Robin_Sparkles

I have not heard anything from Brown. Though I am also holding out hope that they have been trapped in a house with snow up to the second floor and no way of contacting the outside world (but are still entirely safe and happy)...the more logical side of me feels no news equals rejection.

One school that I applied to only wanted electronic transcripts. I KNOW I attached my transcript to the application. I printed off a copy of the application after submitting it and I've checked to make sure it's there online multiple times. And yes, their website clearly states that transcripts will be marked as "not received" until they have been reviewed. But. I submitted my application over two months ago. How long does it take to click open an attachment and look it over? I mean...come on. I just want to know they've looked at my application. And I don't feel like they have. Either that, or they rejected me before they even thought to look at my transcripts and it will forever be marked as not received until they finally decide to send out a rejection letter a billion years from now...

What interviews do you have on Monday? And best of luck with them!

I really enjoyed talking with Brian Mertes. And I just love that program. But it is difficult to tell. Especially when they're only inviting six to the callback weekend and only accepting two. Have you had any other interviews? Or been contacted by anyone?

DePaul required FIVE essays for the program I applied to. Five. And amen to the diversity statement. How is it that applications make me desire to be a low-class, deaf and blind woman from a minority heritage with no previous family ever even graduating from high school, let alone college? How? How is that possible?

I have my audition for Brown THIS Sunday. Gah. Fortunately, I've remained active as an actor and I happen to love auditioning (I'm a nerd...I know) so I'm looking forward to the monologue. And it most definitely is in there somewhere! Acting, in many ways, is like riding a bike. I'm sure you'll be fine as long as you enjoy the piece you've selected! I'm rather nervous about my portfolio. It's all put together, so I suppose that I should accept it for the time being, but it's rather difficult. I have both a physical and a digital, as well as a website interested parties can look at. My physical portfolio contains several show images, light plots, ground plans, costume sketches, and sound plots. I've also included a few pages of script with my text analysis and blocking notations. For grins and giggles, I also included a small sample of my work as a costume designer and my electronic portfolio includes a few samples pages of my work as a playwright to illustrate my diverse studies in the theatre world. What about you? How did you lay out your portfolio? I'm right there with you about waiting to hear from programs about interviews. It's all so mysterious. I can't help but feel I won't know until I'm pulled into a shady alleyway by a man in a hat and trench coat. He will pull a folder out, hand it to me, give me a knowing glance and walk away into the mist... becoming nothing but a shadow.

I just spent about two hours watching college acceptance videos....it makes you nervous, excited, frustrated, and happy all at one time. Because...one day...we might get to be like those crazy people in the videos.

Everywhere. I will go everywhere. I would, in all seriousness spend some time in Chicago, New York, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Boston. (I know, I know, I'm mixing cities in with states, but some areas I want to got to more specifically than others). Really, I would just love to spend a long time on the road and visit any place that catches my fancy for the moment. And really, really, REALLY...I just want to get into grad school. Vicki- I haven't heard anything on my end, though we are slightly different fields. Theoretically, I should be hearing things within the next week or two...at least for interviews. So theoretically, I will be throwing myself off a bridge in the near future. Has anyone else heard anything?

...I told myself that after business hours, I would not hear any news. I was sure of this. I calmly told myself "psh, who's going to be sitting in their office, sending out interview invites and acceptances after 5:00 pm or on weekends?" I believed in this, held tight onto it. And now. This thread happened. Yes, it is still an unusual practice. But I shall forever be waiting on pins and needles into the wee hours of the morning and throughout the weekends because a few people have been notified at these odd times. Refresh refresh refresh refresh...

I agree with the frustration of online applications that won't let you skip sections, but instead have to patiently click through the next and previous buttons. (Cough, cough...Brown...cough, cough). Brown was, by far, the most frustrating application I dealt with. Despite being assured there was a link for the program essay, along with a separate link to download the personal statement, this simply wasn't the case. Instead, I had to speak with the admissions department to confirm that there was no specific place on the form to submit the program essay. They also seemingly wouldn't accept any password that had a dictionary word in it. I mean, I used numbers and symbols...but I hate using random gibberish for passwords because it's difficult to remember. How terribly frustrating it all was! And DePaul's just made me nervous. For all the supplemental materials and LORs, you just emailed them in. That's it. Just...email them. That just seems so worrisome. Emails are lost, overlooked, or never received all the time. Fortunately, all of my materials were received with no issue...but it was rather nerve-wracking.

Fuzzier majors....

"Why are you freaking out? It's just school. I'm trying to find a JOB. That's really competitive." ...apply for grad school, bub. Let's see if you're able to keep singing that same tune of yours. Grad school? Not competitive? Riiiiiiight.

My contingency plan: take a massive road trip around the country, stopping at every winery and hole in the wall cafe I can find. In reality, I am simultaneously applying to internships at various theatres around the country. But I won't be hearing about those until right around the time I'm hearing about grad schools...so it's all just a waiting game surrounded by applications and a large bottle of wine. I'm also starting to think that they just built forts out of our applications to kill some time and make us wait. Or perhaps they use our applications to practice their origami. (Maybe I should give some more consideration to my road trip idea....)

They play a game of roulette for each applicant. Reds are maybes, blacks are no's and the greens are the coveted yes. The numbers stand for how much funding you get. And that, my dear friends, is how the admissions process works.

I definitely understand. I know they're trying to be supportive...but I will be shouting from the rooftops as soon as I have good news to share. Just wish I would hear something...especially since I should be hearing things about interviews by the end of January/beginning of February. I'm thinking of just hiding out with a case of wine until then.

Haven't heard much from other theatre applicants this season...how is everyone holding up? Where are you applying and what is your area of focus? Has anyone heard anything?

Several of the programs are rather ambiguous in regards to when the applicants will hear things. I do, however, know most of the interview weekends for the programs so I have an idea of when to expect news...which should be in another week or two! Of course then there are programs, such as UCLA, that don't have dates listed for interviews and really just state "don't call us, we'll call you..maybe". Although the website says that they begin contacting people eight weeks after the application deadline, which should (theoretically) be January 19. Fingers crossed they stick to this. Despite the agony of waiting, I'm actually a bit surprised at how quickly January's gotten here. I remember thinking back in November that I would never make it to this point and now it's here! I have my first audition this upcoming Monday, followed by three auditions the following week in New York (I'm working towards an MFA in theatre). Of course, everything just seems so up in the air right now, I'll be happy when it all starts falling into place.

Apparently my dear friend (who is also applying to grad school) had a dream where he could read my email and I had received an acceptance, but he couldn't see to where! I'm going to take this as a good sign, methinks.

Post-its are great! Because they come in a variety of colors, so I'm able to color-coordinate with my different areas in my planner. And I differentiate subjects and life responsibilities with a variety of colored pens in my planner. I totally get the color-coding thing...it's a long standing habit. I'm then able to associate this with my excel calendar. I've also (in the past) made a color-coded to-do list on Excel. Each week, I would print one of with major tasks, using different highlighting blocks or different colored fonts and leave open spaces to add in to-do items as they popped up over the week and then used my different colored pens to keep it organized. Different systems coming together to create a perfect system (for myself). But post-its. I highly suggest you invest in them.

Darlin', I assure you you're not alone. My life is essentially on the same level. Excel is an excellent way to block it all out; I have a tendency to use a core "weekly schedule" with on-going time commitments blocked in and extra space to assign things that need to get done for each. I can then go in and alter new weekly appointments and print off a fresh one each week. Of course, I'm also a bit old school. I will NEVER get rid of my paper agenda, which I religiously clutch to my bosom like an infant. I love being able to put in post-its (lined, of course) that I can use to write down additional little tid-bits and to-do's. There's something refreshing about ripping a post-it note off the page, crumpling it up, and tossing it away. Organization is half the battle. And also a fun way to procrastinate.

I'm sure you'll survive! Last semester was killer for me. And this semester, I'll be a TA while simultaneously studying Mandarin (so I feel ya on the Japanese front). But. Busy is good. Busy provides drive and motivation. I'm sure you have a great support system ready to encourage you to the very end!

Congratulations! I wish theatre programs would take a page out of the Chemistry book. But they prefer to drive us insane...it's a good thing we've been prepped for rejection throughout our lives... Look forward to hearing where you decide to settle down for this coming fall!

I suppose I'll toss my hat into the ring. Undergrad: Drury University, Double Major in Theatre and Communication with Minors in Asian Studies, Philosophy, and Religion. GPA: 3.7 GRE: Not needed for my area of focus Other considerations: Five strong letters of recommendation from various professors; I'm on a talent based scholarship. I am the first (and so far only) student to ever direct a full main stage production at Drury. I've also directed a show I wrote myself, three shows at summer programs I was paid for, as well as five other productions. I've acted in forty productions, I've costume designed for two, and I've written two shows that have been produced. NYU Florida State Brown Columbia DePaul UCLA

Hand tossed or deep dish (preferably Chicago-style deep dish) with a white sauce, topped with mozzarella and provolone, grilled chicken, black olives, mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes, and spinach. And now...I want a pizza.

Fretting over insignificant things is a special skill of mine. I often contemplate putting it on my resume. Particularly since I have auditions coming up. I've been obsessively going over my packing lists, making sure my apartment is spotless so I can focus easily and come home to a welcome environment, deciding and re-deciding on outfits, shoes, hair, accessories, and portfolio inclusions. Details help. They make you fret more, but it gives your mind something to work on and make important...because it can sometimes trick you into forgetting about the big things you're waiting on...