Media/Film Studies 2017 Applications

[tunamelt]

Thought I'd start a thread as nothing popped up in my search!

I come from the UK with a BA in art history and MA that specialised in film studies (though my degree is officially 'history of art', hoping it won't be held against me!) and so far I'm interested in:
-Film and Visual Studies at Harvard
-MCM at Brown
-History, Theory and Crit at MIT (in the arch department, but they accept art historians there's a guy who specialises in my intended topic)

I don't have a large choice of locations, as I'm staying on the East Coast to be near my partner who can't move. Also feeling pretty bummed that the course most aligned with my interests is Harvard's, which seems impossible to get into!

[dreamsfrombunkerhill]

Hi tunamelt and others (who will hopefully materialize!),

I went to Berkeley where I earned my B.A. in Film and Art History and a minor in English.  

I'm applying to PhD programs at: 
UC Santa Barbara (Film and Media Studies); UC Berkeley (Film and Media); Harvard (Film and Visual Studies); Stanford (Art History with focus in cinema); Duke (Literature); UC Santa Cruz (Film and Digital Media); University of Pittsburgh (Film Studies and Art History joint program); Yale (Film Studies and Art History joint program)

I might be applying to USC (Cinema and Media Studies) – Not sure about this program because I really want an interdisciplinary approach and from what I can tell from their (really crappy) website, they don't seem to value an integrative approach across fields.

My honors thesis advisor already told me there's little chance of being readmitted to Berkeley; sadly, they generally don't like to welcome back their own. I'm wondering if applying to Rhetoric would be a better idea since it'd be a change of departments. Any insight is welcome!

Tunamelt, Harvard is also my number one  Fingers crossed for both of us.  Also, I ruled out MIT after talking to a professor in the Art History Dept. at Berkeley who got her PhD there.  She told me the faculty of HTC tends to look down upon film studies as a discipline (yikes!).  I'd take that with a grain of salt, though, as she wasn't exactly enthusiastic about, well, anything.

I'm happy to exchange Statements of Purpose with anyone! I'd love some feedback. Also, anyone who is applying to the University of California system – what the hell are you doing about the "Personal History Statement"? I don't remember having to write two separate pieces when I applied as an undergrad .-.

[BLeonard]

Hello - I may be considering applying for a Cinema Studies M.A. at NYU (still very on the fence), but I look forward to discussing this with y'all!

[The Shade King]

Greetings, 

I am applying to mostly interdisciplinary programs but I will also apply to a few cultural studies based Media programs. I am from the Southeastern US. I have a BA in Geography and I am getting a second BA in Liberal Studies

Media/ or Communication based Cultural Studies: Wisconsin-Madison-Media and Culture Track, debating Pitts program( it looks nice but I dont know) and one or two more.. Still trying to get my school list lower. 

 

[tunamelt]

On 10/26/2016 at 6:43 PM, dreamsfrombunkerhill said:

Hi tunamelt and others (who will hopefully materialize!),

I went to Berkeley where I earned my B.A. in Film and Art History and a minor in English.  

I'm applying to PhD programs at: 
UC Santa Barbara (Film and Media Studies); UC Berkeley (Film and Media); Harvard (Film and Visual Studies); Stanford (Art History with focus in cinema); Duke (Literature); UC Santa Cruz (Film and Digital Media); University of Pittsburgh (Film Studies and Art History joint program); Yale (Film Studies and Art History joint program)

I might be applying to USC (Cinema and Media Studies) – Not sure about this program because I really want an interdisciplinary approach and from what I can tell from their (really crappy) website, they don't seem to value an integrative approach across fields.

My honors thesis advisor already told me there's little chance of being readmitted to Berkeley; sadly, they generally don't like to welcome back their own. I'm wondering if applying to Rhetoric would be a better idea since it'd be a change of departments. Any insight is welcome!

Tunamelt, Harvard is also my number one  Fingers crossed for both of us.  Also, I ruled out MIT after talking to a professor in the Art History Dept. at Berkeley who got her PhD there.  She told me the faculty of HTC tends to look down upon film studies as a discipline (yikes!).  I'd take that with a grain of salt, though, as she wasn't exactly enthusiastic about, well, anything.

I'm happy to exchange Statements of Purpose with anyone! I'd love some feedback. Also, anyone who is applying to the University of California system – what the hell are you doing about the "Personal History Statement"? I don't remember having to write two separate pieces when I applied as an undergrad .-.

Nice to hear from you!

Those seem like a solid list of courses! have you looked into Chicago much?

Are you only applying to places where there is definitely at least one professor who shares interests with you? I'm finding it all to be a conundrum, everywhere wants you to write a personal statement focusing on your potential research, but they totally understand that your research focus may change.... in that sense I don't whether to apply to places which broadly align with my interests (e.g. interdisciplinary, strong focus on critical theory) but there are no staff members who I 'click' with on paper. urgh!

Yeah to be doesn't the HTC doesn't make me too jazzed, but I have friends who been through the program and loved it, and some of the profs look great, so I'm not sure!

Have you been emailing any of the Harvard staff or visited? I met with Carrie L-B last year, but would love to study with giuliana bruno (though have had zeroooo responses to my emails -_-)

[The Shade King]

On 11/1/2016 at 8:52 PM, tunamelt said:

Nice to hear from you!

Those seem like a solid list of courses! have you looked into Chicago much?

Are you only applying to places where there is definitely at least one professor who shares interests with you? I'm finding it all to be a conundrum, everywhere wants you to write a personal statement focusing on your potential research, but they totally understand that your research focus may change.... in that sense I don't whether to apply to places which broadly align with my interests (e.g. interdisciplinary, strong focus on critical theory) but there are no staff members who I 'click' with on paper. urgh!

Yeah to be doesn't the HTC doesn't make me too jazzed, but I have friends who been through the program and loved it, and some of the profs look great, so I'm not sure!

Have you been emailing any of the Harvard staff or visited? I met with Carrie L-B last year, but would love to study with giuliana bruno (though have had zeroooo responses to my emails -_-)

 

 

Dont feel bad. While i have received a lot of email replies  and had nice phone conversations with varying faculty. The ivy leagues schools has been very, very had to get an email reply from. Its interesting and I try not to take it personal. I try to just think of it as they are just that busy.

[tunamelt]

On 12/3/2016 at 11:29 AM, The Shade King said:

 

 

Dont feel bad. While i have received a lot of email replies  and had nice phone conversations with varying faculty. The ivy leagues schools has been very, very had to get an email reply from. Its interesting and I try not to take it personal. I try to just think of it as they are just that busy.

Hey thanks for the reply - yeah that makes sense, when I sat down with the head of the Harvard faculty last year, she makes clear that she only really gets in contact with or agrees to meet students who are already at Harvard (I was doing my MA there so got lucky). As an alumni I thought that might hold some weight when trying to get in contact with other staff members but no luck annoyingly!

[moviegirl]

I have applied to many schools with the hope of getting into at least one Film Studies type of PhD program. I was trying to create a list of "reach" schools versus "safety" schools although I know all are hard for Phd programs.  I will be graduating with my master's degree in the Spring in Digital Storytelling and my undergrad was in Media and Film.  Any other suggestions for schools to apply to?

Un of Mich, UT-Austin, Un of Rochester, Un of Wisconsin-Madison, Bowling Green Un, Indiana Un, Un of Florida, Texas Tech, Un of Pittsburgh

I have a 3.9+ , but mediocre GRE scores (math is bringing it down).  I have some very good papers, strong LORs and have presented at a few academic conferences. After reading many of the results and comments on here I feel like I might not get into any program. Any feedback on the schools/programs from above would be very welcome.  I tried to come up with a reasonable/realistic list of schools. Any suggestions or additional schools or programs I should look at? 

[The Shade King]

11 hours ago, moviegirl said:

I have applied to many schools with the hope of getting into at least one Film Studies type of PhD program. I was trying to create a list of "reach" schools versus "safety" schools although I know all are hard for Phd programs.  I will be graduating with my master's degree in the Spring in Digital Storytelling and my undergrad was in Media and Film.  Any other suggestions for schools to apply to?

Un of Mich, UT-Austin, Un of Rochester, Un of Wisconsin-Madison, Bowling Green Un, Indiana Un, Un of Florida, Texas Tech, Un of Pittsburgh

I have a 3.9+ , but mediocre GRE scores (math is bringing it down).  I have some very good papers, strong LORs and have presented at a few academic conferences. After reading many of the results and comments on here I feel like I might not get into any program. Any feedback on the schools/programs from above would be very welcome.  I tried to come up with a reasonable/realistic list of schools. Any suggestions or additional schools or programs I should look at? 

OSU Comparative Studies might be a good fit. I would look at the communication program at Minnesota as well. Also folks like UCSB Film and Media studies as well. Oh and Boston University as a new Phd in Emerging Media. I would try to get a mix of state and private schools. Also I started reading journals that I wanted to publish in and as I found scholars I liked. I looked at where they went to school. I noticed patterns and trends. That helped me realize that some school produce better Phds than others for whatever reason and they should be looked at. Hireability and a records of good scholars were big things for me in school choices. Also potential advisors and secondary programs on campus I might want to take a class from.

[jrockford27]

On January 13, 2017 at 9:12 AM, moviegirl said:

I have applied to many schools with the hope of getting into at least one Film Studies type of PhD program. I was trying to create a list of "reach" schools versus "safety" schools although I know all are hard for Phd programs.  I will be graduating with my master's degree in the Spring in Digital Storytelling and my undergrad was in Media and Film.  Any other suggestions for schools to apply to?

Un of Mich, UT-Austin, Un of Rochester, Un of Wisconsin-Madison, Bowling Green Un, Indiana Un, Un of Florida, Texas Tech, Un of Pittsburgh

I have a 3.9+ , but mediocre GRE scores (math is bringing it down).  I have some very good papers, strong LORs and have presented at a few academic conferences. After reading many of the results and comments on here I feel like I might not get into any program. Any feedback on the schools/programs from above would be very welcome.  I tried to come up with a reasonable/realistic list of schools. Any suggestions or additional schools or programs I should look at? 

I currently attend one of the programs on your list and nothing you've said here would keep you out.  My GRE quantitative was very pedestrian (64th pct'l) and my degree was in English lit, I had only a BA with undergraduate conferences on my CV.  Don't get too psyched out, if you've made a strong case for fit that's what truly matters if you've got the prerequisites in place (and it seems you do).

[dreamsfrombunkerhill]

Anyone have news of acceptances/rejections yet?  I was called on Thursday by USC and offered a fully funded position in their Cinema and Media Studies MA program!  I applied to the Ph.D., but I'll take anything!!

Edited January 16, 2017 by dreamsfrombunkerhill

[The Shade King]

@dreamsfrombunkerhill Congrats on the acceptance. I wanted to apply to USC but ended up not doing at the last minute. they have some top notch people there if you are into race and popular culture.

[moviegirl]

On January 14, 2017 at 2:43 PM, jrockford27 said:

I currently attend one of the programs on your list and nothing you've said here would keep you out.  My GRE quantitative was very pedestrian (64th pct'l) and my degree was in English lit, I had only a BA with undergraduate conferences on my CV.  Don't get too psyched out, if you've made a strong case for fit that's what truly matters if you've got the prerequisites in place (and it seems you do).

Thank you for the advice and reassurance.  It is helpful!

[clauderains]

Hello, fellow watchers and waiters!

I applied to the following:

• UT-Austin--MA (previously accepted for Fall 2015; chose to go after a job which ultimately went nowhere :/) 
• USC--PhD
• UMich--PhD
• UPitt (w/English)--PhD
• Yale (w/American Studies)--PhD

Still haven't heard from any of them. My focus was fairly narrow--or, at the very least, made me decide against applying to schools like Harvard, UChicago and Brown--I'd like to focus on bisexuality in media, particularly subtextual bisexuality in Old Hollywood/Code films. (Think Captain Renault in Casablanca, for example.) I also applied to several schools in writing for film/television (NYU, Northwestern, LIU, LMU, UT-Austin [again!]), and I'm accepted at one already (LIU), so all hope is not lost if I don't get into a film and media studies program, but I know I'd be happier/more satisfied as an academic who happens to do creative work in their (rare) spare time than a creative who tries to do academic work in their (rare) spare time. Irregardless, I'll be working with what I love, so I'm trying to keep hope alive. 

Well, that's me. 

[dreamsfrombunkerhill]

@clauderains Best of luck and congratulations on your acceptance to LIU!  Out of curiosity, did you ask UT Austin if you could defer in order to pursue the job for a year?

[clauderains]

@dreamsfrombunkerhill I did not. I believe I looked into it, and they didn't offer deferments, although I may be wrong about that. The job was for two years, though (teaching fellowship). 

And thank you! Congrats on the USC acceptance! 

[imamura12]

hey all! i applied to

• chicago (phd)
• brown (phd)
• harvard (phd)
• nyu (ma)

no word back from any yet...

[tunamelt]

@dreamsfrombunkerhill congrats! and @moviegirl your application still sounds strong to me!

@imamura12 welcome to our very quiet thread! what sort of research are you interested in? 

[brogan4334]

Hi everyone! I've been accepted to

MSU (PhD in English, Film studies track)

UC Berkeley (Film and Media)

and am waiting to hear back from Tisch and Brown 

[dreamsfrombunkerhill]

@brogan4334 Congratulations on your acceptances!  Did your notification from UCB include any stats regarding admissions?  Haven't heard back from them yet and I'm curious.

[dreamsfrombunkerhill]

For anyone who applied to Pitt: a professor with whom I am interested in working let me know I was waitlisted yesterday, so I suppose they should be coming out with acceptances and rejections soon.

[clauderains]

Aw, you got me all excited (applying to UPitt), but I think the timelines might be different, since you're Art History and Film, and I'm English and Film. Well, fingers crossed anyways. 

[dreamsfrombunkerhill]

@clauderains The prof told me they accepted five people this year.

[clauderains]

@dreamsfrombunkerhill Oh, wow. That also makes it sound as if they already told those who were accepted. And USC only accepted six! Not good odds at all. 

[dreamsfrombunkerhill]

@clauderains Tell me about it! USC was 6 out of 128 — that's like 4.6%...