Directorial

Here we go again! Wooooooooo!
I got tantalizingly, frustratingly, maddeningly close to a couple programs last year (wait lists are fun!) so I'm taking one more shot. I'm going the URTAS rout for the first time to simplify things. Think I'll do the Chicago days. 
My list: University of Washington, Carnegie Mellon, Arizona State, DePaul, Indiana, CalArts, UCLA, UT Austin.  I've had previous interviews at several of them the past two years.  Might throw in Yale because I haven't yet and YOLO!
My background: Raised in the Northwest, educated in the South, professionally based in DC. Got started late, didn't study in undergrad beyond the occasional elective. My first professional gig was sweeping the floors for a Diane Paulus show. My training and professional background are in journalism and public relations.  I've got about ten years of new play development experience. Working directly with playwrights is my passion. I do a lot of interactive works. Founded my own production company, which has done 6 world premieres and a few 2nd productions. My most recent gigs were directing a one-man show at the local Fringe festival over the summer and a workshop at the Kennedy Center a couple of weeks ago. Been an arts fellow for the District of Columbia the past two years. Spent last year a guest editor for an arts magazine. A couple of my commissions have spread through the regional circuit. I'm a founding member of the 2020 Jubilee National Committee.
Would love to hear more about y'all's work!

Just heard from Iowa. 3 of the 4 spots are filled. They are waiting on Lucky Number 4 to make his or her decision.
I just kind of have to laugh at this point.

Congrats @boseph16, sincerely. I also heard from Iowa and am on the waitlist. It was a very nice, encouraging call. Iowa really has lovely people in their program. Cést la vie.

Congrats @boseph16, sincerely. I also heard from Iowa and am on the waitlist. It was a very nice, encouraging call. Iowa really has lovely people in their program. Cést la vie.

Congrats @boseph16, sincerely. I also heard from Iowa and am on the waitlist. It was a very nice, encouraging call. Iowa really has lovely people in their program. Cést la vie.

Hey folks. Just got a 2nd round invite from Iowa. It's got a quick turnaround time too. They are scheduling them for over Skype as early as tomorrow!

Here's some advice I just received from a Yale MFA Directing alum whom I've worked with and is currently on the YSD directing faculty: 
I would say be yourself. Don't try "to be what Yale wants." That won't really work. But be prepared to say passionate, smart things about:
-The things you're working on
-The things you've done
-Why grad school
-Something going on in the world
-Artists you admire
-Anything that makes you YOU 
I think this is pretty solid advice which can apply to any grad school interview. 
 
From my initial meeting with Iowa, they were very interested in what excited me as an artist, why that specific program, what sort of collaborations I would like to pursue during training and what I was looking to achieve. 

in addition to that great list, a piece of advice i learned from a person who's been on the other side of interviews is to make it clear why you are a great fit for the program and it is for you. 

Just heard from UCLA! Pleasantly surprised, and I have an interview next weekend in New York. I'm in DC and am more than happy at the excuse to miss Inaguration Day. Wish I could make the LA campus ones Feb 1st but my day job has me claimed that day. Being an adult sucks. Maybe I should give grad school a try.  

Hi all. I got the interview nod from Iowa yesterday.  Interviewing in a couple of weeks. (I applied directly not through URTA). Congrats on the Yale interviews! 

Welcome to the thread, @QuirkyDirector and @Directorial!
@aprilcleveland, congrats on being a  DePaul finalists! It's a very intense interview/audition process -- the feedback I got on my directing sample last year was insanely critical -- in a good way, if you've got the stomach for it  My biggest hold-out with DePaul is that the funding is poor: they offer a scholarship equal to half the tuition (about 17k a year), and you don't teach any classes so there is no honorarium/stipend past the partial tuition reimbursement. So you're looking at 17k a year in tuition + full living expenses every year, so that's probably a $80-100k degree when all is said and done. My final impression of them was being a fancy, impressive school for rich students to go to. Still, the interview process with them gave me a lot to unpack and steeled me for my future interview experiences!
@voldy24601: My 10 most frequently asked questions from last year, after "Tell me a bit about yourself.":
Why do you need grad school? // Why is grad school right for you right now?
What about this program speaks to you?
Where do you personally need development in your work?
What would your career after grad school look like?
Where do you see yourself in 5/10/20 years?
What plays would you be interested in directing at this program?
Tell me about a production you've directed. // Is there a project that you're most proud of?
Tell me about a directing challenge you've faced and how you dealt with it.
So you've done (project from your resume) -- what did you learn from that? // How was working on (project from your resume)?
(Casually/Conversationally, usually at the end of the interview) Are you applying for other programs? // Where else are you applying?

Hi all. Newbie here. Been working in the industry about a decade. Didn't study it in undergrad. First time going through the grad school application process. Glad to find this thread.
I've applied to Washington, CalArts, DePaul and New School. Decided not to go the URTA route this time. Actually just got an interview/audition invite from DePaul today. They were the first I applied to, so I'm taking that as a confidence booster. Just finished my New School application today, just under the deadline. I don't normally push deadlines like that but (let's all say it together!) "I'm in tech."