Recently I've recieved two rejection letters for grad school. Columbia University was the first. This was ok because it was my "long-shot" school. Extremely competitive, it wasn't a complete surprise that I wasn't accepted. Yesterday however, I received a second letter, this one from the University of Denver. Now, of the 9 schools I applied to, Denver was my safety school. The fact that Denver did not accept me, would lead me to believe that it is highly unlikely for any other school to accept me for their incoming class...
For the moment, I am not yet going into panic mode for three reasons: 1) today is my birthday and I want to stay positive; 2) I was reminded of my imaginary back-up plan of owning a pineapple pizza delivery service (via a cute light purple Cessna with white flowers on it) in Hawaii; and 3) if I were to continue existing in the "real world," I could potentially go back to school (starting at Montgomery College) and pursue graphic design and photography. On a side note, I am confident that I can pay my bills with my other jobs I have recently taken, waiting tables. The issue is my career.
As a communication major, I occassionally obsess over small issues in writing. I am an organized person, and go through each requirement of an endeavor and put forth my utmost effort (so long as the endeavor is something I aspire to do, unlike my day job). When applying for grad school, I went through each program, assessed what the admissions department was looking for, and one by one, I completed the requirements and invested much time and energy into creating application materials that would soar above and beyond what was minimally required.
The application process is daunting, and for some, is the very reason grad school is postponed. Procrastination can be a bitch. I needed two college courses to place me in the running, as I never needed to take them during my undergraduate career. I took the GREs, and completed the two courses- Intermediate Spanish 2, and Microeconomics. I then drafted 10 separate in-depth essays, including an optional essay for NYU. I requested transcripts from all previously attended schools. I was in contact with 5 professors in regards to recommendations. Everything was in order... or so I thought.
Dear Ms. Brown,
We regret to inform you.... Blah blah blah... There were many candidates this year... Blah blah blah... We wish you the best of luck in your graduate career.
Regards,
The Admissions Department
Let's take a moment and just reflect on this informative piece of communication.
Luck. "We wish you the best of luck..."
No one FREAKIN told me I needed LUCK to get into GRAD SCHOOL!!!! I would have gladly sent in a four leaf clover, and paid extra for shipping and handling of lucky horseshoes, and I would have sent boxes of Lucky Charms cereal so the admissions department could start their day off right- with a very LUCKY part of a complete breakfast! I've never been superstitious, but THIS is one of those times when exceptions are warranted. Just in time for St. Patrick's Day, I TOTALLY could have worked with this, if they just put a little empty box (needing my check mark) on the application form, next to "Luck pulled from a leprechaun's ass, wiped with a four-leaf clover."
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