Amayan

I really wish I could ask the programs I was rejected from why I was rejected. Not in a whiny, egotistical way - but I genuinely want to know where I went wrong so that I can try to improve. I submitted between 10-20 poems to each program. Which was their favorite, least favorite? Would it be consistent among people I asked? Do I have one that just TANKS with everyone that I'm not aware of? Do you hate sonnets? Tetrameter? Chiastic structure? ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?

I had a dream that the programs I applied to did a google search and somehow found ALL the fanfiction I wrote as a teenager. Including the one I never even put online where Amelia Bedelia falls in love with Annie Lennox and remixes her Diva album from 92. Then dream-me got a full ride to Madison.

"Hey, wait a minute - Bob, this application is from you." "I miss being a student." "Dr. Bobberts, you already graduated." "Yeah, but I'm really good at it." ... "Get me off this committee and I swear I'll make you proud."

I've been in several situations of being interviewed and being asked something illegal. For example: "Are you married?" "Do you have any children?" "Do you attend church on a regular basis?" Though I'm not personally offended - and I don't mind answering - I can recognize that these questions are not ones which should be asked. But I never know what to say! If I answer honestly, I don't mind. But maybe it's my responsibility to point out that I shouldn't answer. But pointing out a fault in the interviewer seems like an awful choice! Or what if they know it's an illegal question, and they know I know, and they're testing me to see if I am the type of person who sticks to their guns or lets people walk all over them? It's a tricky situation, and I wish it weren't such a common problem for me. I just don't want to accidentally offend or put someone on the defensive.

I hate how entitled people are in their abuse of celebrities. They're still human beings with feelings.

I started my first MA at 24 and finished at 26. I had a fantastic coworker who had just turned 21 when we started together. Most people were really impressed with her ambition and intelligence, but there were definitely some snide comments from others about 'never having gone out in the real world' and the importance of 'living life' and 'getting to know yourself' before pursuing higher education so hard.

Not to reveal exactly where I live but, if I get accepted, at least one aunt is going to say "well that's a fine how do ya do!" And the humble crowd will break out in murmurs of "you betcha" and "gosh that's nice" And my pasty-white cousin will burst from the doorway with "dang, yo -THAT'S DANK DOG!" But maybe that's just my family.

For myself, the wait to hear back on acceptance or rejection has been the hardest part. It's been really torturous and all I can think about is how much is riding on this. I did my best, but I can't stop worrying that my best isn't good enough.

Thank you very much - I'm on pins and needles hoping to get accepted by one of my schools. I get all my information from http://ndb.nal.usda.gov because they'll calculate 100 grams for me and I can just copy in the info I want. They seem much more accurate than food labels in terms of calories, and it is better to mix ingredients myself than trust something like Arctic Zero http://www.today.com/id/48596412/ns/today-today_news/t/rossen-reports-can-you-believe-diet-frozen-dessert-labels/ to truthfully tell me what I'm eating. But as far as money is concerned, I've saved money by realizing things such as this lady: http://happymoneysaver.com/ripped-walmart-packaged-chicken/ So on MyFitnessPal, if I buy a dozen eggs for $4, and I know that makes each egg cost .33 cents, and I further know that each egg is usually 50 grams, then I can log in that 100 grams of egg costs me .66 cents. So a 3 egg omelet costs about a dollar, and is a smarter choice than my beloved but expensive nemesis http://siggisdairy.com/products/detail/skyr/blueberry/13/#sthash.WhUfT45S.w6ePiAMW.dpbs which is godly delicious but costs $4 all by itself. Logging each item is a pain at first, but you only have to do it once, and most people tend to eat the same meals on a regular basis. For the phone app of MyFitnessPal, it will remind me automatically when I put in something like "pasta 112 grams" that I normally have that with "sauce 124 grams" and "parmesan 28 grams" and allow me to add it automatically in a second. The app is not perfect, but definitely nifty being free and all.

I think trying to do right by both of your own dreams and aspirations will create the possibility for a happier relationship than the festering guilt or anger that one of you gave up on their own opportunities. If you didn't live apart, it seems like someone would really be getting the short end of the stick compared to the other. I know driving on your cellphone is dangerous, but my sister has bluetooth in her car that she really loves on long commutes. Instead of a 5 hour drive of silence or radio, she usually spends some time talking to the person she's heading towards about how close she is and how excited she is to see them. Also, maybe ventrilo? When my husband and I lived apart in high school we met for quests together on World of Warcraft. I didn't get to "see" him, but it felt fun like a "date"...

I started counting macros and calories on MyFitnessPal when I didn't have enough money for food. I dropped my daily allowance from 2000 calories to 1600 to make things cheaper. I input all of my food data myself, but rewrite the fiber macro into pennies per gram so I know at the end of the day exactly how much my meals cost. It's a time sink in the beginning, but it's helped me not suffer at the end of a payperiod. At the Sams club near my home, I can get 5lbs of bananas for $1.50 and quinoa very cheaply. A year membership for college students is $40 but they give you a $15 gift card with it. Meat, eggs, and cheese are expensive but beans and peanut butter are easier on the wallet when you need protein. I usually get most of my protein from hemp powder mixed into milk with honey and it's really filling.

You don't sound whiny at all - I totally get what you're saying. I had a best friend in high school who passed away very unexpectedly, but I remember our friendship was wonderfully close. I have a lot of female acquaintances who will invite me to go out for coffee or to a potluck, but I miss the friend who would call me at 2 AM to go hiking and who would slingshot her bra against the wall the second she got home because it was uncomfortable to wear in public (being in my presence constituted "not in public" and it made me feel loved, no matter how weird that sounds). I immediately get annoyed at parties where people only have fun posing for a picture, but no one wants to DO anything fun unless they can record it for Facebook.

Man, I wish I had your problems! If I can live vicariously through you for a moment, I would take a hard look at my finances. Moving can be very expensive, and the cost of living in New York is crazy. But new places and opportunities to be a stranger in a strange land is so exciting! I'm sure there is no wrong decision between these two. Maybe you can contact a current student of the department in Cornell to get a feel of departmental politics and atmosphere?

The amount of debt I am willing to take out is dependent on what type of debt it is. Subsidized government loans are less terrifying than unsubsidized loans or private loans like Fanny Mae.

Debate Team

Not everyone who applies to MFA programs has a large body of work outside of what is contained within their application. I've written poetry for over a decade, but the only poems that matter to the application committee are the poems held within the writing sample. If I were you, I would focus all your creative energy and love into one story - check what schools interest you and see how many pages they allow for a writing sample. You can tailor your submission story to fit within that boundary. I would suggest giving yourself more than 30 days to perfect a writing sample. I personally took months on mine, because a first draft needs to be forgotten a little bit before attempts to edit can be fruitful. It took me weeks of edits just to get my Statement of Purpose and Diversity Statement prepared - not to mention revising my CV and realizing one school required a separate document as a Teaching Philosophy Statement. When you apply, give yourself more time than you expect to need - you just might need it.

http://www.openculture.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Disney-Letter.jpg At least I don't need to worry about this!

I've received two very devastating rejections the past fortnite (for Creative Writing: Poetry), and have really struggled to cheer up from the possibility that I will not gain acceptance anywhere. The negatives swirling in my mind tend to circle: 1) Did you just spend $800 and an entire month of wages to be told no one wants you? 2) Did you just spend 4 months of your time furiously writing the most soulful SOP you could manage only to have it be received poorly? 3) Did you just spend 4 months working and reworking the very best poetry you are capable only to be told it isn't worthy? 4) Are you prepared to have people you admire, who currently hold your dream job, tell you that you aren't good enough to do what they do? 5) How are you going to explain to your recommenders that you didn't get in? Your family? Your friends? This, along with the discovery that my mom has already planned a surprise party for my acceptance despite my wishes (I saw the "You did it!" streamers in her van), I am getting scared. It took me a while to compose myself, and I just wanted to try starting a thread we could fill with posts that cheer people up from being or possibly being rejected universally by all programs applied for. This is my go to most effective cheer-up: and, lastly, these: http://www.literaryrejections.com/best-sellers-initially-rejected/ Good luck everyone - I wish you get the good news your hoping for!