magicbeans. nothing if not awkward.

I met with Peter and Brock, formerly of PDG, over coffee this afternoon, because they, five or six years ago, did the grad program at Columbia that I'm applying for. It was, on one hand, I think helpful, but on the other, I really wish I had done it a month or two ago. It brought the reality of the program into more focus, which helped enthuse me about it but also kicked off a lot of self-doubt about my prospects of being accepted.

When I decided to go back to school and get my undergrad degree, RISD was the only school that I applied to. I knew it was competitive, but had no doubts that I would get in (until the last week before acceptance letters were mailed). I'd like to say that I feel the same way about Columbia, but the truth is that I have a lot of doubts. Grad school is more serious, and I feel like I should have (had) smarter answers to: Why Columbia? Why now? Why architecture at all? I guess I do have a good answer to the last one. But I'm not sure I've thought enough about the first two. It just seems right in my head. The way that RISD felt right in my head. I never went and visited RISD, I never talked to any students or alumni (I have done these things with Columbia) and it turned out to be the best major decision that I've ever made.

I guess what it boils down to, is that I hope this is also a right decision. And I hope that it comes across in my application materials, regardless of how self-critical I may be of them, or how much I fear that my tendency towards procrastination dulls my shine.

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Later in the evening I planned on heading out to Brooklyn for Alex.L's Cantab zine release party, but had some time to kill, so I walked up Broadway from Park Place to 10th Street. And got dinner, again, with Marie and Dan.

Then the L out to my old hood, and hanging with RISD kids at Life 983.