Play starts on page 4

Phone Numbers:
Sammi: 714-697-2709
Bradley: 917-547-9915
Lorena: 470-314-6734

Scene 1: Each interviewee gives monologue about how happy and excited and nervous they are
for the interview and opportunity to go to this college. Monologue could be a blurb of personal
statement college essays.
Scene 2: The interviewer sits at a desk in center of stage. Interviewer interrogates students to find
out which ones did the most research/are most qualified.
Scene 3: Students turn the tables, and fire back at the interviewer. They end up leaving, and
realizing they don’t really care about the school.
PERSONAL STATEMENT BLURB: each student reads out excerpts from their personal
statements
TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF
-students immediately repeat what they wrote on their application, listing their accolades.
WHY THIS SCHOOL?
-so we get a sense of what school they are applying for and how prestigious and important this
opportunity is.
Questions to ask: ​I looked up questions lmk what you think
● Tell me about yourself.
● What Do You Expect to Be Doing 10 Years From Now?
● Whom Do You Most Admire?
● Why Do You Want to Go to this College?
● What Do You Like to Do for Fun?
● What Is an Obstacle You've Faced and How Did You Get Through It?
● What activities are you involved in outside of the classroom?
● What would you like the Admissions office to know that might not appear in your
application?
● Out of all the other applicants, why should we choose you?
● Describe your dream job.
● How would others describe you?

Characters:
Emma June- Here because of parents money, very involved in church and builds homes for
habitat for humanity,
Laura/Business Student - Female, Latinx overly-stressed and anxious, but tries to out on an air of
superiority and maturity. Wants to get into NYU Stern to study finance and eventually work for
1 of the Top 5 Fortune 500 companies, has been dreaming about this career since she was 8 years
old.

College essay personal statement prompts:

Nearly 700 colleges accept the ​The Common Application​, which makes it easy to apply to
multiple schools with just one form. If you are using the Common App to apply for college
admission in 2019, you will have 250–650 words to respond to ONE of the following prompts:
1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they
believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then
please share your story.
2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success.
Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure​. ​How did it affect you,
and what did you learn from the experience?
3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted
your thinking? What was the outcome?
4. Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an
intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma—anything that is of personal
importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took
or could be taken to identify a solution.
5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth
and a new understanding of yourself or others.
6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of
time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn
more?
7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that
responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.
Deadlines:
On Saturday, we will piece together our individual work on scenes 1 + 2
On Monday, we will write Scene 3.

Ideas:
- Show the similarities in everyone’s interviews by having characters speak at the same
time, AND by having one student finish another student’s sentence
- Show differences by having multiple students giving different answers at the same time
OR rapid-fire (one right after the other)
Director’s note: students are standing at the top of the show. Their respective seats are
staggered from stage left to stage right. The interviewer will appear at the top of Scene II on a
raked incline behind the students, while the students deliver their answers to the audience. As
each student speaks, a spotlight shines on them. As the questions become more intense and their
responses become more sporadic, the spotlights react in kind. Or not. Whatever the production
would think suits the anxiousness of one interviewing for admission would feel like.

THE INTERVIEW

ACT I

SCENE I

One by one, the students walk on stage and sit in their chairs.

LAURA
Ever since I was 8 years old, I have been dreaming about majoring in finance at the prestigious
Stern School of Business at New York University. ​Graduating as Valedictorian of my 600
student senior class, having a 4.4 GPA, over 1,500 hours of community service, getting a 1560
on my SATs, and of course, founding Werk That Money -- my startup aimed at helping young
adults manage their money more effectively -- are just a few of the things that make me more
than qualified for getting into my dream school.

OLIVIA
Well, I took all APs in high school: AP lang, AP euro, AP stats, AP bio. I have a 4.87 GPA & I
hope that isn’t my downfall because Ms. Porter was really out to get me in Bio ever since I
corrected her spelling of the word homogeneous. I’ve been in the National Honor Society for all
four years and have been nominated as the president for this upcoming semester. I also started
the first-ever Habitat for Humanity club at my school and am in the running for Valedictorian.
But just so we are clear, Dustin Wong is failing his AP Stats class right now so the title is mine.

CHARLES
Hello. My name is Charles Tetherberry. I have a 5.6 weighted GPA. I am the president, founder,
and sole member of several clubs at my high school including, but not limited to, math club,
nature club, knot-tying club, and more. I think I would be a great fit at NYU because unlike other
applicants, I have experience being isolated from the community at large despite living in a large
city. Record-high rate of suicide? I won’t be a statistic, that’s for sure.

SCENE II

INTERVIEWER appears behind students on incline.

 INTERVIEWER
So, tell me about yourself.

CHARLES
Well, umm. I’ve been captain of the debate team for three years, and I-

INTERVIEWER
No, no. I don’t want to know about what you’ve done and all your accomplishments. Tell me
about you.

CHARLES
Oh…

OLIVIA
Did you know I built houses for the less fortunate in Guatemala? I-

LAURA
Interned at Bank of America headquarters to learn more about how they run day to day
operations.

CHARLES
I got straight As-

OLIVIA
Really, it was a truly rewarding experience-

LAURA
I learned so much-

INTERVIEWER
No, no. Stop! Tell me about yourself.

ALL STUDENTS
(in unison)
What do you mean?

INTERVIEWER
I want to get a sense of who you are as a person, not just a list of accomplishments on paper.

LAURA
(stands and starts rocking back and forth)
I didn’t study for this… I don't even know who I am.

OLIVIA
(Aside)
 Well, Shit.

CHARLES gets up from his chair and paces back and forth, pulling his hair.

CHARLES
Oh Gosh!!

Now ALL STUDENTS take a breath, and sit back down.

CHARLES
I have three dogs. I actually like to babysit my neighbor’s dogs as well. And they have four dogs;
two pugs and two english bulldogs. It’s sort of like a jamboree of puppies in my living room
when my parents and neighbors go out for dinner.

INTERVIEWER
Interesting…
…

OLIVIA
Well I’m actually pretty big on social media. I have like 1.2 mill on insta and 500K on my
youtube channel. I like to review different clothing and makeup brands for my subscribers. It’s
been kind of my life recently.

INTERVIEWER
Okay, now that’s really interesting. Tell me about that.

LAURA
I had to balance my extensive work schedule, with school, homework, and taking care of my
disabled brother, Jose… Ever since my mom passed away, my dad has been working a lot so the
responsibility of taking care of my brother has fallen on me.

INTERVIEWER
Wow. That must have been very difficult.

CHARLES
 It was! There were puppies everywhere!

INTERVIEWER
Moving on. What’s your greatest weakness?

LAURA
I don't have patience when working with others. Or… others don't have patience working with
me. Is it me? Am I the problem? Maybe that's why I’m a loner.

OLIVIA
I guess I can put too much pressure on myself to be perfect in everything I do. The hate can
really make me think I’m not enough.

CHARLES
I’m not strong enough to defend myself.

INTERVIEWER
Defend yourself from what?

CHARLES
Strong enough to defend myself...from Tommy.

INTERVIEWER.
Tommy?

CHARLES
My b-big brother. He jokes around with me, but it really hurts my feelings. And...sometimes he
calls me names like pudge bucket. And chicken dick.

Beat.
 INTERVIEWER
Well, this has been a great chat. We will let you know. Have a good rest of your day.
They each just sit there looking anxious and stressed.

SCENE III

The students enter the waiting room looking polished and ready. They sit down eyeing each other
to try to figure out if they have competition.

CHARLES
So are you here for the interview?

OLIVIA
Uh huh.

LAURA
YES! Hi, I’m Laura. It’s very nice to meet all of you. I wish you all the best of luck!

OLIVIA
Thanks.​ (crosses arms and sits back in chair)

LAURA
So, where have you studied abroad?

CHARLES
Abroad?

OLIVIA
I’ve actually traveled a lot as an influencer. I don't know if you know them but like Sephora and
Hollister sent me to Cuba and Japan.

LAURA
Oh, that sounds...fun. But I meant like real work. Like a job.

CHARLES
I was the hall monitor for a week.
 OLIVIA
Now, that’s pathetic.

LAURA
Ha. Yeah, honestly.
INTERVIEWER enters.
INTERVIEWER
Okay, who’s first?
STUDENTS all stare at the interviewer in unison.
Blackout.