WHY YOU SHOULD CONSIDER THE OHIO UNIVERSITY MFA PROGRAM
To Prospective Students,
Thanks very kindly for your interest in Ohio University's MFA Film program. We feel our program is a special one has much to offer you, including but by no means limited to the following:
Much Individual Assistance and Interaction with our Faculty:
We are a small graduate program (55-65 students) with 10 faculty members. Students find that they receive far more personal attention here than they do at larger schools. We offer the type of intimate and committed learning environment that private universities charge much, much more for.
The Opportunity to Work with Students from Throughout the World:
Our program is regularly 35-40% international students. Take a look at our website regarding the home countries of our current students. Our American students come from literally all sectors of the USA. Film students state that working with interesting, engaged students with such diverse viewpoints is one of the greatest strengths of our program.
Financial Aid Opportunities:
We offer all our students some combination of tuition waivers and graduate assistantships during the three years of the MFA program. Compared with the cost of graduate schools elsewhere, we most definitely are a very good financial value. The College of Fine Arts and the university offer several financial aid opportunities to 2nd and 3rd year students. Please also see our website for details about our Betty Thomas Award for women students' thesis projects.
Why Move to Athens, Ohio?:
While Athens is a rural area, we are a day's drive from New York, Chicago and many other major cities. Students tell us that this environment has the advantage of enabling them to completely focus on their creative work, as there are not the distractions here that are found in large cities. Compared with Los Angeles or New York, living expenses are very, very low. It is also important to note that while the base of student operations is Athens, our students regularly shoot their thesis films literally throughout the world. For example, over the last year students have filmed in Brazil, China, Croatia, Trinidad, and Venezuela, as well as many locales throughout the USA.
The Uniqueness of Our 1st year MFA Experience:
Unlike most Film schools, our first year MFA courses enable a student to gain an understanding of all aspects of filmmaking, not just a single facet of the profession. This breadth of knowledge has proven invaluable to many of our alumni, who state that they were able to find jobs after graduation precisely because of their ability to understand so many aspects of filmmaking. This is also very valuable to anyone considering a career as an independent filmmaker. During this first year we you’re your production costs low to enable you to save money. Visit our website at www.finearts.ohio.edu/film/ for specifics on first year MFA courses.
Our 2nd & 3rd Year MFA Experience: The freedom to explore your own vision:
After the stringent requirements of your first year, the 2nd and 3rd years of the MFA program provide you with an unusual degree of freedom and flexibility regarding the pursuit of your individual creative ideas and talents. While some specific courses are still required, students have a wide range of options beginning year two. This freedom is rare among MFA film programs. Visit our website for a list of optional and required courses during your 2nd and 3rd years.
New Track Options for MFA students:
We now offer two additional track options, a Feature Narrative Film & a Feature Length Documentary track. Details about these two new options will be posted on our website during Fall quarter of 2006.
Our Equipment & Labs:
Despite our small size we have the latest production and post-production equipment available for you. There is also a College of Fine Arts lab that offers some of the most experimental new technologies on the market.
New Studios and Offices for All Students:
Beginning January 2007, the School of Film will expand into new space on the first floor of our building, Lindley Hall. This will enable all 2nd and 3rd year MFA students to have a shared studio for Production work. There is also a small lounge and kitchen in this suite of rooms. MA and Honors Tutorial College students will each have a large office available to them.
You Retain Ownership of Your Own Creative work:
Unlike many film schools, students attending the OU School of Film retain the rights to their own creative work.
Information about our Alumni and Examples of our Student & Alumni Films:
Please check our website at www.finearts.ohio.edu/film/ for information about the professional work and careers of our alumni. We also have a Screening Room that enables you to view alumni and current student films on-line. The website is updated weekly.
Please visit the Graduate Studies website at www.ohiou.edu/graduate for on-line application materials and to request the OU graduate catalog. Should you wish to apply for admission to our program, we encourage you to first visit Ohio University and the School of Film to meet individually with our faculty and students. We will even provide you with a free lunch with current students! The deadline for receipt of applications is February 1, 2007, for admittance to the program beginning September of 2007.
In your 500 word personal essay please include which area of study you wish to emphasize within the MFA Film program. Completed applications are reviewed during February and early March by the entire faculty for possible admission into our program. We will notify you as to whether or not you have been accepted no later than early April.
Please contact Tamra LaGraff (our Administrative Associate) at 740-593-1323 or lagraff@ohio.edu, or check our website at www.finearts.ohio.edu/film/ if you have further questions. Thanks again for considering our program.
Sincerely,
Steven Ross
Director, School of Film