Bookmark this page! It is your guide to the admission process. The supporting materials needed to complete your application are outlined here, along with important dates and the link to the application fee. Please review the instructions below for how to format and submit your materials, as well as the guidelines for each item.
Application Fee
You should have received a link to pay the fee after submitting your online application. Your first application fee is $60. Subsequent application fees are $30 if you are applying to more than one program for the 2025 season. If you have not paid the fee, you can pay here online with credit or debit card.
- For subsequent applications, please email us to receive a link to pay the reduced $30 fee.
- Alternatively, you may mail a check or money order to the NHSI Office. The check should be made payable to Northwestern University, with the applicant’s name in the memo line. Please mail this to the address in our email signature.
- If you are unsure as to whether you paid the application fee, please contact us and we will confirm for you.
Supporting Materials: See guidelines further down
- Play Draft
- Statement of Purpose
- Transcript
- Letter of Recommendation
- English Language Test Score (for International Students)
How To Submit:
First, save PDF copies of each item and title the file: Last name, First name_Item. Example:
- Doe, Jane_Play Draft
- Doe, Jane_Statement
- Doe, Jane_Transcript
Next, visit this online portal to submit your materials.
- Click “submit files” and select each material that is ready to be submitted
- Enter you first and last name in the appropriate fields
- Click “upload”
You can submit materials as they are ready, or all at the same time. Once all items have been added to your application, we will send an email confirming that your application is complete and will be reviewed for admission. This is not automated, however, if you haven’t received a confirmation after 3 business days, please feel free to reach out to the office to confirm your application is complete.
Supporting Materials Guidelines:
Play Draft
Please submit the current draft of your 10-minute play. Ideally, this will be the play that you intend to work on as part of the summer intensive.
- If you participated in a classroom workshop with John Corwin or Ian Merrigan, you can submit the draft you worked on in class.
- If you have not finished writing a 10-minute play, you can submit the draft as is, with the understanding that you will continue to work on finishing a draft prior to the start of the program.
Statement of Purpose
In 1-2 paragraphs, please let the admission committee know why you would like to attend the Playwriting Intensive, and what you hope to achieve or take away from the experience. Please be concise and thoughtful in your response and be sure to proof-read before submitting.
Letter of Recommendation
Ask your drama teacher, English teacher, or other relevant educator, if they are willing to write you a letter of recommendation by the deadline.
- Get your recommender’s email address.
- You will submit their contact information to us via this Recommender Form.
- We will email your recommender instructions for writing their letter, which they will then email back to us. Please check in with your recommender about a week after submitting the Recommender Form to make sure they received our instructions in their inbox/spam/junk.
- We must receive at least one letter, but we will review up to two from different recommenders.
- Letters of recommendation are NOT shared with students and will only be viewed by the Admissions Committee.
Transcript
Transcripts can be unofficial, but must be current and show your name.
- Ask the appropriate person at your high school, such as a school counselor or principal, to send us (or give you to send) a copy of your most recent transcript. OR…
- If you have access to your transcript in an online portal, you can send us a screenshot or PDF of that transcript. (Make sure your name is included in the screenshot)
- Transcripts can be received via email or mail
- Your transcript must include final grades from the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years.
- Please also submit a copy of your fall 2024 grades. If these are not on your current transcript, you can submit a progress report.
- If you believe your grades do not reflect your ability as a student, please send us a statement providing context for the grades. Example: if you had a significant illness or extenuating circumstance that lead to a semester of C’s and D’s.
International Students: English Language Test Scores
If English is not your first language, we must receive evidence of your speaking proficiency in English. The SAT/ACT do not test speaking ability and thus will not be accepted to fulfill this requirement.
Therefore, you will be required to submit an English Language test score, such as a TOEFL, IELTS, or the Duolingo English Test. The minimum TOEFL score required is 100. To reiterate, the committee pays particular attention to the speaking score.
If you have not yet taken an English Language test, please arrange to take one in time for the admission deadline. Duolingo offers a test without appointments, with results available in 1-2 days.