analog_e

Well, last year I applied to one school just to see what happened figuring I would end up with a fun little gap year and here I am embarking on a gap year. It's not so bad-I got into the local traditional Irish ensemble, have a cozy little professional composing gig, might have a new tennis partner, wrote 50 or so pages of something new and shiny and exciting, and am interviewing tomorrow for a position as an assistant teacher at a preschool. I have my list ready to go. The Schools That Matter: Brown, Cornell, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh. My just in case schools: Ohio State, Indiana University, University of Minnesota, VCU, Hollins. Just for kicks: Iowa Writer's Workshop, Johns Hopkins. Pittsburgh is high priority because one of my best friends moved there earlier this year and has assured me I have a spot in her band, plus I have another good friend in nearby Eerie. VCU and Hollins I am applying to because it makes family happy if I apply to schools close to them, but I hate the idea of living in Roanoke again and Richmond is lovely and I have quite a few friends there but the VCU stipend is a bit too low for me to manage without some assistance. I hate that I cannot just try for UVA and stay where I am, but alas, I have been assured that as one of their undergrads they would not even consider my application. Anyhow, glad to be back on ol gradcafe. This time around it's a fair bit more serious for me.

Shady Grove my little love Shady Grove I say Shady Grove my little love You'll get an MFA

Well, it's a bust. I cried for a while, including a fair bit in public while eating breakfast, but I'm feeling fine now. Just glad to have the closure. See you all next year for the arc where I get accepted to every program : )

Well, I'm going to eat some French toast and cry for a bit. Thanks for keeping us informed through this process.

It turned into a surprisingly productive day for me. Skipped all of my classes, which was the right move, but I got some homework done, wrote about 1k words, played some excellent rounds of Overwatch with a friend, and am now in a practice room spending some much needed quality time with my violin. Just trying to envision what my year will be like without Brown, and it's not all that bad. I'll be able to dedicate so much time to being a musician and potentially even finish a novel, and it'll mean I won't have to leave the lovely community I've been very fortunate to be part of behind. Still, here's hoping for good news.

this has been covered they have not sent acceptances

I tried reading some of infinite jest and that's not happening so I am sitting in a coffee shop working on a new novel project. Working Haschenparty by Schnuffel into a novel is the only thing keeping me afloat.

I just emailed my professor straight up saying I am going to be absent due to the intense anxiety of awaiting a decision from Brown. I am sure he'll understand.

🚬🫠

If either of you have questions about Roanoke, feel free to DM, it's basically my hometown and I'm well acquainted with Hollins. A lot has changed since I left, but a lot is very much the same. Lack of walkability, meh transit, no culture. Also a revitalized downtown (that is not close to campus at all), persistent tho small DIY scene, lots of great hiking nearby. I've been in the building Hollins uses for creative writing and it's not particularly impressive but it is cute and cozy and the campus is small but beautiful.

Yeah, Brown funds all their candidates equally

all anyone on Draft is going off is that post here, and given the record of Brown clustering everything together it seems pr damn unlikely that one random person got an acceptance over a week ago and it's been silence since

🤎🟤🟫🕯️🟫🟤🤎

I'm really struggling with the wait for Brown. It was alright when I had accepted the soft rejection but now that I have hope again? Brother, come on~

as someone who enjoys being able to wear a kuffiyeh without having my degree revoked, Columbia is never going to be the right option for me (plus funding is my number one sticking point when investigating a program), but I am sure it's right for some people. 60-70 is *wild* tho.