Whatever happened to that Japan thing?

Yeah, what did happen to that Japan thing?

I had intended/still-intend-if-possible on spending a year abroad in some far-flung land (see Japan), but a number of things cropped up to make it a bigger deal than it needed to be.  First of all, the program I originally intended on applying to holds all of it’s Midwest interviews the one week I am in Washington D.C. with Concert Choir.  I know it somehow seems strange to forgo a job just for choir, but at the same time, I could never give up a semester of choir on the chance that I would get an interview…(I would have seriously gotten an interview).

The next option were two other businesses narrowed down to one because only one has interviews in Chicago.  Unfortunately, it is the lesser of the two from what I’ve read and sounds like it is a lot more work and stress than I am looking for.  And while driving all the way to Toronto is still possible, it just doesn’t seem very likely.  Keep in mind that the original program I wanted required zero to little work, while these two are actual jobs that require a lot more work and pay a lot less.

Secondary problems include applying for graduate school from another country.  Yes, I could just prepare everything before I go, fill out next year’s forms and then mail it all to the US for someone else to take care of for me, but that would make too much sense.

I still want some cultural experience, to get away from it all.  But do I need to go to Japan to get that?  And can’t I always go after graduate school is over? Or during grad school?  A lot of places I am looking at offer graduate study abroad.  And won’t living in a different city in the US be different enough for me?  Sure it’s different on another scale entirely, but what is it exactly that I am looking for?  That’s a great question!

To summarize, Japan’s not out of the question, just more complicated than I had anticipated.  And in fact, as usual, the more I write about it, the more I miss it and want to do it.  Then again, I’m also rather excited for graduate school.

I’m not entirely sure what to do.  Deb seems to have the right idea: apply everywhere and see who gives you the most money–but getting that far in the first place costs so much money.  More pondering is required, I guess.

GGSS 2008, II

While the list of possible grad schools may be interesting to you folks out there, what might be even more interesting are the schools that, through many faults of their own, couldn’t even get on the list.  Here are some high-profile selections from the reject pile.  Note that the list is short because I (surprisingly) didn’t take notes on schools that looked like they wouldn’t work.

1. Every Ivy League School (besides Cornell)
Major problems? Most don’t offer creative writing OR journalism.  Double hiss.

2. Every University in California
Major problems? I guess California doesn’t believe in funding graduate school education, especially if you come from out of state.  Fine, don’t take my money (which would have been their money, really, anyway).

3. Every University in New York (besides Cornell)
Major problems? Cornell is the trend-setter, I can tell, but New York’s problem is California’s problem.  I’m sure there are some places in the western half of New York that would be better at this (like Cornell), but then what’s the point?  Western New York isn’t New York at all, it’s just a part of Pennsylvania that can’t color inside the lines.

4. Every Other Country in the World (even Canada)
Major problems? More of the same, although this time, they almost seem to enjoy throwing it in your face.  “Sure, there are lots of funding opportunities,” it always begins, until you get to, “unless you’re not from the EU, then you’re pretty much screwed.”  They then send you to a list of websites that might be able to scrape up some spare change for you so you might buy a kebab to take home to your box down by the river because it’s the only place you can afford to live–not that you can afford the education either way, so really you’re just living in a box in Europe.  Then again, the kebab might be worth it.

5. The South
Major problems? Yes.

The Great Graduate School Search 2008

GGSS2008, as I think it will come to be called, has indeed commenced.  There seem to be a number of interested parties, that number being 3, so I figure I might as well post my findings so far.  Keep in mind that all ratings are out of 5 (5 is best) and there is no scientific method behind it outside of how much I like them or not.

University of Massachusetts at Amherst
Program: Creative Writing, Fiction
Location: 4
Program: 4
Financial Prospects: 4
OVERALL: 4

University of Wisconsin at Madison
Program: Journalism
Location: 2
Program: 4
Financial Prospects: 4
OVERALL: 3.5

Boston University
Program: International Relations and International Communications
Location: 5
Program: 5
Financial Prospects: 1
OVERALL: 4

University of Maryland at College Park
Program: Creative Writing OR Journalism
Location: 5
Program: 4
Financial Prospects: 3
OVERALL: 4

Portland State University
Program: Creative Writing, Nonfiction
Location: 4
Program: 4
Financial Prospects: 3.5
OVERALL: 4

Cornell College in Ithaca, NY
Program: Creative Writing, Fiction
Location: 2
Program: 3
Financial Prospects: 5
OVERALL: 3.5

University of Iowa at Iowa City
Program: Creative Writing, Fiction
Location: 1
Program: 5
Financial Prospects: 4
OVERALL: 3.5

This is not the full list, but the top candidates so far.  Yup.