Exercise 22. Fill in the gaps using the parts of sentences given below
1. Some well-endowed universities such as USC offer merit based scholarships for undergrad studies to international students … .
2. Graduate programs dig deeper and make it possible for students to choose between Master of Arts (MA) and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degrees and the opportunity… .
3. Unsurprisingly, … top class training, exposure, influential contacts and nearly always a push to recognition.
4. If the prospect of a truly interdisciplinary experience appeals to you in addition to … both in student body representation and in the rare opportunity to conduct creative work and research practically anywhere on the globe then UCLA’s school of TFT is tailor-made for you.
5. International students may also …, which usually require a co-signer who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
6. Depending on your personal strengths and your preference for an exclusive or multidisciplinary approach, the list of top ranking film schools … .
7. Coming through as a well-educated, determined, imaginative and creative person can … .
8. No matter how high up your film school is in the rankings, one piece of advice often given to students of film and digital media is to not rest on the laurels … .
9. Although … at any of the leading US universities is about USD 38,000 – 40,000, what you pay for can be a difference.
10. The BLS predicted that producers and directors would … .
11. If the reputation for having probably the largest number of its graduates in the industry…, it would make USC come out on tops.
12. Some top schools place the MA and MFA programs close together, so that … .
13. It is advisable to develop a plan to … scholarships exclusive to your school.
14. Students can “taste” the field by taking on internships with film companies or … .
A. getting into the top schools is tough and expensive but the rewards just as sweet in terms of
B. trying their hand at working for graduate student films
C. of having a top-notch degree under your belt but to be prepared to “hustle”
D. in which case admission runs concurrently with the financial aid process
E. a deeply rooted commitment to global diversity
F. carries weight for you
G. can be redrawn to better suit your individual interest
H. see an 11% employment growth rate
I. students have ready access to the experience of their counterparts
J. the average tuition fee for a year at film school
K. to enrol for research heavy PhD programs
L. cover the cost of tuition, fees and living expenses for the entire length of your program and always keep a look out for
M. be eligible for loans through private lending sources
N. heavily tilt the scales in your favour
Exercise 23. Share your ideas on the following issues.
1. The best way to cover tuition fees and living expenses is …
2. The best way to hone your skills is …
3. If you want to get a scholarship …
4. The best thing to do when you get a degree is …
Exercise 24. a) Make a presentation on Film, TV and Digital Media Programs and Degrees in U.S.
B) Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of American approach to film education.
Exercise 25. Familiarise yourself with the rules of SoP writing.
THE STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
The Statement of Purpose is the most important part of your University application that
will tell the admissions committee who you are, what has influenced your career path so far, your professional interests and where you plan to go from here.
Often, SoP is used as a yardstick to assess the capabilities of a prospective student in terms of critical thinking, analytical abilities, interests, aims and aspirations. It is a good way for an applicant to communicate with the admissions committee. Most admissions committees look for a short, crisp and clear SoP. It is also known as “Graduate School Essay”. Other universities sometimes call it a “Letter of Intent”, “Letter of Intention”, “Statement of Intent”, “Statement of Intention”, “Statement of Interest”, “Goals Statement”, “Personal Statement”, “Personal Narrative” or “Application Essay”. The name can be just a name but often it influences content and length of the essay. Every university has its own regulations but most of the time it will be 1 – 2 pages.
It shouldn’t be a bald statement of facts, but it must be well written to be successful. The SoP is the only part of your application packet over which you have full control. For your academic and extra-curricular records you have already presented your GMAT, GRE or TOEFL scores and recommendation letters. The SoP is your chance to talk directly to the admissions committee, to make yourself stand out from among a multitude of similarly qualified candidates, to convince the committee that you have the spark, the thirst for knowledge that could add value to your application.
Usually the SoP or essay is put off till the last possible moment. It scares us when we look at those oh-so-perfect essay examples in the admissions guidebooks and wonder how we can ever write so well. Finally we write something, because time’s pressing and we have to meet the application deadline. If you do it this way, you are practically throwing away your chances of admission. If you plan correctly, you can give yourself enough time to submit a well-written, thoughtful, polished essay that will boost your chances for admission. Equally important, this is a great opportunity to look inside yourself and be rewarded by a better understanding of who you are.
The primary question admissions committee members ask themselves when they read a Statement of Purpose is: “What does this essay tell me about the person who wrote it?” Put yourself in an admission officer’s shoes. From among thousands of applications, you have to choose the fraction of interesting, confident and enthusiastic students that will comprise next year’s incoming class.
1. Create an outline.
– In order to convince an admissions committee to accept you, you must be convinced yourself. You must be sure of what you want, why you want it, and why that particular program can help you.
– Why should the school select you over someone else? You must be able to answer that question for yourself. Know your strengths and weaknesses.
– Before beginning to write, think. Review your intellectual and personal development over your academic career. When you can clearly articulate the history that led you to decide to apply to a particular program, you are ready to begin writing.
2. Write the introduction and thesis statement. This is the one sentence that introduces the central idea of the paper. It must be specific. This statement should sum up the basic meaning of the essay, and signal to the reader what to expect.
3. Create a strong opening paragraph of five sentences or less. Briefly explain who you are, where you’re from, why you have chosen the particular field to which you’re applying, and why the university is among your first choices.
4. The body of the paper. Each paragraph should deal with a single central idea. This idea should be introduced early in a topic sentence, telling the reader what to expect in the paragraph.
a) Explain your background. Show that you are academically prepared for your chosen program. Include the following:
– Where and what you’ve studied.
– Past research or diploma projects you’ve participated in.
– If applying to a program in a different field of study, explain how the skills you learned in earning your degree can be applied to the new field.
b)Describe your professional goals.
– Why you find your particular field of study interesting. What influenced you to choose that field?
– Include any related experience or research you’ve had or been involved in to date.
c) Describe your future plans after receiving your degree. Will you be continuing in your education, or will you be working in your field?
d) Explain your reasoning.
– Describe what and why you have chosen to study.
– Where your specific interests lie in your field.
– Why this program is needed for your professional development, and how great is the need.
– Describe what led you to your choice of university—courses, faculty, research projects, facilities, etc.
5.Write your conclusion. Sum up the main points, and describe what you can contribute to the program.