In a lot of ways, your letter of interest is at least as important as your writing sample.
Of course we want to accept writers with demonstrated facility in form and craft. We’re looking for interesting ideas, interesting characters, and a passion for writing that will carry you through all the demands of an M.F.A. program.
At the end of the day, though, it won’t be your plays that go to classes, participate in discussions, interact with our faculty, guests, and other students. You will be. Your writing sample introduces your work to us, your letter of interest introduces you.
That’s pretty important stuff, there. Lots of pressure, but the only good introduction is an honest one. In short, be yourself. Trying to be anyone or anything else is more work than it is worth.
Before you pick a school, you should have been selective in that choice—you should know why you want to go there, have specific goals and a plan for how the program you are applying to can help you meet those goals. All that should be in your letter of interest.
How else are we going to know anything about your passion for writing, how much you looked into our program, whether your expectations of the program are realistic? Your letter of interest is the best tool we have (outside of an actual interview) to help decide whether or not the school and the student will be a good team for the next three to five years.
An M.F.A. is a huge investment in time and finances, but the university is taking a gamble too! Choosing a cohort of students is like casting a play. Talent is important, but so is knowing the ensemble will work well together, be mutually supportive, and be good ambassadors for the institution. And if you don’t get in, that means nothing more than the path to your success lies in another direction.
Ask hard questions of yourself and the institution. We’ll do the same—and that is going to be a very good and useful conversation to have regardless of the outcome.
Playwriting M.F.A.