per4mance

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

Hey!
Sorry to hear that you're school isn't what you thought it would be. Now as someone who has not been to an MFA program (yet!) but who has been a working freelancer for some time now, I am not sure how much weight my 2 cents have...
To me, the pros (free school, good school, and new playwrights -- major bonus there!) out weight the current woes. I believe that graduate school is meant to do two things: stretch your artistry and at the same time focus your voice. So it seems good that the classes - so far - are built around a different school of thought than your current one. And with that, who is to say that those foundation courses in a year 1 aren't going to help you when you produce the type of work you want to create. And if you want to teach at university, having a wide range of experiences will make you more marketable and will allow you to help your students achieve what they want, be it the more "traditional theater" you are learning now or the more experimental style you prefer (and everything in between!) I would say don't think of it as "creatively frustrated" but "creatively widened" - we all have to learn things we don't want to but who knows if those other ideas sneak into one's process at some point. When it comes the classes outside of director's lab, do you just take electives in a sense from the other disciplines? Maybe find classes taught by faculty members who follow your dogma, or at least support you in your efforts. Sometimes you have to go beyond the class syllabus to get the most out of a class.
Have you talked to any alumni who are more aligned to your artistic ideas? How are they? Do they have insight? And with that, are there a lot of working alumni from your program? That reputation can of course help you after graduation as you start to direct your own work. And to circle back to previous paragraph, knowing different styles make you more marketable as a freelancer, which means your bills are paid. I've directed fluffy American classics because I have to pay rent, and from those gigs, I end getting the opportunities to do the work I personally prefer. You may not want that career path, but it is a bonus of having a wide range of skills/coming from a reputable school (especially how to develop new work!)
Have you looked at the alumni from schools/programs that focus on more experimental work? How are their alumni? What are they doing right now? Do they carry the same weight? That said, are there maybe summer programs/intensives that you could do to help supplement the education you feel is lacking thus far? SITI or Pig Iron's summer intensive are great examples (and yes, there are many more.) A lot of universities even offer grants and funding for students to do just that.
It seems like they aren't telling what kind of director you should be if you can do your thesis in the way you want, which to me means you're in a pretty great program. And maybe meet up with with your other MFA students (if there are MFA actors in the program or even talk to the playwright students) and start creating on your own art for summer Fringe festivals or even for after graduation.
My vote is so stick with the program, learn as much as you can, and then enter the working world with as many tools in your tool belt. No program is perfect, but yours seems to be pretty awesome by my standards.
Cheers! And with everything aside, hope you're school year is going well!

YAS @E. Karenina CONGRATS! 
 
Such an awesome news day in this group! 

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

@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

Flying out to my first ever MFA interview tomorrow (UMass Amherst). I'm not having a panic attack; you're having a panic attack. 

@Squidpunk Well,  Let's hope you get into Yale - but now for two reasons! 

Interview with Brown went well I think! Kinda got really excited after it. 
For those interested, he said that we'll know if we make it to the final round by February 15th. They're narrowing it down to 6 for a callback in Providence March 9-11th. 
 

Interview with Brown went well I think! Kinda got really excited after it. 
For those interested, he said that we'll know if we make it to the final round by February 15th. They're narrowing it down to 6 for a callback in Providence March 9-11th. 
 

Whew! The Columbia audition was exhausting but a total blast. I feel really confident with the work I did. If I don’t get in, then it truly wasn’t meant to be. 
Yale: just got a call on Friday for an audition the weekend of the 17th/18th. They said they’d potentially be calling folks through tomorrow.
UCSD: I emailed the contact today and she said interview requests went out last week, so I’m guessing that’s a no. I thought UCSD and CMU were my strongest applications so it’s interesting to see that those are both no’s, whereas schools I thought were reaches are offering me interviews.
I’ve now heard from all my schools, and am gearing up for my Brown interview this Friday in SF, Northwestern next Thursday, and Yale next Sunday. I need sleeeeep.

Yea I have heard pretty negative experiences with CMU interviews. What a shame! 
So exciting to hear about all these 2nd interviews! Looks like I’ll be going out to LA for CalArts 2nd round! YAY!  
 

I actually have an update! Yay! 
U-Mass Amherst is flying me out to interview Feb 21st. 
Still waiting on word from UCSD and Northwestern (assuming it's a no from Northwestern). 
 
 

@per4mance That's amazing! I have heard nothing but glowing reviews of CalArts' program. 
@MadamDirector WOW!!! I am so thrilled for you!! Congratulations!

Yea I have heard pretty negative experiences with CMU interviews. What a shame! 
So exciting to hear about all these 2nd interviews! Looks like I’ll be going out to LA for CalArts 2nd round! YAY!  
 

Holy updates, Batman! Since I posted this morning, I've been contacted by BU and UW letting me know that I'm a finalist! I am a giant ball of nerves and excitement. 
@Squidpunk congrats on Northwestern and Columbia! A Chicago meetup would be awesome! Side note, I'm so excited to meet Val in person it's absolutely ridiculous  
@Hamidoo @per4mance @Theater Maker Congrats on all the interviews! 
Anyone going to be in Boston on Feb 12 or Seattle around the last weekend of the month? 

Yea I have heard pretty negative experiences with CMU interviews. What a shame! 
So exciting to hear about all these 2nd interviews! Looks like I’ll be going out to LA for CalArts 2nd round! YAY!  
 

Had my CalArts interview today. Really interesting conversation and more casual than I expected. He’s hard to read but I think it went well! 

Had my CalArts interview today. Really interesting conversation and more casual than I expected. He’s hard to read but I think it went well! 

Had my CalArts interview today. Really interesting conversation and more casual than I expected. He’s hard to read but I think it went well! 

Got the email from Brown today! Anyone else interviewing for them in Chicago on Feb 7th? 

Yale is great because they never look for a certain type of director  - I have realized that I am more interested in non-traditional theatre training where the director is generator of ideas as well as ensemble/physical training. Plus, spending a year doing shakespeare sounds AWFUL to me...
I will say that it was clear in my interview they really care about getting to know who you are as an artist and take the time to have a true conversation about what excites you. 

Yale is great because they never look for a certain type of director  - I have realized that I am more interested in non-traditional theatre training where the director is generator of ideas as well as ensemble/physical training. Plus, spending a year doing shakespeare sounds AWFUL to me...
I will say that it was clear in my interview they really care about getting to know who you are as an artist and take the time to have a true conversation about what excites you.