Fall 2018 Performance Studies PhD

[DirectorsCoffee]

I didn't see any forums for performance studies PhD programs beginning in Fall 2018.... probably because I'm the only one overly excited to be posting this early!  

I'm applying to quite a few schools.  Columbia and Northwestern are my top picks.  Just hoping to find a few other friends who might want to drive themselves nuts with me on this forum for the next twelve months! Ha!  

I'd love to know where else you are all applying.

[DirectorsCoffee]

Are you all planning to visit alll of the schools or maybe your top choices prior to applying?  I'm trying to balance funds with the need for information (as well as my own excitement ).  Just wondering if you think that a site visit has much effect on admissions.  My sense is that any benefit would be very little, but Who knows.

[Gamb1t]

The important thing to consider when it comes to that is how much the visit itself will cost.  When I was deciding on schools for last application season (I actually ended up going with a standalone MA program rather than a joint MA/PhD program), it wasn't economical for me to visit most of the schools that were high on my list (I live near Little Rock, AR).  For me, a $50-$150 application fee was cheaper than travel and accommodations.  Because I was also applying to some Playwright MFA programs, I ended up just applying to far more than most people I know.  

However, that ended up being a blessing in disguise.  I was not accepted to a few of the schools I would have visited otherwise.  I had already been in touch with some faculty and students throughout the application process, but once I began getting my acceptance letters, I reached out to more current students in those programs (via FB or department-listed email addresses).  Ultimately, I planned a road trip of sorts during Spring Break to visit my Top 4 schools and made a second trip to visit the 5th on the list. 

I think that process worked well for me, and I expect to do something similar when I begin applying for PhD admission next year.  I was able to eliminate several schools just from the conversations with students and faculty in the wake of admission (whether it be due to artistic, financial, faculty, or academic reasons).  I'm extremely glad I didn't make visits prior to applications. 

However, the one caveat I might provide is that I already had established communication channels with most of these schools.  If I were just a name they were seeing for the first time on an application, that may have been a different story.

[arachnospores]

I've just started the search for PhD Programs for Performance Studies myself! So far my top choice is Northwestern - also on the list is Brown, but that's about all I've settled on so far. I'm curious - are you applying for MA/PhD or just PhD? I'm finishing up an MFA now in music and have been mulling over which would make more sense for me.

[DirectorsCoffee]

On 8/19/2017 at 11:22 PM, arachnospores said:

I've just started the search for PhD Programs for Performance Studies myself! So far my top choice is Northwestern - also on the list is Brown, but that's about all I've settled on so far. I'm curious - are you applying for MA/PhD or just PhD? I'm finishing up an MFA now in music and have been mulling over which would make more sense for me.

I'm only applying to PhD programs, or those who get MA on their way to PhD's.  I have my MFA in Directing, so I don't need a duplicate MA.  Northwestern is also on my list, but I think UCSD and Columbia are my two top choices.  

 

For what its worth, I did end up visiting the schools that I am applying to and I am really glad I did.  I got a much better sense of the program, and was able to make tweaks to my SOP because of it.  I also feel it helped to put a face with a name/application, although maybe thats just in my head.  

I'm trying to prepare a list of questions for any interviews I might get. What are the questions you all are going to ask?  Any thoughts on this would be much appreciated.

[DirectorsCoffee]

Just curious if anyone here has heard from their programs.  Any interviews or acceptances yet?

 

[Quotidian]

Hello!

I have applied to three MA/PhDs in PS and one terminal MA in PS. I haven't heard back from anywhere either, but some of the application deadlines were pretty recent so I guess the admissions committees are just getting started with their process.

[mariahjewelalanis]

I applied to 6 PS phd programs and have not heard anything yet. I saw on another thread that someone has heard back from Berkeley (accepted), but so far that is it. Anyone else out there waiting around for something to break the silence?

[PhillyJr]

Hi all. I got an interview at Stanford (middle of Feb) but no word yet on Brown, Northwestern, or Berkeley from me. @mariahjewelalanis you have someone who heard from Berkeley already? PS PhD?

Edited January 24, 2018 by PhillyJr

[Quotidian]

There was someone on the results list that had an acceptance from Berkeley after an interview. Congrats on your interview at Stanford PhillyJr! I'm glad to hear nobody else has heard back from Northwestern or Brown. I also applied to Columbia and NYU, but I don't expect to hear back from either until later in the season.

Edited January 25, 2018 by Quotidian

[mariahjewelalanis]

@PhillyJr congrats!! That’s huge! When did you hear from Stanford, if you don’t mind me asking?

[PhillyJr]

@Quotidian @mariahjewelalanis Stanford wrote me on January 12. And just this morning got word from Brown for a Skype interview. Still no word from Berkeley or Northwestern. And thank you! I'm very excited and also very nervous.

Edited January 25, 2018 by PhillyJr

[Quotidian]

@PhillyJr congrats on the Brown interview! I received an email for a Skype interview from Brown this morning as well. How are you preparing for your interviews? I am a bit nervous about the quick 15-minute time frame. 

[mariahjewelalanis]

@PhillyJr @Quotidian Congrats on the Brown interview! I still have not heard anything....

 

[Quotidian]

@PhillyJr congrats on the Brown interview! I received an email for a Skype interview from Brown this morning as well. How are you preparing for your interviews? I am a bit nervous about the quick 15-minute time frame. 

[Quotidian]

Oops didn’t mean to post twice. Not sure how to undo on my phone. Just got an email to check the portal for Northwestern. A rejection, but glad to have heard something. Good luck to those who applied! 

[mariahjewelalanis]

@Quotidian I also just received a rejection from Northwestern. Holding out for the rest! 

[Quotidian]

@mariahjewelalanis I’m sure there is good news to come! Fingers crossed ?

[shandy, gentleman]

Waiting on NYU (and English at McGill).

Good luck everyone! Lots of love.

[DirectorsCoffee]

I also received a rejection from Northwestern. Still holding out for my top schools though. Good luck all!  

[mariahjewelalanis]

Is anyone else waiting on UC Berkeley?

[petrichordant]

Hi all, I'm glad to have found this thread.  I've applied to both theatre and performance studies PhD programs.  For those who got Northwestern rejections - did any of you apply to the interdisciplinary theatre program, or were those all performance studies?
I'm waiting on UC Berkeley as well, but I'm assuming it's a rejection, since they've already done interviews/acceptances.

[Quotidian]

My northwestern rejection was from the PS dept 

[mariahjewelalanis]

@petrichordant my Northwestern rejection was also from the PS dept. 

[DirectorsCoffee]

My Northwestern rejection was from the PS Department.  

 

I looked on some of the other forums for Berkeley info. Are we sure they have already done interviews?  

Edited January 29, 2018 by DirectorsCoffee