1. Complete an Application for Admission. You can either apply online or complete a paper application for admission typed or legibly printed (not faxed or emailed). Applying online is the easiest and fastest way as your entries are saved in case you have to pause and finish your application later. If you are completing a paper application, be sure to date, sign and return your application with a $50.00 non-refundable application fee or College Board ATP fee waiver. Make checks payable to Columbia College.
2. Write a personal essay of not less than 500 words describing your educational and professional objectives. Describe why you wish to pursue the intensive study of cinema/television at CCH. We want to know about you, your interests, and why you have reached the decision to study and pursue filmmaking. Tell us what excites you about this field of endeavor. Discuss your aspirations in film/TV and describe where you see yourself ten years in the future. (If you are applying online, write the essay in a program such as Microsoft Word, edit it carefully, and then paste it to your online application.)
3. Provide us with the name and address of your high school and any/all previous colleges attended. CCH will save you time by obtaining your transcripts directly from your prior school(s). CCH will also pay all transcript fees at no cost to you. We also require final transcripts from admitted students to verify that all work in process was successfully completed. In the event that the final semester of work does not meet required criteria, acceptance may be denied. Advanced Placement students must submit official AP test score results with a minimum score of 3 in order to receive college credit. (We are unable to obtain transcripts from schools attended outside of the United States. If you attended a school outside of the U.S., you will need to contact your school(s) and have them forward your transcripts directly to CCH.) Students with GED certifications are responsible for providing GED results directly to CCH.
4. Provide us with the name and address of two character references who have known you for at least one year and who are not family members. References may include an employer, an official from the last school attended – preferably a teacher, counselor or principal – or a film/TV industry professional. To simplify the admissions process, Columbia College Hollywood will contact your references directly so they can complete our standard letter of recommendation form for them to complete and return to us. Want to get a head start? Students can download a form and mail or email it directly to your recommenders and have them return it directly to CCH. If we get your recommendation forms before you complete your application for admission, we’ll keep them on file until your application is received and processed by us. (If your references reside outside of the United States, you will need to download our letter of recommendation form and mail or email it to their recommenders for them to return directly to CCH.)
Every application is thoroughly reviewed by the Admissions Committee and applications are not be reviewed until all required documents have been received. Written notification of eligibility for admission will be sent to applicants as soon as a decision has been reached. All students must have completed their high school education or completed their GED prior to matriculating at Columbia College Hollywood. Students submitting a GED may also be asked to provide official transcripts from any high schools attended.
Application Deadlines
In order for the College to receive and process all the required documents in a timely manner, we strongly recommend that you submit your application for admission and supporting documents at least three weeks before the start of the quarter.
Early Action Decisions
CCH subscribes to an Early Action admissions program for each Fall quarter start date. With Early Action admissions, the Office of Admissions will prioritize the review of Early Action candidates who have completed their applications, including all supporting material, by December 15th. The College will generally notify Early Action candidates of its admissions decision within thirty (30) days of the receipt of all information.
In some cases, the missions Committee may defer making a final decision until it has received a report of the candidate’s final transcripts or until a personal interview takes place.
Optional information to include with your application:
Portfolio and Sample reel
CCH does not require a portfolio or sample reel of your work with your application. If you wish to attach a DVD to your application, we will gladly review it. Please note that we cannot return any materials or supporting documentation you send with your application.
Standardized Test Scores
CCH strongly recommends (but does not require) the submission of SAT/ACT scores. Why? As a film school where creativity is held in high esteem, we look at the whole person and choose not to judge applicants based on a one day test that may or may not reflect their overall creative and artistic abilities.
AP Exams (CCH code 4321). Advanced Placement students must submit official AP test score results with a minimum score of 3 in order to receive college credit.
SAT Exam (CCH code 1247)
ACT Exam (CCH code 5553)
Provisional Admission
Under special circumstances or extenuating conditions, an admissions counselor may in his/or her professional judgment recommend the conditional acceptance of a student who does not meet minimum requirements for admission to the College. Approval for conditional acceptance must be granted by at least two of our Deans. When granting conditional acceptance, the College may impose specific conditions on the student, including requiring special documentation. All those conditions must be met and the student must maintain a minimum GPA of at least 2.0.
We strongly disocurage letters of appeal unless you can provide significant new information that was not included in your original application for admission. All appeals must be submitted in writing to the Director of Admissions. Applicants denied admission to the College must wait a full year before reapplying.
Deferred Enrollment
Upon acceptance, a student may, with permission from the Director of Admissions, request to defer enrollment for up to a full academic year. Students who use up their year of deferment are generally asked to reapply, though deferment extensions are sometimes granted under unusual circumstances. You must send a written request for the deferral to the Admissions Office for consideration. The request must indicate which quarter you were accepted, which future quarter you are interested in enrolling, and the reason for the request. Please specify travel, work, and educational objectives for the period of deferment.
Immunizations
Columbia College Hollywood does not require proof of immunizations or vaccinations for enrollment.
