lavendercloud

UCLA has the first deadline so I'm starting my application....it sounds like their funding isn't great, does anyone know more details? Hey Singsalot I think the combination of Columbia's program being so big and the funding being so minimal is why it gets referred to as a degree mill. I've heard that from playwrights and literary managers, including someone whose wife went there, so he should know. It's great if the program is changing and bringing in better faculty and doing more to prepare their students - however, I wouldn't count on a couple of big names to carry a program. Lynn Nottage is also teaching at Yale next semester so she's probably not just tied to one school. Went out to New York over the weekend and visited my friend at Yale, now in his second year of the MFA Playwriting program. Got to sit in on a production meeting for his studio project, see the campus and theater facilities, and meet lots of students! Had a great time and I know I'd love the program. Still not sure if it could edge out UCSD (which, ironically, is the program my friend really wanted and didn't even get an interview for), but it's a very, very close second.

Hey, Sirois! Most of the NYC schools you mention have low-to-middling financial aid. Rutgers does half tuition reimbursement, so it's still $13k a year plus living expenses etc. Columbia is more of a money-making mill than a real MFA, The New School is excellent but I don't think the finaid is great, Brooklyn and Hunter have lower tuition...Stony Brook seems to be the only NY school that could actually pay for living expenses as well, if you get the $17k fellowship. (Not that that's enough to live on in the city, but it's way more than most.) My friend who got into Yale and Brown said that Brown offered him slightly more money, but he went with Yale because it was a better fit. Both are similar. Oh, and Boston just takes people every other year, I believe. Same with Cal Arts - last year was an off year for them, though, and this year they're taking people. Why are you focusing on the Northeast in particular? I have a reading next month, and my draft is apparently in really good shape! I'm closing in on a third draft and what I submitted to schools last year was basically a first (I know, not a great idea, but I was having a rough year). So I'm feeling 100x more confident - yay! It's only about 60 pages, up from 50 or so last year, and I don't think it'll grow that much more. I may hit 75 though, which would be great. I still have another play to write for the four that require a second play (UCSD, Michener, Indiana, Iowa). I only applied to the first two of those last year, and submitted my unedited undergrad thesis - yikes. I'm hoping to get to a second draft by the time deadlines come around, and given that my main play is in a good place, I think I'll be able to get there. I'm planning to do a big push next week to get the first draft heavily underway. The first deadlines are coming up at the end of November - less than two months away!

Alright...who else is gearing up for the next round? Has everyone had a good summer? I have a revamped, expanded list for this year's applications. Applying again to the same programs, plus, uh...six more. My main application play is the same one but much expanded and revised, and will continue to change through the fall in preparation for a reading in November. I'm also writing a new play as my secondary submission rather than submitting my thesis play from college. That one's in its infancy so it's going to be quite a project to finish it this fall! However, I have lots of time on my hands as I'm essentially being paid to write this year - all I have to do is get really efficient with my time So, the list: UCSD Brown Yale UT Austin-Michener UT Austin-Theatre Iowa Indiana Cal Arts UCLA USC Stony Brook Recap from last year: applied to the first 5 and was rejected, though I was a finalist at UCSD (and still have very high hopes for that school this year). Adding in two Midwest schools, three LA schools, and Stony Brook, which now has one generous fellowship per year and seems like a worthwhile program. Some of the other schools I'd considered aren't making the cut; Boston, for instance, isn't accepting applications this year, and some others don't have sufficient financial aid, like Catholic University and Rutgers. Plus, eleven seems like plenty. Everyone tells me I'm crazy for applying to that many, but I'm pretty stoked! How does everyone approach the essays and statements when reapplying? Any insights for revamping them in a meaningful way?

Okay! Starsandsound - yes, I read teethwax's recommendations about the program so that gave me something to go off. I responded and asked a few questions, and Kathleen just got back to me. She said that the funding covers half of tuition, which is $26,000 a year, so it ends up costing $13k/year just for tuition. Even if there's enough time to hold a job to cover living expenses, that's still a LOT of potential loans, and I've always been pretty determined not to take out exorbitant loans to pay for an MFA. The program sounds lovely, and I know there are people who would be willing to make that kind of investment, but having come so close to UCSD this year I feel it's worth it to hold out for a program with better funding, even if Rutgers were a great fit in every other way. But I'm still flustered and flattered that I got the email at all, and glad to know more about the program!

Just got an email from Kathleen Tolan: "I'm Head of the MFA in Playwriting at Rutgers, and Naomi Iizuka recommended you to me for our program. I've been the Interim Head for a couple of years and was only just confirmed as Head, so we're a bit late in the process of reviewing applications. We have two wonderful playwrights who have just finished their first year, and I'm very excited about the program. If you haven't made other plans for the fall and are interested in applying, please let me know." I've already accepted the offer to extend my internship at the professional theater I've been at this year, which means they've notified the other candidates, but I also haven't signed anything formal. I kind of want to wait another year and hopefully get into UCSD, but I've heard really good things about Rutgers - they were very nearly on my list. Is it worth just applying and seeing how it goes? It's kind of crazy because I've already completely come to terms with not going to grad school this year...

Btw Starsandsound, what have you found out about Smith's financial aid? And have they made you an offer or are you still waiting?

Aaaahhhh Noho! I'm jealous. Have some delicious ice cream for all of us. Officially accepted the offer to extend my internship. It's not gonna be neat and easy financially, thanks to the aforementioned breakup, but I'm excited nonetheless - especially about having a reading of one of my plays this fall! Congrats to everyone who's headed for school this fall. For the rest of us, we're gonna have our own great adventures....right?

Lurking32, I second the motion that you do NOT go to Columbia. I've heard the program referred to as a "degree mill" and haven't heard anything good about it, and have been actively discouraged by theater professionals from applying there. Theotherlily, good call that the specific programs I mentioned are not that helpful for making general theater connections, and I don't know a ton about what Yale looks for in applicants. (I did at last get my official rejection from there, and it wasn't extra-special like I was hoping. Le sigh. I'd have loved to go this year since one of my good friends is finishing his first year there and it would be awesome to overlap, but oh well.) I can't say that I recommend targeting one school relentlessly, but passion can definitely show through in an application, so I'm sure there are upsides. But yeah, we all have different points of view from which we can offer advice, so that's the beauty of being on this forum! In really exciting news, the theater I'm currently interning at has offered to keep me on next year and continue the internship stipend, but use it to support my writing rather than the full-time internship! I'm floored by the opportunity and planning to accept it. They'll do a reading of one of my plays, provide dramaturgical support, help me out with housing if possible, and hire me for company management work if I need extra funds. The theater itself is in a lot of turmoil and doesn't do the most exciting work in the world, but I don't want to move again until I go to grad school, so I was already planning to stay in town anyway. I also have a play that I'm hoping to try to get produced on college campuses, so I'll start working my connections and see if I can make that happen next year. Over the summer I'll be teaching playwriting for their high school drama camp. All in all, I'm feeling pretty great about the possibilities of the upcoming year even though I won't be in school for a while yet

Starsandsound - that's super awesome! Congrats! If you go, I would love to hear about it, and I'm especially interested in what kind of financial aid they have. Smith hasn't been on my list because I know so little about the program, but I went to undergrad in the Pioneer Valley and I would fucking love to go back. Theotherlily - I totally agree that getting produced and getting readings is a fantastic way to prepare for grad school, and I did recommend submitting work as much as possible. I know lots of people who have had great experiences self-producing, but personally I don't know very much about it. I do think some people could learn a lot from taking classes before pursuing that route, and either way you have to find people who understand and support your work in order to move forward in your writing and to obtain good recommendations. I don't think of readings and productions as resume-padding at all; I just don't think that people should be intimidated to apply for an MFA just because they haven't had "enough" of them. There's no magic number and everyone has to figure out the best way to learn and navigate the world of theater for themselves. Make theater, yes, but first: find the people who can help you to do it! And classes can be a good stepping-stone.

Thanks for the heads-up; I checked UT-T&D and got a rejection from them, too. Finally sent an email to Yale to see if they have an update for me yet. They must be about ready to make offers so I don't know why they haven't, but whatevs. It's always nice to know for sure! And Rejection #5 will be my last, and I can finally put this application season to rest!

Going off last year, it seems like around this week when UT-T&D and Yale sent out final rejections, so I'm guessing I'll hear from them soon...? Tate, the writing sample matters way more than having a padded resume. If you happen to have had a couple of readings, that's great, and it never hurts to submit your work as much as possible, but focus primarily on developing the best writing samples that you can. Now is a good time to apply to summer programs, like Sewanee or FAWC workshops, that might help you develop your work so you'll be ready for application season. The next most important element is your recommendations, so make sure you have strong connections with writers and teachers who will be articulate about you. (It's all well and good to have recs from "famous" writers, but there's not much point unless they know you well.) You said that you're a newer writer, so that might be the hardest part of your application; as I said, summer programs may be helpful for finding recommenders. You can also try to join or create a local writer's group or take extension classes. There are schools that never take anyone directly out of undergrad (like UCSD) and programs that frequently take recent graduates. I'm not sure if Michener wants more seasoned playwrights than other programs, but I'm sure you can talk to people in the program since you're already in town! Don't worry too much about whether you have enough "experience" for these programs. The process of applying is an excellent way to learn what you're doing, and you may be surprised at which programs show interest in your writing. You can always reapply the following year. On another note, I'm looking at taking this class. Anyone think it might be useful for grad school applications? http://playpenn.org/classes/class-1

Ah. What internships and fellowships are you applying to? I've done those application rounds the last few years. There are some great ones out there, but they're insanely competitive; I applied to about a dozen a year for three years and got one offer each time (two the last time if you count the previous theater I was at offering to keep me on). It's a relief not to be doing that again... I don't know about the Facebook group, sounds like a pretty good idea but I'm currently on a break from that particular timesuck.

Cobbler, congrats!! That's absolutely fantastic! Best of luck What was your secondary focus, btw? I chose fiction but I assume most playwrights go for screenwriting. And I take it that you're accepting the offer? I got an email from the other interviewer at UCSD to say more nice things to soften the blow of the rejection. It's comforting, but I'm definitely disappointed that I won't be going to grad school this year. (Unless Yale or UTA-T&D magically grow some interest in me.) I have much bigger problems right now--I'm going through a painful, complicated breakup--but the kind words still mean a lot, and I'm really looking forward to getting another shot at this whole shebang next year. (Anyone else not heard from Yale yet? Glenwood?)

Glenwood - you made me think of the time that my former boss told me "Hey, if you need something to do next year I can call up David Lindsay-Abaire and see if he needs a personal assistant." You described exactly what I thought that would be like if it actually happened.

Starsandsound, what programs are you waiting on? Sorry to hear about Yale. Did everyone who applied to UCSD get their rejections? I got my official one the other day. I'm thinking about trying out for a show in a couple of weeks. It seems like acting is a good way to get your foot in the door with small, local companies. I haven't acted since my senior year of college, though...

Glenwood - interesting. My friend at Yale now got in there and at Brown one year out of undergrad; the previous year he'd only gotten into UC Irvine and our mentor told him he could do better. UCSD said they've never taken anyone straight out of undergrad. It'll definitely be an advantage. What is it about Yale that makes it the only program you're really interested in? It's great but the only thing I think it has that no one else does is universal name recognition. Rogue, having a more focused research area sounds like a great plan. I think that will be helpful for me too, to be able to articulate what kinds of plays I want to write - I think that was a big weakness for me this year. Is the GRE math score important for PhDs? I got a 170 V/156 Q and was very happy with that. I was a little disappointed in the 5.0 AW score, but it's hard to imagine what I could have done to improve it. Edit: And thanks for the condolences, everyone!

Okay, everyone, UCSD did make a decision. It's a no for me this year, which is definitely a disappointment. The email was really sweet and I got further in the process than I dreamed when I was hammering out my applications. I know I'll be much more prepared next year, and it's good to know that I'm a contender, even if no other program showed interest this year. (Still waiting for my Yale and UTA rejections, but I know what's coming.) Thanks for all your support! It's been a crazy ride and I'm looking forward to getting back on the rollercoaster in the fall. I've already laid out my plan for how I'll be approaching things differently. Anyone else thinking about your plan of attack for next year?

NYC Midnight runs various multi-round writing competitions. This one (http://www.nycmidnight.com/Competitions/SC/Challenge.htm) has three rounds. You're given a genre, subject, and character assignment; in the first round, you have a week to write a twelve-page screenplay, and the top five from each heat move on to the next round. (There were about twenty-five people in my heat last year.) Then you have three days to write an eight-page screenplay, and if you move on to the final round, it's a five-page screenplay in 24 hours. Last year I got "horror" for rounds one and two and didn't make it past that. It costs $39 and the top prize is $1,500; you also get personalized feedback on each script. (It's not crazy in-depth, but it's helpful, I guess.) Ooh, sounds like you guys are writing some really interesting things! Mine is about a couple who decides to give their friends year-end bonus checks based on how "good" their friends have been that year. It's wacky and may be the first comedy I've done in a while...or ever...lol.

I met with a writing group last night and shared a rewrite of the scene I'd written when I was visiting UCSD, for a prompt I was given for the playwriting seminar. It was really fun, and I got great feedback! So I might be starting a new project. Yay Also, the NYC Midnight Screenwriting challenge is coming up. I did it last year and had a blast. How are the rest of you keeping yourselves busy?

That's great! Are you holding out to hear from other schools, or do you have to make a decision quickly? UCSD let me know that they're making decisions this week and will get back to me by next Monday at the latest, which is helping me not to be quite so jumpy every time the phone rings. I think that's pretty close to the timeline I observed in past years on this thread. I'm surprised they haven't notified non-finalist applicants yet, though--maybe they do it all at once? Entertainment of the day: I just witnessed a lighting designer eviscerate a photographer for asking that a lighting level be changed to optimize the exposure of a promo shot. Didn't know that tech-week photo shoots could cause so much drama...

Starsandsound - nope, no news today. I also haven't heard from Yale. I keep checking the status page, but nothing.

And yes. Let's all hide under rocks, PLEASE GOD NOW. I was really sad when ScriptFrenzy went under! I wonder if they'd start it up again if they raised enough money. If I'd known about it sooner I'd have done it when it was still running, but I only knew about NaNoWriMo...which I've still never finished. November is definitely a rough time to do it.

I just called and left a message to ask if they have an updated timeline... (Edit: by "they" I mean UCSD. They'd said they would let me know by March 1, which on my calendar was two days ago. DYING.)

I love the vibrator play! If I were going to write a period piece, it would be something scandalous and awesome like that. No idea about Smith. Yep, it is still early. If I'd applied to more programs I'm sure I'd be waiting for another month. I think today will be the day for UCSD, but who knows? Teaching abroad sounds very hard and very rewarding. I know a number of people who have taught English in Korea. Do you speak any Korean?

Thanks, mcw! I read through this entire thread and really enjoyed it. Looks like the '13 applicants were much more active than we've been, which is saying something I saw that one woman found out about her UCSD status by Twitter-stalking, which I attempted, but saw nothing current. However, it's entirely possible that they've offered the place to someone else and will let me know once that person has decided. Or I'm just overthinking it and they're busy. Either way, I've been thinking a lot about how I'll approach the process next year if UCSD doesn't pan out, and what I want to do differently. First of all, my plays are one-acts (50 and 60 pages), not full-lengths, and I think having longer, more thoroughly revised plays will help enormously. I won't have to take the GRE again, so I'll have more time to dedicate to writing. I would probably try to get a full-time job at the theater where I'm currently interning, and though it is difficult for me to carve out space for writing in the midst of a busy life, I will be more proactive and dedicated to making sure that I'm writing fiercely (or, as Cheryl Strayed says, writing "like a motherfucker" - http://therumpus.net/2010/08/dear-sugar-the-rumpus-advice-column-48-write-like-a-motherfucker). All the schools that I didn't get around to applying to this year will be back on the list: Iowa, Indiana, USC, Stony Brook, and possibly others, in addition to reapplying to Brown, Yale, UTA, and UCSD. I would also be pushing myself more to apply to competitions, get readings, and just hustle my work more in general. Maybe I'll even try to direct a show or two, since directing is a secondary passion of mine. Since the beginning of the fall I've had a strong desire to be back in school, so I was really hoping that this year would be It for me. But nearly everyone has to apply more than once, and my application was nowhere near where I wanted it to be. I'm lucky that I had three amazing recommenders (Naomi Iizuka said I should send them all a box of muffins since they're so effusive and wonderful); am I correct that when reapplying you can usually send one more recommendation? Because there's at least one more great person in my corner now, so that will probably be some kind of boost. The bottom line is that when I squeezed out my applications this year, I knew they weren't at the level I wanted them to be. I was mainly hoping that when I reapply next year, the committees would see how far I've come. So the interest from UCSD completely took me by surprise. Now that I've fallen in love with the program, it's hard to shake the idea of going there, but they're only taking one person this year. Next year, when they're taking two, I might have a better shot. (I'd miss getting to work with the current students who will be graduating next spring, though.) I'll keep you all updated as soon as I hear anything! I'm not sure what to think of having heard nothing from Yale yet. It's possible that I'm getting an extra-nice rejection, like Failsafe, or they're simply rolling them out slowly. Anyway, more conversations! What's your favorite play that you've seen recently?