DJ Lambchop

Did anyone get an email from Syracuse about an update to their application today? This is a school I was rejected from and I checked the portal and didn’t see anything of note.

Welp, that’s two cycles in a row of all hard Rs. And now to apply for law school instead….

Makes me happy to hear a fellow rejectee getting some fantastic news. That’s what I like to hear!

Yeah I feel this… I’ve gotten all rejections this year and while I expected it, I hoped for a waitlist at the very least. And then when the rejections started pouring in, I hoped for a “please apply again” letter. Nothing of the sort this whole cycle. I’ve also been feeling like I’m just a way worse writer than I think I am.

Last year they sent out some ranked letters. I assumed they'd continue doing that. Other schools do ranked rejections, but not any of the ones I applied to (I think).

After all rejections this year, I'd hoped my Iowa letter would have at least been the "please apply again" one. But it was literally the shortest rejection out of any schools I applied to. And I put so much effort into making the envelope I sent them look nice (special paper, calligraphy). I knew I was getting rejected from this school, but I didn't expect the complete stab to the heart when I opened the letter.

I’m in southeast Michigan

My mom sent me a picture of the expected mail today lol

Looks like my Iowa rejection letter is finally coming in the mail today. Might get a frame for it. Put it up in the living room.

I'm an Ann Arbor native so if you have questions about the town let me know. You are right that the rent is insane here.

Agreed. I heard that they accidentally sent an email that went something like “well by now you’ve been accepted to our mfa program” to ALL applicants a few years ago. Could be they just suck at admin/tech stuff.

Saw an article on the Facebook group about brown indefinitely pausing their mfa admissions.

I've been rewatching Gilmore Girls lately. It's comfy but also well-written lol

Sending a virtual hug. I have a really fortunate life right now but getting a sweep of rejections has made me feel like I’m stuck in a cage, watching my life go past from behind bars.

I see grapefruit has been accepted to JH, Cornell, and Syracuse on draft. Congrats, but remind me why people say this process is subjective…

To add to this, I had a somewhat young MFA alum read some of my stories. I had my mom read the same ones. She was able to extrapolate MUCH more of my intended symbolism and nuance from my stories than the MFA alum.

This is certainly the darkest one I have so far; most of mine flirt with darkness but primarily highlight a somewhat neutral surreal. All of the ones I submitted were pretty benign, but some of my darker ones are arguably better. Just felt too iffy to submit. You never know.

(For reference [I'm not sure how dark all of your guys' stories are/were], in mine a man splices his form in two and r*pes himself. This is the one I was hesitant to submit.)

Ugh I feel this. I'm not coping very well in all honesty. Every day has been a struggle and very little has brought me happiness or motivation recently. It feels especially worse when people try to say something like "you don't need any validation to be a writer." But like...... at some point, yeah, you do, otherwise your writing will always remain private. I actually want to workshop it with people and publish at some point, not just keep a google drive full of dusty stories. I'd say though, that since you've had waitlists, you are definitely on the right track and should absolutely apply again if you don't get in anywhere. Be sure to email the schools you've been waitlisted at and tell them how excited you would be to attend. I also had a story I really wanted to submit but also felt it was too dark or bold and might turn off some admins. I want to get more advice on this for my third round of applying.

I wish I could know too. I tried to get an honest opinion from an MFA alum on whether he thought I had a chance and he just didn't say anything which makes me feel as though he was trying not to hurt my feelings. I'd rather just know that I suck!! But it is nice to know that I'm not the only one out there on the second round, receiving a (likely) full sweep of rejections. But I'd say the fact that you've had one waitlist is a really good sign. I was hoping for a waitlist just to get a little validation, a little nudge to tell me I'm going down the right path.

Should the rest of us consider Iowa a soft rejection? Sometimes I look at all the acceptances and waitlists and wonder what am I even doing here

Not me Google Street exploring Iowa city just in case 😭😭😭

Love this!

Anyone else not had a lick of good news this cycle? Like not even a rejection letter that says “please apply again…” I am fully preparing for 9/9 hard Rs.

Does JHU actually just not send out all their rejections and instead make people assume?