pattycat

Someone in Draft also just got into Western Michigan for fiction.

Yep!

YAY!!!!!!! Congrats!! ??

Cool. Thanks!

Anyone here apply to UMich (Helen Zell)? My Applyweb portal has a new option on it to submit an official transcript via Certifile. I'm sure everyone else has this as well, but just wanted to make sure.

Hi there--I'm not a History applicant, but the CertiFile button showed up in my portal as well so I'm poking around trying to figure out if it means anything.

THAT'S AMAZING!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! ?

I’m currently reading the new one from George Saunders—A Swim in a Pond in the Rain—and it’s excellent.

I am going through this as well. I was feeling pretty great--well, anxious, but great--but then a few days ago I made the mistake of reading though the first piece in my writing sample. I could see a lot of its (quite sizable) flaws, and I now I feel certain that I'm destined for a full slate of rejections. I had a little pity party for myself that day (there were dirty martinis and carryout sushi involved) and then I started on a backup plan. I made a list of the schools I want to apply to next round and I made a list of goals to accomplish before next app season. I also started a new story, which I'm having to handwrite away from a computer and phone so that I stop checking my email the entire time. My husband and I have also decided that if I don't get in anywhere, we're still going to move somewhere different for a year (we're thinking Colorado Springs maybe?). I'm also trying really hard to read a ton by forcing myself to get through a chapter or short story before I'm allowed to check my email or gradcafe again. I'm also trying to find healthier ways to deal with the anxiety than just stress-clicking refresh--although admittedly I've been doing that all morning. I'm trying to exercise more, go on walks, listen to podcasts, watch movies (just rewatched Booksmart ? ), play Mario Kart with my kid. Basically I'm just doing anything I can to get through this and I'm being okay with not being okay. I'm giving myself some slack. So what if I don't get the laundry done this week (last week I literally paid someone to do it) and so what if I haven't started my novel yet and so what if I can't squeeze out more than a paragraph today. This is a really shitty time and people outside of this bubble don't really understand, but that's why we're here--so that we can at least have a sense that we're not alone in this.

Same! My husband is ready to ban me from all digital devices.

Ha! My son--and possibly even more so my husband--REALLY want me to get into FSU or UF just for their proximity to Disney. My kiddo is 5 and hasn't been yet (we were planning a trip for this past Nov but then COVID happened). I, on the other hand, hate hot+humid. I'm a midwest snow baby and not sure how I'd handle it!

Me too! I'm in the Chicago area, so ending up in a warm spot like Gainesville or Austin would be such a change. New wardrobe would def be needed. I've been working as a wedding photographer for most of the last 13 years, so my closet is pretty much all black!

I'm clearly looking for any sign I can! I'm so ready for this wait to be over. ?

Oops! You're totally right. ?

It's a facebook group--MFA Draft '21

You might be right. From what I see in last year's Draft group and gradcafe reports, Uni of New Mexico notified Feb 8 and Feb 14 the last two years, so this year is a few weeks earlier.

My son wants a slide, too! He's 5 and loves browsing on Zillow with us. We look at map view and let him pick which dot to click next. He's always proud if it's a good one. He judges houses on how many good hiding spots there are for when we play hide-and-seek.

So now my daydreaming has moved on from looking at apartments and rental homes in my school cities to shopping for backpacks that I can't afford. Here's my fave so far http://www.amazon.com/dp/B07V48GSBB/?coliid=I2H8AXFFLZ75GV&colid=2LRE7KPKGWTSC&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

I'm doing the same thing. This is my first year applying and nearly all of the programs I chose are super selective.

Keep your chin up. It's just the beginning! And like @mrvissersaid, Ohio is super competitive. I also believe they accepted a smaller cohort this year.

Welcome and good luck to you as well! Sounds like a great idea. I'm on the verge of making the same decision. This is so exhausting.

Same!

I've heard similar things about nyu. One of my recommenders went there and said that profs definitely played favorites. Also that the famous faculty members aren't very available. He barely got to meet with his thesis advisor.

What a great idea! I'm def going to steal this and try to have something big to look forward to if/when I don't get in. If a pandemic weren't on I would book a trip somewhere warm and beach-y. Maybe I can get a local air bnb just to get out of this house for a bit. Or maybe I'll treat myself to a shiny new laptop.

Fingers crossed we get a few days of peace in here. In the meantime, let's talk strategies for dealing with rejection. I had one of those weekends--two R's from pubs and also notified that I didn't get a reader position I applied for. My rejection wall is filling out nicely, but it's hard to stay positive when they come in groups like that. How does everyone else handle it--apart from drinking cuz I already got that one down.