Grad schools

[thespisgeoff]

I'm starting to look at MFA Directing programs, on top of the PhD. Stanford's the only PhD that seems a true fit, and it's...well, it's Stanford. Pitt's another option, but I've spent time in the area and have never heard people glow about their productions - so that's a worry right there

Comments

[magid]

A friend of mine up here is a director; if you come up to see BU, I can try to arrange for you to meet him. Not sure where he studied, but he is familiar with the local scene (for schools as well, since he teaches as well as directs).

[grubbybastard]

Clearly Stanford is the winner here.

[thespisgeoff]

It's the only true director-scholar PhD program I've found that actively recruits those without an MA. So yeah, it's the winner on the PhD route. Plus, y'know, an hour away from all you amazing peoples.

[grubbybastard]

Oh, The Places You'll Go!

[dsmorgan]

i'm a chicago native, so filter this through my own bias - but as "places to live" go, it's a hands-down winner in my book. i'd vote northwestern over depaul, but not on the specific merits of their programs - i just know the student culture at both. depaul tends to be a commuter campus...and, as such, the place tends to die at night. however, if you're going to reside close to the school, the greater lincoln park area (lincoln park, north halsted, wrigleyville, andersonville) is *the* young professional corridor. northwestern is ... studious. the student population is serious (whereas depaul has more of a reputation as a blow-off, automatic degree). it's commutable if that would be your preference.

[thespisgeoff]

Trust me, Chicago's the hands-down winner for me, as well. I'm a big fan of the Midwestern metropolis, and it's been on my list of Must-Live cities for a long, long time.

I've heard not-great things about Northwestern's *desigh* MFA programs...but this is the problem with being the Only Director in the Village.

[ariestar]

I can't tell you much about the theater program, but I did spend quite a bit of my time with the music program at BU (and with Linguistics and Philosophy, but not nearly as much), and it's pretty good. If nothing else, I know where you can get relatively cheap apartments that won't end up in you getting raped or robbed, etc. MFA looks like the way to go, since it's shorter and terminal, and then you can decide if you want the PhD--never go straight into a PhD program, I always say.