jck349

So is anybody else planning on applying this year? Slowly but surely putting together my applications and would love to ask some questions to anybody at UCSD, Iowa, Carnegie Mellon, or UT Austin if they're willing to answer them!

Howdy all! Never too early to start prepping for Fall. Used to frequent this endless thread and definitely read through all 100+ pages a few times over the years when I should have been focusing on my office job. I last applied in Fall 2019 (rejected from UCSD, Iowa, UT Austin, and Yale; wait listed at CMU). Was planning on applying again in Fall 2020...but Covid, financials, life events, etc etc. But now I'm finally back in a place where I'm confident about applying! My list is UCSD, Iowa, CMU, and maybe Austin. Things have most certainly changed since pre-Covid, and these schools' websites don't always seem up to date, so if anyone here is currently in any of those programs and wouldn't mind giving a report from the ground, that'd be greatly appreciated! Excited to be back!

Any other returning applicants here who've drastically rethought their applications this year due to Covid? I was excited to reapply places this year, but at this point I'm not really in a position to pack up and move cross-country in, like, 8 months from now... Especially when there's no guarantee that there will be in person instruction/performances/etc next Fall. So, I think I'm just applying to UCSD. Only a 20 minute drive for me, and I think I can handle that commute. Otherwise, fingers crossed for 2022!

I interviewed with CMU last year, so I can add a little bit to what @Agez said. In addition to Rob, Melissa Martin teaches screenwriting, which is connected to the Sloan foundation contest for science/technology based screenplays. Both Rob and Melissa are super cool and nice, based on my interview with them! They accept 4 a year, and it's a 2 year program. I made wait-list last year and was really reaaaaally looking forward to applying again this year, but holy smokes did the past 8 months throw things for a loop.

Ok, so I wasn't the only one who got that email the other day, haha. Honestly though, I liked getting a more genuine rejection email instead of the auto-generated "we regret to inform you..." one from before.

I got an official Iowa rejection this morning via email. So now, with 4 rejections and 1 waitlist, that's it for me! I'm on the CMU waitlist but I'm not super optimistic about getting in (and with all the zaniness going on, I don't know if I'd be able to move cross-country right now even if I *did* get in). I'll probably apply again next year. This was my first cycle and I definitely learned a lot about what each of the schools I applied to are looking for. It would've been nice to get any sort of encouraging words from the rejections... They were all just the bland "thanks for applying, we have a decision" form letters, but what can ya do. Onwards and upwards. Congrats to all y'all who are going off to school in the fall!! If the past months have taught us anything, it's that we all worked out butts off and should be proud!

I got an email from Dr Grapko earlier today that I was denied. Just checked my portal and it's official!

Welcome to the waitlist haha. Let us know if you get any updates! @Agez: for sure! Our current project is a 10 minute play fest for local playwrights. There's a lot of theatre in SD, but it definitely skews older, so we're doing our best to get younger writers' work out there. If that goes well (and if I'm still in SD by the end of the year haha), our plan is for full productions of original work from all over!

For reeeeal. My fiance and I have plans for every outcome, but have been just kinda in limbo. But we're happy with all of our choices, even if it means applying again next year (and the year after and the year after...) Speaking of theatrical futures! Kind of a shot in the dark, but if any of y'all also happen to be based in San Diego, PM me! Got some theatrical goings on down here and we're always looking for new writers!!

I went to Tisch for undergrad, and I remember getting emails about Accepted Students events and stuff *weeks* before getting any official acceptance. It's a great school, but it's massive and that scale seems to throw off their admin a little bit.

Congrats!! I've only had one interview, but the general thing that programs seem to want to know is 1) why do you want an MFA? and 2) why at this school specifically? Other people will know better than me though!

Yup, the rejection just appeared on mine too. Fingers crossed they politely ignore the overeager email I sent them a few minutes before it popped up haha...

Hahaha at least we're not alone! I emailed the general admissions email address. I'm sure it's gonna be a rejection, but at this point I'm just concerned that my application didn't even go through or something.

Other people waiting to hear from Yale: I just got an email that my status has changed and to check the portal, but my portal still says my status is just "submitted." Anyone else in the same boat?

Iowa's the last one I'm waiting to hear back from! Based on previous years, we've still got another 2-3 weeks of waiting...

Meeeee too. My Yale portal still just says "submitted."

Waitlisted as well!

That's awesome!! Break legs! Where else are you waiting to hear back from?

Yeah, I heard about people getting invited for the campus interview! At this point I guess they're probably just waiting until they've made their acceptances before giving notifications? Whooooo knows. Congrats to your friend!

I applied to Austin T&D and haven't heard anything at all. Not the same as Michener but not *not* the same?

Someone earlier in the thread said they get somewhere in the 200s of applications, can't find the exact post at the moment. I believe they accept 3.

Welcome! Hope there's good news in your future! Speaking of news, has anyone heard ANYTHING about Yale??

Howdy! Had my CMU interview also. I'll direct message you.

Search for "dramatic writing" as well!

I hope so! Fully expecting a rejection, but it'll be nice to have an official rejection instead of hanging out in the "well, I didn't get an interview so probably rejected?" limbo.