Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Graduate Program Candidate Challenge(s) De'jour...

Well, before I get to the challenges listed in the title, some positive news (in part as a follow-up to a portion of my most recent post  Second Birthdays...And Some Contemplations ): the grade for my physics class has been posted and it is, as I had roughly calculated, a B+. Which keeps my cumulative GPA at 3.24. This also means that I have completed all but three credit hours of my undergraduate degree program. The final three hours needed are an in major class in acting or directing, which I have submitted a "credit for prior learning portfolio" for, in lieu of taking the class. The portfolio has, as of my last check on Monday (12/21/15), been signed off on by the departmental faculty and the dean of the college and now is just awaiting final processing by the advising department and the registrar. The advising office rep had said that she hoped to get it reviewed and such prior to leaving for the holidays. As of my check this afternoon it had yet to show up in the universities computer system. However, I am pretty confident that it will go through. 

So I have that going for me. Which is nice.

Now...As for the graduate program candidate challenge(s) de'jour?

1) Reconsidering, after some frustrating financial issues, just how many applications my budget can handle after all.

2) Deciding if - since most of the "preferred program list" are URTA programs - I should/could hold off until I have the possibility to interact with recruiters on February 5th there at the NUAI's.

3) Finding a Spring semester gig here in Fairbanks - that will not have issues with my being out of town the weekend of February 4-7, or with my needing certain evenings free for the tech rehearsals of 'Closer' - so that I can have some income and meet expenses.

As for #2, the website for one program - the University of Iowa​ - does state that the application deadline is later for anyone involved in the URTA/NUAI process. So there is that, at least. And one of the programs in my top 5 - University of Nebraska-Lincoln - doesn't have a deadline till March. And the scenography program at The University of Kansas​ has a deadline in April. Of course, UK is, sadly, not an URTA school. Thus there are/will be other challenges there.

If you go back to my post Graduate Schools - The Tactical And The Practical (Part 1 of ??) from a few months back, you can see the sorts of schools I am aiming towards.

Here is an updated list of the "top five", with a little "why there" note (or two) on each:

University of Nebraska-Lincoln --- because the MFA program is listed as Stage Design (Lighting Design, Scene Design, and Technical Direction). Which sounds like a scenographic/theatrical generalist philosophy is in play.

University of Minnesota --- because as their website states "The final creative project is to design a supported production demonstrating ability in these two areas...". Again,  sounds like a scenographic/theatrical generalist philosophy is in play.

University of Kansas --- because the MFA is awarded in Scenography, not a specific discipline. And, to quote their website: "... While in the program, students will design at least four realized productions in the University Theatre. They will do at least one lighting, one costume and one scenic design, and preferably a combination of two or all design areas for one production...."

University of Iowa --- because...Well, in part because of how Ron Zieglowsky impacted my life. And since he got his degree(s) there....Plus, it is the home (so to speak) of the Gillette's. And so I have a sort of soft spot for the school.

University of Illinois: Urbana-Champaign --- because...admittedly, I miss the Krannert Center. And while it has been years since I was a student there, I *do* still know the school, the town, etc.

Yeah. The examples of "why(s)" for the last two schools on my list are, admittedly, a bit weak. Sigh. And of course I'd also entertain other schools, especially those who might be close enough to NYC to allow for a visit to the city now and then - such as Temple. But the top five list are schools that, based on my research, where I think I might just fit in. And, in candor, I don't think I can afford to pay the application fees to more than three of them. Part of the reason for the title of this somewhat rambling blog entry.

Herrmn.

Well, things to do. So that is all for now. More later.



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Friday, December 18, 2015

Second Birthdays...And Some Contemplations

It's funny. I am uncertain as to how to start this entry.

There are so many emotions occurring within me at the moment. Why is that, I hear you ask? Well...let us start with something that always comes to mind for me this time of year, and on this day especially.

47 years ago - December 18th, 1968 - I was struck by a car. I was a slender little eight year old. According to those who saw it, I flew diagonally over the car, from the right front bumper to the left rear. In the family car on the way to the hospital - this was out on a farm and well before 911 and paramedics - I stopped breathing several times. When I reached the ER I had no blood pressure. No pulse.

I was in hospitals - both in Lake County, IL and down in Chicago - from that morning till early in  February, 1969. As for my injuries, the simple list includes: a pelvis broken in multiple places, fractured ribs whose jagged ends tore at my left lung, misc internal hemorrhages, and my left kidney being torn off from the main artery. When I left the hospital, I was minus the lower portion of my left lung, as well as my left kidney. My physical therapy at home consisted - mainly - of "crab walking"  from where my bed was to various other rooms in the house to get items, or to do things. And I learned how to be pretty quick on my crutches.

I have some other stories about that adventure. But I shan't fill this entry up with them. That really isn't the point of today.

The point is: I was given, through whatever means you might choose to attribute it to, 47 years more than I might have had. So on December 18th, I tend to get reflective. And grateful.

Every day is a gift.



And, on top of all of those sorts of reflections....Yesterday I took what was - if all things work as I have planned - my last final examination at the undergraduate level. Yep. Physics 175 - Introduction to Astronomy. The second of two science courses (with labs) that are part of the core degree requirements here at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Which leaves just 3 credits in performance to complete my concentration within my major. And for that, I submitted - and have received departmental approval of - a credit for prior learning portfolio in substitution for Theatre 221 - Acting II. That paperwork is at the deans office. And once it gets signed there, it moves on to the academic advising office, then the business office/registrar. And then....well, as long as the dean and the academic advising office sign off, I will have all my credit hours. Actually, with the 3 hours from the CPL portfolio included, I will have 168 hours. 120 hours are required for the BA. Shrug.

So. While there are still some i's to cross and some t's to dot, it looks as if I am done with my undergraduate scholastic career. I won't get my degree till graduation in the spring. And I still have projects here on campus - eg: the scenic design for the mainstage production of Closer, my poster presentation for Antigone at Research Day in April, etc. But no classes. Sigh. I admit, I will - in some ways - miss such things. Especially the various studio classes. Lord, I do love those.

I started undergraduate classes at a community college in January, 1979. And now, ~36 years later, I have come to an end of that portion of my education.

Even so...I intend that this blog will remain active, as I head towards new adventures. And I think that, even though those adventures will (hopefully) be grad school ones, I shall stick with the name: Not Quite The Worlds Oldest Undergrad. 

Well...that is all for the moment. More soon.

 

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