EccentricDreamer

Hey everyone, this article was posted in the Hollywood Reporter a few days ago: The Top 25 Drama Schools in the World. Check it out! http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/top-25-drama-schools-world-558898

Hey everybody, @MintJulep - I received the same letter, too! I guess that means we're semi-finalists. I was just checking in and reading all the good news that people have been posting about their MFA journey and eventual acceptances. Bravo to everyone!! Let the madness begin!! I moved to Los Angeles and have been here for a month now and I'm having the time of my life in this new TV job. The weather ain't bad either. One of the things I've realized is that life is a series of twists and (sometimes unalterable) fates that can change you for the better. My job as development assistant is giving me an education everyday, one that I wouldn't have gotten if I had just relied solely on an MFA. Ironically, had I not gotten rejected from the programs I applied to, I would not be on this new track, one that is prepping me for a career in television. For realz. So, keep writing, keep striving, and most of all keep dreaming! Continued success to you all!!

You all are so amazing!!! The support and encouragement and wisdom shared here has been great! @hotspur - You're so right. The playwrights who are really rocking it and writing engaging, emotionally-demanding work tend to be in their 40s and older. For many of us, grad school is a luxury, especially after the mortgage, kids, etc. There are certainly other people and situations to consider. My husband is my partner in business and in life, so any decision I make has to work for him, too. When I was in my 20s who did I really have to think about other than myself? According to this NYU playwrights blog, the DW department takes about 20 writers a year which is a large program compared to many others. I still haven't heard from NYU yet. However, an unexpected and amazing opportunity just landed in my lap... I was having such a crappy day yesterday that I shot off an email to a close friend of mine who is a TV producer. She's been trying to get me to come down to LA for years to work with her on various reality shows (like Big Brother and Extreme Makeover). I always put it off because I wanted to hone my craft in the THEEE-atre. Looking back, I can see how incredibly high-brow I must have sounded. Interestingly, that attitude allowed me to create a good body of work. Anyway, my friend is currently in negotiations to executive produce a new reality show on the Discovery Channel and wants me to be her assistant!! Is the timing amazing, or what??? She figured I wasn't available before because I was "going to grad school." So, when she saw my email she nearly dropped the phone. So, I could be moving to LA in like less than a month. Holy crap! And what's cool about all of this is that the show is considered "scripted TV" which means I get writing credits and everything. This means that I'll have to eventually join the WGA (Writers Guild of America) which means a crap load of other opportunities. So, even when things don't work out on one end, they work out somewhere else.

Oh yeah, was rejected from Brooklyn College today for those wondering about notifications.

I totally agree with you, failsafe, on the age thing. I'm debating whether to apply again as well. I'm already a playwright; I don't need a degree to tell me that. Grad school wasn't even in my consciousness in my 20s because I was too busy working as an actor and then a playwright. I realized that I needed to be in a different setting to take things to the next level which is why I applied in the first place. And congratulations on getting a reading at an awesome theater! That's always gratifying!!!

Yeah, me too, failsafe. I'm kind of resigned, however, and turning my attention elsewhere. Not feeling very positive today.

Thanks for this info, remains! From my research from friends who have gone to NYU (and seeing the comments from folks who have gotten accepted) NYU's DW funding isn't always the best. But that doesn't mean they don't offer scholarships, internships and the like. It all depends on your need and the money that is available.

Ditto!

Thanks for the update, failsafe!!

Hello everyone!! Wow ~ what a week/weekend it has been for many of us! Hang in there everybody! And congratulations to all who have acceptances and interviews! teethwax - You're still an awesome writer and don't you forget it. Things will happen the way they are meant to. buckminster - You made it to the semi-finalist round and that's a feat in itself. Thanks immensely for all the Juilliard updates! This puts a lot of things into perspective. remains - Congratulations on CMU and the scholarship!. As far as NYU, they are known for not being incredibly generous with funding in the DW department. So, the question for you becomes, if accepted to NYU, will you still attend (even if it is your dream school)? Consider the pros and cons of each program. And look at it this way, you've been accepted to a place you love while many of us are still waiting to hear back. The view from where you're standing is not bad at all. failsafe - I'm in the same boat. Hang in there. Keep writing and creating great theatre. CB812 - Welcome!! Let's see, your situation is kind of similar to mine (although I don't have any children). I'm in my early 40s and decided it was time to give myself permission to fly. Applying/attending grad school is a personal decision and is based on so many factors. If anything, going for your MFA will give you even more momentum as a writer. You're in a focused and structured environment that is forcing you to stretch your limits and write in ways that you may not have otherwise. Plus, your motivation to do well is going to be partly based on the high-ticket price. You're not going to waste time with so much money at stake. Not only that, the majority of the programs expect at least one final play out of you as part of your Master Thesis, and depending on how fast you write (which I take is pretty fast as a TV writer), you'll certainly write more than one play. Moreover, as you know, college is what you make it. You'll want to take advantage of every opportunity that is out there from internships, to residencies, to submitting to festivals, to forging amazing creative relationships. And being in TV, you're probably aware that the industry loves playwrights not only because of their "training" but because of their dramaturgical discipline (you know how to edit and cut without being told ~smile~) I've never attended grad school, but I've spoken to plenty of friends who have. Do you have friends who have attended an MFA program? I would definitely turn to them for insight as well. Of course, no matter how much advice you receive, your experience will be uniquely yours. Having said that, I would definitely start forging relationships with the schools you're looking to apply to and reach out to current students and alum. Another caveat, if obtaining an MFA is truly your goal, really assess the realities. Only 10% of playwrights make a hard-core living at it. As a TV writer, you probably make in one month what an average playwright makes all year! So, theatre has got to be your passion if you're to survive and stay on track. You have to love the process as well as the outcomes. Ironically, when you graduate with an MFA, you'll still end up taking television jobs to pay your debt down. (Please read "Outrageous Fortune" by Todd London, the artistic director of New Dramatists, and three other authors. This book will really give you the skinny on the realities facing playwrights now. It caused quite a stir in the theatre community when it came out back in 2009. Let me know what you think about it.) When you study the background of "successful" playwrights -- those who have regional productions, prize money and the like -- they've come out of NYU, Columbia, Yale, Iowa, USC and the like - which suggests that "success" is concentrated. So, on that level, you're on the right track. Take care everyone!! We rock!!

@failsafe -- Thanks for all the information! This puts everything into perspective about Juilliard. Counting the days now! @teethwax ~ Thank you, too!! How wonderful for you! You're in, just know that and visualize it. Get your bags packed!! And a note for everyone ~ you guys so rock. Thank you for all your stories and the awesome sharing!

failsafe, when you interviewed at Juilliard, about when did they contact you? In April? Or was it earlier?

Hey everyone, So, I found out that "students are under no obligation to respond to offers of financial support prior to April 15." This is standard best practices for the Resolution Regarding Graduate Scholars, Fellows, Trainees and Assistants. You can read more about it here - http://www.cgsnet.org/april-15-resolution. "Students are under no obligation to respond to offers of financial support prior to April 15; earlier deadlines for acceptance of such offers violate the intent of this Resolution. In those instances in which a student accepts an offer before April 15, and subsequently desires to withdraw that acceptance, the student may submit in writing a resignation of the appointment at any time through April 15. However, an acceptance given or left in force after April 15 commits the student not to accept another offer without first obtaining a written release from the institution to which a commitment has been made. Similarly, an offer by an institution after April 15 is conditional on presentation by the student of the written release from any previously accepted offer. It is further agreed by the institutions and organizations subscribing to the above Resolution that a copy of this Resolution or a link to the URL should accompany every scholarship, fellowship, traineeship, and assistantship offer." Hopefully, this can put some of you at ease regarding whether to accept an offer right away. Failsafe ~ I haven't heard from Tisch and Brooklyn College either. I asked a playwriting colleague of mine who graduated from Tisch last Spring whether they interview or not. Apparently they interview by phone when you're out of state, and in-person when you're "local." I've also heard that Tisch accepts without interviews. So, I guess it all depends on the year and how bad they want you. And don't forget the "wait list" -- those interesting bittersweet things. Again, more waiting. It's a tricky game... I had to pull back for a couple of days because I was driving myself absolutely insane. Now, I'm calmer and in a better space knowing that I submitted a good play, a tight statement of purpose and LORs from people who believe in me. That's all you can do, right? For those of us who haven't heard from our preferred schools, we'll all know where we stand by April 15.

Go! Go! Go! Don't wait for anyone else!

I don't know much about their program but I lived there years ago. It's changed a lot. What about the program attracted you?

Just received my official rejection letter from Yale via email today. Life is still good. I'm holding out for my top picks NYU, Brooklyn College and Juilliard.

Congrats to everyone receiving interviews, acceptances, etc. Honestly, I didn't think I'd be so concerned about my inbox, the mailbox, the outbox and every other box related to correspondence. I sailed into January without a real care and then late February hit and then March and.... So, the last play I saw recently was Pullman Porter Blues by Cheryl West at the Seattle Rep. What an emotional show for me on so many levels. My great-uncle (who passed away many years ago) worked as a porter on the trains in Oakland, so I walked out feeling even more connected to my past than ever before. The play has a great mix of music and rich story lines. I'm going to be writing a little blurb about it for The Dramatist. I'm also going to make a point to see Good People by Lindsay-Abaire before this month ends. I think someone on the forum said they saw or read it... Interestingly, I cranked out a scene today for a play that I'm really excited about. I tend to write tense dramas that are peppered with comedy. But isn't comedy nothing more than drama that you can now laugh at? Funny what happens when you stop thinking about grad school for a second. Until next time...

Wow @failsafe...not enough applications at Juilliard??? How strange. Regarding Angels in America, I'd have to reread Kushner's monologue to have an intelligent response. And I'm into Letts, too. His humor is wicked. And Brown, I didn't apply there either lurkinglucy for the same reasons you didn't. I must have read their website 20x and still I wasn't "feeling it." And 3 years is a long time to not "feel it", you know? So, we'll see what's up next.... Hey, anyone interested in playing a game? Like, we share dialogue from a play and we all have to guess the play. Or is that too corny?

Hi k-hotspur! I see this forum is heating up. From my understanding all the Yale finalists have been contacted....so "official" letters should be coming out soon. As far as Brooklyn College, I just checked online and they stated that notifications will be sent via mail. But I'm sure if you're a finalist to be interviewed, a phone call or email would be the preferred communication method. Now Juilliard...that's the hot ticket but you have to wait a while for a decision. I haven't heard of anyone being in a dilemma of being accepted into another school while waiting on Juilliard (if they were a finalist). What does one do in that situation???? All I can say is that all this "waiting" has me in and out of anxiety mode. How does one handle it? Kudos to all those who have gotten acceptances and interviews!!

I see. Yale was my last pick so it's okay, for the most part. Still bites a little though....

Me too. And Juilliard.

Just wondering, did they send out an email? I didn't receive anything in an email or snail mail...

Interestingly, I haven't been submitting much this year. I'm in writing mode. You can't submit if you don't write. It's a strange place to be in because leading up to the grad apps, I was submitting like a madwoman. Now, I feel like I also need to wait until this grad app season is over. Is anyone else in the same place?

That is awesome, teethwax!! Those unexpected surprises are so welcome. I also applied to Yale but won't wait for the call/email, etc. If it's meant to be it will happen. Just be yourself. That's what got you the interview in the first place.

Hey everyone, Did you know this part of the forum exists - a place where everyone posts their acceptances and rejections? http://thegradcafe.com/survey/ Pretty fascinating stuff.