When I was in college, I auditioned for all 4 a cappella groups that were available to Princeton undergraduates whenever there were open auditions during my Freshman and Sophomore years. I had sung with the "Guys and Dolls" at Roger Ludlowe, hadn't I? I could do the same in college. Besides, in college, these groups went on trips and made recordings- all very cool things. The auditions had two parts: first, was a vocal audition. I passed that, and made it to the finals for several of the groups. Then the second audition- you went to the "practice room", usually in the basement of one of the dormitories, spent a few hours with the group, learned a piece and performed it. After each one of those experiences, I felt good about the singing, and felt like I had gotten along with the others reasonably well. But I never got to experience the joy of being awoken at midnight and being "sung" into the group.

That's a lot like what the current process feels like.

Just had breakfast with Diane Meier, a Health and Aging Fellow who just accepted a placement on the HELP committee. A few salient details:

1) She got her interview when a friend, Dan Smith of the American Cancer Society, was named Chief of Staff for the committee. He got her the interview with Jenelle Krishnamoorthy, who apparently is staying on as staff. Might be worth a following up.

2) She had an offer from Rockefeller that she turned down yesterday. Perhaps that will open something for the rest of us.