<p>So I’m applying to Acting BFA this year and… I am really really stumped on the essay. This is what it says on the website: </p>
<p>“Please write about why you have chosen to become an actor and your personal artistic goals. We encourage you to write frankly and openly about your life, your connection to your art, and how you see your art connecting to the world.” </p>
<p>I am just… at a total loss. It’s never easy for me to talk about myself, and I can’t even begin to think about why I love the theatre so much, what I find alluring about it and where my passion comes from. </p>
<p>I get the impression that whether or not you get in is mostly based on how much they liked your audition. Nevertheless, is there a particular expectation as to what the essay is supposed to say? I looked up sample essays online of other students who applied to Juilliard… all of them seemed to be variations of “I want to inspire people with my art/I want my art to serve others and make the world a better place”. One of them even quoted Mother Teresa. I dunno, I mean I’m sure those people were being honest and truthful and meant what they wrote, but I could never imagine myself saying anything like that. But what I wanna know is, is there anything in the essay that they are specifically looking for? Do they want to hear that your goal is to “serve the world with your art” or something?</p>
<p>I would imagine they do NOT want to see someone who basically says they want to be an actor so they can be rich and have lots of sex with attractive people.</p>
<p>If you can’t talk about “where your passion comes from” at least talk in such a way that they can at least see that you have a passion.</p>
<p>You should be able to at least articulate some personal artistic goals. Where do you hope to be as an actor in 5 years, 10 years, 20 years?</p>
<p>If you can’t talk about yourself, or “your” art, try talking more in general about art. In another post you once wrote “Theatre is basically my entire life.” I assume when you say “theatre” you mean live theatre performance (I haven’t seen you talk about film and television). Think about this–why do we even have theatre? Does theatre still have a purpose now that it is the 21st century and we can do so much electronically? Will theatre have to do something to change to fit in better in the 21st century?</p>
<p>Just some ideas off the top of my head to get you started.</p>
<p>Sit at your computer, put your fingers on the keypad and just type. Type what you think about theatre: how you feel when you are auditioning for a show and what it means to you when you get a part, what does it feel like when you stand back stage waiting to go on, how you feel when you transition into your character, how you feel when a fellow cast member churns up emotions in you through their performance. Don’t think, just type. Type a bunch of pages. You will eventually type one sentence that is the truth. Then take that and write your essay around it.</p>
<p>And KEVP is correct - you don’t want to say you want fame, money, or that you love the sound of applause. Writing the essay is not easy, but get the idea going, then go back to fix the grammar, add the catchy opening, etc. But get to the truth!</p>
<p>Madelyne. I think you will also get this question frequently during the interview process. From what I have read from other students who have been through auditions/interviews and from reading articles by professors, this is a common one. So don’t feel like this is just for your Juilliard app. This will come up frequently.
If you are having trouble answering that specific question, try answering questions that are kind of the opposite of that one like “why don’t you choose to major in something that has more guarantees in life?” Or " arent you worried about finding work in the actjng field?" By answering these you may find the answer to the other. My D, for example, can not think of one other thing she would do. Even though she is exceedingly bright. When I asked “if you couldn’t go into acting what would you do” she said “I would find my way to acting somehow.”<br>
And there’s her answer.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for these ideas!!! I know what my goals are in the general sense… I know that I want to become a professional actor. I’m just not sure if that fits under the category of professional goals, or artistic goals.</p>
<p>Also… if they don’t ask you to stay for an interview, does that mean that they aren’t considering inviting you to the workshop?</p>
<p>Why can’t your professional goals also be artistic? Just food for thought :)</p>
<p>Be honest. Why do you act? What do you want to do as an actor? </p>
<p>-if I may be honest, a personal statement like this is something ALL actors should sit down and write for themselves, not just those applying to Julliard!</p>
<p>This is the part of the essay that I’d have a hard time with;</p>
<pre><code> how you see your art connecting to the world
</code></pre>
<p>Madelyne, all are interviewed and auditioned, only a few receive callbacks that day. If you are not called back, then you are not going to be considered.</p>
<p>Shacherry. I am not an actor; my D is. But I would say how she connects to the world is that when she is performing, and someone in the audience is moved, she is connecting to the world. If she makes someone laugh, or cry, or have a new thought, she is connecting to them.</p>
<p>What exactly do you mean when you say you want to be a “professional actor”. Can you be more specific? Do you want to work in live theatre (That’s what I have been assuming, but I have never heard you actually say that)? What roles do want to play? What sort of people do you want to work with? Where do you want to do all this?</p>
<p>KEVP</p>
<p>Just PM-ed you, KEVP</p>