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Everything posted by roguesenna
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I'm so glad to be done filing out the apps. it's weird, especially because I only ended up applying to 3 out of the 5 places I was considering. if I don't get in to any (AHHH!) then next year I'll probably widen the search. I'm both excited and despairing because the correspondence i had with one of the profs at my first choice. I asked if she'd be taking advisees (humanities, so not really taking students into labs, but I needed something to ask her) and she said that all of the profs work very closely with all of the students because they only accept about 3 out of 100 applications. *sigh* but at the same time she said she liked my dissertation idea and said other profs in the department would be interested and that she looked forward to reading my app so... *double sigh*
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run off
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What's the story behind your avatar or username?
roguesenna replied to katerific's topic in Waiting it Out
Senna is my roleplaying character and she is pretty much always a rogue. She's kind of my alter-ego. I'm a dork. ;p my pic is a photo of me at NYCC this past fall with the wax statues of Nick Fury and my favorite superhero, Captain America. -
Apps in. Time to play the waiting game... ... ... aw, the waiting game sucks, let's play hungy hungy hippos.
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party rockin (in the HOUSE TO NIIIIIIGHT)
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playbyplay I think that's a solid plan. Playwriting will definitely reach you different aspects of style than film for sure. For one thing, you have to almost entirely get rid of action slugs/scene direction and try to rely primarily on dialogue. Because I came from a playwriting background I was great at dialogue when I started screenwriting but I was awful with writing for the camera and I had a tendency to REALLY overwrite my action slugs. Luckily I've reigned myself in from that. The page format is also really different and if you haven't written any plays yet it will definitely take some getting used to. Let me know if you have any questions, this is definitely one of my favorite topics and a class I hope to teach as a PhD Student/Teaching Fellow.
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I haven't heard of either of those places, but for short term stays you can always use a hostel or a sublet.
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Fall 2014 applicants for theater/performance Ph. D.?
roguesenna replied to PageAndStage's topic in Performing
aubergine, do you mind if I ask where you are? -
teeth, there were a lot of sucky things about it, but I also got a lot of value out of it. I can't knock it, but I'll be glad to go back to a school where it feels like my department is actually a priority for the people in charge. lol. well I hope it's an awesome secret. as far as my dissertation, I think it will be different depending on where I get accepted. If I end up at UCLA I will probably writ it on gender and sexuality (and I'll probably use In The Next Room) if I end up at Columbia, I'd like to write about magical realism in lit and theatre (and I'll use Eurydice). If I end up at NYU or UCSD I probably won't study her as extensively since those are my performance studies programs and I'm looking at media studies/fan studies/pop culture type stuff for those two. maybe this makes me flakey, but I have a lot of interests and I think different departments are better suited to different things. playbyplay, we have some of the same schools on our list. maybe we'll run into each other! although if you're not applying until next season probably not. I am applying to UCSD and I'll say this for it. their program is very good and very competitive. almost impossible to get into. that said, it's a playwriting MFA, not a dramatic writing or screenwriting program. you might check UCLA for that instead. I'd imagine their program might be more suited to TV/Film.
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personally I think 28 is still an unmanageably large number to even start doing serious research on the schools. use other factors to toss some of the schools out. assuming that each of them has the exact program you want (e.g. I dumped Yale from my list because they offer a DFA not a PhD), start looking at location and size. since you've already been to 3 schools you should have a rough idea of what you liked and didn't like about them, so use those factors to eliminate some schools. as far as geography, do you want to be in a big city or a small town? do you want to be somewhere where your funding will really stretch? or would you rather have a little less money, but be able to take advantage of a city like NYC? Can you handle extreme weather? I see you've mostly been in Florida or Texas, are you going to be happy in Ann Arbor, MI? Trust me, I'm from Michigan and they don't exaggerate when they talk about our winters. You will get feet of snow dumped on you sometimes and the school will not close (unless the power lines freeze, which happens sometimes). Same thing goes for Chicago, Minnesota and Wisconsin or anything else in the northwest/midwest. I think once you've whittled it down to about 10-15, then you can start to eliminate further based on fit (professors, research, specific program ideals, etc). IMHO, applying to more than 10 schools is a little ridiculous. You'll lose track of what you've done and you'll probably drive yourself crazy. That said, I personally try to focus on only a few schools. I applied to two schools for undergrad, one for my MFA and I'm applying to four for my PhD, so clearly I like to have a short list. That said, I always got into my top choice (so far! *knock on wood*).
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don't know about the OP, but in my case I made the decision to apply kind of late, like in late august, early september. then I was scrambling to get everything done that I needed to for my apps, GREs, revise my writing samples, etc. plus I wasn't super familiar with the differences between applying to a PhD and applying to an MFA (my MFA process seemed like a cake walk in comparison). so I didn't know that contacting POIs was a thing. ALSO also, I am in theatre so I'm not sure the POI relationship is quite the same as it is in the natural sciences for example. so I decided to wait until I wasn't running around like a chicken with my head cut off on the apps. not sure about the second question. you mean for next app season? if I don't get in for fall 2014, I'll definitely revise a few things. that said, I have reached out to 2 of my 4 schools and heard varying degrees of things back from them. one prof told me she only sort of teaches in my department which was disappointing, so I wanted to take a look and see if I could contact my secondary POI.
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in the same boat. I'd love to hear what people have to say.
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I only brought up the 112 page thesis to illustrate that I can't use it for this. The 11 page paper needs revision anyway and the revision will include extra pages, the professor who graded it wanted me to further explain a few points and further introduce some of the plays I discussed. Also most of the programs are asking for min 15p, so I'm thinking between 15-20 is appropriate.
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I meant 112. my MFA thesis was a feature length film script. In proper format 1 page = 1 minute, so my film would theoretically be a little under two hours. With all the added material, my thesis was about 130/135 pages. and I was actually wrong, my strongest paper is 11 pages not including works cited. I think I may be able to make that work.
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root beer
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so I took an MFA instead of an MA and most of my research based writing samples are around the 10p mark. I have my MFA thesis, but the paper section is largely contingent on the 112p movie script and is not particularly research heavy (there's some research, but I don't think it's a strong choice). My best paper is only about 8 pages long, probably about 10 after I finish revisions. Should I attempt to lengthen the good paper? Or maybe combine a couple shorter ones? What's the best approach (keeping in mind that I do not have time to write a new one)?
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[Edit: didn't realize the OP's bits were so old! Sorry. But this is still my opinion about what's been presented in the thread if you're looking at a similar problem. Looking for the link I mentioned.] IMHO the intro you have above comes off as gimmicky. The atypical writing style paired with the prose makes it more like a book or a short story and less like the document it is actually trying to be, an SOP. I think a good rule of thumb is to use a tone similar to what you would use in a cover letter for a non-academic job or in a paper for a less-strict professor. You obviously want to show your personality to a degree, but you don't want to come on so strong that the committee feels like you're being artificial or over-the-top. Be honest, sincere, straightforward. I think if you wouldn't say it to them out loud, you probably don't want to write it. I personally believe that you should not write your SOP "in the style of" anyone but yourself. You'll never be as good at Dybeck as Dybeck is, and you're inviting a comparison that will never land in your favor. I read some really good advice about SOPs that helped me write something I'm really proud of and that is to figure out the theme or the story of yourself. I realized that I want to study theatre because I feel like theatre gives you the tools to study everything. I made that my theme and only included things that supported that theme. I opened with an anecdote about my very first theatre experience. It was two sentences and revealed a little of my background before moving on. Always leave em wanting more.
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Fall 2014 applicants for theater/performance Ph. D.?
roguesenna replied to PageAndStage's topic in Performing
Aubergine I'm applying to the PhD program. I actually did read that when I researched NYU and I communicated with someone in their department who told me to go ahead and apply. The application allows you to check a box saying that you would be interested in consideration for the M.A. and I decided to ultimately apply for the PhD and check that box for two reasons. 1. I wanted to discuss my potential research interests in my SOP because I felt it would help my chances (I'm a pretty strong writer), and 2. I can't really afford to go back to school without funding, unless I'm fairly certain I'm getting a career out of it, and not just another degree. So if I get accepted to the M.A. and not the PhD I'll have some thinking to do, obviously, but I know what I'm doing. Also, PageandStage, I agree with Aubergine RE: MA versus MFA. I have the MFA because that's what I thought I wanted after college. Also because you're technically able to teach dramatic writing in college with an MFA, but many positions want a PhD. It seems like all the PhD programs want MAs, the only doctoral programs that favor MFAs (at least that I've seen) are DFA programs like the one at Yale. -
I was also putting off contacting POIs, mostly because I decided to apply pretty late and was scrambling to get parts of my app done, but I finally just started emailing. I think it's worth it to at least get your name in there, just don't be surprised if they say they don't have time. I am still going to try and do a visit before they make final decisions, but luckily I live in the city I'm interested in (NYC). As far as wording, I found this link: http://theprofessorisin.com/2011/07/25/how-to-write-an-email-to-a-potential-ph-d-advisor/ you can find more by using teh googles. And here's the letter I wrote with some details adjusted. It is obviously pretty specific to my circumstances, but the more specific you are, the more the prof can see that you aren't sending them a form letter and that you are truly interested. If it helps, the prof responded to this within a few hours: --------------------------------------- Dear Dr. [professor], My name is [so and so] and I am currently applying to the [degree program] at [school]. I received my [degree #1] from [undergrad] in [year] and my [degree #2] from the [grad school] this past [date]. I noticed your name on the faculty list and recalled your book, [book]. The book was suggested to me by my professor ([name]) in her [class] graduate class for my paper [paper title]. I got interested in [subject] when [artist], an expat of my home town and an alumni of my undergrad, visited for our production of [play]. Simultaneously, a local theatre produced [play #2] and I was hooked. After re-reading a few of the essays in [aforementioned book], I suspect that we have some of the same interests and as a prospective at [school] I would love to talk with you. If accepted I would like to continue down this vein for my research though possibly broadening into other depictions of [research topic]. One play that keeps popping into my head is [play] by [author]. I'm also strongly interested in [secondary related topic]. It is something I've dealt with in my own writing with varying degrees of success. I wonder if you might have suggestions about directions to take this research and specific plays or papers to look at. I hope you don't mind my getting in touch. I am sure that you are very busy so I greatly appreciate any time you can take to respond. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, [your name. obvs.]
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contacting professors in the humanities
roguesenna replied to roguesenna's topic in Interviews and Visits
I have an MFA in dramatic writing and I'm going for a PhD in Theatre and/or Performance Studies, so while I'm sure I'll be doing some practical theatre work I think the bulk of the program will be study/research and teaching. More like a lit degree but with a focus on dramatic lit instead of prose. That said, your bit about choosing someone they want to have in the faculty lounge with them makes sense, I can see how that would be a big influence on the decision. I have an idea for which professors I'd contact directly. Do you have any advice about what to say an a first contact email? -
candy cane
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hard candy
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Fall 2014 applicants for theater/performance Ph. D.?
roguesenna replied to PageAndStage's topic in Performing
I have an MFA, but both NYU and Columbia have you go through an MA program first, I think. I'm not sure if NYU's MA is funded or not though. Columbia's program is fully funded. I guess I plan to worry more about the details if/when I get in. You should take a look at Columbia's program, at least. Especially since you're also interested in lit, Columbia's theatre PhD starts with an M.A. in comparitive lit. -
Do people really do this in the arts/humanities? It seems like science people are very strongly encouraged to identify with a professor who's lab they want to work in, but since my department (theatre/performance studies) obviously doesn't work quite that way I'm wondering if I should still contact profs and if so what I should say in my letter. I contacted the administrator at Columbia and she said "It is not standard to meet with faculty, but you can email individual Theatre professors to request an appointment." then added "They’ll be glad to correspond with you and, sometimes, they do meet with prospective applicants." and "It’s more important to communicate with the Theatre faculty than with me, after all." so I sense that is a "go for it," but I'm not sure how to approach without being annoying. What do you think?