Undergraduate / NYU Gallatin International Transfer Essays [5]

Hi,

I am trying to transfer to NYU Gallatin and would love feedback on my essays. They're kind of short, but I'm not sure if I should add more stuff. English is not my first language by the way, so I would appreciate grammar corrections and such.

Thanks!

We would like to know more about your interest in NYU. We are particularly interested in knowing what motivated you to apply to NYU and more specifically, why you have applied or expressed interest in a particular campus, school, college, program, and/or area of study? You may be focused or undecided, or simply open to the options within NYU's global network; regardless, we want to understand - Why NYU? (400 word maximum)

"If you can do anything else besides acting, then do it," is a popular adage among acting teachers. As someone who believes that the most distinguished artists are ones who have many skills and interests in different fields, I detest that saying. Growing up in the cosmopolitan Săo Paulo, home to many theater companies, I have always been interested in collaborative and devised theater. I yearn to create or join a theater company that produces new work (especially works from minorities and women, about current social and political issues). As a multi-hyphenate theater maker, I have found it difficult to find a college that gives me equal opportunity to develop not only as a performer, but also as a playwright and director. At Gallatin I hope to focus on ensemble theater making and the development of original works for the stage. I would also like to take advantage of the possibility of broadening my horizons by taking classes in other departments. The location of NYU is also exciting to me, since New York City is the epicenter of many important events in the current political scenario and has a unique culture that is shaped daily by its international denizens. I believe that an education at the Gallatin School of Individualized Study combined with the endless opportunities of New York City - the heart of the theatrical world - will help me become not only a more complete and well-prepared artist, but also someone that can make a difference.

Please provide a statement that addresses your reasons for transferring and the objectives you hope to achieve. You can type directly into the box, or you can paste text from another source. (250-650 words)

My ultimate goal as a student pursuing a career in theater is to create or join a theater company in which the ensemble members rotate through the various functions and jobs. Such company demands professionals that can perform, write, direct, design and produce, as well as knowing how to create plays without a set script and in non-hierarchical settings. This is a very European tradition of theater, but can also be found in the U.S. with companies such as Double Edge, SITI Company, The Wooster Group, among others. I am currently attending an art school in which 90% of my classes are in the field of Acting. Although I consider myself a performer and am also minoring in Creative Writing, I haven't been able to fulfill my other needs to become a well-rounded theater artist. I have written and directed plays outside of curricular activities, but my school lacks undergraduate classes in the areas of playwriting, directing and producing. The training here is also extremely individual-minded and focused mostly on mainstream film and theater and the needs of the entertainment industry. I am more interested in the experimental and avant-garde than mainstream work. After doing research about Gallatin and talking to a student, I believe that transferring to a program in which I can design my own major will make me thrive and can help me achieve my goals much more than finishing my degree in my current school. At Gallatin, I hope to find a community that will support and respect my path and that will celebrate my individuality. I hope to find mentors that share my love for the interdisciplinary and will guide me in making the best choices for my career. I also hope to find a home in New York City and a niche of theater artists that I can collaborate with in the future. And finally, I would like to become more engaged with social causes and living in a multicultural city, attending one of the most renowned colleges in the world will certainly grant me that opportunity.