MadamDirector

Well, this process has been utterly insane, but this morning I officially accepted at Brown University.
I definitely did not anticipate this result. I walked into my callback last weekend 95% certain that I would be attending Columbia next year, as it had been my top choice for years... I didn't know a lot about Brown when I applied, and the main reason I applied is that I was focused on trying to get back to the East Coast, and I had really liked Brian Mertes when I met him in 2015. When the process started, Brown was probably on the lower end of my list.
But wow... this program. I was floored. I am completely 100% convinced that it is the right place for me. Not only is it debt free (WHICH IS AMAZING), but the program itself is fucking incredible. I walked away from my interview weekend completely gobsmacked, realizing that I had learned more about me as an artist in those 3 days than I had in the past year. The other 5 artists who were part of my callback were all extraordinary and I would have been very happy if any of them had gotten in over me. In retrospect, I'm glad I got rejected from Yale because I would have said yes... and Brown may ultimately be a better fit for me. 
Here's my final breakdown:
Applied to 6 schools.  Got first round interviews for Yale, Brown, UCSD, and Carnegie Mellon Got rejected from CMU Got callbacks at 5 schools: Yale, Brown, UCSD, Northwestern, and Columbia Turned down my UCSD callback because I realized that I didn't want to live in San Diego for 3 years, although I loved my first round interview with them, and hope to stay in touch with Robert and Vanessa. Pulled my Northwestern application after my interview weekend for a variety of reasons. Got rejected from Yale Got accepted into Columbia Got accepted into Brown - GOING TO BROWN I am so grateful to finally be done with this process. It was brutal and exhausting, but holy crap I get to go to an amazing school where they really see me, where their priorities are compassion, community, and equity. I honestly couldn't be happier. I also made a lot of friends throughout this process, and now have friends attending Yale, Columbia, UCSD, Northwestern, and a few other places. We're all very happy with where we wound up. As rough as this process is, I am glad I went through it, and having a place where I could vent, etc, was much needed. 
Congrats @Theater Maker @Penny Jar @forestofarden @MadamDirector @E. Karenina and everyone else who found a place next year!
But also congrats to those who made it through this process and did not... it is not easy being rejected--it really fucked me up 2 years ago, but getting into grad school isn't a sign of your success or potential as an artist. You will find other opportunities and places that will become your home. Stay strong. <3

Hi! I know that I've been silent for a bit but I wanted to chime in with the end of my journey and some learnings for folks who are thinking about applying next year. Congrats to folks on acceptances!
I ended up with callbacks at CMU, Northwestern, UTAustin, UCSD, and Virginia Tech.  The  CMU, Northwestern, UTAustin,  and UCSD callbacks were all in the same week, the week of Feb 18.  I happened to be doing a two week intensive to remount a show beginning that week so I did Northwestern on Monday, flew home for two days of rehearsal, went to UT Austin on Thursday, UCSD for 4 hours on Fri, and CMU on Sat. I was able to come into Northwestern a day early to explore the campus and see a show, I really wish I could have done that everywhere. 
Each callback was entirely unique.  I don't want to go into too much detail because I think part of the process is navigating all of the different styles of audition and deciding which one you feel most comfortable in- it seems like the callbacks say a lot about the programs.
At the end I got offers from CMU and Northwestern. Once the offers came I had a really quick turnaround to make my decision (about a week) and I found myself doing a lot of research really quickly about cities and financial possibilities that I wish I would have done earlier. Both of the offers I got were amazing, I took the offer at CMU- that program is really special, the callback was a blast. I withdrew my application at Virginia Tech, although I think that program is really special too.
I think the biggest thing I wish that I had known more about is the timeline-- I would never have chosen to do a show in the middle of Feb if I had known that all of the callbacks would be at that time.

@MadamDirector thank you so much! Had about a half a day where I was really disappointed but then remembered how great I felt after the Central interview and got so excited!
 
Fingers crossed for everyone still going!

Hey, gang! My application journey has finally reached the end--I've just accepted a spot at Boston University! 
I'm still technically waiting for responses from two other schools where I had finalist interviews, but after visiting all three I knew in my gut that Boston was the best fit for me, so it was incredibly thrilling to get to say "yes" to their offer. It doesn't quite feel real, but it definitely feels good. 
I'm so eternally grateful to have had this group as a sounding board and venting-place through this crazy adventure...not knowing anyone "in real life" who could fully empathize has made you all a real gift  
Now I'm just going to sit here with fingers crossed, sending every good vibe I have for all of you to get your own exciting news soon!! 

@Squidpunk @MadamDirector @per4mance @forestofarden Thank you SO MUCH for the support. You are all lovely. This process has been incredibly stressful, and I appreciate y'all having my back. xo

@Squidpunk that's awesome that you've got such a clear idea now of which programs would really give you what you want and need. I hope you get good news from Columbia! 
@forestofarden there will definitely be celebrating in my near future! I hope you get good news from that top choice school, but no matter what, it sounds like you have options, which is so wonderful! 
@per4mance and @E. Karenina thank you! I've heard nothing but good things about their floral, and I do love the city as well. Plus, it's where my partner is from (and where his family still lives), so that's an added bonus for him as well... and he deserves a bonus after taking care of my stressed out self for the past six months! 

Hey, gang! My application journey has finally reached the end--I've just accepted a spot at Boston University! 
I'm still technically waiting for responses from two other schools where I had finalist interviews, but after visiting all three I knew in my gut that Boston was the best fit for me, so it was incredibly thrilling to get to say "yes" to their offer. It doesn't quite feel real, but it definitely feels good. 
I'm so eternally grateful to have had this group as a sounding board and venting-place through this crazy adventure...not knowing anyone "in real life" who could fully empathize has made you all a real gift  
Now I'm just going to sit here with fingers crossed, sending every good vibe I have for all of you to get your own exciting news soon!! 

Hi all, 
I am happy to report that I have just officially accepted a spot at UMass Amherst, which was my top program. Thanks for being such a lovely support system during this process. Best wishes to all of you. 

@Squidpunk that's awesome that you've got such a clear idea now of which programs would really give you what you want and need. I hope you get good news from Columbia! 
@forestofarden there will definitely be celebrating in my near future! I hope you get good news from that top choice school, but no matter what, it sounds like you have options, which is so wonderful! 
@per4mance and @E. Karenina thank you! I've heard nothing but good things about their floral, and I do love the city as well. Plus, it's where my partner is from (and where his family still lives), so that's an added bonus for him as well... and he deserves a bonus after taking care of my stressed out self for the past six months! 

Hey, gang! My application journey has finally reached the end--I've just accepted a spot at Boston University! 
I'm still technically waiting for responses from two other schools where I had finalist interviews, but after visiting all three I knew in my gut that Boston was the best fit for me, so it was incredibly thrilling to get to say "yes" to their offer. It doesn't quite feel real, but it definitely feels good. 
I'm so eternally grateful to have had this group as a sounding board and venting-place through this crazy adventure...not knowing anyone "in real life" who could fully empathize has made you all a real gift  
Now I'm just going to sit here with fingers crossed, sending every good vibe I have for all of you to get your own exciting news soon!! 

Hey, gang! My application journey has finally reached the end--I've just accepted a spot at Boston University! 
I'm still technically waiting for responses from two other schools where I had finalist interviews, but after visiting all three I knew in my gut that Boston was the best fit for me, so it was incredibly thrilling to get to say "yes" to their offer. It doesn't quite feel real, but it definitely feels good. 
I'm so eternally grateful to have had this group as a sounding board and venting-place through this crazy adventure...not knowing anyone "in real life" who could fully empathize has made you all a real gift  
Now I'm just going to sit here with fingers crossed, sending every good vibe I have for all of you to get your own exciting news soon!! 

@MadamDirector FANTASTIC!! I am so thrilled for you. Plus, Boston is an incredible city. Best wishes!

Hey, gang! My application journey has finally reached the end--I've just accepted a spot at Boston University! 
I'm still technically waiting for responses from two other schools where I had finalist interviews, but after visiting all three I knew in my gut that Boston was the best fit for me, so it was incredibly thrilling to get to say "yes" to their offer. It doesn't quite feel real, but it definitely feels good. 
I'm so eternally grateful to have had this group as a sounding board and venting-place through this crazy adventure...not knowing anyone "in real life" who could fully empathize has made you all a real gift  
Now I'm just going to sit here with fingers crossed, sending every good vibe I have for all of you to get your own exciting news soon!! 

@MadamDirector Congrats! That is great to hear- hope you go and celebrate!
I've just finished up my final interview weekend. They said we'd hear back by the end of this week (ahh) so I know I will be obsessively refreshing my emails until then. But will be happy, as I'll finally know where I'll be then and can stop worrying!
Best of luck to everyone and fingers crossed!

@MadamDirector CONGRATULATIONS! I have a friend who did that program a few years ago and absolutely loved it! SO happy for you! 

Still no word from Yale, so I think that’s a no for me, since one of my friends heard a Yes last Thursday. I think I’m honestly too much of a radical for Yale, and am confident that it isn’t the right place for me if they say no. My top choice was always Columbia, so my fingers are crossed! 
I pulled my applications from Northwestern and UCSD last week because even though I’m a finalist for both, the fit doesn’t seem m right. NU just isn’t progressive enough for me, and after spending so much time on the East Coast lately, I realized I really don’t want to spend 3 years in San Diego. I did chat with Robert Castro for a half hour or so after I pulled my application and it was really cool to connect with him!
No word from Columbia, but no one has heard yet at all from what I gather...
Getting prepped for Brown! I’m excited but also feeling a little ragged with all the traveling. I’m not sure it’s the right fit for me, but I’m looking forward to finding out.

UMass interview went very well! There are a lot of pros about the program and a few cons that I wouldn't have known about without visiting. They are now finished with interviews, and they said they will be making decisions soon. So @MadamDirector I think we will hear from them in the next week or two. 

@Squidpunk that is an incredible story!
I can actually relate and confirm. I applied for the first time last year and didn't get anywhere past a couple of interviews with some really cool schools, but i learned so much about myself and my art through that process. I've directed four productions since my last interview and each one has gotten so much better than the one before it, as opposed to before I applied where each production kind of felt like I had plateaued in my progression as an artist. 
I chose not to apply this year, and I feel pretty good about that choice, but I've been lurking around here a lot and I gotta say I am jealous of you all and I am inspired by you all, and, even though we've never met or even had a real conversation, I am sure proud of you all as well. 
Keep up the good work everyone!
<3

This May, I'll be five years out of undergrad. I'm the cofounding artistic director of a theatre company, so I've racked up quite a few directing credits over four season with my own company. (My partner and I pretty much split the season, with a rare guest director thrown in.) I also have a couple of professional directing credits from a youth theatre where I worked during undergrad, and a couple of assistant director credits from during and after college.
Just about all of the programs I applied to stayed pretty clearly that they were seeking applicants with 3-5 years of experience beyond college, but I'm sure there are many programs out there that are looking for different types of applicants. During interviews I've met current students with background very similar to mine, as well as folks with very different experiences. 
I interviewed at one school where they seemed almost turned off by the fact that I'd founded a company (a lot of "Well, why do you want to leave that to come to grad school?"). At others, my background seemed like a perfect fit, and no one batted an eye about the idea of stepping away from my company to pursue more training. 
All I can say is do your research, find the schools that speak to your reasons for pursuing grad school, and go for it. Be honest and clear about why you want to go to graduate school at this point in your career, and the programs that fit your wants and needs will come together. 

This May, I'll be five years out of undergrad. I'm the cofounding artistic director of a theatre company, so I've racked up quite a few directing credits over four season with my own company. (My partner and I pretty much split the season, with a rare guest director thrown in.) I also have a couple of professional directing credits from a youth theatre where I worked during undergrad, and a couple of assistant director credits from during and after college.
Just about all of the programs I applied to stayed pretty clearly that they were seeking applicants with 3-5 years of experience beyond college, but I'm sure there are many programs out there that are looking for different types of applicants. During interviews I've met current students with background very similar to mine, as well as folks with very different experiences. 
I interviewed at one school where they seemed almost turned off by the fact that I'd founded a company (a lot of "Well, why do you want to leave that to come to grad school?"). At others, my background seemed like a perfect fit, and no one batted an eye about the idea of stepping away from my company to pursue more training. 
All I can say is do your research, find the schools that speak to your reasons for pursuing grad school, and go for it. Be honest and clear about why you want to go to graduate school at this point in your career, and the programs that fit your wants and needs will come together. 

This May, I'll be five years out of undergrad. I'm the cofounding artistic director of a theatre company, so I've racked up quite a few directing credits over four season with my own company. (My partner and I pretty much split the season, with a rare guest director thrown in.) I also have a couple of professional directing credits from a youth theatre where I worked during undergrad, and a couple of assistant director credits from during and after college.
Just about all of the programs I applied to stayed pretty clearly that they were seeking applicants with 3-5 years of experience beyond college, but I'm sure there are many programs out there that are looking for different types of applicants. During interviews I've met current students with background very similar to mine, as well as folks with very different experiences. 
I interviewed at one school where they seemed almost turned off by the fact that I'd founded a company (a lot of "Well, why do you want to leave that to come to grad school?"). At others, my background seemed like a perfect fit, and no one batted an eye about the idea of stepping away from my company to pursue more training. 
All I can say is do your research, find the schools that speak to your reasons for pursuing grad school, and go for it. Be honest and clear about why you want to go to graduate school at this point in your career, and the programs that fit your wants and needs will come together. 

This May, I'll be five years out of undergrad. I'm the cofounding artistic director of a theatre company, so I've racked up quite a few directing credits over four season with my own company. (My partner and I pretty much split the season, with a rare guest director thrown in.) I also have a couple of professional directing credits from a youth theatre where I worked during undergrad, and a couple of assistant director credits from during and after college.
Just about all of the programs I applied to stayed pretty clearly that they were seeking applicants with 3-5 years of experience beyond college, but I'm sure there are many programs out there that are looking for different types of applicants. During interviews I've met current students with background very similar to mine, as well as folks with very different experiences. 
I interviewed at one school where they seemed almost turned off by the fact that I'd founded a company (a lot of "Well, why do you want to leave that to come to grad school?"). At others, my background seemed like a perfect fit, and no one batted an eye about the idea of stepping away from my company to pursue more training. 
All I can say is do your research, find the schools that speak to your reasons for pursuing grad school, and go for it. Be honest and clear about why you want to go to graduate school at this point in your career, and the programs that fit your wants and needs will come together. 

This May, I'll be five years out of undergrad. I'm the cofounding artistic director of a theatre company, so I've racked up quite a few directing credits over four season with my own company. (My partner and I pretty much split the season, with a rare guest director thrown in.) I also have a couple of professional directing credits from a youth theatre where I worked during undergrad, and a couple of assistant director credits from during and after college.
Just about all of the programs I applied to stayed pretty clearly that they were seeking applicants with 3-5 years of experience beyond college, but I'm sure there are many programs out there that are looking for different types of applicants. During interviews I've met current students with background very similar to mine, as well as folks with very different experiences. 
I interviewed at one school where they seemed almost turned off by the fact that I'd founded a company (a lot of "Well, why do you want to leave that to come to grad school?"). At others, my background seemed like a perfect fit, and no one batted an eye about the idea of stepping away from my company to pursue more training. 
All I can say is do your research, find the schools that speak to your reasons for pursuing grad school, and go for it. Be honest and clear about why you want to go to graduate school at this point in your career, and the programs that fit your wants and needs will come together. 

@MadamDirector Thank you!! I'm definitely excited also. They have all been so kind and accommodating via email, that I'm sure it will be a great couple of days. Now, to drop my dogs off at the sitter, and then planes, trains, and automobiles to Amherst!

@E. Karenina — if it helps, getting a few interviews and then being rejected from grad school during my first year that I applied was the best thing that ever happened to me. At the time, it felt awful, but in the past two years I’ve made the best work of my career and now I understand why grad school is the right choice for me.
I think, at the time, I was so concerned with “Will they like me?” and trying to impress them that I forgot that I was a smart and desirable candidate with a lot to offer. I made my application about THEM, not about ME.
I think one of the reasons I’ve been doing so well this year in my applications is that I’m coming to these interviews without any concern for impressing the schools I’m applying to. I’m thinking: What do *I* want to talk about in my interview, and I’m driving the conversation, rather than worrying “Is this the right answer?” 
Be selfish. Demand that this process bring you clarity about who you want to be as an artist. If you bring that into the room, you will understand if UMass is the right place for you. Sending you good vibes.
I had an insane day yesterday — woke up at 4am to get to the airport, my flight got delayed, then I missed my connecting flight in Philly, and there were no other planes that would get me there on time. Ultimately, I wound up taking a taxi at breakneck speed to catch a train to New Haven that got me in only 30 minutes prior to my interview (I had the last slot). I was deeply impressed with how much Yale helped me out to make sure that I got to my interview and they were apparently ready to stay late if I couldn’t make it. That generosity of spirit meant a lot during the stressful moments. I felt really great during the whole callback & interview and we had a really fascinating conversation; I articulated who I am as an artist! I’m proud and happy and excited. Also, when they called time on my rehearsal scene, both of the actors were like “Nooo! We’re having such a good time!” Which, honestly, is the only validation I need.
We will apparently hear in a few days! I wish I could just sleep until then.