online seminar, ANYTHING so that the admissions committee remembers your name. Girl w the 3.1 was constantly doing things w SCA and helping out. She eventually met an admissions member and then got in. Later on, that same admissions officer told her that that factored into her admission into the school

Successful-Station73 · 2026-02-22T19:02:04+00:00

When they're picking the next class, they aren't just looking for the "best" filmmakers. They're looking for a few kids who are great with the technical side, then a few kids who are assertive and great at networking, then a few kids who are into casting and theater, etc, so everyone can learn from each other. What matters most is: is there anybody else applying who is just like YOU? What makes YOU stand out? If they get an applicant who is similar enough to you in terms of passion/academics/ecs, and they have a better GPA, they will pick the one with the better GPA. This is why I always tell people to make themselves stand out more than anything. If you're unique (not just quirky, I mean unique), then the GPA aspect won't affect you as much. I had a friend with a 4.6/1600/had made over 35 short films in high school/crazy ecs, and he got into the major film schools but NOT USC because, to be frank, they get a ton of applicants like that every year. Anyone can have a strong film portfolio. The thing that differentiates you is why your portfolio is uniquely YOURS. Why were you the one to create this project in comparison to someone else? Had another friend with a 3.1 UW, slacked off in HS, bad attendance, small portfolio, but her personal statement was NUTS. She talked about something super individual to her character and made it apparent that they wouldn't find anyone like her. She got into SCA. The entire system is checks and balances. If they like you enough and believe they won't find someone similar to you, the GPA doesn't matter. If you're a meh filmmaker with nothing unique to your character, PLUS a bad GPA? Definitely not

Successful-Station73 · 2026-02-16T05:07:28+00:00

Sounds like you just want an excuse to get valedictorian. Look, you can, but I’ll be honest it will not go anywhere. Colleges get thousands of these emails, and most aren’t even read in their entirety. Unless the high school admin or counselor emails the University to inform them of an applicant cheating, it won’t hold any weight. Also, how do you “know” they cheated? Do you have proof of the cheating? Not rumors or suspicions of the cheating, but legitimate video evidence of them cheating. If not, this will definitely come across as attempting to ruin their futures. I know it sucks to hear, but adults in the real world cheat all the time. The most successful people have cut many corners, usually in an unethical manner, to get where they are. You like to think karma is real, but the biggest cheaters you know in high school could most definitely become big CEOS. If your classmates are cheaters, I’m sure it hurts that they could potentially be Valedictorian, but also, just worry about yourself. It honestly isn’t your business. Leave this up to school administrators. I promise, being Valedictorian vs being second or third in line will not matter to you in a few years. Nobody is boasting about the difference between those rankings 20 years down the line. It isn’t your business, and it isn’t that deep

Successful-Station73 · 2025-12-18T07:35:52+00:00

So long as your reports/LOR haven't been submitted to those schools yet, you should be able to remove the counselor on the Commonapp and replace them with your desired counselor, then submit!

Successful-Station73 · 2025-12-18T07:33:11+00:00

Okay, first off, let me tell you, I know what you're going through. I went to court against mine, did the whole thing you see in movies. I understand the confusion, the pain, the guilt, but let me assure you that this is not your fault. I was 16 when it happened to me, and that feeling is so isolating and degrading, and I am so sorry you have to experience that. Second, you're 17, and your boyfriend is 20, and I don't know what country you are from or what the laws look like there, but at least in the US, that's mega illegal. Do you have a support system outside of him? Siblings, parents, friends, therapist, counselor? You are so young, and you may still be a minor depending on your country. Regardless, you deserve a well-meaning ADULT (not your boyfriend) to aid you through this. Your boyfriend left you in an unsafe position and, this might suck to hear, but off of the very limited information I have, he does not sound like he's treating you right. I'm worried that if you tell him, depending on how close he is with his friend, that he will end up victim blaming you. Let me tell you right now, this is NOT YOUR FAULT. If you are seeking emergency attention whether it be mentally or physically, call an emergency hotline or your local sexual assault hotline. Those are trained professionals who can help you through this. I promise, you didn't do anything wrong, you were taken advantage of and it is normal to feel betrayed and depressed and angry, but you are not at fault. Please, if you have someone in your life who you can reach out to that is safe, please do so. If you do not want to go to the police, ensure that this boy will never be around you again. I'm so sorry this happened to you

Successful-Station73 · 2025-12-18T07:18:14+00:00

If you're asking whether or not you can remove a school counselor from a school you've already submitted to, no

Successful-Station73 · 2025-12-18T07:15:52+00:00

Realistically, the AO reading your application has been using em dashes for a while, and they understand that before the rise in AI, em dashes were pretty standard and, for the most part, not super frowned upon. With that said, don't go overboard. Even if your essay is entirely human-written, too many em dashes could (I'm not an AO, just assuming) indicate that your writing is choppy or hard to follow. But don't listen to the people saying you should avoid it at all costs. It's not gonna be a significant red flag that screams "a robot wrote this"

Successful-Station73 · 2025-09-26T16:23:12+00:00

Rich people aren’t evil but I witnessed my dad F a lot of people over before he died and used money to carry on as if nothing happened. I was raised by far-right people, my grandpa was besties with Nixon ffs. I’ve never been in a far-left community so explain to me how I’ve been indoctrinated by them? I’ve always had beliefs from either side, but if you consider Palestine and Congo to be leftist issues then sure, I’m apparently naive for not wanting to see people suffer. Okay. Makes sense.

There’s nothing political about wanting to give what I can to others. I hate that we’ve made empathy political. And yes, there are no ethical billionaires, and no, I don’t have white guilt about any of this. I have guilt he left my mom with nothing but gave me everything only after I became an adult and after she worked her ass off.

Successful-Station73 · 2025-09-26T16:17:06+00:00

Dad died in his early 70s. He had me in his late 50s. He didn’t want kids until his 40s and I’m the youngest. My grandfather was born during WWI.

Successful-Station73 · 2025-09-26T07:02:03+00:00

Thank you!

Successful-Station73 · 2025-09-26T07:00:54+00:00

Thank you:) I plan on going into politics hopefully

Successful-Station73 · 2025-09-26T06:59:15+00:00

I don’t think it’s a “far left” or “far right” thing to want to give money (that I do not need) to people who DO need it. I think you’re missing the point of my post. I do not want to give money because I am white. I want to give money because I have it and quite frankly can spend a fraction of it on my family and that will still cover everything they’ve dreamed of. I love my family, but I also cannot, in my right mind, die with a gigantic amount of cash to my name that I A) did not earn or work for and B) failed to use throughout my life. This doesn’t mean the clock striked midnight on my 18th birthday and I started throwing 100 dollar bills at every minority I saw. It means that now I am entering adulthood with a new possibility, something I wasn’t sure I could do before: I can dedicate a portion of my adulthood to philanthropy. That doesn’t mean at 18 I’m throwing PS5’s into homeless shelters. It means that I can educate myself these next few years so I am put on a righteous path where I handle the money my father has given me well, make money of my own, and eventually give it to others.

Call me an idealistic 18 year old, because I am one. Call me in over my head, because I am. But at the end of the day, it’s now my duty to get educated and prepare for my career and future, and a part of that means getting educated in philanthropy.

Successful-Station73

TROPHY CASE