brownjournal

Yes, same experience with the Stegner portal. A few people have reported this in Results. Such a bummer.

Maybe they sent out the mail early, by mistake?

I know this is small in comparison to the scope of the problems many are facing, but on top of all else I've lost this semester, I was devastated to learn today that my university library is closing for the foreseeable future (despite initial promises that the library would remain open when teaching went online). I'm doing two independent studies with major research components this semester - how am I supposed to complete these to any kind of standard without access to a library? (Our online resources remain available, of course, but not every book is available electronically!) And I can't imagine the stress and worry for our graduate students who are working on theses or dissertations, or even fellow undergrads doing senior theses (I'm just incredibly lucky that I finished mine last semester - I couldn't possibly have done it under these circumstances, at least not to a standard that would have gotten me into PhD programs). I know there are much larger issues on the table, but I was counting on books for solace through this troubling time, and having my library access cut off feels like the scariest thing that's happened to me yet.

This is so heartbreaking, and it's absolutely appropriate for you to mourn the loss of these months! Please also remember that even though you're not able to go to the conferences or accept the awards to applause (i.e., take the honors that you deserve!!), you have still achieved all these things--I mean that both in the sense that you should feel just as good about your accomplishments, but more to the point, all of this still belongs on a CV, like so:
Invited Presentations
"Title" at Conference, Location, Date *
"Title" at Conference, Location, Date*
*These conferences were not held due to global health crisis from COVID019.
You'll not be the only one with an asterisk--everyone's careers will be in the same boat. So don't worry about that.
But in the meantime... it sucks so much that you're missing these things, as well as just your remaining months at university. It's cosmically unfair, and I'm very sorry, in the sense of being quite sad for you and for your peers. Also I will personally eat anyone who quips "Life isn't fair" in response to college seniors' sadness at the things they're set to miss out on. 

do the mfa and reapply to phds afterward/in your final year of the program. and congrats on madison—a great mfa.

I think this is a good reason to take the MFA... a 2-3 year program will be less commitment than a PhD, and taking some literature courses at the graduate level outside of your workshops, if UW-Madison allows for that, will give you a taste of what graduate research looks like, allowing you to make a more informed decision on whether or not a 5-8 year commitment is what you really want to do. Also, if you do want to go back for the PhD later down the line, having an MFA from a top program certainly wouldn't hurt your application chances. 
Congrats on your acceptances; they're both great programs.  
 

Just spoke with a POI! One of the nicest and friendliest conversations I've had in a while

@caffeinated applicant @merry night wanderer Thank you so much for your responses. You’ve both given me a lot to think about and more factors to consider. As of right now, I’m still not sure what I’m going to do because this:
 
 
and this:
 
 
feel equally compelling to me, but I have to remind myself I still have over a month to decide. Thank you both for weighing in!

I've heard back from everywhere. Got into Iowa, Michigan and Brown. Rejected from Johns Hopkins and UVA. Was sure going to Iowa was going to be an easy decision. I was wrong.

After weeks of sitting on what I thought was an implied rejection from NYU, I've just learned that though I wasn't accepted to the PhD, I have been accepted to the MA. Definitely won't take it (it's only partially funded), but it reduces my number of outright rejections, so that's a comfort to my ego if nothing else.

I know there was some concern over the corona virus earlier, just found out today that my family in Malaysia have all caught the corona virus. Some are in the hospital. Please keep them in your thoughts. Thanks

Just FYI, I got a letter in the post today with details of Iowa admission. It is still not the official letter (from office of admissions that an applicant can accept/decline) so it is going to definitely take some more time. I believe even wait listed students are also notified via post. If people decline before April 15th, you'll get off the wait list. 

Just woke up to an email I received at 3:28 am my time and IM IN AT UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO!!! Kind of a strange email haha but I’m so glad to have a California option. No word on funding yet, so crossing my fingers and toes for that. Another program that I don’t know too much about, but I’m going to go study up. Have a great day all, and hang in there! 

Dearest Darlingest Boston University,
I hope this email finds you frantically trying to finish the selection process. Are you quite well? I only ask because the radio silence on your end has certainly been a cause for alarm. 
As for me, I have mysteriously gained 10 pounds, accumulated a lovely array of zits, wasted all of my money on grubhub, and neglected my duties as a student and a teacher. My family and friends are fine, thank you. In fact, they are coming to visit me this weekend! As I know them pretty well, I am sure they will ask me "so, what's next for you?” 
Now, I hate to be a bother, but if you wouldn't mind hurrying the F up so I have an answer for them, I would be truly grateful.
Yours (or not yours, make up your friggin mind),
The Girl Cry/Laughing into Chocolate Cake

Yeah, waiting on JHU, UVA and Brown. Iowa’s my top choice though, so at this point I’m pretty much settled.
We were on the phone for over 20 minutes! I could only get a few words in, and the notifications question. She offered to introduce me to the cohort next Tuesday through FaceTime, and said she’ll send me some email addresses so they can talk to me about the program. Iowa was always my top choice, but she really SOLD it to me.

*Finally* had my scheduled phone call with Sam Chang. A long call. It's official: I'm in for fiction.
I asked if she's done notifying applicants and she said they're a bit behind, with more folks to inform. Looks like more people have good news waiting.

Also in at UC Santa Barbara! And with that, my PhD app season is over. Phew. Now just waiting on the rest of my MFA decisions to trickle in ?

Also in at UC Santa Barbara! And with that, my PhD app season is over. Phew. Now just waiting on the rest of my MFA decisions to trickle in ?

Also in at UC Santa Barbara! And with that, my PhD app season is over. Phew. Now just waiting on the rest of my MFA decisions to trickle in ?

Also in at UC Santa Barbara! And with that, my PhD app season is over. Phew. Now just waiting on the rest of my MFA decisions to trickle in ?

In at Santa Barbara!

Out at Harvard and Penn (totally expected)! But in at UC Santa Barbara! Which is wonderful (seriously, I love this program so much) and complicates my life substantially! The roller coaster continues! lol

Also in at UC Santa Barbara! And with that, my PhD app season is over. Phew. Now just waiting on the rest of my MFA decisions to trickle in ?

Also in at UC Santa Barbara! And with that, my PhD app season is over. Phew. Now just waiting on the rest of my MFA decisions to trickle in ?

And with that, my season is over. Thank god. 10 rejections, outted from all of my "dream" programs but one (Thank god x2). Its was crazy and nonsensical , and I'm grateful as hell. Time to decompress and breathe again.