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@newengland1 can i ask if you would turn down nyu for juilliard? this is pure curiosity talking. they are such different programs, if for no other reason that juilliard isn't actually an MFA program

@lrb0192 I don't know anything about the program. But I remember someone else saying that they were in the same situation a previous year. Maybe search through this topic for info. Also did anyone else get this e-mail from Juilliard: Thank you for your patience in waiting for an update on your application status from The Juilliard School. We are pleased to report that at this time, your play is still under consideration. Admission will ultimately be offered to four or five playwrights. It is possible that you may receive a request for an interview during the next six weeks. You may also be asked to submit an additional play or additional letters of recommendation. However, you do not need to submit any additional materials until requested. If you have made significant changes to the play submitted with your application and would like us to consider the revised version, please email a blind copy to dramaadmissions@juilliard.edu by Monday, April 25. We expect to make final determinations by the beginning of June. We will keep you updated as the admissions process continues, as soon as we have any new information to report. We thank you again for your patience with our process! I'm excited by the chance to submit a new version of the script because I have a drastically expanded version, 3 characters instead of 2, that I think is way better. I'm just trying to figure out if this is a good sign or if everyone got this e-mail.

Thanks @SeaLou The next application cycle will be round number 4 for me. I'm really excited about the play I'm working on now so I think I'm going to give it one more shot. But I totally here you on writing towards a goal rather than for yourself. I will definitely take a year off if I don't get in on the next cycle.

I'm right there with you @SeaLou I just turned down Columbia for lack of funding. How many years do you think is too many years to apply? Because I'm a little embarrassed to admit what round this will be for me. At what point should I take it as a sign I'm never going to get into one of those fully funded programs?

Thanks @draconianstars I got the e-mail, but totally missed that vital bit of information!

Congrats Boxedwine!

Congrats to everyone getting acceptances and those being wait-listed. Each of these programs have a ton of competition. I wanted to give everyone a long overdue update on the financial award I got from Columbia. I got a 20k scholarship, which is definitely not enough money to cover the almost 60k tuition so I'm pretty sure I'm going to turn them down. A little bit about me, my husband and I both have decent paying jobs so there was no way I was going to get financial aid, but if someone else has greater "financial need", it might work out for them. Hope that info helps.

Congrats @newengland1 Thanks for letting us know about Ohio, fingers crossed!

@Boxedwine not sure yet. I missed David's call so I couldn't ask him. But his voicemail said to expect an e-mail with a formal offer of acceptance and the financial package offer soon. Trying not to read too much into his phrasing, but really hoping that means some funding. Promise to keep you all updated!

I got into Columbia. No word on what the financial situation is like yet, but I just wanted to let you know that the calls have gone out in case anyone is waiting to hear.

Hi everyone. I thought I'd give you all an update on my Columbia interview in case anyone is interested in the program. I've seen people write on this forum that Columbia is considered a degree mill, so I thought I'd ask David Henry Hwang about that head on. First I asked why they have such a large cohort compared to other top tier graduate programs. What the advantage of having ten students in the program is? He said that first it allowed them to offer elective courses that they couldn't with less students. Now they can offer musical theatre classes or screenwriting classes and students can pick and choose what they want to specialize in. Second, it allows them to have a diverse group of students in terms of aesthetic and background. The weekend I was there, they had a a showcase of ten minute plays by the first year students. And I think they really achieved a diverse group of stroytellers. There was one play in particular that gave me chills and left me feeling inspired, which for a jaded Associate Artistic Director such as myself, is saying a lot. Second I asked that if diversity is so important to them, then do they worry that such a high cost of tuition is an impediment to achieving true diversity. David answered simply yes, they know it is a huge problem and they are actively working to raise more money for students to be able to attend. It's not super helpful for anyone applying right now but I appreciated his honesty. For me the program seemed idyllic, except for the funding issue and I told them as much. I think anyone applying to other programs not fully funded should put Columbia on their list. I'll keep you all updated on if I get in and if so what the finance situation is really like. Also Columbia just announced a partnership with Roundabout which is really exciting.

woohoo! Congrats newengland1!

Hi SpineOfTheSnowman, I'm in the same boat with not hearing back from Yale or UT Austin, but both are almost certainly rejections. I know Yale interviews everyone who is a finalist and the interviews are happening this week. I believe Austin follows a similar protocol and interviewees have already been contacted according to this forum. Best wishes to you and remember most people apply multiple years before they get in!

Hi all. Just wanted to report that I got an e-mail from Columbia requesting an interview. For those interviewing at Yale, congrats. For what is worth, Jeannie is a lovely person and so easy to interview with. She starts off by talking about your play and the conversation organically moves on from there. I had a little bit of a harder time with Sarah. I don't know why, but when she asked me what kind of books I read, I was stumped! I guess I just spend too much of my time reading plays. Hope that helps. Happy to answer any specific questions you may have.

Hi all I just checked my phones voicemails and Yale definitely called me last year on the 20th. But very glad to hear that's there's been a range of dates that they've contacted people. I don't think we should despair especially since none of us have heard anything yet.

Yep just want to confirm that last year I heard about an interview from Columbia on the 19th, rejection from Brown on the 20th, and an interview from Yale on the 20th. I think tomorrow might be the day. Good luck everyone!

Just a quick note about Columbia, last year they notified us of interviews on February 19th so I imagine we still have another week before we hear back from them. Also don't despair about being rejected from O'Neill, they turned me down for the same script that got me an interview at Yale last year. One rejection definitely does not mean that all will be rejections.

Cool. Thank you @jamesprongs101 for the feedback

I don't have any interview updates, but I do have a question for the group. Since applying to schools I've had an article published on Howlround and found out that the play I submitted with my application is going to get a workshop production in L.A. Should I write the schools and tell them about these updates? I don't want to be obnoxious but if it'll make any difference in my application then it's worth it, right? And if so, should I e-mail the admissions office? the head of the program? Any and all thoughts appreciated.

@Boxedwine Congrats on the UCSD interview! Last year, Yale called me to set up an interview on 2/20 so if they follow the same timeline, we have about two weeks before we hear from them.

@briglee Congrats on O'Neill! That is huge! Adding to @Boxedwine I highly recommend everyone apply to the Wildacres Residency (I believe the deadline has passed but there's always next year). I went for a week long residency last May and wrote an entire first draft of a play in that one week. The application is free and incredible simple and I just had the most amazing and fruitful experience there

@Boxedwine that's awesome! Congratulations! I applied to Austin, but haven't heard anything yet. I've applied there in the past and never gotten an interview so I won't be surprised if that happens again. But for now I'm going to try to not read too much into not hearing anything yet.

It's totally possible that the statement plays a part in the final decision at Yale. But in the interview they seemed surprised to learn things about me that are in my essay, like the fact that I'm the assoc. AD at a regional theatre company. At the Columbia interview, on the other hand, that wasn't the case. So it's clearly a school by school thing. I'm sure toiling over your writing sample was worth the effort!

Hi all- So sorry to be MIA, especially after I got such wonderful advice from this community over the summer. I ended up turning down Columbia so I could reapply to Yale (among others). And I'm afraid I became a bit of a recluse trying to get my script application ready for this round. For me that's the part I agonize the most over. Probably too late for this to be helpful info, but just in case: when I interviewed with Jeannie and Sarah last year, they had a lot to say about my play and it seemed like they hadn't read my resume or statement of intent. Maybe goes without saying, but it was clear to me that the writing sample really is what makes or breaks the application. Idca, please let me know if there is any more info that I can provide. I promise to be more diligent about responding now that we're in full application mode. Thanks all!

I'm guessing no one is checking this forum anymore, but I thought I'd throw my question out into the ether and see if I get a response. I just found out that I got into Columbia off the waitlist. I had been resigned to reapply next year to a bunch of schools- but mainly I really want to go to Yale. I got an interview at there this year and just had the best experience. Any advice on how to proceed? I loved my time at Yale way more than Columbia, not to mention the difference in reputation and financial backing. But should I take the sure thing? Or continue to follow my maybe pipe-dream? Any thoughts are very much appreciated.