Graceful Entropy

To all the peeps out there applying again next year or considering it, this was my second go-round, and I'm glad I didn't get in last year. Everything about my life is more settled, my writing and reading range continue to get honed and grow, and I'm better able to push forward in the path I want. So maybe that will be the same for you. Also Covid. Things prolly still won't be quite close to normal this fall, there will still be anxiety and things not really falling into place well, so you may be dodging it all to have a much more full three years than the rest. Hope everything works out. Cheers

I actually did. Waitlisted. Guess you just have to yell into the void long enough and a small echo will bounce back. Thanks for thinking of me!

Interesting on Draft to see quite a few people complaining about being on waitlists---all the while holding onto ALL of their own multiple acceptances. And they wonder why things aint moving. Like, if you want some movement, be the change you hope to see, yall. Not directed at anyone in particular, just a gripe.

Nawlins, where you at bruhv ?

I would just like to post a friendly reminder that when we quote reply trolls, those quotes remain up even after their deletions by grad cafe moderators. Feel free to choose how you prefer to use this info, but just wanted to post that thought.

Count me in for The (grad)Cafe of Historical Corrections!

Fair enough! Them fancy schools do pay well. Also, there's probably a nice way to express incredulity and then the way I did, so ya know, that's on me

Dude, so many Brown applicants. Like, honestly, why? Yall into Providence that much? Some sort of weird Ivy fetish? I just don't get it. Enlighten me.

I'm probably just in a bad mood because I had to deal w/ two meltdowns at work rn so I might delete later, but.... It's so nice that they can be 'very self-conscious' about how privileged they are. And money doesn't come up w/ rich people, because THAT IS SOMETHING THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT. Doodle, I'm sure you are a very nice person, and I wouldn't dare to guess your own personal circumstances, but the one place are describing sounds exactly like the self-perpetuating bullshit of people patting themselves on the back, telling themselves they are the 'good ones' all while, consciously or not, working to maintain the same harmful status quo. My rant and small lunch are now over. Sorry bout the mood. Keep up the great work evryone.

The fact that this is supposed to be a comforting take on how hard it is to pick candidates definitely does not sit well w/ me. 'Only 30 worth considering' Like, fuck off, Johnny Hopkins. I know you and Sloane Kettering used to be blazing that shit up everyday, so don't act like your own don't stink

@aheatherThe one thing I will say about ISU is that it seems like they did one of their writing professors Chloe N. Clark the dirty. She got in trouble (and harassed inside and out) for banning hate speech in her class and papers, so... ya know. Prolly worth researching on your own. As far as Vegas goes, I have some friends who grew up there and it's a pretty family oriented place outside the strip--great public school funding. Also, like, so many good places to eat. And as someone pointed out, because LV gets so many tourists, it is easy as pie to travel from. Don't know much about the actual writing programs, but thought I'd throw my couple cents out for ya

I love Lorde.

Frankly, I think I'm underselling this still. If you feel ANY pressure about app fees while applying to under ten places, please look into fee waivers. Not everyone will grant em (Syracuse! *shakes fist*), but I think a good portion will. Remember, it's not like you're costing them anything, and asking won't hurt. There are people whose literal job is to help on this sort of front.

Marshall, marshall, marshall... a rogue by any other name. On the off chance you aren't, and to direct others who might have similar worries: feel free to search earlier discussions in this thread regarding 'rankings'. I believe @mrvisser had a pretty good response about it all. And while I know I sucked at looking into fee waivers initially, I realized I should just do it this time, and over half of my app fees got waived. Worth acknowledging that if you're having to work extra (like I did first time around) to get enough $$ for app fees, it also probably means that you are eligible for waivers. FAFSA is a good first start; researching and emailing next. Here's big ten's free app sign-up, which would give you access to like 14 great schools: https://www.btaa.org/resources-for/students/freeapp/eligibility

I've been mulling your friend's viewpoint and while we need to take care of ourselves, I think we also have to consider our impact on our larger community as well. While the OSU debacle certainly will instill some nervousness (and is clearly a huge fuck-up on their part), I think the difference is that those are technically considered informal offers w/out the contract. Once the contract is out--typically later and by email--any school part of the CSG (basically all of them) must abide by it until the April 15th deadline. So, if you are waiting on another school, by all means, hold on to your other choice(s), but I think if any of us are fortunate enough to be accepted into multiple programs, we should respect them and do our peers a solid by helping them get their own show on the road as soon as we know that school's not going to be the one. All in this together.