My MFA Search + Google Spreadsheets

So, in addition to work I do for SIR, I also have this other life in which I attempt to finish my degree at USI and in which I am going through the grueling process of applying to graduate schools. Only, I haven't even gotten to the grueling parts yet, maybe.

A month ago I thought I had my MFA list down to a sure 10 or so, but I've since discovered a few more programs I might like (Virginia Commonwealth, Brown, Vanderbilt...), and so had to go back to charting and tabling (which is what I do best in life, perhaps...). It's a time-consuming process involving two open reference books (AWP Guide [borrowed from Mitchell like a year ago...] and Kealey's Handbook); five Firefox tabs opened at all times to the U.S. News MFA program ratings, Kealey's MFA Blog, GMail, New Pages list of programs, and Google (to get to programs' websites, which usually offer the least info out of all of these methods); and a comfortable swivel chair. It's a freaking mess, and that is where a nice clean spreadsheet comes in.

I get obsessive, yes.

From the above link you can keep up with which schools are still on my list (I know like 1/2 a person who is actually interested in this)--I'm deleting them as I rule them out, and hopefully not adding many more, although some have mentioned that I need some safety schools thrown in there, so over the next week or so I might add a couple of those.
And then, someone please stop me.

Fall Readings! Pictures!

So far this fall the Ropewalk Reading Series at University of Southern Indiana has hosted Mike Magnuson, recently the author of Heft on Wheels: A Field Guide to Doing a 180; Michael Martone, with his latest collection, Double-wide: Collected fiction of Michael Martone; and Gary Gildner, whose latest collection of poems is titled Cleaning a Rainbow. We've implemented a new and fun thing this semester, in which students do a kind of "meet and greet" with the visiting writers before their readings. This includes punch, cookies, questions, and sometimes pictures. For the pictures of the readings and the receptions, please take a look at our new Photobucket account, which is linked below. And we've added a big backdrop with a sharp-looking 3-D logo, which just makes our readings that much more enjoyable.

On November 8 Dana Kinstler, winner of our 2006 Mary C. Mohr fiction award will be reading as well, so keep an eye out for that.

Don't forget to check out our pictures...

Photobucket Album