longwalktonever

Hey y'all! Just thought I'd come back and say hello to everyone applying for playwriting programs this semester! For those that weren't here last year, I ended up getting waitlisted at Columbia (and eventually took my name out of the pool of consideration), and got into both USC and NYU's Dramatic Writing programs. I ended up choosing USC, and I couldn't be happier. Just a little plug for USC's program for anyone considering applying for it this year: This program is AMAZING. USC isn't typically in most playwriting applicants' short lists, because it's a dramatic writing program, and it's on the West coast, and it's an up-and-coming program but I can't stress enough how wonderful this program is. Classes are small (they take 3 playwrights each year, and the majority of our classes are just the three of us, which is great), but there's also still a great amount of interaction with the MFA Acting students. Getting to study with incredible the playwrights and directors that teach in the program (this semester we're studying with Velina Hasu Houston, Frank Dwyer, and Michael Arabian-- all amazing artists) is such an inspiring way to look at all the different factors that go into the creation of theatre. LA has such an incredible wealth of actors, directors, and designers, and my classmates and I have all been able to set up reading and production opportunities outside of USC with ease, which is a great supplement to the in-classroom work. We've also all had an opportunity to have all our major first-semester work read by professional LA actors. Through most people don't think of LA as a theatre town, there's really an amazing amount of great, innovative theatre here. And this year is also the first year of a partnership between USC and Pasadena Playhouse, which entailed us first-year playwrights getting an opportunity to do in-depth dramaturgy while sitting in on Pasadena Playhouse's new play development program, AND in the spring, the three of us will have readings of our full-length pieces at Pasadena Playhouse (AMAZING opportunity). There's also the fact that we get guaranteed teaching positions our second and third years, which bumps the program up from being 75% free to 100% free, with an additional stipend. And the fact that we get to take screenwriting classes at the number one film school in the nation our second and third years to supplement the other forms of storytelling that we're learning. Honestly, I can't stop gushing about this program. If you're on the fence about applying to USC or haven't even considered it, APPLY! I'm so excited to meet next year's three playwrights, and hopefully one of you on GradCafe will be one of those three! Feel free to ask me any questions about USC's DW program if you'd like, y'all. And happy application time! Make sure to get plenty of rest and enjoy the holidays!

Hello JoeThomasNYC! If you have any questions, feel free to message me at any time-- I'd love to impart any wisdom that I gained from last year's application season. I'd also be happy to answer any questions about the University of Southern California's MFA Dramatic Writing program, which is the program I ended up choosing to attend. Welcome to this thread, and best of luck in applying to MFA programs!

Hey themirandatragedy, I did have a play (called "Gravidity") in the play lab. What was your friend's play?

Anyone else from GradCafe at the Last Frontier Theatre Conference this week?

Hey all! I know this forum has died down a little with everyone making their final decisions and all-- just wanted to thank everyone for such an amazing supportive environment-- this place definitely kept me sane throughout the application process! I'm officially attending USC's MFA Dramatic Writing program in the fall, and even though choosing between USC and NYU was one of the more difficult things I've ever had to do, I'm confident I made the right decision and so excited to go there in the fall! Where did everyone else officially end up?

Got into NYU via email this morning with partial funding! Hooray!

Waitlisted at Columbia! Though Columbia is a wonderful program, I'm pretty sure waitlist = no funding, and without them releasing the waitlist rank, I'm not sure if it's worth the wait. I think I'm gonna commit at USC! It's a wonderful program with incredible professors, and a pretty great funding package. So yay! I'm pretty thrilled about this choice.

Congratulations, plumsandpears! When did you find out you got in to UT Austin? It seems like such an awesome program! Do they offer funding? Such great, supportive posts lately-- so glad this forum exists!

Hey all! I just got back from my in-person Columbia interview-- my experience seems to be the same as the rest of yours (interviewed with Chuck and Kelly, they said they really liked my play, and then opened it up for questions to them). I had several questions prepared, so we had a pretty good dialogue, but it was still pretty surprising that they don't have any questions for the applicants. They were both incredibly nice and interesting, so here's hoping they consider me! They said they'd make final decisions within two weeks-- good luck to all!

Thanks for all the congratulations, everyone! This forum is such a great place for support in the crazy process, haha. @failsafe: That's awesome! If your friend is a second-year USC MFA, I probably know him as well. It's a great group! @lurkinglucy: Thanks! The program is 75% funded the first year, and 100% funded the second two years pending TA-ships. So, I'm very excited about the funding package! @janesays: Thanks! I didn't interview, but that probably has something to do with me going to USC for undergrad and having studied with two/four professors on the MFA admissions committee. But I've heard they don't always interview. And congrats on the NYU interview, Troy2013! Let us know how it goes! Question to all: USC wants me to officially get back to them by March 14th about whether or not I accept their offer (giving me only a week since I was notified). Is there a reasonable way to request an extension without seeming like I'm disinterested? I'd really love to accept, but I'd also love to hear back from all my other prospects first. Has anyone experienced something like this before?

Just found out that I got into USC's MFA Dramatic Writing program! Hooray!

Teethwax-- thanks for the information! I'm sure it went really well. And failsafe-- I haven't gotten a Yale rejection yet, either. I checked my status on the Yale website, and it just says "submitted". Strange. Now I'm kinda worried my application didn't process correctly or something. Hmm. I'm sure it's coming soon though, as I wasn't called as a finalist or anything.

Hey y'all! Hope all of your weeks are going well. Teethwax: I was looking back through older posts, and I saw that you had your Columbia interview today-- yay! How'd it go? Any insights into how the experience was/what kind of questions they asked? Hope it went really well! Also, just FYI to all: I called NYU yesterday, and all they'd say is that final decisions will be coming within the next 2-3 weeks. Not very good info,but just so y'all know!

Also rejected from Brown this morning! Haha, at least we're all in this together.

Thanks for emailing Brown, puttputt! Do you guys know if Brown typically does interviews? Or do they tend to admit/waitlist/reject without formal interviews? Thanks!

Just found out this morning that I got an interview with Columbia in mid-March! Aaaaaa, nervousness!

Congratulations, teethwax! You're killin' it with interviews! Also, have any of y'all participated in the Last Frontier Theatre Conference in Alaska? Just found out one of my plays is getting a reading there (yay!), and I was just curious if any of you GradCafe-ers have any previous experience with the conference? Also, failsafe, that Wikihow page is maybe the best thing I've ever seen: "If you see a movie, you're not writing something easy to put on in a theater. Trust me. That means, no millions of people (many is fine as long as you use them all in more than one scene, actors don't like being used once), no gun battles on and off buildings (on the ground is fine, but the audience doesn't like more than one gunshot per act unless it's occasional and NEEDED.)" WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH MY PLAY ABOUT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE ONLY USED ONCE HAVING GUN BATTLES ON AND OFF BUILDINGS.

Love all the plays you named, EccentricDreamer! My favorite are probably (in no particular order): The Pillowman by Martin McDonagh Good People by David Lindsay-Abaire Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl B. F. E. by Julia Cho Orpheus Descending by Tennessee Williams Balm in Gilead by Lanford Wilson Boy Gets Girl by Rebecca Gilman Krapp's Last Tape by Samuel Beckett The Sound of a Voice by David Henry Hwang Yeah! Also, can I say how much I love the flood of activity in this thread? Y'all are the best, and it makes me feel so much less alone in this MFA application process. Fingers crossed for all of you!

In re. EccentricDreamer: I probably won't pursue an MFA if there's no funding offered. At least for this year. Mostly because I'm right out of undergrad, so I know the odds are against me to begin with. I'm expecting no response this year, and hopefully a positive response in the future. But if I have no form of funding, it may not be possible for me to pursue an MFA at this point in my life. But I'm holding out for acceptance/funding! Yay hope!

Aaaaa, this is all so nerve-wracking! Any of y'all interested in doing some kind of writing exchange? If so, message me! I'd love to read some of your work!

Yay teethwax! Let us know how it goes!

All my apps are in! Hooray! Trilogyfan, I second the sentiment about USC-- I went to USC for undergrad, and everyone at USC is just really wonderful. Their MFA Dramatic Writing program is fantastic (albeit lesser-known than some other programs). And Missshari-- I took the GRE last month! Studying for the math section was slightly horrible, but it was definitely good to open up opportunities to apply to schools that require the GRE. Best of luck on the GRE!

Hey folks! I'm also applying for Playwriting MFAs this year. My list is: - NYU - Brown - UT Austin - Columbia - USC - Northwestern - Yale I'm applying to the dream schools this year, and if they all fall through, I'll probably expand my list for next year/subsequent years. And to tjack-- for my Brown application, I'm submitting a complete 14-page short play as the supplemental work, as I thought it was stronger than a selected part of a different full-length. Good luck to all!