About two weeks ago, two things happened on the same day that were oddly ambiguous in a very meaningful way.1. I got an email from Georgetown telling me that I had been "recommended" for admission to their graduate program, which at the time was almost more nerve wracking than exciting but in case you don't know I'll spare you the suspense and just tell you that (it's confirmed) I got in.
~and~
2. I got a letter from CU in Boulder saying that I was not admitted. Period. No suspense there. Thank you for your time and money.
The reason that these two events are more ambiguous than they seem, and not as outwardly "good" and "evil" as they appear is deep and wide.
First things first: I didn't really want to go to CU as a school. But I did want to go to CU, and be on the campus that I love, and be near my family, and root for MY football team for once. CU didn't really offer the kind of program I wanted and I don't really agree with the school's politics--but I could have paid in-state tuition, and I know the campus so well it's like already being home. And I just really, really, really miss Colorado. I miss my family everyday. I can't say for sure if I would have gone to CU just to be near them, but I would have liked to have the option.
Now: Georgetown. Georgetown is the kind of degree I want to hang on my wall. My God. However there are two looming issues. 1.) Tuition is over $1500 per credit hour (*gasp*choke*gag*) and I get the impression I'm going to have to wring any financial aid information out of them and 2.) I don't want to live in DC. Still. Anymore. Ever. At all. Of course, staying here means I get to stay with Tim while he PMFs and undertakes his metamorphosis into bureaucracy (God, I hope not) and then we can keep playing house until it's time for me to get my PhD or he takes a job in Zanzibar.
But is it worth it???
Meanwhile, I still haven't heard from THREE other schools but I have to inform Georgetown of my intent to matriculate (+$200) by April 20.
Essentially, the fate of the next two years (at very least) of my life lies in the next 2-3 weeks. Every day I check the mail hoping that there will be some sort of answer. I'm not sure what form I'm expecting it to take. Another acceptance or rejection letter (or three). A check for $100K. A letter from someone in college asking me to be the first mate on their yacht.
I'm on the verge of taking up augury, divination, and general superstition in order to find an answer... all of this because I'd rather pay someone to tell me what books to read than go to work everyday. Maybe that in and of itself should be a sign.
If it helps, sometimes you can ask for an extension to the acceptance deadline (tell GT you're waiting to hear back from another offer, you're considering travel instead, or whatever). If you want to try that, send it in writing AND call them though, so there's no confusion. Odds are, you'll hear from other schools before April 20, but if you haven't, and are still even remotely considering GT, go ahead and accept. You can always drop before classes start (and before tuition is due). What's more, if you do (even tentatively) accept, GT might still offer you money if you accept and they don't hear back from some of their other candidates, and you could get some of the money they were offered (shitty, but true). DON'T call the other schools and ask them where the F your acceptance letter is...unless of course you have reason to believe yours got lost in the mail.
ReplyDeleteTake a hot bath- wrap a hot towel around your head...
ReplyDeleteYep, Kacie's got it.
I check your blog every day to see what fun and exciting stuff you have posted, and you never post anything new, then, the minute I stop checking, BAM! Something new. It's magick! I wish Georgetown was in Crawford.
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