Playwriting MFAs

[Raja012]

12 hours ago, rintea said:

I've been trying to figure this out on my own and talking about it with people in my life, but I would love some thoughts/advice.

I got accepted into UCLA, New School, and Iowa. I have not heard back from Columbia, and the interview was a couple weeks ago. I think it is probably safe to say I didn't get in since others have been waitlisted or accepted.

I turned down UCLA because it felt financially unfeasible. With New School, I would receive half of my tuition covered through merit scholarships with the chance to contest the scholarship to receive more aid. With Iowa, I would receive full tuition covered except for some small fees, along with a stipend. I am leaning toward Iowa because of the financial aspect and also because I think my aesthetic and goals as a playwright align with the program. However, I am wondering whether it would be more beneficial for me to go to New School, since I would be in New York in an experimental, interdisciplinary program.

Does anyone have any advice?

Congratulations on both of your acceptances. Although I am sure it's a difficult decision, I want to be sure to celebrate you for impressing both of those amazing programs. It truly is a remarkable dilemma to have. Like you, I'm navigating a similar situation, being waitlisted at two schools one both in NYC and one that is farther out. And thought I would share just a little bit of my thoughts on the situation atm. 

NYC is a city that is vibrant with opportunities to see new works and to be in an amazing community of writers. That coupled with the program at New School and their focus on expirementation could potentially be a great place that spurs your development as an artist. Not to mention the significant connections you could potentially build within the city as an artist. These are all true. 

On the other hand, Iowa's program seems to resonate deeply with your aesthetic sensibilities and professional goals. The financial package offered by Iowa, is a testament to their investment in your potential. This support can afford you the luxury of focusing intently on honing your craft without the looming stress of financial burden. Iowa is know for their writing programs and if you look at the program and think thats the place that I would grow the most than its definitely an amazing opportunity. 

While New York offers unparalleled opportunities for networking and exposure, remember that the digital age has somewhat leveled the playing field. Building a network and gaining exposure from Iowa may require more effort, but it's far from impossible. The question then becomes: Where do you see yourself thriving? Which environment aligns not just with your current aspirations but also with the playwright you aim to become?

For me, the decision boils down to understanding my end goals and assessing which program aligns more closely with the trajectory I envision for myself. It's a deeply personal decision, one that factors in not just the immediate benefits but also the long-term vision for my career.

Again, congratulations on being faced with such a decision. Whatever your choice, it's clear you're embarking on an exciting journey in your playwriting career.

[rintea]

On 3/27/2024 at 10:08 AM, Raja012 said:

Congratulations on both of your acceptances. Although I am sure it's a difficult decision, I want to be sure to celebrate you for impressing both of those amazing programs. It truly is a remarkable dilemma to have. Like you, I'm navigating a similar situation, being waitlisted at two schools one both in NYC and one that is farther out. And thought I would share just a little bit of my thoughts on the situation atm. 

NYC is a city that is vibrant with opportunities to see new works and to be in an amazing community of writers. That coupled with the program at New School and their focus on expirementation could potentially be a great place that spurs your development as an artist. Not to mention the significant connections you could potentially build within the city as an artist. These are all true. 

On the other hand, Iowa's program seems to resonate deeply with your aesthetic sensibilities and professional goals. The financial package offered by Iowa, is a testament to their investment in your potential. This support can afford you the luxury of focusing intently on honing your craft without the looming stress of financial burden. Iowa is know for their writing programs and if you look at the program and think thats the place that I would grow the most than its definitely an amazing opportunity. 

While New York offers unparalleled opportunities for networking and exposure, remember that the digital age has somewhat leveled the playing field. Building a network and gaining exposure from Iowa may require more effort, but it's far from impossible. The question then becomes: Where do you see yourself thriving? Which environment aligns not just with your current aspirations but also with the playwright you aim to become?

For me, the decision boils down to understanding my end goals and assessing which program aligns more closely with the trajectory I envision for myself. It's a deeply personal decision, one that factors in not just the immediate benefits but also the long-term vision for my career.

Again, congratulations on being faced with such a decision. Whatever your choice, it's clear you're embarking on an exciting journey in your playwriting career.

Thank you so much! This helped me a lot—you're so right about the longterm being more important than the immediate benefits. I ended up deciding on Iowa because it feels like a better fit, aesthetics- and future-wise. If any of you are going to Iowa or will be in the area, feel free to reach out!

Congrats on being waitlisted! I hope you get accepted to both places and can choose the one best for you. Keep us updated, if you're willing to.

[toreckonwithhenry]

anybody with experience on waitlists know at what point you should count yourself out?

[Raja012]

So I actually just got a notification about getting off the waitlist at Iowa. I know there is a graduate school agreement a lot of schools signed onto that has the date for financial aid decisions set as April 15th. So most schools start seeing movement around that time too. But I have heard stories of people waiting until right up until grad schools start in some instances. 

[toreckonwithhenry]

 

2 hours ago, Raja012 said:

So I actually just got a notification about getting off the waitlist at Iowa. I know there is a graduate school agreement a lot of schools signed onto that has the date for financial aid decisions set as April 15th. So most schools start seeing movement around that time too. But I have heard stories of people waiting until right up until grad schools start in some instances. 

congrats about iowa!! i'm on a waitlist for hunter, and it's just been a few days since the deadline they told me they would be hearing if the people they accepted were going to attend, or if they'd have openings. i'm trying to be hopeful but realistic, it's just hard to estimate where things stand. thanks for your insight!

[KevinKlineLuvr]

I also just got off a waitlist a couple days after they anticipated solidifying things. so I would agree/say that this next week should bring a lot of movement! all this waiting can really add up emotionally tho, so I hope everyone is hanging in there okay! 

Edited April 8, 2024 by KevinKlineLuvr

[nomad609]

going a little crazy waiting to hear back from indiana after my interview two weeks ago - finding it hard to move on without the actual closure of a rejection, even though I know acceptances already went out. anyone else interview and get waitlisted, rejected, any answers to any emails? thanks!! 

[Raja012]

36 minutes ago, nomad609 said:

going a little crazy waiting to hear back from indiana after my interview two weeks ago - finding it hard to move on without the actual closure of a rejection, even though I know acceptances already went out. anyone else interview and get waitlisted, rejected, any answers to any emails? thanks!! 

I was in the first round of offers that went out last Monday. I ended up turning down the offer to accept the Iowa offer on Wednesday morning (and the original deadline for accepting offers was set for April 8th). I got a response from Ana to my email on Friday. (She is awesome and I really had a hard time deciding because the program she is building at Indiana is going to be pretty amazing.) I do know that they made offers to three candidates but i had no word on if those people accepted. 

[mranderson97]

Has anyone on NYU’s waitlist heard from them yet? I’m curious if they’ve started reaching out.

[Raja012]

Ok, so I just received my final rejection from my last school!

This means it is finally over for me this season, and I am so glad this process is officially done. I just wanted to say thank you to all the people in this community. Connecting with other playwrights and going through this with others, even if it was only virtually, has really made this year more tolerable. 

We're all playwrights, and we did the damn thing regardless of the results and I'm so proud of each and every one of us.

I thank you for being so generous and kind here.

And to the future MFA applicants, YOU'VE GOT THIS. If you ever want to connect about the process or have questions about the Iowa Playwrights Workshop, feel free to reach out. 

Wishing yall the best. I can't wait to see the amazing work you all make! 

3a/6r/0p 

[MChammerstein]

Hello fabulous playwrights lurking out there! I just wanted to extend a huge bravo to those of you who have already submitted or are in the process of submitting their applications for Fall 2025. This is an epic feat, so way to go!

My approach this year is to NOT think about when schools have notified people in the past. The timing was completely different anyway, I did not get the news I wanted, and it really weighed on me. I am proud of myself and proud of all of us who were able to pick up the pen and begin again. For those who are like past me and can't help but obsess every day, you're not alone. I am going to keep writing as though I am not getting in, because I am still a playwright even if I'm not admitted to grad school. Peace is hard to come by, but I hope each and every one of you finds a place where you can cultivate that precious peace!

[atreus85]

Hiya! First time applicant here. I'm submitting to UCSD today with USC and UCR to follow shortly. 

[toreckonwithhenry]

hello again to this forum! i have submitted in the past, and i'm trying again this year, just turned in my last application the other day. gonna try not to stress about it this year! we'll see whether i follow through on that or not.... good luck to everyone!

[putonash]

Trying to remain patient and sane.... sent in maybe 7-8 applications and hoping to hear that interviews will be set up at the end of the month... fingers crossed

[bibsy]

hi, playwrights! introducing myself late, but i've applied to a mix of programs: some in creative writing, some in playwriting (yale, ut austin, and iowa, for the latter category). wanted to pop in and say that i just received an interview request for ut austin! keep an eye on your email, if that one's on your list! 

[atreus85]

@bibsy Congrats!! 

Out of curiosity, if you end up having to choose between a creative writing and a playwriting program, which one are you leaning toward?

[bibsy]

11 minutes ago, atreus85 said:

@bibsy Congrats!! 

Out of curiosity, if you end up having to choose between a creative writing and a playwriting program, which one are you leaning toward?

tooootally depends. this was a seat of my pants decision. for a little context, i graduated with my BFA in directing from carnegie mellon in the class of 2020, but i fell far more in love with playwriting than directing during my time there. entered the workforce right at the start of covid and had to get strategic, so i expanded into writing for video games and the immersive industry. welp, i have experienced two layoffs since then, as those worlds are incredibly volatile, too. most recently, my position as the narrative director at area15 was eliminated at the end of november. last time around, it took me 10 months to find full-time work, and i just did not have it in me to put all my energy there again. so. i decided to gun for grad school simultaneously. i was laid off 3 days before the yale deadline and miraculously managed to get an app submitted, lol.

i already have a professional identity as a playwright, so i would be much more selective about where i go to study playwriting. on the flipside, my entire creative life has blossomed out from the origin point of theatre. i consider myself a playwright before i consider myself anything else. it's sacred to me.

as for creative writing, i'm a less competitive applicant, but i'm inspired by how much i could grow in a cw program. and with the state of the entertainment industry (not to mention the state of the nation), there's something compelling about building out a solitary writing practice. something i can pursue independent from my employers or access to collaborators. 

in either case, i'm interested in programs with flexible boundaries around genre so that i can explore both. my top choice for creative writing is probably uc davis, and my top choice for playwriting is probably yale. but this whole process has been such an unexpected whirlwind that even those leanings are a vibe check. i could totally be swayed in a wildly different direction.

SORRY THAT WAS SO LONG FJNJEDNFJKN i'm expelling anxious energy

[atreus85]

7 minutes ago, bibsy said:

tooootally depends. this was a seat of my pants decision. for a little context, i graduated with my BFA in directing from carnegie mellon in the class of 2020, but i fell far more in love with playwriting than directing during my time there. entered the workforce right at the start of covid and had to get strategic, so i expanded into writing for video games and the immersive industry. welp, i have experienced two layoffs since then, as those worlds are incredibly volatile, too. most recently, my position as the narrative director at area15 was eliminated at the end of november. last time around, it took me 10 months to find full-time work, and i just did not have it in me to put all my energy there again. so. i decided to gun for grad school simultaneously. i was laid off 3 days before the yale deadline and miraculously managed to get an app submitted, lol.

i already have a professional identity as a playwright, so i would be much more selective about where i go to study playwriting. on the flipside, my entire creative life has blossomed out from the origin point of theatre. i consider myself a playwright before i consider myself anything else. it's sacred to me.

as for creative writing, i'm a less competitive applicant, but i'm inspired by how much i could grow in a cw program. and with the state of the entertainment industry (not to mention the state of the nation), there's something compelling about building out a solitary writing practice. something i can pursue independent from my employers or access to collaborators. 

in either case, i'm interested in programs with flexible boundaries around genre so that i can explore both. my top choice for creative writing is probably uc davis, and my top choice for playwriting is probably yale. but this whole process has been such an unexpected whirlwind that even those leanings are a vibe check. i could totally be swayed in a wildly different direction.

SORRY THAT WAS SO LONG FJNJEDNFJKN i'm expelling anxious energy

I love this! I mean, not the getting laid off part, but all the rest! I totally feel you on wanting to build up a practice that doesn't depend on outside parties. The entertainment world is so volatile right now, and it doesn't look like it's settling anytime soon.

One of the reasons I applied to UC Riverside is because of the inter-disciplinary aspect of their program. They encourage you to seminars in a variety of genres, and if I end up there I'll definitely be taking advantage of that!

[bibsy]

Just now, atreus85 said:

I love this! I mean, not the getting laid off part, but all the rest! I totally feel you on wanting to build up a practice that doesn't depend on outside parties. The entertainment world is so volatile right now, and it doesn't look like it's settling anytime soon.

One of the reasons I applied to UC Riverside is because of the inter-disciplinary aspect of their program. They encourage you to seminars in a variety of genres, and if I end up there I'll definitely be taking advantage of that!

i applied to uc riverside as well! that's one where i applied for fiction but am also drawn to the cross-population of genres and the presence of a playwriting program on-campus. in the very little time i had to research, i was asking myself, "how do i worm my way into writing the most stuff i like, regardless of what they title the program?" 

[atreus85]

5 minutes ago, bibsy said:

i applied to uc riverside as well! that's one where i applied for fiction but am also drawn to the cross-population of genres and the presence of a playwriting program on-campus. in the very little time i had to research, i was asking myself, "how do i worm my way into writing the most stuff i like, regardless of what they title the program?" 

Wait that's so cool! And I am slightly jealous that you didn't have to write the statement of pedagogy. 

[Gummyeyes42]

First time poster here and new to this whole process — congrats on your UT Austin interview request! For people who have been through this before are they sent out on a rolling basis or typically all at the same time? I also applied to UT Austin and am wondering if not receiving one yet means I’m out of the running. Thanks all!

[bibsy]

On 1/28/2025 at 11:47 AM, atreus85 said:

Wait that's so cool! And I am slightly jealous that you didn't have to write the statement of pedagogy. 

i will admit unflinchingly that i opted for creative writing over playwriting at UCR because i could NOT bring myself to write another short essay, l o l. 

 

17 hours ago, Gummyeyes42 said:

First time poster here and new to this whole process — congrats on your UT Austin interview request! For people who have been through this before are they sent out on a rolling basis or typically all at the same time? I also applied to UT Austin and am wondering if not receiving one yet means I’m out of the running. Thanks all!

thank you so much!! this is my first grad school rodeo, but i've been in the trenches of ut austin research these past few days. from everything i've read on the forums, it does look like uta has a baddd habit of not explicitly notifying folks of rejections until very late in the process. don't count yourself out until you're out, but from my email, the suggestion seemed to be that they'd be holding all (semifinalist?) interviews on february 5th. further disclaimers: no insight into whether this is inclusive of michener applicants! i missed the michener deadline, and i'm kinda bummed about that! would have loved to study fiction as a secondary genre, in the dreamy fantasy world where ut austin's on the table for me.

wishing you luck with your process! where else did you apply, if you're comfortable sharing?