How should I prepare for film school?

Answered

I'm going to answer this differently. I truly believe that if you want to attend USC, UCLA, NYU or other coveted film schools, you have to make an impressive short film.

Your creativity, passion and raw talent evidenced in a film you submit in your portfolio will make or break your admissions regardless of your grades, test scores and course rigor.

Sure you should continue to be a very good student striving for the best grades and doing all the things that other HS student do like leadership, community service, clubs, sports etc. But if you are going to college that teaches a "spike" profession then you have to hone that "spike" so it aligns with what they are looking for.

Here's an analogy. If you want to get admitted into Julliard for music, singing or dance, your grades and test scores are less important that your raw talent and potential. Therefore successful admits have danced, sang or played an instrument for 10 years. Then they audition for Julliard. The audition is more important than the application.

If you haven't taken photography, digital film making or experimented with your own home movies, you have less than 3 years to curate an impressive portfolio. One thing that is clearly different than applying to these school 10, 20 or 30 years ago is the cost of equipment has come way down. HS students used to submit Super 8 films or videos filmed on Sony Handicams. These days even the current iPhones have good 4K filming capability.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pykwckh0Acs

And if work part-time jobs, perhaps you can save enough to get a BlackMagic 4K pocket cinema camera.

Good luck.