Rlata84
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Posts posted by Rlata84
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Happy to share that I have received and accepted an offer from Texas State! A big thank you to everyone who has been contributing to this forum. It’s been super comforting to go through this process with all of you wonderful people!
- kalysias, ManderLemon and 36Biscotti
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5 hours ago, kalysias said:
Anybody heard from Brooklyn, Texas State, or FSU? Are they done?
I believe they’ve all had final interviews
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@ManderLemon congratulations!! Very excited for you!
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@ManderLemon so happy to hear your SL interview went well! Fingers crossed for you!
@36Biscotti congratulations!!
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On 2/28/2019 at 4:04 PM, kalysias said:
Hi, all! I'm applying for MFA Directing programs, and am wondering if any of you know people in the programs at Brooklyn, U. of Alabama, or Texas State. I'd love to hear about experiences in these programs. I know U. of A. no longer has any formal affiliation with the Alabama Shakes Fest, but is there any ill will between that theatre and the MFA program? Thinking if I go, I want to try to set up some observerships, etc. with ASF.
Also, I'm in my 40s, and I interviewed with one program that seemed like a fantastic fit, but I wasn't even one of the finalists. I'm wondering if it was because of my age. Anyone else have experiences like that?
Good luck, everyone!
@kalysias I’m in my mid 30’s and al though I always felt like the oldest of every other candidate, I can tell you that MOST of the currently enrolled MFAs I have met have been at LEAST my age. I don’t think age should be something of concern here.
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Anyone receive any news this week?
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@CalitoTexas18 not yet. UCSD deadline was a month ago. I’m surprised no one on here has heard anything.
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Congrats on your SL interviews @Odysseus24601 and @ManderLemon!! It seems like a really cool program. I like how it is so personalized and can really be tailored to your interests and needs.
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@Odysseus24601 Yup. Understand that feeling. Sending you good vibes and mojo!
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The waiting is enough to drive you crazy, right?!?! Sounds like everyone has made some progress in the process. Congrats to everyone! Here's my current body count:
Penn State - Rejection received
Texas State - Had second interview on campus - was told decisions will be made in 1-2 weeks.
Florida State - URTA interview went great. We were each other's last interview of the day so we went over time quite a bit. She said second/final round candidates would be invited for on campus interviews sometime in February. Haven't heard anything yet.
Ohio University - Invited for campus visit/interview.
UC San Diego - Still no word (just like the rest of us).
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12 hours ago, patrickjnorris said:
Hey there, I'm joining in the fray here.
I graduated with my BFA in Directing in 2017 from Southern Oregon University, gpa 3.9 overall. I applied to UC Davis, UCLA, UCSD, UC Irvine, and CalArts. Davis is an MFA in Dramatic Art, with an option for directing concentration. I am California based so it just makes sense to keep my network where I want to stay.
I'm so stoked to have landed interviews with both UCLA and Davis so far. Not entirely sure what to prepare for UCLA but the email I received said to prepare for it to last about 30 minutes. I feel like I remember reading an interview prep something-or-other in the application requirements but can't find it now-- could be thinking of another school though.
Overall:
UC Davis: Interview in person Feb 1
UCLA: Interview via Zoom Jan 26
UC Irvine: Submitted (today, my last one woohoo!)
UCSD: Submitted, haven't heard
CalArts Submitted, haven't heard
Glad to have found you guys, anyone else going to the UC Davis interview day? The email makes it sound like a group day with a designated time for individual interviews.
Welcome to the group @patrickjnorris! Glad to hear of your scheduled interviews! The only CA school I've applied to is Irvine and UCSD. I applied to Irvine through URTA and did not get invited to interview, and, like many on here, I am waiting to hear from UCSD. Not sure if anyone knows when they usually send out interview invitations.
Have you looked back through the threads from previous years? I feel like there were posts in the 2016 thread where people shared interview questions they've received. I've had one interview so far. Below are some of he questions they asked - I've paraphrased quite a bit:
1. Why are you here today? Why now and why this program? (Probably everyone will ask some form of this. Although it was all a blur, I think I regurgitated some semblance of my initial letter of interest. I made a note for myself to try to include answers that maybe were cut from my initial letter, or at least provide additional insight into who I am).
2. I don't say this to scare you, but three years is a long time, and much of it may feel redundant or 'back to the basics.' How are you prepared to handle this lengthy commitment?
3. What type of work appeals to you and why?
4. How do you define the role of the director and their relationship and responsibility to collaborators and audience alike? (This one was very fuzzy to me. In all honesty, I struggled to understand what was being asked and should have requested the question to be repeated. Alas, my nerves got the best of me. So this is the question I answered, but not sure it is what was being asked. I've included it in the list to share my terror and remind everyone it's okay to ask for a question to be repeated.)
5. What are your thoughts on diverse or colorblind casting?
6. How important is it to make considerations of how an older story resonates with an audience.
I hope this info is helpful, and encourage others to share your experiences. We're all in this together!!
- KillerWingfield and ctbck
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Welcome @MorganLee!! I will be at URTA Chicago this weekend. I'm interviewing with Texas State, Florida State, UT Austin, Ohio and East 15. Hopefully we will meet one another! Meeting people going through this process has been amazing.
@36Biscotti thanks for the plethora of info! I'm relieved to hear that the program heads made it feel like a conversation. After my last interview, I am a bit nervous going forward. This is helpful information.
@CalitoTexas18 and @Odysseus24601 I also applied to UCSD and haven't heard anything yet.
HELP!! Does anyone have any tricks or things they recommend for anxiety before interviews? I feel mentally prepared - I know what I want to say, and I know that my experience makes me qualified. But my damn body seems to want to have involuntary responses of shallow breathing, rapid heartbeat and crippling shakes. I bombed my last interview as a result of it. I was mostly fine once I got in the room, but the minutes prior were hell enough to throw me off a bit. Any tips would be very appreciated.
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15 hours ago, 36Biscotti said:
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?
Interviewing in NYC tomorrow for Penn State. Rest of my interviews are at the Chicago URTAs. I’m leaning toward “dressy-casual” nice dark jeans, fun patterned button up shirt and a sport jacket. Good shoes. No tie.
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Ok hivemind - this may seem a frivolous question, but I’m curious to know what you all are wearing to your interviews. I want to look professional and show some self expression, but I don’t want to be too overdressed or underdressed. Thoughts?
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@handfulofdust Thank you for your reply! It is extremely helpful!
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@handfulofdust thank you very much! Glad to hear good things about Ohio. I’m a little skeptical about it only because I am already well one Ted with their network and their partnering theatre as I live just 90 minutes away. Just thinking about whether or not it would allow me the growth I’m seeking. There is something very attractive about moving away to a city and state where I know no one and can truly unlock and engage without distraction —— I am interested to hear more about your attraction to East 15. What makes this program stand out to you? Is there much opportunity for practicum? I’m not finding as many details as I would like.
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On 12/28/2018 at 1:16 PM, ManderLemon said:
Hello everyone!
Long time reader, first time poster. Just wanted to say hey and join the discussion!
I'm applying to UT Austin's MFA Directing program and also to Sarah Lawrence's Theatre MFA program. I visited UT's campus about a month ago and had a wonderful visit. I'm not doing URTA's or anything like that - I'm based in Nashville and working on a limited budget. I've got ten years of professional theatre experience, mostly acting, but realized in the past couple of years that my focus has shifted to directing and devising.
I'm interested to know when UT and Sarah Lawrence send out invitations for interviews outside of URTAs. This is my first year applying for grad school, so I'm learning as I go!
If anyone has any information about either of these programs, or about how their interview process works, I would love to hear it.
Hi!! UT recruited me for interview at URTA, but I really don’t know much about their program. What attracts you to it?
Unfortunately I don’t know when either school sends notifications. Maybe make a follow up call if your apps have been in for a while.
Sarah Lawrence seems like a cool program. I like how specialized it can be. Did you visit? I thought about applying, but could not find any info on funding.
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Update: confirmed URTA interviews in Chicago with FSU and Texas State, both of which I had contacted with letters of interest. Also pleasantly surprised to have been asked to interview with three schools to whom I did not send letters - University of Texas Austin, Ohio University, and East 15.
I am a little bummed to not book interviews with Northwestern or UC Irvine, but I’m happy with my prospects. Still in the running for Penn State, and have just applied to UCSD.
Congrats on Yale interviews to @jujuak and @CalitoTexas18‘s husband!
Anyone else hear from URTA today? Anyone going to URTA in Chicago? Would love to meet up.
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@36Biscotti yes I’m doing the Chicago interviews on January 25th. Thankfully I have a busy day today to distract me from checking my email every ten seconds - only have time to check it once a minute haha. Seems reasonable, right?
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@36Biscotti congrats on the URTA interviews. Will you be attending in NYC or Chicago?I haven’t heard from them yet.
@handfulofdust I have had my eye on Penn State for years. I’ve met Susan at conferences in the past and think she would be a wonderful mentor.
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Hi friends! So happy to find this site and thread. This has been such an isolating process, its very nice to meet others going through the same thing! I’ve spent many hours this morning reading threads from past application cycles in addition to catching up on this one.
This week is the first stressful waiting week in the process. I’ve applied to several schools through URTA (Northwestern, Illinois State, Indiana University, Florida State, Texas State, and UC Irvine). I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by how many schools were participating in URTA after reading from last year’s posts that the selection was so small. Wonder if URTA was more active in their recruiting efforts, or if there are just more schools recruiting for odd numbered years. It is said we are to receive interview invitations by Friday. Hope those of you who’ve applied through URTA update us all on here!
in addition to the schools above, I’ve also applied to Penn State and UCSD. I’m very grateful that I’ve got through the first two rounds for Penn State and will be interviewing January 12. Anyone else on this thread apply to Penn?
Im primarily a musical theatre director and have a secondary interest in choreography. Is anyone here in the same or similar boat? I would love to know what schools you’re considering.
MFA Directing 2019- Let's Connect
in Performing
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Congratulations!