Since all personal statements were completed and submitted for the Fall 2012 applications a while back...I figured it's probably about time that I post my personal statement...for the record.
I had almost totally forgotten about it, but I think I promised that I would post this year's statement...and I like to keep my promises. So HERE IT IS!
If you're interested in seeing the progression of my personal statements over the years, you can read my 2010 and 2011 personal statements for NYU by CLICKING HERE...but this time, just to switch it up...I'm posting my personal statement for Juilliard.
See below...
Virginia Wilcox - Personal Statement - Juilliard - 2012
Actors give a truly important service to society. As storytellers, they mold the collective mind and spark social change through the spread of ideas, backed by the passionate fervor of an audience’s shared emotional experience. Great acting requires bravery, discipline, and passion. These are the same qualities that make up a great human being. The more you are willing to be a fully present, loving, generous, courageous person…the better you will be at empathically embodying the experience of another. I look to the journeys of actors like Laura Linney and Daniel Talbott who have blossomed from their training at Juilliard, followed their own unique passions, and boldly serve with their work, and I think, “That’s the kind of artist I want to BE!”
Right now, at 30, I feel I have no more time to waste in becoming my dream. I must remove the barriers that are holding me back from becoming the gutsy human being and actor I’ve always known I can be. I am taking action to face my fears, changing unhealthy behaviors that undermine my strength, and transforming my life in preparation for the transformational work ahead in grad school. This year I changed my eating habits and am back in my ideal body, deepened my yoga practice, left a two-year relationship that was no longer healthy for me, adopted the Tao te Ching as my spiritual manual (my favorite audiobook for subway rides), obtained a fantastic day-job in the middle of the recession (and though the job has protected me from financial ruin, it has also given me clarity that acting is my true profession), and last, but not least, I have taken two personal finance classes at The Actor’s Fund and am on track to eliminate my debt by 2012. (Cannot wait!) Overcoming my fears and taking action, I feel a great sense of accomplishment with both. With courage and persistence I have proven to myself that I do have the power to change my life and become a stronger human being and a stronger artist. Barriers be gone!
After suffering last year’s disappointment of not getting into NYU or Yale (for the second time), I knew that for 2011 I could not depend on acceptance to grad school to kick-start my artistic growth. I was going to have to do something on my own. So I decided to address what I think is my greatest obstacle as an actor: my fear of being open and vulnerable in front of others. I came up with the idea to write a blog as a forum to test my fears, publicly documenting my process of preparation for applying to MFA acting programs. The blog has a two-fold benefit: I get to practice being publicly open and vulnerable through my daily writing, while motivating others to bravely pursue their dreams as I boldly pursue mine. To me, the idea of blogging was absolutely terrifying…and that’s exactly why I did it. On my Facebook page I publicly committed to write 180 blog posts from September 5 to April 1, and invited everyone I know to follow. The blog has been the greatest confidence builder of all. An online community of like-minded folks have rallied around me in support. Each morning I send out an honest snapshot of my life, with all of its ups and downs. I am discovering that those flaws and idiosyncrasies that we fear others will condemn us for are often the very things that draw us to connect with one another and remind us that we are all innately human. www.AcceptanceProjectNYC.blogspot.com has already made me feel like this year’s application process has been one of the greatest accomplishments of my life.
I have a deep desire to create art that inspires others and that is why I am driven to do this work; because of the “Artist as Citizen” ethos, Juilliard is my first choice for my MFA. None of the other schools “walk the walk” like Juilliard does, not only in addressing the question of how we can make work that will be significant to our communities, to our society and to the world at large, but also in taking action. We are all the creators of our own experience. I want to collaborate with other artists that share the same values and commitment that I have in doing this great work. And these artists are at Juilliard. What might I be capable of contributing to the world if I was given the opportunity to be mentored by the best teachers, inspired by the most committed fellow students, and surrounded by the most passionate arts community in the country? That is the question I cannot stop asking myself and the question that has kept me coming back to audition for graduate school, and finally, Juilliard. At last, I have found my community! Juilliard feels like home to me, where I know I’ll be safe to take risks and realize my life purpose. I hope that you will support me by welcoming me in as a valued member of the artistic community at Juilliard. I cannot do this alone! Help to guide my path, challenge me to continue to remove all barriers, give me the time and tools to build my strength as an actor. My heart beats to be of service to others and to passionately practice my greatest love: acting. I have so much more to give.
Whah-whah...Didn't get in this year.
:-(
But that's okay...I'll just keep on giving it anyway! Can't think of anything better that I'd like to do.
:-)
For other posts relating to the Personal Statement writing process this year...check these out...
#59 Juilliard Personal Statement Draft
#65 Powerful Questions
#66 My Bucket List: Personal Artistic Goals 2011
#71 Inspiration Is IN
#74 Speak Your Truth
Please Note ***Applying to MFA acting programs really ISN'T about the Personal Statement...It's ALLLL about performing kick-ass monologues on the audition day. (For more about my philosophy of choosing monologues click HERE and/or HERE.) Acting happens LIVE...monologues are what will get you IN (or so I hear) ...not your literary skills. So don't stress if you're not particularly comfortable with writing. Just be true to your heart...and write about what you are really passionate about...because that will be unique. Do not write what you think they want to read...because it will come off completely generic and end up sounding exactly like huuuuuuundreds of other essays that they've been snoozing through for years.***
Best of luck to allllll you allllll writing personal statements out there...now and in the future.
Be courageous. Be you. Write your truth.
Loves,
V
these will surely be more effective.
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ReplyDeleteso no one should listen to this girls advise about the Statement of purpose. That is more telling to the admissions departments about you than any monologue. Your statment of purpose should be used to show the level of passion you have for acting because innovation needs a zealous passion. This SoP is honestly awful. Your statment should be consice and to the point. your audience should feel the sensation of "i cant put this down, what happens next?" and the best way to do this is to form your SoP as a narrative. Reading Virgina's multiple SoP showed tld me nothing of what drives her to act. Admissions doesnt want to hear you whole life story or ready some sappy stuff that screams "PLEASE ESCAPET ME!!!! EVEN OUT OF PITY I DONT CARE ILL DO ANYTING!!" when you have to resort to pleading with admissions through your statement, which has been done by Virginina, means even you know, deep down, that the work youre about to turn in is severly lacking and that you have a low confidence in yourself. The miandering through your stuggles is such a trite thing to do. dont fucking do that. If your SoP looks anything like this change it please. It's so common and tiresome. OH! I almost forgot. The manner in which that you craft your SoP is a great tell of imaginative creativity. Think about it, if you are trite in your writing, something that is completely at your mind's mercy, and you turn in something....common that looks terrible. I hope what im saying is making some kind of sense. Reading this seems like Virginnia didnt even try to write anything decent. It doesnt look like much effort was put forth, which is also a huge red flag to admissions. It's also extremely informal. The informality of it wouldnt be such a big deal if it werent so lacking in other areas. Its like Virgina didn't place any effort into research. If only she had found essays of those accepted into these highly selective schools she wouldve cried out in terror at just the thought of comparing hers to those works of art. You are talking to masters of reading behind the lines. I found this while researching (literally months of just research, not even writing) for my own SoP. I've read the letters of those who have attended these institutions. Ive hung out with some of the people who wrote them. Once you come into the presence of these people you can already tell that they emit this powerful passion. When speaking about their field of interest, no mater what it is, you feel swept up and have been convinced that you love it to. Their passion for what they do is unyielding and unstoppable. They are willing to sacrifice so much to get just a little bit further. they are concise, specific, and confident in who they are. The world is overflowing with talent. talent matters, but its not the most important aspect. like Virgina's essays feel like this very comment Im leaving. its hastily written and is literally just a meandering. You dont even mention why this specific school is where you need to be. This literally reads like acting is not your life's passion and someone forced you to apply so you are trying to deceptively self-sabotage. this is a good example of what not to do and what mind set not to have. my advise would be to seek out the advise of professional writers. Read personal essays with a critical eye. watch video essays about the thins you love. do some soul searching and find what inspired you to go into acting. What benefit would you bring to the field of acting. I honestly dont know if Virginia was ignorant to the quality of applicants these selective school have thrust upon them every year or what. these are driven individuals who live and breathe what they do. They forgo comforts of the heart for it. Good luck other hopefuls.
ReplyDeleteWow, this comment is so unhelpful and negative and arrogant. For one, there is not a single helpful link or information on what exactly she could do to make her POS better. Instead, it seems like a personal vendetta to criticize her POS in a very cutting manner. Just because you hang out with these people who have been accepted to the schools doesn't mean you can't be humble and nice. In your long post you have not mentioned even once specifically what she could do to make it better.
DeleteThis Is excellent advice, Autumn, even though the delivery was a bit sharp. She is saying that there needs to be more passion with the statement, and there are apparent issues with overgeneralization.
DeleteVery informative! Personal statement depends a lot on your past achievements but a lot of it also depends on how you write it. a lot of people struggle with his but luckily there's a site where you can get help to improve yours. You can look here on this page to find out more about it. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteWow!!!! What a passionate comment from autumn. Thanks for taking the time to share your perspective. I haven't been in the world of writing "personal statements" in quite some time...but I hope that people who read this post and these comments can get something helpful from the dialogue. I'm not sure why autumn took such an adversarial tone, but certainly if you "read between the lines" and extract the venom...there's a lot of really great tips in there. Wishing you all well in your grad school journey. And for you, autumn, I am wishing you well also...I hope that your sharing has helped a lot of people along the way. And if I ever were to write another personal statement again...I will probably still meander and self-sabotage all over that sh*t (in spite of all my best efforts not to)...hahahahaha. Sending you love and hugs.
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