36Biscotti
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@Rlata84 Yay! Not a surprise, but I'm sure you're relived to hear it officially!! Congratulations
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36Biscotti reacted to a post in a topic:
MFA Directing 2019- Let's Connect
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I accepted my offer at Ohio! I got to meet the other candidate who also accepted.
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Has anyone heard from schools? So far, I have a no from Carnegie and Yale, and I have second-round interviews with UT Austin and Indiana. I'm still waiting to hear from Brooklyn College.
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@truebelieverx Hi! I heard from one asking for a second interview, it feels like it was a little premature since we aren't supposed to "receive official offers" (whatever that means) until the 4th. I'm taking that as most of the schools will offer second interviews or visitations after the 4th? Have you heard from anyone?
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36Biscotti reacted to a post in a topic:
MFA Directing 2019- Let's Connect
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Not sure if you saw this, but American Theatre Magazine just announced Annie Baker and Brandon Jacob Jenkins are joining UT Austin's faculty. https://www.americantheatre.org/2019/01/29/annie-baker-and-branden-jacobs-jenkins-to-join-faculty-of-university-of-texas-at-austin/?fbclid=IwAR1Vk4aV52BBak2AohEvLlVrh6cJNhEt9rfQRlchKc4mc5ZO8b96Hm4eZvk
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Rlata84 reacted to a post in a topic:
MFA Directing 2019- Let's Connect
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Hey @MorganLee! Goodluck/break a leg at your interviews. I went to the NYC URTAs and met both of those programs as well, they were super, super, super nice. I will say: be prepared to interview alongside a fellow applicant during the East 15 one. The interviewer likes to do group interviews! It wasn't at all bad, but someone told me before going in and I think I was mentally prepared for that. How has it been going for everyone? My experience at URTAs was actually pretty great, talking with some people who have done it in the past, it seems to have improved overall. There was a little hang out space for the directors, and it seemed pretty organized! During my Ohio interview the Women's March was happing outside the window and it was fun to hear, a little difficult to concentrate, but a cool atmospheric layer to the meeting! Every school I met with was pretty fantastic, they were all SUPER nice and made it feel like a conversation. UT definitely asked about King Lear but KJ was awesome and talked through some ideas, Brooklyn asked for a verbal pitch from a show I've done in the past on the spot (but i talked to someone and they brought up a different show and asked different questions.), Ohio was just brainstorming with me, Florida asked about some shows on my resume, Indiana wanted to get to know me and why I want to do this, East 15 wanted to know what type of work connects with me! I personally hate the waiting. Anyone got some meditative advice for these next few weeks? P.S. I interviewed with CMU and they said by this coming weekend we should know if we're being invited to visit for a callback.
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Yes, yes, a silly question but I have the same one! I'm leaning towards the casual end of the spectrum, personally. That's also my M.O. in my work too, if that makes sense. @Rlata84 when're your interviews? Just to check: has anyone heard from CMU?
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@captbaka I am applying to the directing program at UT Austin, but reading about the playwriting: it sounds like both of UT's playwriting programs are funded; however, the Michener Center gives students a check for $27,500 in addition to covering tuition each year. https://michener.utexas.edu/our-mfa/ . https://theatredance.utexas.edu/graduate-programs/mfa-playwriting .
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CalitoTexas18 reacted to a post in a topic:
MFA Directing 2019- Let's Connect
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@handfulofdust Oh, great! It is Matthew. Yeah Columbia is super expensive, I hope they throw money at you because it's a great program especially for the type of work you've been leaning towards. If you haven't I would try to reach out to current or former Columbia students to see how they did it, because it definitely is doable. @Rlata84 I am going to NYC URTA's. I was very surprised to hear from them yesterday because in the booklet it said something along the lines of, "Do not expect to hear from any schools before December 21st". Are you doing Chicago? I don't know the date of the Chicago URTA, but the NYC one is less than a month at this point so it makes sense if they start notifying people now.
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Rlata84 reacted to a post in a topic:
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@handfulofdust Congrats! I read your previous post, that you have been admitted to East 15 in the past, do you know if they offer any kind of scholarship or financial assistance? They're kinda pricy otherwise. Goodluck on your Columbia and Brown Apps! -B
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I heard from URTA's today and got interview requests from: UT Austin East 15 Brooklyn College Indiana Ohio U Florida State Anyone else hear from URTA yet? I'm still waiting to hear from Carnegie and Yale.
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Looking at the posts from last year, it looks like Yale started calling for interviews this coming week. Does anyone know if that's the case again this year? How's it going folks? Don't forget to have fun!
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Hey Ruthev, I sympathize with you on that one, it is definitely a cycle of: how to get work if you don't have the training, but how to get training if you don't have the work. It will always feel that way, so I suggest following your impulses! Full transparency, most programs will want to see a few years of work outside of undergrad, some even state it explicitly; however, I don't believe anyone should be discouraged if you've got the time and money to apply places. You never know how things may add up in your favor. It's good that you discovered this desire now, instead of halfway through a different career. To answer your concern: it's not typical, but not unheard of, for someone to enter into MFA programs straight out of undergraduate programs. Side note: don't be concerned about what you studied in undergrad, I have never heard a program requiring an arts bachelor's degree. Some of the competitive programs, since you mentioned them, want to make sure you understand what working in a professional theatre is like, who you will be working with. And ultimately these programs want you to work in a professional environment to make sure your mind doesn't shift from "wanting to be a director" to "wanting to be a dramaturge" or something of that nature (that happens so often, it happened to me). I suggest making a list of why you want to go to graduate school and seeing which schools check those boxes so you don't feel like you wasted any time on schools that ultimately aren't good fits for your needs. All in all, if you don't get in this year, remember that not getting into a program doesn't mean this career isn't right for you, it just means there's different opportunities for you to grow and in time you'll be the right candidate for the program of your dreams. I hope I answered some of your concerns! Best, -Biscotti
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ABOUT YALE That's super great! They give you an option of whether or not you want to come to them? What's the other option, Skype? Thanks for sharing. I've been listening to this podcast titled "Don't Keep Your Day Job" (check it out), so those questions about personal and philosophical goals have been on my mind recently. It is apparent I will need to have an answer ready to verbalize for the interviews. ABOUT CMU As CMU expressed to me via email, "It's a fellowship, which means it's tuition free". Though paying for housing is still a requirement, it feels so much more manageable to know tuition won't be getting in the way there. Honestly, I got interested because one of my mentors pointed me in Carnegie's direction. Having seen my work, and knowing what I value, she said the program is worth looking into. After looking into it, I realized some shows I saw had been directed by current CMU students; meaning, I saw some of the work that was entering into their program and I was charged by it! I can completely understand how not everyone would enjoy the vibe of their program—similarly to UT Austin— both programs exploring experimental approaches to contemporary performance, but I'm totally on board for that type of work. How do you feel about the programs you're applying to? What draws you to them? Most apps are opening up starting next week right? (Anyone is welcome to chime-in too!!) -Biscotti
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Aw damn... I live in New York so I will have the time to wait around for URTA interviews, at the New York rounds. I do hope it’s improved though, because it should be a useful tool for looking at programs. Ah! I hear Yuri is great, I’m glad you felt energized by the interview. That takes a little stress off the fantasies dreamt up. HAHA. Did they invite you to New Haven for the interview? I’m not surprised about them developing a dynamic group, if any school only chose the same type of candidate over and over there would be no growth! I wouldn’t let your age deter you, I’ve known people enter YSD directing not much younger than 30. Thats is great about your wife! Spending loads of money on a MFA sounds terrible so she’s doing great stuff! I read a little in the forums, but I’ve got to take peoples’ experiences with a grain of salt in negative situations; sometimes it’s not as bad as people perceive. (Maybe I’m kidding myself.) If you find anything specific in your notes that you discussed in your Yale interview, anything that might be unique to the interview with him, I would love to hear about it. Since I originally wrote, I’ve talked to some of recommenders and I’ve decided to move forward in applying to URTAs, UT, CMU, and Yale. Nothing more because of money. Good luck to you too!