MFA Directing 2022

[journeon]

 

On 2/4/2022 at 11:52 AM, journeon said:

Hi everyone and particularly to

@dr.know and @WRRabbit

I'm interested in applying to a few programs next cycle (including Yale) and I'm wondering if you would mind sharing your websites? 

Thank you and love to all those going for a 2022 acceptance!

No bites so I guess I should add: DMs are okay! I realize this site is all about the hush

[ghostwriter]

On 2/5/2022 at 6:53 PM, journeon said:

No bites so I guess I should add: DMs are okay! I realize this site is all about the hush

If you haven't already, I recommend checking out the Facebook group "U.S. Theatre Director Resources" — https://www.facebook.com/groups/540583576019790

You can search "website" and find a lot of examples! 

[WRRabbit]

dr. Know: Congrats for the callback and interviews! And thanks for the encouragement. It's my first year applying and the reminder that it usually takes multiple years is appreciated.

journeon: Hello and welcome! I don't have a website but I'm happy to chat here, in DMs, or over the phone/zoom about the process and answer any questions you have. It's my first year and I'm learning as I go but I so far have had interviews with 5/8 of the places I applied. 

ghostwriter: In my finalist interview, Washington said offers would likely be sent out this week. 

Anyone have any intel on when CMU is expected to send invites to finalists? 

[journeon]

On 2/7/2022 at 2:05 AM, ghostwriter said:

If you haven't already, I recommend checking out the Facebook group "U.S. Theatre Director Resources" — https://www.facebook.com/groups/540583576019790

You can search "website" and find a lot of examples! 

@ghostwriter thank you so much! I will do this

@WRRabbit Thanks for your offer! I guess I'm just trying to see what kinds of things people are showing to the committee as their portfolio. I'm trying to gauge what it means to hit this sweet spot of having professional experience but not being too professional to consider for a graduate degree. What kinds of things did you show for examples of your work? How did you convey that you had more to learn, but were still professional enough for an mfa?

 

@EVERYONE: Any chance there are any LGBTQIA2S+ or POC people here? I'm both 

Edited February 8, 2022 by journeon

[WRRabbit]

 

43 minutes ago, journeon said:

@ghostwriter thank you so much! I will do this

@WRRabbit Thanks for your offer! I guess I'm just trying to see what kinds of things people are showing to the committee as their portfolio. I'm trying to gauge what it means to hit this sweet spot of having professional experience but not being too professional to consider for a graduate degree. What kinds of things did you show for examples of your work? How did you convey that you had more to learn, but were still professional enough for an mfa?

My portfolio felt like the weakest and, in retrospect, least consequentual part of my applications. I had 4 production excerpts in a video and one was a few photos in a slideshow over music. Of the three recordings, two had already been edited into 1 minute trailers so I just used those. But in terms of that "sweet spot", I'm not sure it exists. What I've been asked over and over again, and seems to matter more than where I am in my journey, is why graduate school now. If you have a compelling answer for that, plus how ever many years of professional experience they ask for, I think you'll be fine. 

In my (limited) experience, your second question will impact the process far more than the first. In my letters, I talked about my influences, the big questions I've been circling, and in broad terms said what I wanted from graduate school. During interviews, I've found ways to demonstrate teachability, talk about where I want to grow and learn more, and how an MFA fits in my professional arch. 

I know an MFA will help me right now. I won't be able to convince the schools that I've done enough work if they don't think I have. But, I can show them why I'm a perfect fit for their program and why they're the right program for me.

Does that help? I'm very happy to answer more and would love to read what others think too.  

[journeon]

@WRRabbit Thank you for this really considered response!

I'm sorry this wasn't your year. I feel like these things are about divine timing / consideration of overall class composition. I'm sure your key will turn the right lock at the right time

LOL but I guess we of all people would know that as directors. A little reminder of what actors go through on the daily. Humbling. Positive. Life. Art. ❤️

Who knows... maybe we'll even be classmates? 

Edited February 9, 2022 by journeon

[WRRabbit]

10 hours ago, journeon said:

@WRRabbit Thank you for this really considered response!

I'm sorry this wasn't your year. I feel like these things are about divine timing / consideration of overall class composition. I'm sure your key will turn the right lock at the right time

LOL but I guess we of all people would know that as directors. A little reminder of what actors go through on the daily. Humbling. Positive. Life. Art. ❤️

Who knows... maybe we'll even be classmates? 

Thanks! I'm fortunate to still have 2 interviews ahead of my and am waiting to hear back on next steps from CMU and Washington. I'm not out yet!

Where are you thinking of applying? A few places that weren't accepting this year are top choices for next year. 

[ghostwriter]

Has anyone heard anything about UT Austin finals yet? 

[LittleViking131]

Hey everyone!

Just wanted to reach out and say I did not get into my MFA program my first round. I got no offers but was wait-listed at Umass and BU and was a finalist at a handful of others. I applied again and got even more waitlisted but just now in my first year at the MFA program at Baylor University - and loving it. It was not on my radar but I applied on a whim. I got a handful of offers last year but after a lot of contemplation and talking to alum, I realized it was my best choice for me to grow academically and artistically. And the full tuition waiver + insurance + highest stipend I got didn't hurt either!

So even if you don't get in this year, there is always next -- and never know where the world might take you

You got this! Go theatre!

[dr.know]

On 2/10/2022 at 6:21 PM, ghostwriter said:

Has anyone heard anything about UT Austin finals yet? 

I did. Final audition is in-person this week. They offered a Zoom audition as well, but I decided to go in person so I can have a feeling for the school. 

[dr.know]

Hi All, I’m hearing that offers are slowly starting to go out for various schools and it would be amazing to hear what offers you all are getting! 

[kjhstage]

Hey all, I applied for Northwestern and UCSD this year. First year applying. I didn't hear anything from either, so I'm assuming that's no this year. For those of you who have had interviews and/or offers, I would love to know what your applications were like/level of experience; even just what your portfolios contained! Not sure if this kind of question is even allowed here but figured it doesn't hurt to ask. 

Congrats to all who are in the process! 

[dr.know]

On 2/19/2022 at 11:40 PM, kjhstage said:

Hey all, I applied for Northwestern and UCSD this year. First year applying. I didn't hear anything from either, so I'm assuming that's no this year. For those of you who have had interviews and/or offers, I would love to know what your applications were like/level of experience; even just what your portfolios contained! Not sure if this kind of question is even allowed here but figured it doesn't hurt to ask. 

Congrats to all who are in the process! 

Hi kjhstage, this is the second year I've applied, this year I applied to 6 schools including Northwestern and UCSD and received interviews at all of them. However, I don't think there's a secret to applications. In most of my interviews, the parts of my application that came up in conversation were my personal statement, my resume, and some past productions (that weren't even included in my portfolio). As far as I can tell, the schools were interested in me because I have enough experience under my belt to be at a place where I'm aware of what is missing in my practice and that I was able to articulate it in a convincing way. I've met others with less experience but still a clear idea of why grad school now, which I do think is the most important question you can ask yourself and articulate in your materials. Don't give up hope, there's always next year!

PS: I didn't get in my first year applying, and it was the best thing that could have happened to me. I believe in "one door closes, another one opens."  

Edited February 21, 2022 by dr.know

[ghostwriter]

On 2/18/2022 at 3:14 PM, dr.know said:

Hi All, I’m hearing that offers are slowly starting to go out for various schools and it would be amazing to hear what offers you all are getting! 

I am wait-listed at DePaul - haven't heard anything else yet. 

Anyone else? Excited to celebrate everyone's good news! 

[WRRabbit]

On 2/19/2022 at 11:40 PM, kjhstage said:

Hey all, I applied for Northwestern and UCSD this year. First year applying. I didn't hear anything from either, so I'm assuming that's no this year. For those of you who have had interviews and/or offers, I would love to know what your applications were like/level of experience; even just what your portfolios contained! Not sure if this kind of question is even allowed here but figured it doesn't hurt to ask. 

Congrats to all who are in the process! 

I may be an outlier but I didn't have a very 'impressive' portfolio and got interviews at 5/8 of the places I applied (first year). I've gotten a lot of really positive feedback on my application during interviews and my assumption is that it's a response to me telling my story honestly and compellingly. I spent a lot of time and energy digging into how to best communicate why I was a director, what type of work I make, and why graduate school specifically and clearly without using buzzwords. I have a good deal of experience but my experience has been most helpful because it's allowed me to articulate things, not because it allowed me to show off work. 

I'm happy to chat more and answer any questions about my materials/application experience if that's helpful. 

18 hours ago, ghostwriter said:

I am wait-listed at DePaul - haven't heard anything else yet. 

Anyone else? Excited to celebrate everyone's good news! 

To my knowledge, Washington, Northwestern, Columbia, and CMU haven't sent out offers yet. (Fingers crossed!)

[ghostwriter]

On 2/26/2022 at 11:31 AM, WRRabbit said:

To my knowledge, Washington, Northwestern, Columbia, and CMU haven't sent out offers yet. (Fingers crossed!)

This is also my impression as of today... ?

[dr.know]

Hi all! As far as I've heard, offers have gone out for UT Austin and Columbia. No word from Northwestern or CalArts yet. 

UPDATE: Offers went out recently for Northwestern.

Edited March 8, 2022 by dr.know

[WRRabbit]

1 hour ago, dr.know said:

Hi all! As far as I've heard, offers have gone out for UT Austin and Columbia. No word from Northwestern or CalArts yet. 

UPDATE: Offers went out recently for Northwestern.

I haven't heard anything from Columbia yet but I got news that I'm an alternate for Northwestern. 

@dr.know, I just got off the phone with Columbia and they said they haven't sent out offers yet. Did you get one or was that info through the grapevine? 

Edited March 8, 2022 by WRRabbit

[dr.know]

40 minutes ago, WRRabbit said:

I haven't heard anything from Columbia yet but I got news that I'm an alternate for Northwestern. 

@dr.know, I just got off the phone with Columbia and they said they haven't sent out offers yet. Did you get one or was that info through the grapevine? 

I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news. I got an offer on Saturday 3/5 from Columbia. But congrats on being the alternate at Northwestern! I have yet to hear anything from them, so probably a rejection. But a friend of mine was accepted there, so that's how I heard offers went out. 

[WRRabbit]

1 minute ago, dr.know said:

I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news. I got an offer on Saturday 3/5 from Columbia. But congrats on being the alternate at Northwestern! I have yet to hear anything from them, so probably a rejection. But a friend of mine was accepted there, so that's how I heard offers went out. 

Congrats! (and good seeing you at the audition!) 

I'm much happier knowing than waiting to hear back. 

[dr.know]

3 minutes ago, WRRabbit said:

Congrats! (and good seeing you at the audition!) 

I'm much happier knowing than waiting to hear back. 

Thank you!! Good seeing you too, haha! I'm still waiting on a few other schools before making a final decision. 

[ghostwriter]

I also heard from a friend that UW offers went out earlier this week. As far as I know, they haven't reached out about alternates/waitlist yet, just made first-round offers. 

Congrats all! 

[Gingerkid99]

Hi, all! I just received an acceptance from East 15 (London) for their MFA Directing Program. Anyone else apply to East 15? Anyone heard from University of London at Birkbeck or Trinity College in Dublin? Waiting on responses from those two...

 

Best of luck to all!!

[dr.know]

@Gingerkid99Congrats on East 15!!

Offers have gone out for CalArts and decisions have gone out for Northwestern. 
 

Congrats everyone on the acceptances coming in! Where are folks thinking about going? 

Edited March 10, 2022 by dr.know

[WRRabbit]

12 hours ago, dr.know said:

@Gingerkid99Congrats on East 15!!

Offers have gone out for CalArts and decisions have gone out for Northwestern. 
 

Congrats everyone on the acceptances coming in! Where are folks thinking about going? 

Can you clarify what you mean by offers vs decisions?