Admission Process and Requirements | Apply to Film School

Admissions Requirements

DFA admits academically qualified students on the basis of individual merit and without regard to protected status.

Applying for admissions: DFA accepts applications for admission all year round and will consider applications received up to two weeks into the current academic term. Applications may be submitted online via DFA’s admission webpage, available at https://www.digitalfilmacademy.edu/apply-now/.

Prospective students must meet the following enrollment or admissions requirements:

Be at least 18 years of age
High School graduate or holder of GED or has a diploma or transcripts confirming bachelor level degree(s) or above earned from an accredited institution. International students who demonstrate their eligibility for admission based on high school education or higher in a foreign country must submit their proof of education to a credential evaluation process. More information about the credential evaluation process and the overall process for international students can be found here: https://www.digitalfilmacademy.edu/international-students/
Participate in an online interview
Able to speak, read/write, and understand the English language
Able to use a computer to navigate in an operating system environment
Able to demonstrate ability to learn in an online environment
Access to the internet and a reliable laptop or desktop computer with a current web browser, and webcam
Provide proof of identification (see table below)

Students must provide one document from List A OR one document from List B and one from List C:

List A

List B

List C

U.S. passport or passport card
Permanent resident card or alien registration receipt card (Form I-551)
Employment authorization document card (Form I-766)
Foreign passport with Form I- 94 or I-94A (must contain an endorsement)
Passport from the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) or the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) with Form I-94 or Form I-94A
Foreign passport containing a Form I-551 stamp or Form I- 551 printed notation.

Driver’s license
ID card issued by federal, state or local government agencies or entities. This must contain a photograph or information such as name, date of birth, gender, height, eye color and address.
School ID card with a photograph
Voter registration card
U.S. military card or draft record
Military dependent’s ID card
U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document
Native American tribal document
Driver’s license issued by a Canadian government.

U.S. Social Security account number card. A card with any of the following restrictions is not acceptable: “Not valid for employment,” “Valid for work only with authorization,” “Valid for work only with DHS authorization.”
Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240)
Certification of Birth Abroad issued by the U.S. Department of State (Form FS- 545)
Certification of Report of Birth issued by the U.S. Department of State (Form DS- 1350)
Original or certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a state, county, municipal authority or outlying territory of the United States bearing an official seal.
U.S. Citizen ID Card (Form I-197)
Identification Card for Use of Resident Citizen in the United States (Form I- 179)
Employment authorization document issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Application processing deadlines:

Items Required for admissions: In addition to the application available online, application documents must be submitted through DFA’s enrollment portal. Documents not submitted according to these instructions will not be considered. The following documentation must be submitted for an application to be considered:

*DFA, may at its discretion authenticate evidence of high school equivalency if it has reason to doubt its authenticity. Verification may include following up with a high school and other means as may be necessary. If DFA believes evidence of high school equivalency is fraudulent, it will refer the matter to the Department of Education, Office of Inspector General.

Language Requirements

All DFA courses are offered in the English language. CompTIA Digital Film Academy (DFA) does not offer English as a Second Language (ESL). The student must be able to speak, read/write and understand the English language to enroll in any DFA program. The student’s signature on the enrollment agreement signifies that they attest to their ability to be able to speak, read/write, and understand the English language. In addition, DFA verifies English language skills through the admissions process.

Interview

An individual who seeks admission to CompTIA Digital Film Academy will be interviewed in- person, by telephone, or online. The purpose of the interview is to discover and discuss the prospective student’s background, interests, and goals as they relate to programs, workshops, and courses offered at DFA. Students who miss or do not show for their online interview with DFA two (2) times will not be considered for the program cohort they have been attempting to enroll into and must reapply for a future cohort.

Ability to Learn in an Online Environment and Hardware/Software Requirements

Students seeking to enroll into a DFA program will need to possess the ability to learn in an online environment, as well as the hardware and software required for the program. During the admissions process, students will be assessed on their ability to learn in an online environment using a scaled rubric. Additionally, students will be asked to confirm whether they have the appropriate hardware and software for use in the program.

Application Procedure

Prospective students who are interested in enrolling in a DFA program must submit an application through the DFA website (https://www.digitalfilmacademy.edu/apply-now/). All DFA programs have ongoing enrollment throughout the year and application deadline dates will vary by scheduled cohort. Students can refer to the DFA website to view the upcoming program schedule.

Prospective students will be required to provide proof of high school completion, or a GED and a valid government issued photo identification or driver’s license. Eligible applicants who have requested financial assistance in the application will be required to provide certain documents in order to continue with the financial assistance process (e.g., W-2 forms, pay stubs, public assistance documentation).

Following submission of the application, applicants will receive an invitation to take an aptitude test online. The aptitude test is used to determine an individual’s ability/potential to succeed in a certain task, with no prior knowledge or training. Applicants must achieve a passing score of at least 6 out of 10 in order to proceed in the application process. All applicants are notified of their testing results via email, including if they did not achieve the minimum required score. Applicants who achieve the minimum required score will be contacted via email by Admissions to arrange their virtual interview. Applicants who failed the aptitude test will be invited to complete an online tutoring session and retest within 10 days of the notification. Students who passes on during the retest are eligible to enroll. Those who fail the retest will be denied admissions for the current term.

During the interview, an Admissions Advisor will review information about DFA’s programs with the prospective student. Admissions Advisors will evaluate the prospective student’s overall interest in the program, their communication skill level, and general computer knowledge using a scaled rubric. Applicants will be assessed on their ability to learn in an online environment. Additionally, students seeking to enroll in online programming will be asked to confirm whether they have the appropriate hardware and software required for the program.

Admissions will review the prospective student’s application, aptitude test score, and interview results and inform them if they are eligible to proceed with the application process or if they have been denied entry into the program. Applicants are notified if they are being offered a seat in a class by being sent an ‘Offer Email’ after completing the virtual interview. Email notifications are also sent to those applicants who are not being offered a seat in class. Emails are sent for offers and denial notices within two to three (2-3) business days after the virtual interview.

Enrollment Dates

DFA programs have ongoing enrollment throughout the year, and prospective students can apply anytime. Individuals interested in participating in a DFA program must complete an online application at the DFA website at www.digitalfilmacademy.edu as the first step of the enrollment process. Application deadlines are posted on the DFA website.

Reapplication Process

Applicants who are denied admissions into a program and inquire about reapplying with Admissions are permitted to reapply for the next term. Applicants may contact Admissions at [email protected].

Orientation

All students are required to attend a one-day Orientation program before the start of the term, which provides new students with an overview of DFA’s policies, introduces students to key personnel at DFA, familiarizes students with the school’s learning management system, and reviews financial aid and admissions paperwork.