MFA Directing 2021

[ctbck]

21 minutes ago, cf99 said:

Fuck yeah, you're going to do great! CMU callbacks are tomorrow too all day (starting at 7am for me since i'm west coast  ).

I wore a suit jacket and shirt with no tie to URTAs, but it was so casual that I took the jacket off pretty quickly. I think the bar is pretty low when we're all sitting in our homes. I do think there's something to be said for getting at least a little dressed up though, just to get into the interview mindset. 

Ok awesome. I was planning on a collared button up shirt but might go short sleeve just so I don't end up sweating too much from nerves/if my heaters kick on lol

 

Break legs at CMU tomorrow!!

 

 

[Payytrike]

3 hours ago, ctbck said:

Tomorrow's my interview with DePaul! Nervous, excited, and feeling good about all my prep work. 

Here's a question: what have y'all been wearing for interviews?

Hell yeah! Break a leg!!

[Payytrike]

2 hours ago, ctbck said:

Ok awesome. I was planning on a collared button up shirt but might go short sleeve just so I don't end up sweating too much from nerves/if my heaters kick on lol

 

Break legs at CMU tomorrow!!

 

 

Seconded for the CMU wishes!

[LittleViking131]

23 hours ago, ctbck said:

Tomorrow's my interview with DePaul! Nervous, excited, and feeling good about all my prep work. 

Here's a question: what have y'all been wearing for interviews?

I wear a button down with a tie and a vest...but like the warm-ish kind...not the prom kind. I hate suit coats, haha.

[ctbck]

Interview over. I didn't realize how exhausting that was going to be until it ended! 

I feel like I did the best I could so now it's just time to wait. Got really great feedback which of course feels like reasons I won't get in this year but also makes me just want to go even more so I can continue getting more feedback!! 

Their timeline is supposedly this week so we will see what happens. 

[herecomesthemuffinman]

Anyone know of any programs who still have apps open and are accepting apps?

[LittleViking131]

1 hour ago, herecomesthemuffinman said:

Anyone know of any programs who still have apps open and are accepting apps?

I believe South Dakota and Alabama’s are due today — 1 March.

[LittleViking131]

Just checking in with everyone. How did grad schools apps go for you this year? What schools you are attending? What did you learn? Curious on your thoughts!

 

[ctbck]

5 hours ago, LittleViking131 said:

Just checking in with everyone. How did grad schools apps go for you this year? What schools you are attending? What did you learn? Curious on your thoughts!

 

I learned A LOT! It was my first year applying and I still haven't found out either way about the school I was a finalist for, but I have a feeling it's not my year based on some of the feedback I got and the way it was delivered.

While that's a bit of a bummer, I'm psyched that I WAS a finalist. And I have stuff to work on in the interim and apply to the backlog of shows I was slated to work on pre-COVID.

I think an important thing I learned is that I want to go to a school that's ready to meet me where I'm at. And I was reminded that there are ways to go about practicing and growing on my own in the meantime outside the structure of school. I got two great book recommendations out of the interview process (Start with Why by Simon Sinek, and The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron) so I feel like I'm going to be an even stronger competitor next year when I apply. 

I also learned what sort of support I need going into the whole thing, how long it takes to wrangle up letters of rec, and that talking to people about your work really is a conversation and not something to feel stressed about.

 

[ctbck]

Update: turns out I just needed to check my email. I'm waitlisted at DePaul! 

[bstewart]

Hey y'all!

I'm in Stage Management, not Directing but I was wondering if y'all heard anything through the grapevine about UNLV? I interviewed at the very end of January and haven't heard anything. Super anxious to hear anything! (Congrats to everybody though!) 

[ctbck]

On 3/5/2021 at 12:01 AM, bstewart said:

Hey y'all!

I'm in Stage Management, not Directing but I was wondering if y'all heard anything through the grapevine about UNLV? I interviewed at the very end of January and haven't heard anything. Super anxious to hear anything! (Congrats to everybody though!) 

I haven't heard anything, sorry! If you interviewed back in January though I'd say it's totally fine to reach out about updates. 

[bstewart]

23 hours ago, ctbck said:

I haven't heard anything, sorry! If you interviewed back in January though I'd say it's totally fine to reach out about updates. 

My plan is to wait until after March 15th before emailing. My application changed from "Under Departmental Review" to "Pending Decision" which makes me think it's coming sometime this week. 

[ctbck]

10 minutes ago, bstewart said:

My plan is to wait until after March 15th before emailing. My application changed from "Under Departmental Review" to "Pending Decision" which makes me think it's coming sometime this week. 

Gotcha. Best of luck!

[MissSpentLife]

Ok so, I am headed to Ohio University this fall. They have offered funding, but I do still need more.  I have been STRUGGLING to find grants or scholarships outside of fafsa (i'm working on setting that up).  I feel like I am in the dark on this topic. Any tips on where to start? where to go?

 

[cf99]

Well, I think I'm totally wrapped on applications this year. I received one offer (from UC Irvine) but decided to turn it down. While I haven't been formally rejected at every other school, I think it's safe to say I won't be heading anywhere this fall.

UCI was tempting because the financial package was great and there are many production opportunities. Ultimately though, I felt like the education and professional opportunities I'm looking for would be far better served at other schools, and that it was worth waiting. Even if I don't wind up reapplying, I feel like there are too many opportunities in the world to spend 3 years somewhere you aren't 100% excited about. Nearly everyone I've talked to about different programs has said something to the effect of "don't go somewhere you aren't incredibly excited about" and "make sure you know exactly what you're looking for from a program and how you'll get it". It was incredibly hard to say no, but I think in context of all the advice I've gotten, I had to. 

Just to wrap up how everything went for me (and to help future applicants who might be reading this):

- I submitted to TSU, FSU, and OU via URTAs but they did not interview me.

- I applied to Columbia and UCSD but did not receive an interview. I knew I couldn't afford Columbia, but I thought my work was very in line with their style and I just wanted to see how it went, basically. I was surprised that I didn't make it to interviews with them, especially considering how many students they admit.

- I interviewed with CMU, was called back for their digital campus visit (I was 1 of 10), but was told this week that I was not accepted. 

- At URTAs, I interviewed with UCI, UCLA, Boston, UT Austin, CalArts, and South Carolina. 

- Boston told me I was a finalist but that there were no callbacks. 

- UT Austin called me back for a second interview, but did not invite me to their campus visit. Technically, I am still waitlisted. They let me know that I was one of the top 9, but that only a few students were invited to campus. 

- UCI had two rounds of callbacks, the latter of which was a digital campus visit. At first I was told I was the first alternate, and then received an offer a few days later.

If I reapply next year, I'll probably be a bit more narrow in my selection. I'm interested in reapplying to CMU, UT Austin, and UCLA. Plus next year Yale, Brown, NU, and Brooklyn will all be back on the table (knock on wood!). If nothing else, I feel like applying was a great clarifying process for me artistically, and I learned a lot about the graduate program ecosystem. No regrets on applying (except maybe giving $100 to Columbia) -- not like we have much else to do these days. 

Congrats to everyone accepting offers! I would love to hear other people's "closing thoughts" or summaries of how your app process went. It's been great to hear from people on here, since we obviously aren't meeting in person at school visits etc. 

[mfaqs]

Has anyone heard final decisions from Columbia? 

[LittleViking131]

Hey!

So I applied last year to URTAs a bunch of other schools. I got an on-campus interview at UW Seattle, a finalist/on campus interview for BU, and a finalist/on campus interview for U Mass.

This year I reapplied through UTAs. I got a bunch of interviews the day of and a second interview for UC Irvine. I reapplied to U Mass, Montana, Baylor, Mankato, and U of South Dakota.

I got accepted into Baylor and Mankato. I turned down Mankato and accepted Baylor. I love Mankato’s robust program (and MFAs in basically everything) with a lot of directing opportunities, but Baylor’s program offered me full tuition + fees, required & subsidized healthcare, a much larger stipend, I would only teach (as opposed to potential shop or box office work at Mankato), and the classes for graduate directors are only for graduate students with specific coursework on directing various styles and types. I also like the idea of getting out of the Upper Midwest. I felt so weird saying no to Mankato, but I had to follow my gut. I interviewed 4 alumni, a current student, and I had a Zoom call with my old faculty from undergrad. In the end, you have to follow your gut.

And I like that Baylor courted me. I had some questions about the productions and coursework and the head called me and went through each class, its purpose, and how the productions work. I have been really impressed by the quality and “well-oiled” aspect of the program. I did not realize how much I wanted this in a program. When I have met with other “good” programs, so many of them were ripe with dysfunction. It was refreshing – so far – to be working with people who have their crap together.

I got to the final round at Montana but have not heard anything despite being told I should have heard back last week. So there’s that. I was one of 4 interviews for U Mass but got a no. That one stung, to be honest, but oh well, onwards.

Oh, and South Dakota is still in the process of interviewing me. I already accepted Baylor but it never hurts to hear about their program? I have heard incredible things about their work and great placement rates after graduating.

Can't wait to move to some warmer weather & start the next chapter in my life!

[ctbck]

On 3/11/2021 at 2:37 PM, mfaqs said:

Has anyone heard final decisions from Columbia? 

I have a friend who was a finalist and got their no back from them this week. 

 

9 hours ago, LittleViking131 said:

Hey!

So I applied last year to URTAs a bunch of other schools. I got an on-campus interview at UW Seattle, a finalist/on campus interview for BU, and a finalist/on campus interview for U Mass.

This year I reapplied through UTAs. I got a bunch of interviews the day of and a second interview for UC Irvine. I reapplied to U Mass, Montana, Baylor, Mankato, and U of South Dakota.

I got accepted into Baylor and Mankato. I turned down Mankato and accepted Baylor. I love Mankato’s robust program (and MFAs in basically everything) with a lot of directing opportunities, but Baylor’s program offered me full tuition + fees, required & subsidized healthcare, a much larger stipend, I would only teach (as opposed to potential shop or box office work at Mankato), and the classes for graduate directors are only for graduate students with specific coursework on directing various styles and types. I also like the idea of getting out of the Upper Midwest. I felt so weird saying no to Mankato, but I had to follow my gut. I interviewed 4 alumni, a current student, and I had a Zoom call with my old faculty from undergrad. In the end, you have to follow your gut.

And I like that Baylor courted me. I had some questions about the productions and coursework and the head called me and went through each class, its purpose, and how the productions work. I have been really impressed by the quality and “well-oiled” aspect of the program. I did not realize how much I wanted this in a program. When I have met with other “good” programs, so many of them were ripe with dysfunction. It was refreshing – so far – to be working with people who have their crap together.

I got to the final round at Montana but have not heard anything despite being told I should have heard back last week. So there’s that. I was one of 4 interviews for U Mass but got a no. That one stung, to be honest, but oh well, onwards.

Oh, and South Dakota is still in the process of interviewing me. I already accepted Baylor but it never hurts to hear about their program? I have heard incredible things about their work and great placement rates after graduating.

Can't wait to move to some warmer weather & start the next chapter in my life!

Congrats!! You gotta follow your gut. Glad to hear great things about South Dakota and Baylor... I'll have to look into those programs. I know Baylor has a baller stage management program. 

[LittleViking131]

On 3/19/2021 at 8:18 PM, ctbck said:

I have a friend who was a finalist and got their no back from them this week. 

 

Congrats!! You gotta follow your gut. Glad to hear great things about South Dakota and Baylor... I'll have to look into those programs. I know Baylor has a baller stage management program. 

Thank you! I actually had my interview at South Dakota! Their program is lovely. Decently well-funded, a well-structured department. Depending on what happens, I might need to shift gears!  

[ctbck]

How's everyone doing? Anyone else living in waitlist land still? Hoping for some news 4/15. At this point I def want to be in school but if I'm going to have to hang out with my current job for another year before applying again then I'd like to know sooner than later. The waiting is killing me!

[LittleViking131]

On 4/8/2021 at 10:07 PM, ctbck said:

How's everyone doing? Anyone else living in waitlist land still? Hoping for some news 4/15. At this point I def want to be in school but if I'm going to have to hang out with my current job for another year before applying again then I'd like to know sooner than later. The waiting is killing me!

Hey, hey! I got a few more wait listed this year ? But one school I got wait listed just contacted me, even though I accepted another offer. So there is still hope! However, I would say if you have not heard yet, it might not be happening.

That said, I have heard NOTHING from URTAs, so once again they disappoint me. Haha.

[ctbck]

9 minutes ago, LittleViking131 said:

Hey, hey! I got a few more wait listed this year ? But one school I got wait listed just contacted me, even though I accepted another offer. So there is still hope! However, I would say if you have not heard yet, it might not be happening.

That said, I have heard NOTHING from URTAs, so once again they disappoint me. Haha.

Yeah I read the FAQ of DePaul and it says that they might notify you anywhere between April and June. I really don't want to wait until June lol.

[LittleViking131]

5 minutes ago, ctbck said:

Yeah I read the FAQ of DePaul and it says that they might notify you anywhere between April and June. I really don't want to wait until June lol.

 

With all honesty, I would say if you haven't heard back by now, you probably won't. If you get an email in May, then awesome!

[ctbck]

1 minute ago, LittleViking131 said:

 

With all honesty, I would say if you haven't heard back by now, you probably won't. If you get an email in May, then awesome!

That's where my head's at but I'm still supposed to hear back either way from them since I'm on the wait list... Just ready to start next year's apps!