PlayWitch

def interested if any veterans are out there!

@newengland1- Super curious how it was for you! I'd love to hear about your experience in general, and would also love to know:
Approximately how much of a scholarship do admitted students receive? Did the scholarship amount depend on your financial means (last year they told me I would be automatically considered for a scholarship if I got admitted, and this year apparently everyone has to fill out the FASFA)? I understand that every student receives some sort of a scholarship, but the tuition is quite high to start with, so I wonder how doable it could be for me.  What was the best part? What were the cons? Did you feel like your time there was worth it and truly helped advance your career? Thank you so much in advance!

Hi @Agez -- Good luck!! This forum was so helpful to me last year -- happy to give more info. Just checked my e-mail from last year -- I first heard good news from UCSD 2nd week of February. Other schools with good news all notified me by the end of February, so the big month is coming up! Exciting...

As far as writing samples, my personal tactic was to use the piece that was more known (relatively...) as my secondary sample, and instead to find something that was solid (had been workshopped) but hadn't had any kind of success yet as my primary sample. But just make sure your piece is strong and has a POV that you feel passionate about. And like any submission, I'd say make sure the first 10 pages are strong.

Honestly, I had not great grades in undergrad, so if that's a fear for anyone, just know that people are more interested in your writing samples and essays and recs than your transcripts. That was a fear of mine, at least. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE ?

Hi, I applied to schools last year, and am currently at UCSD. I cut my resume down to 2 pgs from 3 pgs last year, and that was successful for me. Though I don’t know that it would have changed anything it was 3, I just figured they were more likely to glance through it all?
I found a format that let me put education, residencies, and awards in a smaller right hand column and the bulk of my resume is play history and also some press links in the main column.
but also ??‍♀️
Good luck! Let me know if anyone has questions about UCSD.

hey! to those who are interviewing with/considering hunter. long time lurker here but feel it is a timely moment to contribute.
I got an interview with Hunter a few weeks ago and an offer to study there, which I've accepted. So anyone who is also going to Hunter-- DM me! Would love to connect virtually before the program starts

It was great! They are so lovely - hope you get a chance to meet them. Sounds like they are still reviewing some applications and are aiming to be in touch with everyone (really, this time) by June 1.

Hey all - I received an email this morning, inviting me to interview next week. Has anyone else heard anything? 
Also received some intel through the grapevine that they've been delayed especially in reaching out to folks because many of the current students are actually following Annie + Branden to Austin. So I'm guessing they didn't know how many spots they had to fill until recently.

I spoke to Gregory Mosher (the chair of theatre) today. They’re reaching out to finalists this week. He got in touch with me today because I’d called this morning to check in (since I need to give Columbia an answer) but I’m not sure he’s reached out to everyone. 
From my brief conversation with him, it doesn’t seem like they’re going to know who the new director of playwriting is going to be before they make offers, which is too bad. The program definitely has some solid qualities (and an attractive price) but I don’t know how I’d feel about accepting an offer if I got one if don’t know who I’d be studying with...

P.S. What is Brooklyn College's scholarship like? Is it in addition to tuition? Is it a stipend? Would be grateful to know! Thx!

Hey everyone! I hope everyone is doing well with decisions and the stress of this application process. I’ve decided to officially accept Brooklyn College; it’s a great culture fit and with the scholarship they’ve given me, I won’t have to take out any loans, which is a dream. I wanted to let everyone know in case anyone lurking is on the waitlist for New School.
As anxiety inducing as this forum can be, it also has felt really comforting to have other folks who are in the similar situations on here. Best of luck to everyone and I hope y’all keep writing.

Got an offer from Columbia today! Super excited but also very anxious to find out about financial aid ? I can deal with a little bit of soul-crushing debt, but there is a limit to how much I’m willing to permanently sabotage my financial health at 23 (even for Lynn Nottage).
Hunter’s the only program I’ve yet to hear from so I gave them a call to see what’s up. They’re hoping to make offers “in early April” so there’s at least another week or two of waiting ahead. Not sure who’s reading the applications if they haven’t found a new Director yet?

@brillantina- congrats on your acceptances! That’s amazing!!
@RoryGilmore- so sorry! Didn’t mean to make you nervous! Since you said that your interviewer was going to be away for a while- I would imagine that it’s possible that this round doesn’t pertain to playwriting. I am keeping my fingers crossed for you (somewhat losing hope on being called in for an interview at this point, though).

Got into Brooklyn and New School (along with @faro555, yay!). Waiting to hear about financial aid from both programs before making a choice, but am thrilled. There are so many things I truly love about both, so it won’t be an easy one.
Still haven’t heard from NYU & Rutgers, and don’t expect to hear from Hunter anytime soon since their deadline was so late. 
Had a great interview with Columbia yesterday and would love it if they blew me out of the water in terms of financial aid, but historically that seems unlikely...

hi all! just got notice that I'm waitlisted at Brooklyn. curious if anyone else has heard anything?? as an fyi, there was no interview, at least not for me...
hope everyone's waits aren't too painful and congrats to those who have gotten good news!

Got an interview request from Columbia! So at least it's not so silent anymore. 
But apparently interviews are only 15 minutes? Which is... not a lot of time at all. 

I haven't heard anything other than my NYU interview and Michener rejection  I know UTA and Brown notified their finalists already (according to the results page), but I'm wondering why they're taking so long with rejections? 
Speaking of NYU, I had my Skype interview on Monday, and the interviewer told me that she still hasn't notified all the finalists yet! She's going on a workshop until March 14th, and she said she's going to reach out to people for interviews after that. So don't write your NYU obituary in your head @lonewolfe094...there's still hope!  
I also applied to Brooklyn, Hunter, and Rutgers, but haven't heard anything from them either. 

That’s really strange. So no one other than @RoryGilmore has heard from NYU even though the screenplay/television forums are going nuts with buzz? I guess that’s good news because I assumed I was the only one. (I was writing my NYU obituary in my head already). But also that’s really...strange? 

As far as Columbia, it looks like these are the prime days for them to request interviews (between now and mid-late March). For Brooklyn, I can find no evidence they even interview. And Hunter...I think this is the first year they don’t require the GRE and they pushed back their deadline twice, plus the faculty switch-ups, so the information available really isn’t applicable. I didn’t apply to Brown but I totally feel your pain. 
Bottom line: I think we’re all in it for the long run, but at least NOBODY is hearing back rather than just a few of us. I can’t imagine it’ll be too long before they open the floodgates and we’re all overcome with happiness/devastation/both. 

It's too quiet on these boards. Radio silence for you, too?

Yes! Had a great, inspiring callback weekend at New School this past weekend, but aside from them, I haven't heard anything at all, which seems very odd other than the Yale rejections most of us got mid-Feb. The last time I applied to Brown I'd already been rejected by now, so.... what gives? 

Sorry to hear it.

This waiting is excruciating!

@lonewolfe094 The playwriting head at NYU reached out to me yesterday to schedule an interview, but there's a chance she hasn't gotten to everyone yet! She said interviews are 3/1 and 3/4, so maybe some more interview requests will go out later today. 

I emailed them today to make sure my play and personal statement had arrived, since they don't give you a way to track that online. And they got it! Whew! Resent the two transcripts that had not arrived, and one has already been received. 

Congrats! Just lining them up and knocking him down this year!