The List Is In

Womyn and Gentlemen, I have an announcement to make:

I have made the final decision on MFA programs to which I will apply for admission.

Yes, it's true. I finally, after much time spent with the Internet and the AWP Guide to Writing Programs, I have made the final, executive decision as to which programs I will apply. It has been a struggle to find programs that were both interesting and felt like a good fit, especially after the outstanding-ly positive experience of visiting Bowling Green, Ohio.

Here is the OFFICIAL list (in alphabetical order, to avoid playing favorites):

• Bowling Green State University


• Northern Michigan University


• University of Michigan at Ann Arbor


• University of Oregon at Eugene


• University of Pittsburgh


• University of Washington at Seattle


• West Virginia University

Now that the hard part of deciding on programs is over, I have to go through the admission requirements of each program and create a checklist to keep myself informed of the things remaining for each application. I also need to create an information sheet on each school's recommendation requirements for those individuals kind enough to write me letters of recommendation. Thirdly, I need to determine the total financial responsibility of applying to these schools, figure out how I'm going to pay the application fee for each school, and let the solution dictate how soon I am able to send off these applications.

There's not much work left.

Yesterday I sent a packet of poems to The Greensboro Review contest that has a deadline of September 15th. First prize is $500, and while I do not expect to win, perhaps they will accept my work for publication. But $500 would pay my conference fee for next summer's Minnesota Northwoods Writer's Conference, the same conference I worked as an intern for this past summer. I just need to keep submitting. If I don't submit my work places, then I won't ever get published.

Maybe I will write some poetry.