Admissions Requirements for the MFA-IFDI
Applications for admission are accepted on a rolling basis. Students may apply at anytime and expect a program review and decision within two weeks. Applications for admission are available from the GSU Office of Admission and Student Recruitment. Due to limited space availability, this program can only accept 15 students on each track at any give time. Some applicants will be admitted on a conditional basis.
Applicants must submit evidence of the following to the Office of Admissions https://apply.govst.edu/apply/
- an undergraduate major in Film, Media, Multimedia, Communications, English, or related areas
- appropriate prerequisite coursework with a minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- official TOEFL scores (if applicable)
- a $50 application fee
- a digital portfolio: for students in Filmmaking, please share a sample of a prior production via a link on vimeo, youtube, or personal website, or a sample screenplay; for students in Photography and Digital Imaging, please share a web link to samples of your work
- up to three letters of reference from individuals who can speak to your strengths as a potential student.
- a personal statement of intent with respect to your goals for the degree and artistic philosophy
- a current resume
Applicants may, at the discretion of the M.F.A. admissions committee, also be requested to participate in a personal interview.
Some of the additional admissions requirements may be waived for internal applicants.
Testimonials
"The IFDI program is all about authorship and encouraging the creative growth of individual writer-directors and photographers. GSU student and alumni films have been screened at hundreds of international film festivals and won multiple awards. Our faculty has received recognition from major entities such as the Guggenheim Foundation, the New York Times, and Roger Ebert. To top it all off, an MFA at GSU is more affordable than one at other Chicago-area schools."
Dan Nearing, Full Professor of IFDI
"The MFA program encourages you to take your big ideas and turn them into a real production by providing you with the creative channels, skills, and knowledge you need to do it. My professors gave me the push to take strategic risks and follow my passion—that created confidence that I now implement in my current job where I use the skills I gained as an M.F.A. student in studio production, filming, and editing."
Uriah Berryhill, Specialist, TV & Media Production
"IFDI offers a unique Chicago based MFA experience where self-motivated, independent writer-directors and photographers come together to form an artistic community in which each individual develops their artistic voice and vision under the mentorship of renowned faculty."
Beth Parin, Associate Professor IFDI