Scribe

I have to ask...Cali living? Is it strictly a geographic issue? Distance from some particular? Because it sounds like a cultural or geographic (climate, earthquakes, etc) thing? Just curios. First off, you are a huge nerd. Second, people do this. All the time. There's a program for you. People have often said someone like Faulkner would never get published to day and sent out manuscripts of other celebrated "classic" writers and then claimed the rejections proved something. Ridiculous. People work their way to acceptances, both in educational and professional spaces. Your text will be trusted somewhere. Once it's accepted more broadly, a willingness to trust it developes and then more acceptance (and more rejection). Wild Palms wouldn't get published from a cold submission today. A Rose for Emily would. and once it did, the Sound and the Fury, and then Wild Palms. There's a place for you. Also a big nerd. Don't be concerned about US or any other University's acceptance. They don't read your work. I'm interested in much of this too, but only interested. I didn't even think to mention it in my SOP's because it'd more of an acceptance issue with me. I don't concern my fiction with it. Actually, I don't concern my fiction with anything. But my own understandings influence everything. It's horrible. So, as a word of advice, don't get too stuck about creating escapes from those limits or working within the constraints (except when it's fun or you think you have something of course). What I mean is, don't stress out over fixing the world with your writing. Those limits are where and why we make art, right? To communicate something through the art where the medium is limited. We make something greater than the sum of the words. There's a place for all of you guys. There's more than one person here doing stuff akin to you or at least with the same influences. Then there's our director who his a grammarian who doesn't believe in rules. Figure that one out. (It's as beautiful as you think.) Expand and expound.

It's too late for me and wouldn't have affected my decision, but I would have been very interested, and I'm sure others will be today, in which schools didn't require comp teaching. I would think that's areal short list. Not counting Michener (obviously) I only remember there being one or two that didn't require comp instruction. I would also recommend people consider applying anyway, depending on why they don't want to teach comp. I was terrified. Still terrified. Didn't know how to do it - still don't - and I fucking love it. (And I hate comp). I was checking portals every day before the deadline closed. It was a Dicken's/Breakfast at Tiffany's thing. They will not remember. In fact, the possibility of remembering is stronger regarding the work than the name. And the possibility of remembering either the quality of the past work or any specific deficiency is just about zero. And the possibility of them thinking your improvement is a fluke is exactly equal to the possibility they are reading your work while suffering a TBI. Get some sleep.

GODDAMIT PRU! How could you not come to me first? Don't you know I'm here for you?! Well, the good news is, it probably won't matter. No one is going to read those until you are already on the list and then no one is going to be disqualified based on their essays. Wait?? You let them know who you are as person?? I was very careful to avoid that.

Oh yeah. 20 schools is way to many. I don't know what kind of a whackjob would even think about that many. Welcome. Also, you are the first person I've heard who thought working on apps was a positive fore mental health. As others have said, relax about the competitiveness. Concentrate on fit as best you can. twilight years. 32. Christ. I advise everyone to start the apps early but apply at the last minute. as you work on one app, you'll find things you want to change about your essay. That may not be as true for your sample, but it's still good advice. I didn't want to say anything but one of my recommenders told me not to apply to my own school. Now he said the reason was because I wouldn't want to attend where i already had. Expanding was what it was all about. He was right of course, but I couldn't get over the possibility that he just didn't want me there. If that's so, I expect he wrote me a killer rec. I'd say it can't hurt. One word of advice about Northwestern: they have multiple schools and someone here last year applied to (and I think got in) to the wrong one. They have an unfunded program as well.

NO NO NO! Do not pad! They expect some repetition and say so. and they aren't kidding. Look at this differently. There is an opportunity here to say the things you had to cut from the SOP. Use it!

There was a Google Sheet here last year?!

Here's the thing, they're ALL kind of prestigious. Fully funded programs are competitive - period. they have a huge applicant pool to pick from. Yeah, prestige matters but not much. Some agents have their favorites but just like these programs, it's the writing that matters. Most AdComs aren't going to look at your recommenders until they've decided you're already a candidate. If I send something to an agent they don't think they can sell, they couldn't give a fiddlers fart where i went to school. And ALL of them will be able to connect you to SOMEONE. You just have a little more confidence, and yes a bit more standing when say running in to an agent at a writers' conference. but this is as much because they know you're serious as it is they know a tiny bit of legwork has been done for them regarding potential. Having said all that, if you are still interested in networking, know that some schools kind of frown on it while others are brining you into the game all the time. Oh, one more thing... "Three years is no joke and I'm approaching 30[!]" (exclamation mine) Fuck you. (also mine)

27 schools?! you must be crazy.

Finally someone wants to be an anteater!

This is wrong. JUST WRONG. I got into Columbia and 4 fully funded programs. do NOT let an institution's economic dynamics be any indicator of the credibility, worth, or quality of your writing.

Everyone. Always. I rewrote mine over three dozen times. Then I reworked it for each school. You are not alone.

you know my policy on this, you SHOULD wait until the deadline! fill out all the applications when they open. rewrite every SOP and as you come up with new/better stuff, update your others. proofread your sample for EACH application. finally, submit the aplications as they are due. this way each application will be as polished as possible.

Look into Syracuse, Houston, Miami, Indiana, Houston, Washington, Johns Hops, and New Mexico. They all seem to ring a bell. At least some of them asked for teaching statements. No way should they read bone dry. you have a voice, use it. Obviously you don't want to come off crazy but it's about you and what you want. stick with that and the you that is you should come through without any effort. oh, and regarding the Michener/NWP thing. same professors, same workshops, same resources, same students, same building. Different funding and different screeners and juries selecting the cohort.

That's not true. It's not true at all. Not getting funding means you didn't get funding. Trust me on this. Don't take on debt, but do not think a funding number is tied to skill or talent.

a quick warning about northwester. someone here last year applied and got in , but it was to an unfunded program. apparently they have two and one is unfunded. As far as your alternatives, what are your parameters? what boxes does a program need to tick for you?