The Juilliard School essay prompts

In his book To a Young Jazz Musician: Letters from the Road (2004), director of Juilliard Jazz Wynton Marsalis wrote, "As you grow older, self-knowledge becomes one of the hardest things to acquire….The first level of mastery occurs over self. And the first test of mastery over one's self is humility…. [Y]ou have to develop the requisite humility to learn, to love to learn. Humility engenders learning because it beats back the arrogance that puts blinders on. It leaves you open for truths to reveal themselves….You have to become the center of your education. Once you accept that, you'll understand that learning means figuring out what you need to do to get where you want to be" As a musician, you may have thought about who you are and why you want to pursue an education in music. For this essay, begin by explaining in a few sentences what this quote means to you. Then write about a moment, musical or otherwise, when your knowledge of yourself changed—when an experience, and your reflections on that experience, deepened your understanding of who you are. Finally, write about how deeper self-knowledge will aid you in your studies at Juilliard and in your overall growth as an artist.

650 words max · Required

Please write about why you have chosen to become an actor and your personal artistic goals. We encourage you to write frankly and openly about your life, your connection to your art, and how you see your art connecting to the world. Share your passion about people, politics, other art forms or anything that speaks to you.

No limit listed · Required

Transfer applicants must submit an essay explaining their decision to transfer from their current institution, in addition to the other required essay(s).

No limit listed · Required

Should you have a personal or academic circumstance to share that you feel can provide context for a particular point on your resume — for example, a gap year, unusually low grades in a semester or year, etc. — you have the option to submit an additional short essay.

No limit listed · Optional

Additional essays are required in each of the following circumstances (e.g., transfer applicants, formerly enrolled Juilliard students, or currently enrolled Juilliard students — each with their own specific prompt per the page).

No limit listed · Required