Mel Rose

Just received an interview request from NYU via email! (for all those following NYU's Dramatic Writing)
Looks like last year's requests came out in batches throughout the last week of Feb, so keep an eye out!

Just received an interview request from NYU via email! (for all those following NYU's Dramatic Writing)
Looks like last year's requests came out in batches throughout the last week of Feb, so keep an eye out!

I applied to Iowa, but haven’t heard any updates yet. Judging by last year’s timeline, there may be a little more time (looks like interviews/offers began in March in 2020). Hoping that’s the case!

Oh, thank you for asking! I did end up accepting! The relief was very welcome. I just spoke with the other incoming playwright for a little Zoom meet up which was nice lol
I also got my person email from Hunter, but I let them know I had already accepted so hopefully that opens up an interview spot! I'll starting to realize how differently timed all these programs are when it comes to responses and such

I applied to Iowa, but haven’t heard any updates yet. Judging by last year’s timeline, there may be a little more time (looks like interviews/offers began in March in 2020). Hoping that’s the case!

thank you everyone!!! you all rock! this is only the beginning...I believe in us ❤️ (I always talk about this forum and my dad just said "what are your friends on grad cafe up to today?" lmao)

Congrats @seasickmermaid and @broccolini!!!! Exciting week! I just found out I got an interview at Hunter College!! Christine Scarfuto emailed asking about availability next week. Sending good vibes out to everyone for more good news!!

got an interview for northwestern? ahhhhh!

Woot! Congratulations! 
And a serious thanks to you for sharing so much of your knowledge/insight from last cycle. It has been so hugely helpful for those of us on our first round. 
It must be such a relief to have a solid decision this early & to maybe be able to breathe again!

Update to the update:
So I found out the 2nd interview is actual casual one-on-ones with the current cohort at UCSD. They were all really awesome and kind, it was a nice "getting to know you "and do you have any questions?" They did this with 4 ppl, I did two meet ups on Sunday, and two on Monday.
Got the call from Naomi early this morning, I'm in! Still processing. It's a quick turn around, have 48 hrs to respond. It's my top choice school so I'm very thankful, I just have to weight it between a job offer at the theatre I work at and love. Stats wise, 94 ppl applied this year, which Naomi made sound was above normal.
Thank y'all for the support through this process, y'all the realest! I know it's a stressful time, and this was only my 2nd round. Sending out good vibes and good luck!

Just want to jump in and acknowledge that this week and next is going to be heavy traffic for this forum/the results page. Based on last year and the year before, it looks like we can expect to hear back from Northwestern/Hunter this week, NYU next week. And those are just the ones I'm personally following. Good luck, all! And just remember your worth as a writer is not determined by a group of people huddled in an administrative office.

Congrats!!! Cheesy and I are also both in for the final round at UT. Woo

Update: Got an email from Naomi today saying I should expect to hear from the current MFA cohort soon for a 2nd interview, and for me to ask them any questions I have about the program and their experience. 

@cheesyhow was your UT?? Just finished mine. It was chill? SO short obviously. too short for follow up questions or statements which is sad bc i felt like i could have gone on. Tried not to be obsessed with Annie B even though I am. They asked about two very specific things from my cover letter - a weird study abroad trip i did and another weird workshop i led and then let me ask questions (i had few bc i've been chatting with an alum) but i asked about michener vs dept of theatre and dance & also if i was correct that the curriculum had non writing theatre reqs like devising. then annie asked what the worst version of grad school would be like for me and offered a really awesome response - it was clear she was trying to make sure that I was interviewing them as much as they interviewed me even though... obviously thats not true. lol. anyways. hope all is well to all the interview-ees. its good to ventttttttttt. xoxo 

hi there! short-time lurker, just wanted to pop my head in here and say hello. this is my first time applying to graduate programs, i only applied to a few, mainly because those $$ fees tend to add up.. ha ha..
i am also interviewing for ut austin, very snervous, but finding lots of reassurance here! happy writing everyone and good wishes to you and your processes!

Hey y'all!
Just wanted to keep you posted. I got an email from Naomi and Deborah from UCSD for an interview for this Tuesday

Wow, exciting news! Huge congrats to all the folks who heard back from UT Austin/CMU!
I just submitted my last application of the year for Ohio University! Feels good to be done! I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high for any of these schools (2020 pretty much killed my ability to be optimistic about anything, lol), but I can't help but be grateful for all the lessons I learned from my first time through the application process. Even if I don't get in for this fall, I know I'm going to feel so much more prepared going through this process next year—and I owe a lot of it to you lovely folks posting on this board! Thanks, all!

Just got the notification from CMU...I have been placed on the waitlist. Not exactly helping my stress level, but not all hope is lost!
Congrats to all who have gotten interview requests today!

Cool! I have not applied applied before. Wondering if anyone has insight on their process? Curious if they are doing things differently this year, or if some waitlist interviews take place only after a finalist spot opens up. I don't know. It's a mystery. ?
Trying to stay somewhat positive as I now give up hope on UT Austin ?

A little befuddled here too. Don’t know if this is the general waitlist, or waitlist for interviews. The email I received said I will get an admission update in the coming months, so who knows!

Just got the notification from CMU...I have been placed on the waitlist. Not exactly helping my stress level, but not all hope is lost!
Congrats to all who have gotten interview requests today!

just got a ut austin interview
i am BREATHLESS 
had to come here first
i dont know you but friends - i'm glad we're in this together 

Happy New Year, y'all!!
I admit, I've been kind of theatre'd out lately. I'm trying to slowly get back in, and being forced to by work as we get into season planning helps. I'm trying to read more works by playwrights I've been lucky enough to meet/ know via NPX, and working my way from there.
I applied to 14 schools last year, and just submitted all my apps for the 5 this year. Going in with a very different energy. With everything going, it felt a little absurd, but life has to keep on. I'm just at the point where I just want to know what my life is going to look like this year cause I couldn't have guessed the last one. 
Best of luck everyone! Overthinking, though natural, will not be our friend over the upcoming months. You've done your part, the rest come what may or something. Take care of yourselves! 

@waitingandwaitingmaybe21Oh man, I feel that re: app fees—got a holiday bonus at my day job, which was super exciting, but it became a lot less exciting once I realized nearly all that $$$ would just be funneled into this process. Ah, the things we do to pursue our dreams...
As we wrap up this application season, I'd also like to reiterate the above positive sentiments. The graduate school application process is exhausting, tedious, and demoralizing at the BEST of times. We're going through this process during a global pandemic. Pardon my French, but we're fucking superstars. You all should be ridiculously proud of yourselves for daring to dream big and putting in the work this year to apply, whether you filled out one application or 20.
On a semi-related note, anyone got play recommendations to read and/or watch online during this time of waiting? I just read Heroes of the Fourth Turning by Will Arbery and—as someone who (perhaps unfortunately) spent some of their youth in conservative-leaning Christian schools—it really hit home. Would definitely recommend that one.
 

hows everyone doing 
i spent most of my morning hovering on one of my top schools "submit" buttons before finally taking a breath and clicking it
the work was done but that feeling of wanting to be accepted, celebrated, valued was catching in my throat
just had to remember that those things exist regardless of what happens
and that no one or two sentence tweak will be the deciding factor b/w a yes or a no 
sending love as everyone hits those buttons! you are courageous and valued. hny