More freaking paperwork

I’m currently holed up in my room, grinding out an application to study in Taiwan this fall. I think the application process tests little more than fortitude in wading through oceans of etiolating bureaucratic vicissitudes. That’s a handy life skill, I’m sure, and one any respectable candidate should exhibit—but can’t they just ask me?

I was fortunately able to find two professors to fill out a checkbox-based online recommendation for me, which really seemed to be an exercise in generating multiple-choice variations on the theme of “Will this applicant spend all his time eating mescaline, or will he attend classes?” I didn’t want to influence the professors too much, but I’m hoping—at least, for the sake of the application—that they said I tend to be of the latter category.

The deadline is tomorrow, so I should get back to work.