Juilliard School

So, I’ve been chewing on this idea of applying to the Juilliard School by the end of the year—maybe as an extra credit thing, or just a regular enrollment if life forces my hand.
I'm looking at directing, specifically film and TV, so I wanted to see if anyone in this group has actually gone through the ringer with a directing degree or at least gave it a shot.
What’s the acceptance rate look like? What kind of gauntlet is the entrance exam? Honestly, any intel or actual useful advice would be a lifesaver right about now.

Film is the goal. My English is solid, and I can hold my own with Adobe Premiere Pro, though I'd say my skills there are pretty middle-of-the-road.

Thanks!

From what I understand about the Juilliard School (if that’s the one you're asking about), they don't really offer part-time or external study programs.

Last year, they only accepted maybe 4 (or perhaps 6 🤔) absolute geniuses into the directing program.

You might be able to dig up some basic info regarding the entrance exams on www.juilliard.edu, but honestly, you'd be much better off reaching out to someone who actually survived that legendary audition process for some real, boots-on-the-ground advice.

Just four or six people...
And then there's her...

Doesn't matter. I'm thinking if I just play my cards right, I might actually make the cut.

It’s almost like you’re pretending you have absolutely no clue what you actually want to major in. 😁

From what I’ve gathered, that kind of act definitely works.
I mean, once you see who’s actually running the show in those faculty offices, everything starts to make perfect sense. 😁

If my memory serves, the number sits around 4, though it fluctuates depending on the year. Since a new dean took over this semester, we might see some shifts before the next admissions cycle—I recall whispers about new tuition-based programs for part-time students, but who truly knows?

Beyond acting, film directing is often considered the most superficial major to pursue at Juilliard, even if it draws a crowd.

As a graduating senior at Juilliard—albeit from a different department—I’ve learned that the value of any program depends entirely on what you manage to extract from it. You quickly realize which mentors are worth listening to and when it's better to just nod along and do your own thing.

Perhaps the academy's most vital function is simply building a network—making those essential personal and professional connections.

I’d recommend everyone give it a shot. It costs about $33 and takes a bit of time.

Matthew Gonzalez15 said:I’d tell anyone to just go for it, obviously. It’s only about $33 and there's still some time left.

What do you mean by "about $33"???
I'm lost here...

Do you actually know what the admissions process looks like? Is it just a standard exam, or are they expecting you to turn in some kind of portfolio or project too??

A friend of mine tried applying two years in a row, though it was a few years back so I don't recall all the specifics...

I know you have to write a short screenplay; that's one part of the admissions process. I'm not entirely sure what else is involved (but I might run into that friend today, so I'll circle back to 🙂. Though, I'd rather not dig up old memories 😁)

Don't bother applying to the Juilliard School... you'll just end up needing speech therapy later on.

So, I went through this process a few years back. You have to turn in a script or a synopsis—somewhere between 3 and 10 pages. The first round of the entrance exam is basically just testing your general knowledge and film savvy. You get hit with this general culture test that was, honestly, one of the most useless things I’ve ever dealt with—and I’ve taken plenty of those. Like, why on earth would I need to know the name of some random German plane from WWII? 😕 After that, you write an essay on one of three provided topics, though you can opt out entirely—which tells me all I need to know about how much of a formality this whole thing actually is. I didn't make it to the second round, where they have you watch films and give your take on them and stuff. Of course, having connections is a huge prerequisite for getting in; I'm pretty sure only one person actually gets in based solely on talent.

Now, I've got a question of my own—how do you actually write a 3-to-10 page script or synopsis? That limit is driving me crazy because all my ideas are structured for feature films, so I have no clue how to condense everything into such a short script.

Jose Chase2 :
Of course, you need a solid connection to get in, and honestly, I think people only get accepted based on what they actually bring to the table.

Sad, but damn if it isn't true.
Total garbage. 😢

So, a long time ago, I actually wanted to be a director (and honestly, sometimes that itch is still there...). But once you realize that it’s less about having actual talent and more about who you know in Hollywood, it just makes me sick. To be blunt, I never even gave it a shot because I was terrified of failing and feeling that gut-wrenching disappointment. It sucks. But seeing this thread pop up has me thinking... why not just give it a go? I’ve got some minor experience under my belt and a mountain of ideas—even some ten-page scripts tucked away. At the end of the day, making it happen would be the ultimate dream.

It’d be such a shame to not even give it a shot just because some people are getting through via remote access... Good luck though. 🙂

Man, Sandra King86, every time I try to deal with these connections, it just sends me straight into a depression—especially when I’m actually using them for the right reasons, you know? Like, I'm only trying to help my people out. If only I had some kind of hookup at Juilliard... but nope, nothing. Such a shame. Still, I guess it wouldn't hurt to give it a shot. Maybe—and that's a huge maybe here—I might actually make it in. Thanks for the advice.

Jose Chase2 said:(How the hell am I supposed to know the name of some German WWII fighter plane😕 )

Hmm, is it U2 or Messerschmidt? :smart face: Anyway, just some band that started out in punk...

Jose Chase2 said:Now I’ve got a question for you guys—how do you actually write a script or a synopsis that's only 3 to 10 pages? That limit is driving me insane because all my ideas are full-blown feature films, so I have zero clue how to condense them into something that short.

For me, it's harder to even hit three pages. My films don't rely on dialogue. 😛

I heard the selection committee is such elitist snobs that you basically have to worship classical music rather than just liking it.

You know what the absolute worst part about my script is? I’ve got the opening and the ending down, but the middle feels totally hollow—though, honestly, I'm trying to keep it as tight as possible. 😕
Also, can someone please explain the logic here? What on earth does classical music have to do with a raid on the Juilliard School?

A few years back, an admissions board at Juilliard School asked one aspiring student what he thought about classical music. He told them straight up that while he appreciates it, he doesn't actually listen to it. Apparently, that was enough to make them take offense.

Jumping into this thread late...

So, you're telling me there's no way to enroll outside the standard admissions cycle?

Has anything actually changed recently, or is there any hint of an update somewhere?

Specifically, I'm looking at the film production major...

I mean... four spots available per year... that is just absolutely ridiculous...