nortonj

Woo. Woo. I finally got in. I've been trying to become a member for a while now. But somehow it would never read when I tried to prove that I was a "real person." But I'm here now. YAY!!!!! Anyway - I just got my rejection from NYU. And a while back I got my rejection letter from Yale. Only one left is Juilliard. But I am so cool with everything, and I DO NOT intend to reapply next year. I'm 37 years old. So for me, this was my first and last dance. I figured I would give it a shot - if I got in - GREAT - if not - OH WELL. I too wondered if my age meant my applicaton would be taken less seriously. I do believe ageism exists in this business. Yes there are successful playwrights in their forties and older. But they got started long before the MFA craze. I guess I'm not fretting so much because I'm doing pretty well for myself. I have two readings this spring, and two prodcutions lined up this coming fall, I've won a snazzy local new works award, two local commssions, and I've had plays workshopped at two amazing conferences. My reason for applying to grad school wasn't about securing a strong professional career. There's no guarantee of that. For every Amy Herzog, or Tarell Alvin McCraney - there's many more MFA playwrights who struggle along with the rest of us. I applied to grad school to be a part of a community of playwrights and to further develop my work and voice. But I can do that on my own. Wow... I didn't expect to be so cool with these outcomes. But I am. Wow! Clarity. For those you getting good news - CONGRATS. For those getting not so good news, don't sweat it. It's their loss-not yours, You have to believe that.