• 2027 Pay-It-Forward Award Application

  • A limited number of awards are open to eligible candidates who demonstrate a need for a registration fee waiver through the Pay-It-Forward Candidate Award.

    Candidates interested in applying for the Pay-It-Forward Award should first complete their URTA application on Acceptd up to the point of payment, but should NOT submit payment.

    The URTA application can be found at https://app.getacceptd.com/urta

    Candidates should then complete this Pay-It-Forward Award application by submitting a short personal essay outlining their need for the support and why they are seeking a graduate degree at this time, as well as providing a letter of recommendation from a colleague, mentor, employer, or teacher, speaking to the candidate’s need and deservedness of the award.

    Pay-It-Forward applications must be received by November 1, 2026. After this date, applications will close, and the URTA Awards Committee will begin reviewing all submissions. URTA will notify all applicants of the Pay-It-Forward Award on November 16, 2026 of their selection status. Recipients will then have 3 days to redeem their award and submit their URTA application on Acceptd. Those who do not complete their registration within this time will forfeit their award.

    We are unable to accept any Pay-It-Forward Award applications after the November 1st deadline. Applications received after 11:59 pm (Eastern) on November 1, 2026 will NOT be considered.

  •  - -

  • To be considered for the Pay-It-Forward Award, you must have completed Stage 1 of your URTA application on Acceptd, up to but stopping at the point of payment. If you have not, please visit: https://app.getacceptd.com/urta 

  • In which discipline have you applied?*

  • Note: Candidates applying in the area of Arts Leadership are eligible for the Arts Leadership Candidate Award, which waives your registration fee automatically in your Acceptd application.

  • In which Design/Tech focus area(s) did you apply?*

  • Note: Candidates applying in the field of Sound Design ONLY are eligible for the Sound Design Candidate Award, which waives your registration fee automatically in your Acceptd application.

  • Did you apply to attend the in-person or live-virtual Design/Tech URTAs?*
  • Which URTA Acting location did you apply to attend?*

  • Guest Auditions are an optional second day of acting auditions in Philadelphia and Chicago attended by recruiters from non-member programs.

  • Did you add Guest Auditions to your registration?*

  • Upload a short personal essay outlining your professional/career goals and how graduate school will help you achieve them. Describe any particular hardships you are currently facing and how this award will help make the URTAs more accessible to you. (Please limit submissions to approx. 500 words)

  • Browse Files
    Drag and drop files here
    Choose a file
    Cancelof

  • Please provide a letter of recommendation from someone familiar with your artistic work and/or study, such as a colleague, mentor, employer, or teacher. This letter should speak to your achievement and potential, as well as your need for the award support.

  • Browse Files
    Drag and drop files here
    Choose a file
    Cancelof
  • Recommender's relation to the applicant*
  • Should be Empty: