I just got my
UMass Amherst rejection in the mail,
finally. I knew it was coming, but some crazy part of me was hoping I might be on a secret waitlist.
I have to admit that this one hurts a little, maybe a lot---even though I know I'm really lucky to have an acceptance to an
incredible program at this point. I've been preparing myself for this (see
below), but I'm still kind of on the verge of tears.
Part of me SO wants to be back east, and my uncle went to college in Amherst and has been talking it up ever since I told him I wanted to go to grad school. He thinks I'm going to get in everywhere, as do most of the rest of my family---funny how people just can't seem to understand the way that MFA programs make their decisions.
I keep trying to explain to them that it's not about my grades or GREs or even my SOP. Sample, sample, sample. I'm grateful that my family understands why I want to go to grad school, and that most are even supportive of me pursuing an MFA. (Crazy art school degree...I do get the "What are you going to do with that?" spiel from the extended family I'm not so close with.)
But they think that because I was successful in undergrad, I'm automatically going to get into all these programs and have my pick, with multiple funding offers served to me on a platter. When I told my mom about my first assumed rejection (now a reality), she was way more upset than I was. "I just don't understand why they don't want you!"
Oh, Mama. You don't get it.
Anyway, please forgive me for whining when I don't really have the right. Feel free to mentally slap me. Now I'm waiting for my Michigan rejection---that one won't feel nearly as bad.
I need to get over myself. Down, ego, down!
Good luck to everyone, as always, and continuing congratulations and condolences as this maddening process goes on.*
PS---I was a little bit miffed to see that the letter came from the graduate admissions office, not the department itself. Feels like they didn't even want to waste their letterhead on me. Sigh.
