Feedback is good.

A friend suggested I email the professors I interviewed with at Hartt and Peabody, and I heard from one of the Hartt professors today. I was surprised to get any response at all, much less one so detailed. He assured me that the applicant pool was very talented this year, that I was on the borderline of being accepted, and should I apply again I was assured my application would be looked at positively.

He then went on to talk about my portfolio, suggesting I remove a piece from it in applications as it doesn't show as much potential as some of my other pieces, and seems somewhat naive (he explains it much more eloquently, and I don't disagree. it's an earlier work, and while I totally understand his comments, it doesn't make me like the piece any less).

He ended by saying they thought I needed another year to expand and improve, and encouraged me to keep going, keep studying, and keep trying.

It just feels so much better to have this feedback, it makes the sting of rejection a little less strong, and gives me more encouragement to keep plugging away.