jetof7368

I did have a couple of conference presentations and one forthcoming publication (that just came out a month ago--just a book review but a line on the CV, nonetheless). BUT that's really not very important, to be honest. There are 6 people in my cohort. I'd say 3 of us had experience at conferences, the other 3 did/do not. Only myself and one other person had any publications (both were forthcoming) at the time we applied. The goal of the PhD training is to equip you to be able to think and write at a level that you've probably not encountered before. So don't sweat if if you're not already doing something (like publishing or presenting) that they don't expect you to be doing yet (yet is the key word). By far, the most important elements of the application dossier are the personal statement and the writing sample. If those two things are top-notch and you have some decent to really great letters of rec, it will be hard for an institution to turn you down, so long as you've chosen the right places to apply (i.e. your interests play up to their strengths).

Thank you. And I'm at Northwestern. Best of luck to everyone.

I really have no business posting here, as I was accepted and began my PhD training this fall. I randomly thought to check the site again and see if the same kinds of existential angst were circulating once again. You are applying to awesome programs! I applied to those 4 programs and was accepted at each, so I know full well that you cannot go wrong with any of them. However, I would disagree with your advisor. It is true that Tufts now has Kareem Khubchandani, an awesome addition to their faculty that will provide students with someone who can teach and facilitate work in the field of performance studies. However, after speaking with both Heather Nathans and Laurence Senelick, I walked away with the impression that Tufts was a top notch program, but still firmly invested in the study of theatre history. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that; I think its absolutely badass. I just wouldn't operate under the assumption that you would be able to get the kind of exposure to Performance studies that, say, Northwestern or Berkeley might offer. If you have any questions about those programs, please feel free to hit me up. Also, if anyone is applying to Master's programs, check out the A.M. in Theatre and Performance Studies from Washington University in St. Louis. Great school. Even better faculty. Wonderful interdisciplinary community. Just a fabulously supportive environment in general. A master's degree from this institution, along with the letters of rec that come with it, will land you in the best PhD programs in the country. Myself and the two other members of my cohort whom applied to PhD programs were all accepted and admitted (the three of us are now at Stanford, Northwestern, and Minnesota). Check it out!