I can’t believe I am doing this PINCH ME! I am actually applying for my graduate studies.

I have decided to apply to both the MA and the MFA in children’s literature. The MA is at a different schedule starting either in October or March. Debbie Alicen is in charge of the MA. As I understand it is all online. I am not sure how I feel about that. I will greatly miss the interaction of others. The MFA in Children’s Literature is a residency program.

Called Union Institute and University and asked them how to get in-house transcripts sent. They said I could send a letter either snail mail or fax at 513-487-1075. I need to request official transcripts. There is usually a 10.00 fee but because these are going in house there will be no fee. I want to be sure I include the names of my contacts in both the MA and the MFA. I just hate to have information floating around and not knowing who received it. So that is the next thing on my to do list. Transcripts!

Meanwhile…
I have pulled all of my writing that I want to use to represent myself. FEAR, DREAD….

And I have roughed in both essays. WOW I am really doing this!

I started the essay!

I must really be doing this. I was motivated by my conversation with Vermont College yesterday and after downloading the PDF for the MFA in Writing Children's Literature I began my essays. Yes, there are two essays, along with several pages of writing that need to be submitted. It is great to have comments from my husband, " I have no doubt you will get in, they are a fool not to."

a few steps at a time...

What is happening to the Vermont College Campus?

It has been the big question for the last year, when everyone was wondering if the beautiful campus would be sold. I have a personal investment in that I am creating a sculpture of Dick Hathaway for the campus. Well it is going to reside at the TW Woods Gallery that has been a part of the campus. http://www.dickhathaway.blogspot.com/

I was sent this interview with Rodger Sublett about the future of Vermont College Union Institute http://www.tui.edu/communique/cet.asp

I am delighted to say that a new group has been formed that will buy the campus and the fine arts graduate programs making the Vermont College of Fine Arts. (VCFA) Here is one article on the news http://www.vermontguardian.com/dailies/022007/022707.shtml

The incredible undergraduate program with Vermont College Union Institute will stay on the campus and rent the facilities. All of this is so wonderful. It was not long ago that all of the students at Vermont College Union Institute were in a tizzy about the mysterious note and the happenings at Vermont College concerning the big hush hush news. ( see April 2006 posts) It is a huge relief to know that this program and this incredible space will be there. I can hardly wait for graduate school to be able to come back to Montpelier and College Hall!

MY TO DO LIST SAYS...

SEND IN CHILDREN'S BOOK ( I am doing this at the same time as applying for graduate school because I'm afraid the rejection of either one would paralyze me from doing the other)

WRITE ESSAY FOR GRAD SCHOOL MFA IN CHILDREN'S LITERATURE

I'll let you know who these two go.

FEAR, DREAD, ANXIETY

It is funny, I should be used to this fear, the fear of applying, the fear of possible rejection. How often I have conquered it? I remember how terrified I was the first time I sent in something to a magazine. After years of being published in the magazine the fear went away. I had anxiety over the admissions of the undergraduate application and once I was a student I feared the EXCEL that I did for life credits and even the CLEP tests, but I got through each of those. One would think that after facing fear so much it would just not appear. Yet here it is again.

Perhaps it feels fresh because I have seven rejections on my desk from publishers concerning my book “Bringing to Life The Spirit of the Deceased–A Sculptor’s Journey, and, because I am about to send in my first children’s book to publishers.

I know some of the best have been rejected here are some quote on rejection found at I found these tidbits on rejection at http://net-burst.net/hot/cope.htm

"I take rejection as someone blowing a bugle in my ear to wake me up and get going, rather than retreat." Sylvester Stallone

"I discovered that rejections are not altogether a bad thing. They teach a writer to rely on his own judgment and to say in his heart of hearts, 'To hell with you.' "Saul Bellow

"It is not rejection itself that people fear, it is the possible consequences of rejection. Preparing to accept those consequences and viewing rejection as a learning experience that will bring you closer to success, will not only help you to conquer the fear of rejection, but help you to appreciate rejection itself." Bo Bennett

"‘Balding, skinny, can dance a little,’ they said of Fred Astaire at his first audition."
" Beethoven’s music teacher declared him ‘hopeless’ at composing."
"Albert Einstein’s parents feared he was sub-normal."

"It was the dead of night. A shadow slunk down the street. It was Charles with the dickens of a problem. He was off to mail his manuscript, huddling his guilty secret, petrified lest friends find out and ridicule him. The manuscript was rejected. More rejections pierced him before he won the hearts of millions with such classics as Oliver Twist."

And I found this about rejections of writers http://www.scribesworld.com/writersniche/articles/FamousRejections.htm

“And how about the classic tale of Moby Dick by Herman Melville, 1851. The reviewers called it, “so much trash belonging to the worst school of Bedlam literature…”

"The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald, 1925
“Mr. F. Scott Fitzgerald deserves a good shaking … The Great Gatsby is an absurd story, whether considered as romance, melodrama, or plain record of New York high life.” – Saturday Review of Literature"

"Dr. Seuss, 1937 was told this about his book And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street.
“…too different from other juveniles on the market to warrant its selling.”

Inquiries- at least that is a start

Today I called the Master of Fine Arts in Writing Children’s Literature at Vermont College Union Institute. Katy Gustafson is the administrative director- 1800-336-6794. She and I had spoken when she was with Vermont College Undergraduate College working in admissions.

The deadline for applications for the summer program has been extended to May 18th The residency runs July 14th-July 25th, a little longer than a Vermont College undergraduate residency. The July 14th date is for the newbies. You leave on the 25th. That is always good to know, especially when you are flying from a long distance. The next residency is Jan 12th through January 23rd. Looks like I’ll definitely be in snow if I make this program. The first deadline for admissions for the January residency is October 1st.

I asked her if you received one MFA if you could have an accelerated one in another program. For example, if I received an MFA in writing children’s literature, do I have to go through the entire program to get another MFA in sculpting? She said that most MFA’s do not have transferable credits you can petition the school, after you are a student, for an acceleration of one semester. You have to prove, through publishing or teaching that you have the skills to skip a semester. She is not sure if the MFA in sculpting has anything similar. My reasoning for this is of course future teaching. To teach sculpting at a university level I need an MFA with 18 hours working in the area of expertise. So even with an MFA in writing I might not be able to teach sculpting. Doing a second MFA is not what I want to do either. I really would like to go on with a PHD studying creativity, especially as it pertains to neurology and behavioral psychology. Of course that could change by the time I get done with the MFA work.