University of Utah! Please help my tortured soul!

[lizelle85]

Any news of any kind from the University of Utah's Art History and Visual Studies MA program?

 

I am literally desperate at this point!!

[lizelle85]

Well... never mind. Got news of my rejection yesterday in an ice-cold form letter email. Very upsetting. That's what I get for daring to have a 3.82 GPA, experience in two museums, and working on an art history podcast that has 6,000 listeners per week.  

 

I am PISSED and heartbroken.

[ArtHistoryandMuseum]

I'm so sorry to hear that. 

 

Salt Lake City is not for me with its terrible smog, but the University of Utah does have a wonderful art museum causing me to be a repeat visitor (I don't know anything about the MA program). I could see how that university could be desirable for academic and professional training.

 

After you process the rejection, do you think you'll find the energy to reapply to the U, or perhaps, consider other grad programs in the future? Personally, I was a candidate for Fall 2013 and I was rejected. However, I am optimistic about putting together an even more attractive application for 2014. 

 

In retrospect, the rejection I received from my top choice actually may have helped me in disguise. While it irritated me to feel delayed from advancing academically in my field, I recognized that I have more time to prepare for the rigors of any graduate program, as well as read extensively in my field. Anyway, I hope you find peace with your application results, and I sincerely hope it inspires you forward!

[ArtHistoryandMuseum]

I should clarify -- I did not apply to the University of Utah, but I was attempting to be empathic through my experience of being rejected from my top choice.

 

In any regard, it seems to me, lizelle85, you have excellent experience. Any number of things, in your control and not, could have triggered a rejection. All you can do is see if you can get feedback and do your best to put together an even better package of who you are intellectually and professionally.

 

For my own rejection, I felt terrible for awhile. I felt humiliated that I let my letter writers down, who all enthusiastically supported me applying; two of which knew my top choice school extremely well. However, it helped me when I informed them/asked if they'd save my letter, they all empathized to try again, and wrote "next time!"

 

That aided me a lot mentally, going forward.

[lizelle85]

ArtHistoryandMuseum,

 

Thanks so much for the soothing words. It's nice to talk to someone who knows how it feels. Family and friends are great, but they don't quite relate to the experience the way other art history people do.

 

I'm so sorry to hear about your rejections. It isn't great to be passionate about something and not have that passion validated the way you envisioned it. But, I agree with you; we just have to build ourselves back up and try again. I'll definitely be applying to other programs next year, and I may reapply to the U as well, depending on the feedback I get from them. If they rejected me because of my research interests, it would be best for me to apply elsewhere. If it was for another reason, I clearly have some improving to do before I reapply. 

 

This next year might be a great opportunity to do some soul-searching. What about you? What's your plan of action?

 

P.S.- The smog here is awful. I've lived in Utah all my life. Not too wonderful. But, as you said, the museum is fantastic. I see that you're a New Englander. Boston is my favorite place on the planet (and seeing the Boston MFA was life changing.) I'd love to get in to a school out there.

Edited March 14, 2013 by lizelle85

[HannahPie]

Lizelle85, what kind of a podcast do you do? And can we listen to it? That sounds fantastic!

[lizelle85]

HannahPie,

 

It's an art history podcast called Arts and Facts... it's free on iTunes U and/or artsandfacts.blogspot.com. If you listen on the blog, it's still free and you can look at the corresponding images as we talk about them.

[ArtHistoryandMuseum]

ArtHistoryandMuseum,

 

Thanks so much for the soothing words. It's nice to talk to someone who knows how it feels. Family and friends are great, but they don't quite relate to the experience the way other art history people do.

 

I'm so sorry to hear about your rejections. It isn't great to be passionate about something and not have that passion validated the way you envisioned it. But, I agree with you; we just have to build ourselves back up and try again. I'll definitely be applying to other programs next year, and I may reapply to the U as well, depending on the feedback I get from them. If they rejected me because of my research interests, it would be best for me to apply elsewhere. If it was for another reason, I clearly have some improving to do before I reapply. 

 

This next year might be a great opportunity to do some soul-searching. What about you? What's your plan of action?

 

P.S.- The smog here is awful. I've lived in Utah all my life. Not too wonderful. But, as you said, the museum is fantastic. I see that you're a New Englander. Boston is my favorite place on the planet (and seeing the Boston MFA was life changing.) I'd love to get in to a school out there.

 

Thank you so much, Lizelle85! MFA Boston is wonderful. Through my icon selection of Paul Revere II, you can tell I love the museum, too! I'm an Americanist, so I'm a huge fan of their new Art of the Americas wing :-) Indeed, I'm in beautiful snowy New England. Feel free to ask me, if you want any info on the six states or museums, I'd be happy to share what I know. 

 

In the meantime, I am wishing you the best of luck this year, and I will look forward to listening to your podcast! 

[ArtHistoryandMuseum]

Ooops - sorry I meant to answer your questions, "What about you? What's your plan of action?"

 

The short answer, I've been working on it. :-)

 

The longer answer, I'll have to PM you. I'll be in touch soon!