Boseph16

Just checking in to say: UGH!!! 
 
The waiting game is making me go crazy. 
That’s all. 

Just checking in to say: UGH!!! 
 
The waiting game is making me go crazy. 
That’s all. 

lol I didn't even know grad cafe was a thing until I saw it mentioned in a Facebook group ?, so I'm super late to the game here. But happy to chime in that I also applied for Performance Studies PhDs this round!
So far I have applied to Northwestern, NYU, and Cornell. Working on UMD and UGA. I have a colleague in the Cornell Dept., and they say they are only taking 2 students this year due to Covid. This was also separately confirmed to me by a professor when I reached out. I am wondering if other programs are taking fewer students as well? Anyone have any intel?
Similar to you all, I was also trying to figure out if programs are receiving more or fewer applicants this year due to the pandemic, but I haven't been able to piece anything together. From what I've read on here, and from what my friend told me, I think that since not every program is accepting applicants, some people are deciding not to apply this go around in general. So perhaps there are fewer applicants in general for PS?
I haven't heard back from any programs whatsoever. 
I'm changing fields (was formerly enrolled in a PhD program in Musicology) so I am quite nervous. But I will say that from my experience back then, I still hadn't heard from like two Musicology programs (UMich, UCLA) like five days before the deadline (deadline to accept most schools is usually April 15th). This was in 2017. From what you all are saying and what I've read in the previous thread, it seems like PS seems to send out decisions a little quicker than that. My friend said Cornell PS got back to him in like early February last year.
Good luck to everyone, and if I find out any more info, I'll be sure to post back here.

Hi guys, thought I’d pop in and play the waiting game with you all. I applied to UCLA, UC Berkeley, Stanford, and Northwestern, all (Theatre and) Performance Studies PhD programs. I have a Zoom interview with UCLA tomorrow ? if anyone’s at all interested, I can report back about my experience. 
 
Haven’t heard back from any other schools.... yikes

Just received an offer from one of my top choices: IOWA!!!!!
This morning I got an email saying Alan wanted a 15 minute follow-up phone call. I had no idea what that meant, but he just wanted to let me know over the phone. Flipped out on the phone a bit... so much for playing it cool HAHA 
Still waiting to hear about final rounds at Yale and first round at UT Austin and UCSD. Yale trumps all schools, but I can't decide about the other two. Iowa does seem like the absolute perfect program for me... 

omg just got a call from david henry hwang. i got into columbia! this is my fifth year applying to mfa programs so this feels super surreal. 

Hey guys, just received my finalist email from Art Borreca, so I guess Iowa notices are trickling out. Best of luck!

@jnp809 Regarding Brown - two of us have been offered admission. Neither I or the other playwright have officially accepted because we are waiting to hear back from other offers and there is a tricky situation happening there (faculty shifting). I am not sure what the waitlist situation looks like.

Iowa folks - I had to email to make sure everything was received and they informed me offers of admission will be made by March 24th.
thanks for the UCSD info - I've also not heard so good to know it's unlikely but possible.

@Boseph16Congrats on making the decision! I know you really loved Iowa's program so Im very happy that it all worked out for you! Good luck next year!
@AgentMike Im so sorry thats really awful, I've had the same treatment from a couple schools and its very upsetting. Its one way how you treat someone when you want something from them its another when you don't, that's when your character shows. I just look at it as a sign that its not a place I would want to be.
@_RICdirects_Welcome to the thread!! What other schools besides Penn have you applied to? How has the application process been for you?!
@Loose.tap.screws I got an email on the 3rd from Tracee offering me a spot on the waitlist which I happily accepted. DePaul was my dream school when I was making my list of schools I was applying too. I never in a million years thought I would be this close Im honestly freaking out in the best way possible. At this point its up to fate so I'm leaving it in God's hands, if its meant to be it will. Either way it was a huge boost in confidence to make it this far. 
@Directorial if someone has waited this long to confirm with Iowa I think its a strong indicator they are waiting on another school so you still have a really strong shot!! Keeping my fingers crossed for both of us!

As I just officially accepted my offer and received my last rejection this week... 
Here is my update (in order of preference):
YALE: Interview & Rejection
IOWA: Interview & Acceptance (Attending)
UT AUSTIN: No Interview 
UCSD: No Interview
ASU: Interview & Acceptance (Not Attending)
CMU: Interview & Self-Withdrawal 
UCLA: Interview & Self-Withdrawal 
 
Crossing my fingers for you @Directorial... Would be awesome if two classmates came from this thread! 
Hope everyone's final interviews went well. 
While I know that Iowa is literally the perfect program for the work I want to make, a small part of me regrets not applying to Brown or DePaul. Oh well, it wasn't meant to be. As I am 30 this year, I promised myself this would be the last year I'd apply. 

Just received an offer from one of my top choices: IOWA!!!!!
This morning I got an email saying Alan wanted a 15 minute follow-up phone call. I had no idea what that meant, but he just wanted to let me know over the phone. Flipped out on the phone a bit... so much for playing it cool HAHA 
Still waiting to hear about final rounds at Yale and first round at UT Austin and UCSD. Yale trumps all schools, but I can't decide about the other two. Iowa does seem like the absolute perfect program for me... 

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! And to you @Directorial! @galbi7892 is right in saying that THAT is a huge accomplishment.
And Boseph, I think you should trust your gut. Sounds like Iowa could bring you a lot of fulfillment. 
Just finished my interview at Brown and got to meet @steffybolt in person. Sounds like this could be an exciting week of news for everyone. Luck to all!

Interviews went VERY well. My top choice (Iowa) became more of a top choice. Love that program, loved the discussions I had with Alan and the opportunities/projects they'd let me tackle if I were to go. 
 
Wow I absolutely HATED UCLA and I felt like they didn't even want me there. Yet they were laughing with the guy in front of me who went 10 minutes over. He started immediately with basically the same stock questions as CMU with no reference to my experience or resume. Then they didn't even look at my portfolio until I asked them if they even wanted to see it! Very strange. Why interview me if you weren't actually interested? I asked about their financial package and it is awful. Won't get a callback and wouldn't go even if they offered it to me. 
 
ASU is now a definite contender. Loved the cohort approach and Bill is so nice and experienced in many different forms of theatre. They encourage collaborations between school of film, dance, opera and even science if that's your interest for creating original thesis performance. Added many new exciting faculty members. It does seem a bit devising heavy and not as much emphasis on working with playwrights but I'll definitely be tempted if they are to make me an offer. Not the best financial package but nothing like the debt of UCLA, Columbia, DePaul, CalArts... 
 
Happy interviews everyone! I have Yale next week and no word from UT Austin or UCSD... 

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. 

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. 

@nine15am I've always been told that undergrad work on a resume is fine until you get your MFA or until it's unnecessary. Pick the highlights and don't let it be the majority of  your listings if you've been out of school for a while.