Admissions

Frequently Asked Questions: General

Do I need to see the Film Department advisor?
YES. Other programs may have advised you (e.g. First Year Advising, MSS, Honors, Athletics, etc.). However, the Film Department is the ultimate authority for the Film degree program. Film advisors can evaluate your academic progress and certify that major graduation requirements have been met. In addition, only the Film advisor can grant exceptions to requirements in the major. To schedule an appointment with the Film Department advisor, contact the Film Office at (407) 823-4285.

How many courses should I take my first semester?
To graduate in 4 years, you must satisfactorily complete 14 credit hours each Fall and Spring semester, and a total of 9 credits during the Summer.

What courses should I take?
The Film Department has worked out a suggested academic plan, which is available from the Film Department advisor.

Should I register for extra courses and later withdraw from the more difficult ones?
No, you should only register for courses you can realistically expect to complete, and you should do everything in your power to satisfactorily complete them. Withdrawal from, or unsatisfactory completion of, courses can prove expensive. Your tuition may increase by 400% when you register for the same class more than twice.

Should I take only my General Education requirements for the first two years?
You should emphasize the General Education Program (GEP) and the common program prerequisites in your first two years and plan on completing those classes as early as possible. That will leave you more time to work on time-consuming film projects in later years.

Can I use a transfer course in the UCF GEP?
Ask College of Arts and Humanities Student Advising ("CAHSA"). They can be reached at 407-823-3312, cahsa@mail.ucf.edu or www.cahsa.cah.ucf.edu.

Can a transfer class be used in the Film major?
Check with the Film Department advisor.

Am I required to have a minor?
See the catalog for requirements.

Do I have to take a foreign language?
You must complete one year of college-level foreign language courses or pass an equivalency examination.

When I change my major to either the BA in Cinema Studies or the BFA in Production, will I change to the newest catalog?
Yes. Any change in major requires adoption of that major's latest course catalog.

What if I decide to change my major to something else later?
If Film is not for you, by all means change to one that suits you better. To avoid lost credit, be sure to change as soon as possible. Also, changing majors requires adopting the newest catalog's requirements.

Is there a possibility of an out-of-state tuition waiver?
The Film Department is committed to providing as many internship experiences to its majors as possible. Numerous opportunities exist in the Orlando area entertainment industry and on film locations both in and out of the state. Internships are a source of important real-world experiences as well as earning college credit. Because of the sporadic nature of the film industry, internship availability may fluctuate from semester to semester. You may consult with your advisor once you have entered the department.

How many films will I make while at UCF Film School?
In the Cinema Studies BA, you can expect to make at least two films. With the BFA in Production, the answer depends on you., A student focused on Directing will likely make three to five short digital video projects and a two longer projects in the Junior and Senior years which can be shot on either film or DV. In the senior year, students work on their Capstone projects. These are generally ten to fifteen minute films that take a student's entire senior year to complete. But directing your own films is only part of the plan. All production students should expect to work on several projects each year, assisting fellow students. By the time graduation rolls around, it's possible to have worked on 30 or more student projects. Some students opt to focus on Producing rather than Directing, and will end up producing two to five projects per year. The goal of the Production curriculum is not only to train students to work within the film industry, but to also create works that can be shown on the national and international circuit of film festivals. Students that focus on Screenwriting rather than Production are expected to complete a feature-length script as their Capstone project.

Can I hold a part-time job while in the Production BFA?
A Film Production major requires extensive commitment of time on the part of the student. Some students find it very difficult to hold a part-time position as the shooting and editing schedules of live-action films often require students to work twelve hours per day and more. These realities are similar to those found in the real world of the film production industry. Other students balance their schedule so that a part-time job is possible. If you have a Work Study Grant, a variety of flexible positions are available within the Film Department.

Frequently Asked Questions: BFA Application and Portfolio

Do I have to be accepted to the University of Central Florida in order to apply to the Production BFA??
No. You can apply to both at the same time, or one before the other. But if you are accepted into the Production BFA, you must be accepted to the university before you can enroll. Just make sure you apply to both UCF and the Film Program.

Do you want unofficial or official transcripts?
We want unofficial. Simply obtain a copy of your transcripts from your high school or university, scan them, and upload them with the rest of your application.

How do I get unofficial transcripts?
They are called "official" when they are in a sealed envelope, stamped by the school and delivered to the school to which you are applying. "Unofficial" simply means that you opened the envelope and broke the seal before it reached wherever you were applying to.

This is my first semester in college and I don’t have any grades on my transcript, what should I do??
You can print out a degree audit and write in your professor’s names next to the classes you are taking and what your grade is thus far. Alternatively, you can ask the high school you graduated from to send you a copy of your high school transcripts and use those.

My files aren't uploading. What do I do?
Make sure that they are no larger than 2MB in size. The filename must have a length less than 255 characters. If it is a Word document, it must be in Word 97-2003 format. If you are still having technical problems e-mail filmadmissions@mail.ucf.edu.

I lost my Application ID. How can I retrieve it?
Use the Resend Application ID Utility.

I used the Resend Application ID Utility and it's not coming to my e-mail address. What's wrong? Make sure your e-mail is not blocking filmadmissions@mail.ucf.edu. Check your junk mail and bulk mail settings. If you still haven’t gotten your id, e-mail filmadmissions@mail.ucf.edu, be sure to include your first and last name, and the e-mail address you are using to apply.

I did not receive a confirmation e-mail so how do I know my application was submitted successfully?
Once you obtain an application ID your application is submitted and saved. Your goal is to complete each section of it by the deadline. After the deadline, whether or not you complete the application, it will still be considered submitted and ready for review.

Do I have to use all 10 pages for the creative portfolio?
No, 10 pages is the maximum.

Do I have to put everything online including my optional video?
You must upload your video via YouTube. Anything mailed will not be considered.

What if my music isn't copyrighted?
That's not a problem: you can still upload your project.

Does the time limit for the optional video include credits?
The time limit is a maximum that includes the credits.

For essay 2, do you want me to analyze the work that’s in the portfolio or just work I've done in the past?
Analyze your own work as presented in your portfolio.

When exactly is the deadline?
All materials must be uploaded and completed by end of day, midnight, December 15th.

If your questions were not answered please e-mail filmadmissions@mail.ucf.edu.