{"id":4471,"date":"2017-09-09T17:38:38","date_gmt":"2017-09-09T17:38:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/?p=4471"},"modified":"2019-08-20T20:26:16","modified_gmt":"2019-08-20T20:26:16","slug":"5-tips-for-mastering-the-mfa-acting-application-process","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/5-tips-for-mastering-the-mfa-acting-application-process\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Tips for Mastering the MFA Acting Application Process"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"fusion-one-full fusion-layout-column fusion-column-last fusion-spacing-yes section-header-post\" style=\"margin-top:;margin-bottom:;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper\"><h3 style=\"text-align: left;\">5 Tips for Mastering the MFA Acting Application Process<\/h3>\n<font size=\"2\" color=\"grey\"><span style=\"border:1px solid ;-webkit-border-radius:50%;-moz-border-radius:50%;border-radius:50%;-moz-box-shadow: 0 0 3px rgba(0,0,0,.3);-webkit-box-shadow: 0 0 3px rgba(0,0,0,.3);box-shadow: 0 0 3px rgba(0,0,0,.3);margin-right:25px;float:left;\" class=\"fusion-imageframe imageframe-glow imageframe-1 hover-type-none author-image\"><a class=\"fusion-no-lightbox\" href=\"http:\/\/performerstuff.com\" target=\"_self\"> <img src=\"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/KennethRay.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"img-responsive\" style=\"-webkit-border-radius:50%;-moz-border-radius:50%;border-radius:50%;\"\/><\/a><\/span><p>Written by\u00a0Kenneth Ray<\/p>\n<p>August 31, 2017<\/p>\n<\/font><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-one-full fusion-layout-column fusion-column-last fusion-spacing-yes section-body-post\" style=\"margin-top:;margin-bottom:;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper\"><p style=\"text-align: left;\">Applying to graduate acting programs can seem overwhelming. Trying to pick pieces, write essays, and request recommendations can leave you exhausted and discouraged. But it doesn\u2019t have to! We\u2019ve compiled 5 tips for mastering the MFA Acting application process! Read them and be <em>empowered<\/em> and <em>excited<\/em> about the journey ahead!<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\">1. Start Early<\/h4>\n<div class=\"imageframe-align-center\"><span style=\"border:1px solid ;\" class=\"fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-2 hover-type-none\"> <img src=\"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/5-Tips-for-Mastering-the-MFA-Acting-Application-Process-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"img-responsive\"\/><\/span><\/div><p style=\"text-align: left;\">The best thing that you can do to ease the stress of the MFA Acting application process is to start early. The sooner you start the better. It\u2019s never too early to find audition material, reach out for recommendations, or draft personal statements. The earlier you begin, the more time you have to adjust to any challenges that may arise as you prepare. Applications for MFA Acting programs open in late August and the quicker you apply, the more flexibility you have in choosing your audition date. Once you\u2019ve sent your application and set the date you can focus on perfecting your audition!<\/p>\n<div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-one-full fusion-layout-column fusion-column-last fusion-spacing-yes section-body-post\" style=\"margin-top:;margin-bottom:;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper\"><h4 style=\"text-align: left;\">2.\u00a0Research the ALL MFA Acting Programs<\/h4>\n<div class=\"imageframe-align-center\"><span style=\"border:1px solid ;\" class=\"fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-3 hover-type-none\"> <img src=\"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/5-Tips-for-Mastering-the-MFA-Acting-Application-Process-5.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"img-responsive\"\/><\/span><\/div><p style=\"text-align: left;\">Don\u2019t limit your search. Do thorough research on the many MFA Acting Programs around the globe. A school with great name recognition may seem like a no-brainer, but you must take a closer look to be sure whether it\u2019s right for you. Conversely, a lesser known program could be easily dismissed until you see that they offer an array of benefits that you\u2019ve never considered. Taking the time to truly investigate the intricacies of every program empowers you to make an informed decision. Things to consider:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Cost<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Location<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Class Size<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Industry Connections\/Credibility<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Teaching Opportunities<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Faculty Connections<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Style of Training<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Study Abroad Opportunities<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Affiliation with a Regional Theatre<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Performance Opportunities<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-one-full fusion-layout-column fusion-column-last fusion-spacing-yes section-body-post\" style=\"margin-top:;margin-bottom:;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper\"><h4 style=\"text-align: left;\">3.\u00a0Get a Coach<\/h4>\n<div class=\"imageframe-align-center\"><span style=\"border:1px solid ;\" class=\"fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-4 hover-type-none\"> <img src=\"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/5-Tips-for-Mastering-the-MFA-Acting-Application-Process-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"img-responsive\"\/><\/span><\/div><p style=\"text-align: left;\">Thousands of actors apply for graduate programs every year but few are actually prepared. This isn\u2019t the time to just \u201cwing it\u201d and hope for the best. Getting a coach doesn\u2019t imply that you aren\u2019t talented enough to do it on your own. Instead it proves that you\u2019re smart enough to allow someone to guide you in putting your best foot forward. A good coach is not just a director. They are a teacher, cheerleader, strategist, barnstormer, and problem solver. They help you stand out from the thousands of other applicants by pushing you to do your best work consistently. A coach doesn\u2019t have be someone you pay an exorbitant\u00a0amount of money. It can be a teacher or director that you\u2019ve worked with in the past. The important thing is that you are regularly working on your materiel so that you are totally prepared when audition day arrives.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-one-full fusion-layout-column fusion-column-last fusion-spacing-yes section-body-post\" style=\"margin-top:;margin-bottom:;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper\"><h4 style=\"text-align: left;\">4.\u00a0Find Audition Material that You LOVE<\/h4>\n<div class=\"imageframe-align-center\"><span style=\"border:1px solid ;\" class=\"fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-5 hover-type-none\"> <img src=\"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/5-Tips-for-Mastering-the-MFA-Acting-Application-Process-4.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"img-responsive\"\/><\/span><\/div><p style=\"text-align: left;\">You\u2019re going to be rehearsing and performing these monologues for months, so it\u2019s important that you enjoy doing them. You want to share your best work with auditors and you won\u2019t be able to do that if you\u2019re internally sulking over having to do a certain monologue. Do not let your coach choose monologues for you. Allow your coach to guide you into putting together a collection of monologues that best showcase the range of your acting ability. Every school asks for contrasting pieces, but that isn\u2019t limited to comedy versus drama. Your monologues could and should contrast in tone, speed, rhythm, style, subject and delivery. Your choices say something about who you are as a person and as an actor. So be conscious about the material you select instead of doing what you think will get you in.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-one-full fusion-layout-column fusion-column-last fusion-spacing-yes section-body-post\" style=\"margin-top:;margin-bottom:;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper\"><h4 style=\"text-align: left;\">5.\u00a0Reveal Yourself<\/h4>\n<div class=\"imageframe-align-center\"><span style=\"border:1px solid ;\" class=\"fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-6 hover-type-none\"> <img src=\"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/5-Tips-for-Mastering-the-MFA-Acting-Application-Process-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"img-responsive\"\/><\/span><\/div><p style=\"text-align: left;\">It is easy to allow the application process to be about being who you think the auditors want you to be. Fabricating a particular image will not make you successful in your quest to land a spot at the program that\u2019s right for you. Schools aren\u2019t looking for actors. They are looking for people with potential. They want to see who you are and where you\u2019re at as an actor. Every step of the process is used to figure discover more about you, and if you\u2019re someone they want to work with for the next three years. So be bold, vulnerable, and allow the auditors to see you in your essay, interview, and monologues. You won\u2019t regret it!<\/p>\n<br>\r\n<br><h3 style=\"text-align: left;\">Need some advice? We\u2019ve got you covered.<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/how-to-bow-and-what-your-bow-says-about-you\/\">How to Bow (And What Your Bow Says About You)<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/10-basic-rules-of-stage-combat-that-keep-everyone-safe\/\">10 Basic Rules of Stage Combat (That Keep Everyone Safe)<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/5-advantages-of-learning-stage-combat\/\">5 Advantages of Learning Stage Combat<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/dont-be-a-diva-common-pitfalls-and-how-to-avoid-them\/\">Don\u2019t Be a Diva: Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/9-articles-of-clothing-every-thespian-should-keep-in-their-wardrobe\/\">9 Articles of Clothing Every Thespian Should Keep In Their Wardrobe<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/what-makes-an-actor-website-wow\/\">What Makes an Actor Website WOW?<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/is-my-attitude-not-getting-me-roles-and-other-essential-questions-for-actors\/\">\u201cIs my attitude not getting me roles?\u201d And Other Essential Questions for Actors<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/6-steps-to-memorizing-shakespeare\/\">6 Steps to Memorizing Shakespeare<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/10-tricks-to-staying-healthy-all-season-long\/\">10 Tricks to Staying Healthy All Season Long<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/what-does-it-take-to-break-into-voiceovers\/\">What Does It Take to Break\u00a0Into Voiceovers?<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/5-tips-for-nailing-your-college-music-theatre-audition\/\">5 Tips for Nailing Your College Music Theatre Audition<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/10-tips-on-owning-the-room-at-competition\/\">10 Tips on Owning the Room at Competition<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/how-to-balance-theatre-and-coursework\/\">How to Balance Theatre and Coursework<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/the-10-secrets-of-great-understudying\/\">The 10 Secrets of Great Understudying<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/10-items-every-actor-should-carry-in-their-rehearsal-bag\/\">10 Items Every Actor Should Carry in Their Rehearsal Bag<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/10-items-every-dancer-should-keep-in-their-rehearsal-bag\/\">10 Items Every Dancer Should Keep in Their Rehearsal Bag<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><hr \/>\n<h5><em><span class=\"ln l\"><span class=\"ftr\"><strong>Kenneth J. Ray<\/strong>\u00a0is an exceptionally versatile actor and educator.\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"f42\">As an actor, he completed his undergraduate\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"ln l\"><span class=\"f42\">training at Howard University under Emmy winner Al Freeman Jr. and at The British American Drama Academy with John\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"ln l\"><span class=\"f42\">Barton and Mark Wing Davey. Upon moving to New York in 2012, Kenneth continued rigorous graduate level training\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"ln l\"><span class=\"f42\">with the nation\u2019s foremost master teachers including: Jayd McCarty (The Actors Center), Fay Simpson (Yale School of<\/span><\/span><span class=\"ln l\"><span class=\"f42\">Drama\/ NYU Grad Acting), Lucas Caleb Rooney (Juilliard), Roz Coleman Williams (NYU), Chris Bayes (Yale School of\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"ln l\"><span class=\"f42\">Drama) and Ilse Pfeifer. He has enjoyed an array of diverse performance opportunities at regional theatres all over the\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"ln l\"><span class=\"f42\">country including The Kennedy Center. Kenneth has been a teaching artist with Young Playwrights Theatre, Virginia\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"ln l\"><span class=\"f42\">Stage Company, Success Academy Charter Schools, Duke Ellington School for the Arts and Howard University. He is a\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"ln l\"><span class=\"f42\">highly sought after audition coach whose clients have appeared on Broadway, National\/International Tours and\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"ln l\"><span class=\"f42\">numerous television roles.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/h5>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" [...]","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7261,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[801,261,470,259,258],"tags":[6,135,461,462],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4471"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4471"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4471\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7261"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4471"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4471"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4471"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}