jam92307

I got word of acceptance to NYU about two weeks ago. They notified via email. Also, was just contacted via telephone regarding acceptance into Columbia. I think they are also sending out packages of everything in hard copy via reg mail. Good luck!

Yes. It does, because I'd heard that they ONLY like to take their own. My main concern again though, WAS the size of the program and it's competitiveness. If they let in just anyone into their MA program, how great of a program can it be. In comparison to some of the other MA programs, NYU is quite large, as you also said. I do not want to pay for a name. I want an education that is worth the extravagant amount it costs. Furthermore, from my understanding several recent graduates of the program weren't accepted into a single PhD program, which is slightly disconcerting. My primary reason for choosing NYU's MA program would be it's location (with the hope of increasing my chances of acceptance into the PhD.) However, seeing as how I'm unsure whether or not I even WANT a PhD in Cinema/Film studies, I could just as easily go to CUNY (CSI) and pay less than $20,000 for my MA, instead of $60,000.

Does anyone know how competitive NYU's Cinema Studies MA is? And for those of you who got in, what were your stats? I got in for the fall but I had a TERRIBLE GRE score, aprox. 3.6 GPA, double major in English/International Affairs, great rec letters (2 from former NYU alumni), pretty great writing sample that was quite original (according to a professor), and a good sop. Originally NYU was my first choice, but I'm beginning to doubt the quality of the education I'm going to get there. Not to mention, they offer MA students little to zero funding, and quite frankly I don't know if I want to be in debt $50,000 at the end of an 18 month program. Also, I dislike that there's no thesis option. Instead they require the comp exam. I must admit I'm a little disappointed due to the negative comments I've heard surrounding NYU's program. I know a couple recent graduates who said they didn't feel prepared AT ALL for a PhD after graduating from the CS program and I also know a PhD alumni who claimed to not have learned anything while being there. Supposedly it's one of the top programs, but I wonder about percentages of acceptance. It could be that the program is only renowned because IT IS NYU, not because the students actually receive good educations. NYU's mentality (at the MA level) seems to be "get them in, get their money, get them out..." which isn't comforting when I think about the fact that I will likely be indebted to them for life. Honestly, SFSU's program seems to be slightly better, despite the fact that is not as well-known. Any advice from former MA graduates or current Cinema Studies students would be much appreciated.