Graduate School for Film Programs: Outline and Tips for Applying to Loyola Marymount University Film Graduate School

Graduate School for Film Programs: Outline and Tips for Applying to Loyola Marymount University Film Graduate School
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The Best Hidden Gem

When people look over the list of top film schools in the Los Angeles area they tend to immediately think of USC, UCLA, and AFI film schools. These are all top film schools, but Loyola Marymount University also remains one of the most notable film schools in the country. The Loyola Marymount University’s School of Film and Television is a great program that holds many famous alumni in screenwriting, television production, and various film production roles. The Loyola Marymount University’s film school offers three graduate film programs including Feature Film Screenwriting, Writing and Producing for Television, and Production (Film and Television), which is the much more standard graduate film school program. Loyola Marymount University is a great option for any one applying for a graduate film school, and is often easier during the admissions process. Here are some tips for putting together an effective application to Loyola Marymount University’s School of Film and Television graduate program in Production.

Graduate Film Application

Loyola Marymount University really does require you to apply in their graduate department rather than to the School of Film and Television specifically. What is notable about the Loyola Marymount University is that the deadline is later than much of the other top film schools and is on February fifteenth. They also require you to put down a $250 deposit toward the LMU graduate film school tuition. What this means is that if you are to be accepted into LMU the $250 will automatically go there, whether or not you are actually planning on attending at LMU. This means that you really need to be relatively sure that LMU is a viable option for you and not just a throw away school. LMU is going to have less strenuous of an application process than USC or the AFI, so you will want to always keep it on your list.

Letters of Recommendation

Loyola Marymount University’s graduate admissions department provides its own form to go along with letters of recommendation. The graduate film program requires only two letters of recommendation, but it is important to get the Graduate Divisino Recommendation Form to the recommendation letter author to go along with their product. This is just an associated document for LMU’s graduate admissions department to go through.

Creative Work

LMU’s film school will require that you send in some creative work, which means film and video projects. This is true of most film schools, minus UCLA and USC, so you should probably have a portfolio reel already put together. You are going to want to keep this concise and under twenty minutes total. The longer an item is the less the admissions department will often pay attention, so you will win points by having concise films that tell a story. If you have a longer film you want to show then send a representative segment and then list some information about the final film. Do all this on a well authored DVD, which will go a long way during Master’s of Fine Arts admissions decisions.

Admissions

If you are chosen to attend LMU’s film school you will likely then be asked to submit a document for scholarship consideration. This is important because it will determine the funding you will receive for your degree from Loyola Marymount University. You will basically apply to both the university and the School of Film and Television for scholarships. It is important to be as thorough as you can here, explaining anything unique about your background and outlining why your financial need is significant. This is where the detail is important and where you must identify why you are special in this situation.