Odysseus24601

Hi guys. Update from me. Finished Boston U and Northwestern Application earlier this week. I will be submitting Brown today.
I want to apply to USCD. Undecided about Yale. I've applied there twice in three years and been interviewed both times. The second time the interview went great, going over time 20minutes but they said they just didn't have a place for me there. I just don't know what I'd say differently this time. And if I interview with some of the other schools I'm applying for adding the $100 application fee, $300 flight, $100 hotel fee, food, etc and taking time off work might be too steep a cost.
I'm also looking around at some Canadian schools. 
@Star+Strength The few people I've talked to have really liked Boston University. I sent a message to a couple of people there last year. it seems to be focused on traditional theatre and new works, which is what I am more interested in as opposed to devised work, and they talk about how they receive a lot of personal attention. I'm also drawn to it because it's in Boston, so my wife, who is an actor, can get work. And they have a Certificate in Artistic Direction. Since I want to be an Artistic Director and they are the only MFA Directing program that I've seen offering that, I'm really drawn to them.
@ctbck I struggle with the personal statement too. Last time around I wrote a long one (2-3 pages depending on the school) and realized I was trying to write a statement that made me "look good" or said what I thought they wanted to hear. This time around I kept it to one page, short and sweet, tried to be honest and personal without being off-putting (I can overshare sometimes) and I also kept the emphasis on what I wanted to get out of grad school and what I wanted to do afterward. This time around I realized it's important to me that THEY want ME. I'm being myself, telling them why I am a good candidate and why they want me at their school, and if they can't satisfy my artistic needs then we probably aren't a good fit. I realized I don't want to go to grad school just to go to grad school. I want to go to grad school to help me accomplish my theatrical goals.  
 
I have entered this weird funk though. I finished most of my applications at the end of October. Then I just kept revising. I finally forced myself to submit them. I'm nervous because this will probably be my last shot at grad school. I applied three years ago, got close, but didn't get into any programs that made sense financially. I then watched my wife have a great time in grad school for three years while I thought about how I wanted to go. Now I am applying again, but I'm in my early 30's and I don't want to keep moving to a different city every 3-5 years. So if it doesn't work this time I think it's time to move on. But that means I'm putting a ton of pressure on myself to submit the "perfect" application. When i just need to do it.
Oh well. About to enter the worst part of his process. The two or three months of waiting to hear anything. Then, if I get interviews, the three months of waiting to hear about being accepted. 
Good luck all!

No from Northwestern via email
Going to Boston fall.

Got the official no from Brown. Which I knew already, but come on Brown! On Valentine's day!
Sent an E-mail to the contact person from Northwestern and got an automatic response saying she was on leave. So maybe that is why no one has heard? I'll report back if I hear anything.

I've also heard back from Sarah Lawrence. Doing a two-day interview.  I'm curious to see what the program is like. 

I've also heard back from Sarah Lawrence. Doing a two-day interview.  I'm curious to see what the program is like. 

@ManderLemon How did Sarah Lawrence go? Did you learn anything? I did not apply this year, but was curious for future years. It looks expensive tho!  
Good luck everyone. This grad school thing is just short of a mind fuck. If I'm ever in the 1%, I'm creating more grad programs and full funding for theatre makers. And if socialism ever works out I'm lobbying for state funded theatres that train directors  

@Odysseus24601 Sending you positive energy and good vibes!

Today is the day that Brown will contact people if they want a second interview...

Don't mind me, I'll just obsessively be checking my E-mail trying not to get my hopes up.

Today is the day that Brown will contact people if they want a second interview...

Don't mind me, I'll just obsessively be checking my E-mail trying not to get my hopes up.

@Odysseus24601 Yup. Understand that feeling. Sending you good vibes and mojo!

I know that in the UK, if you get a Tier-4 student visa, your partner is automatically eligible for a Dependent work visa if you are either married or have been living together for at least two years. I'm not sure how it works in Canada, but if it's similar, you should be okay. I think that for the UK, they want to encourage international students, so they make the visa process much easier than getting a regular work visa.

Hi guys. Update from me. Finished Boston U and Northwestern Application earlier this week. I will be submitting Brown today.
I want to apply to USCD. Undecided about Yale. I've applied there twice in three years and been interviewed both times. The second time the interview went great, going over time 20minutes but they said they just didn't have a place for me there. I just don't know what I'd say differently this time. And if I interview with some of the other schools I'm applying for adding the $100 application fee, $300 flight, $100 hotel fee, food, etc and taking time off work might be too steep a cost.
I'm also looking around at some Canadian schools. 
@Star+Strength The few people I've talked to have really liked Boston University. I sent a message to a couple of people there last year. it seems to be focused on traditional theatre and new works, which is what I am more interested in as opposed to devised work, and they talk about how they receive a lot of personal attention. I'm also drawn to it because it's in Boston, so my wife, who is an actor, can get work. And they have a Certificate in Artistic Direction. Since I want to be an Artistic Director and they are the only MFA Directing program that I've seen offering that, I'm really drawn to them.
@ctbck I struggle with the personal statement too. Last time around I wrote a long one (2-3 pages depending on the school) and realized I was trying to write a statement that made me "look good" or said what I thought they wanted to hear. This time around I kept it to one page, short and sweet, tried to be honest and personal without being off-putting (I can overshare sometimes) and I also kept the emphasis on what I wanted to get out of grad school and what I wanted to do afterward. This time around I realized it's important to me that THEY want ME. I'm being myself, telling them why I am a good candidate and why they want me at their school, and if they can't satisfy my artistic needs then we probably aren't a good fit. I realized I don't want to go to grad school just to go to grad school. I want to go to grad school to help me accomplish my theatrical goals.  
 
I have entered this weird funk though. I finished most of my applications at the end of October. Then I just kept revising. I finally forced myself to submit them. I'm nervous because this will probably be my last shot at grad school. I applied three years ago, got close, but didn't get into any programs that made sense financially. I then watched my wife have a great time in grad school for three years while I thought about how I wanted to go. Now I am applying again, but I'm in my early 30's and I don't want to keep moving to a different city every 3-5 years. So if it doesn't work this time I think it's time to move on. But that means I'm putting a ton of pressure on myself to submit the "perfect" application. When i just need to do it.
Oh well. About to enter the worst part of his process. The two or three months of waiting to hear anything. Then, if I get interviews, the three months of waiting to hear about being accepted. 
Good luck all!

Hi @GLDir,

I wish I had more information for you. I do not know much about the UT-Austin programs, other than when I looked over them they didn't seem like the best fit for me, nor the VT program. If I were you I would do some digging and see if you could find some of the current MFA students or students that just graduated from the program. Usually, you can search around the website and find some names, even if it's listing names of directors from previous shows. From there you can find them pretty easily via Google or Facebook usually. All the students that I've reached out to and asked questions too have been very kind and gotten back to me pretty quickly. When I've done that I get really good answers to my questions.
Are you looking for programs that offer an MFA in TYA? If so this might be a good resource: http://www.tyausa.org/resources/tya-college-programs-directory/
Hope that helps and good luck!

Hey Odysseus!
I did the same—lurked around the forums—but let's get the ball rolling as "they" say! Have you applied to any programs since 2015? What about URTA's was a bad experience for you? I don't think I'm going to do URTA even though I was told to consider it. I just have really specific goals in mind with MFA programs so I'm going to start by applying to specific ones for now.
Where did your wife end up going? I agree, one year apart is completely worth it if you get into the program you want!
Also applying to YALE; however, I'm applying to UT and possibly CMU. Does anyone have insight on CMU? I've been told to look into the program, but I've never been to the area and I don't know people who've gone through the MFA program there who I could ask.
How did the interviews feel last time?
-Biscotti

Hi all,
I ended up lurking last year and it looked like the forum was helpful and interesting to those involved. So, since I've been chomping at the bit and waiting to take another swing at Grad school, I wanted to go ahead and get the conversation started.
About me: I applied to several directing programs in 2015 and went through URTA. Schools: Indiana, Illinois State, East 15, Yale, Northwestern, Cal Arts, FSU, Brooklyn.
I interviewed with Indiana, Illinois State, Yale, Northwestern, East 15, and FSU.
I received offers from East 15 (couldn't afford it) and Illinois State (not a good fit).
My wife applied to MFA Acting programs and was accepted into one of her top choices. So we decided to do that. Last year I applied to Yale again (we decided we could be apart for a year if I got into Yale because...it's freakin Yale). I made it to the first round again and was not selected for the final weekend visit.
I can only afford to apply to programs that are fully funded so this year I am applying to Boston U, Brown, Northwestern, and Yale (again). I am seriously considering USCD. 
Maybe: Purdue and CMU.
I won't do URTA this year. Not a great experience. 
This will probably be my last crack at grad school, so fingers crossed. 
What is everyone else looking at?