rabbit_run

There seems to be a dearth of applicants to MA creative writing programs. Anyone else out there trying to make that initial step toward a PhD?

MA (creative writing-fiction): Texas Tech --> rejected (hoping to get wait listed) UW-Milwaukee --> I saw there was one acceptance to the PhD program today Mizzou Ohio University MFA (fiction) Tennessee --> I saw that there was one rejection to the PhD program today Georgia State The waiting is causing me more stress than I had anticipated. My work production has been pretty much zilch for a week from checking this site and my email.

jd, Wow. Thanks for your insight. I'm applying to an MFA program so there's no licensing issues. The school is in Georgia, but I am applying out of state. If I remember correctly, I pled no contest to both citations. Arrrg... I'll probably just report them. I'm just a little frustrated that a stupid underage drinking citation 16 years ago could affect my application.

heart, I truly appreciate your sentiment. However, this program receives around 300 applicants and accepts 5. I don't want to end up in the wrong bin over this. If my state DoJ doesn't have a record of it, I'm not sure how it would ever show up on a background check.

Update: I just went to my state's website for the Department of Justice and paid $7 for an instant background check. Nothing showed up, so I'm not putting it on my application.

Hello all, So back in about 1997 I received two underage drinking citations with a span of about 11 months. I believe that these were municipal citations, although I was arrested, handcuffed, and put into the back of a cruiser (in hindsight, WTF?). Do I need to worry about reporting these on my grad school applications? I did a quick search on CCAP and nothing shows up under my name. Here is how the application question is phrased: "Are you currently charged with, or have been found guilty of, any violation of a federal, state, or municipal law, regulation or ordinance other than minor traffic violations, including offenses for which any type of first offender status have been granted? If yes, you must list each separate charge pending against you for which you have been convicted. Dead-docketed charges constitute pending charges and must be disclosed. For each charge, please list the corresponding dates and provide a concise description of the circumstances. For example, if you have been charged with D.U.I, underage drinking, and possession, you must list all three individual charges even though they stem from the same incident." I would have no problem owning up to it, but I am apprehensive about besmirching my application over something that will likely never come up on a background check. Thanks in advance for any advice.