PumpkinKitty

I'm actually in the exact same situation. This is why Columbia was never even on my radar and why many excellent students don't apply there. Being in my 40s, recently married, and with a fellow artist partner who is keen on starting a family ASAP, it's hard to take on that much debt. I often find I'm not impressed with the work of many of their graduates. I assume, probably wrongfully, that Columbia N+MFA Directing grads are spoiled rich kids and could afford to go there first and talent is optional. It's also a lot of white men that come out of there. I find the lack of diversity unappealing. The playwrighting program has also left a bad taste in my mouth... I went to their showcase last year and the work was mediocre, although many fo the grad were older. Probably because they saved up to go there. The fact that someone who isn't willing or able to take on that kind fo debt is not an option makes the whole MFA thing very elitest for many schools. I'm still a big fan of a few state schools I interviewed with but I think I'm the victim of age discrimination... many were not pleased that I was over 30 and someone inappropriately asked of I planned on having kids. That is none of their bus9ness but when I stumbled on my answer I knew I was out. I'm going to look at more open-minded programs for next year, many of which are PhD. That is a longer process so I think better suited for older students who many schools label as "undesireable."

Still waiting on my rejections from URTA schools. Not too much of an issue since I’ve decided to apply to some MA and PhD programs for next year. But why are these schools not responding at all?

I get the feeling that many of you are not URTA attendess but did nayine hear from Florida State, Temple, UCLA, or Brooklyn College? All of those schools interviewed me at URTA and only Brooklyn College responded to say we’ll let you know... those other schools have been silent.

Anyone hear back from URTA directing interviews? I had a few and sebtvthsnk you emails to all but one — UT Austin. Thought KJ was a total bitch, she kept tying to trip me up in the interview and failed. She told me to prepare to have a conversatiin sbkht King Lear and it NEVER came up because she kept “verifying” something on my resume... I won an award she hasn’t and she was surprised... wow, lady, get over yourself. I received a return email from Brooklyn College just saying that they would get back to me much later... I offered to fill out an actual application but heard nothing about that... okay... No responses to my “thank you for the interview” email from Temple, FSU, or UCLA. Really like the woman at FSU. I HOPE TO HEAR FRON HER. Plus I could live cheaply in Florida fir 3 years, opposed to all the money I currently spend in NYC. Since he did URTA in Chicago I guess I won’t eveb hear about a follow up until this week? Got waitlisted at Indiana and Ohio last year so I didn’t apply this year. I may apply next year if things don’t work out. strangly, I went to Yale undergrad and have no intent in the MFA program. Is there something wrong with me?! Lol

I know it’s a bit early but I’m wondering if anyone has heard back about MFA directing interviews yet after attending IRTA? I sent a bunch of thank you emails and only got a reply from one school (Brooklyn College) and it was just a “we won’t be getting back to anyone for months” yet response. I had he sane issue last year when I did URTA directing interviews — great resume, more professional than academic, but they seemed to want you get, more fresh-out-of-college people. I’m also a playwright and screenwriter who directs their own work so I’m a applying to a few low residency writing MFAs as a back up. last year URTA was disappointing for me. Really wanted to get into Iowa and was mad when I was waitlisted. The program head Alan McVey seemed nice but he Keith saying I was overqualified. We both went to Yale undergrad ave that actually seemed to work against me. any thoughts would be great. I also applied to MFA acting last year, which may have hurt. Did get to 2nd round of Penn Stare but was really unimpressed but current students there... the one girl seemed a really green, like justcommuniry theatre level stuff. This is my 3rd URTA year (2012, I did acting but really wanted to direct and didn’t follow up). 2017 was several interviews but no response to my thank you emails. No idea what to expect this year. waiting to hear from UCLA,Temple, FSU, and Indiana. Met with Bitchface fromUT Austin but DID NOT like her superior attitude. best of luck everyone!