mangojalapeno

Sorry if it sounds like cliche but I would ask myself what I'm really looking for in a writing workshop. If, say, you already know and/or love some people at the program, is there another way to work with them so you can connect better and spend less money? These are questions I ask myself as i'm in a kinda similar situation. I think end of the day people you meet in a program is the only thing that matters. As for reputation, ofc it's a great thing but it's not free. e.g. the way I read the very kind and truthful rejection email from UMich ("We must make fine distinctions among highly qualified applicants, many of whom could be successful in our program") is that it's a heavily "involuted" market and it's a lot of hard labor to get yourself out of that "fine distinction", based on their criteria (i'm assuming none of us is some Mozart kind of genius). I got the impression that doing an MFA out of your own pocket is something viewed as undignified (?) but I'd say if that's sth that gives you joy and you really want it and can easily afford it then why not? It sounds like a much better (and more cool / eccentric /foolish) than a new car or whatever

Love this. I'd probably say "dream school". It's always better to assume a lower position and err on the side of looking a little silly

hmm I'd interpret what they said in a slightly different way. It sounds like a clever way with a touch of sarcasm to say "we're not prestigious or exclusive or anything, there's no networking or fraternity or whatever that you can rely on and feel comfortable, we got to keep fighting and there's no easy way out"

yeah it's definitely congealing (and conflagrating and conxxx (i'm out of words)). I've been using some sour grape copium the past few days: if I get in somewhere great I'm a talented, promising fox, if I get in nowhere it just means I'm a different fox

I am staring at the rejection email and talking to myself "The number of people who suffer from inhibition and aphasia because of creative writing MFA is countless I don't need this it's bad for me"

Nope still says "Complete" and looks very green after the rejection email.

👀 that's sad. Is it like some kind of prejection

Yeah one of them is in my inbox. Feeling surprisingly well (Is this the first stage of grief?? now i'm nervous