It Really Is Over

A copy of my thesis arrived today. It's now official: the MFA is over.
Let's see what happens next.....

It's Over Now: Hello MFA

It's official... I've earned my MFA degree.

My thesis has been turned in and after an amazing week visiting friends in New Hampshire (and doing my first public reading, which went very well even if I didn't engage much with the audience while reading) I'm back at home in Maryland. Now the job search starts all over again and hopefully I'll be able to finish my novel and start edits on it. I still cringe at the amount of debt I went into for this program, but it is what it is. Too bad the loan people are already riding my back asking for money. [Photo credit]

Anyway, the entire graduation experience was amazing. It feels so weird that now I'm completely done. 100% done. It's a little scary in a way because I feel like I should know what's next. I don't think I'm going for a PhD, but who knows. Maybe I should just focus in publication. Oh well. When my diploma comes I'll snap a shot and post it. :)

I started this blog to jot down my thoughts about the MFA process, classes, projects, etc. So now it might take a new twist and turn and become something else? A blog about the battle of publishing perhaps? Or possibly just a bunch of random entries about my life. I guess we'll see about that too.

Out at Columbia

Not to worried... I know for sure that I wouldn't pay up to $40,000 a year for an MFA.

Oh well... :)

Out at CSU...

I received my rejection letter from Colorado State University today and I'm oddly relieved about it. I think I'd prefer to live out east so I'm glad to not have to make that decision. Getting the letter brings me up to 85% sure that I'm going to attend UNH in the fall.

My tally so far:

Accepted:
Pitt
UNH

Rejected:
Michener
Purdue
CSU

Waitlisted:
UMASS @ Boston
Hollins

Still waiting:
Columbia (not holding my breath!)

I'm going to turn Pitt down. I know how this is going to sound--like I'm some sort of spoiled brat--but I'm going to say it anyway. Pitt didn't woo me! After receiving my letter in the mail, I got one email from the program directing funding questions to the program director, who quickly told me that I was shit out of luck, and then nothing else. With UNH I've talked to a current student (he contacted me through SpeakEasy) several times and my advisor has been very helpful. I suppose I could have made an effort with Pitt, but why should I? They're supposed to want me to come there, aren't they? They're not going to give me funding--I just feel like they could care less if I go there or not. So... screw 'em. Maybe I'm just jealous of all those people who received personalize "your in!" calls.

Anyway, the only school that could possible compete with UNH at this point is UMASS @ Boston, who sent me a very nice waitlist email. I will probably be contacting them before I make any final decisions about UNH in a couple weeks.

New Week... more waiting

So... someone received an acceptance letter from Colorado State in the mail today. The letter was dated March 13, according to this person. Coincidentally, this is the same date that I received an email from the school telling me that I'd know something in the next 2 weeks. I'm trying not to over think things--oooh the subtly of the message--and I'll just check the mail for the next couple of days with my heart in my throat.

Last chance for some funding (possibly) so I have my fingers crossed.

Still not giving up on UNH. Pitt... not sure. I feel so confused most of the time--I don't like to be confused.

Trying to stay upbeat...

So... I'm trying to stay positive about the whole funding thing. I think the best game plan is not to imagine how I will be moving until I actually accept a school's offer. :) I think that's why this news came as such a blow to me. I was planning on writing a new chapter too and totally didn't do that because I was in boo-hoo land.

Anyway... thinking positive thoughts. What will be will be... and all that jazz.

*sighs*

No Funding...

I didn't get funding for UNH.

This pretty much another rejection. You're good enough to get in, but sorry, no where near good enough for funding. So, I can accept that I'm not a "top" choice for these schools, but honestly... I can't get an MFA without some type of help. I wish I hadn't built up the idea of moving to New Hampshire in my head, because frankly I'm not moving there unless some serious miracle takes place.

So... I'm wondering if I should start looking for new jobs now or wait until I'm ready to move (my lease is up in July). The economy is SO bad... but if I stay in this shit hole job any longer I'm going to go insane. The only good thing about is it that I can write most days.

Gosh, I'm tired. This is starting to sound pretty pathetic too, so let me go boo hoo somewhere else.

:(T

More acceptances!

Yay! I was accepted to the University of New Hampshire last week!!! I'm still waiting to hear from the program (namely if they give me a TA/tuition stipend... please God!) and I'm a little nervous about it. If UNH swings like Pitt did then I'm screwed... yet again.

I was also put on the waitlist for the University of Mass at Boston. I'm excited about that too because it's not a rejection yet.

Still waiting on Columbia, Colorado State, and Hollins. I had no mail on Saturday, which is frustrating, so hopefully something will show up today.

I'm ready to make a decision already.

Accepted to Pitt... but still anxious

I thought I'd start a blog... I have a few others, but this will be strictly for MFA and other writing issues.

I was accepted to the University of Pittsburgh for an MFA in Creative Writing - Fiction. I'm so excited about this, but nervous too as my letter didn't mention any funding possibilities. This scares me. I'd have to pay out-of-state tuition for my MFA at Pitt, which means a possible $80K in loans after three years. I can't do that. I'm freaking out about the debt I owe now--I couldn't put myself in such a place. So... while I'm happy about the acceptance, I'm also scared out of my mind about it. Would I go with no funding? Probably not--but it would be REALLY hard to say no and pass up the opportunity to really profect my writing.

So... I wait nervously for more acceptances (with funding). I still haven't heard from Columbia, University of New Hampshire, University of Texas (Michener Center), University of Mass @ Boston, Colorado State, and Hollins University (which has sent out poetry and CNF notices). Waiting makes me grumpy and anxious.