pdh12

it's called mfa 2017 creative writing

also, there's a whole thread on gradcafe for commiserating, go find it and join us!

18 schools--yea, that's as good a mix as any! good luck, I'm applying to some of those schools in poetry, too, so we can share notifications when they come. I'm both dreading and dabbling in the occult for any sign of news.

it seems like Minnesota, Washington University in St. Louis, and maybe Cornell are generally the first to notify...

yea, good luck to everyone's apps! This purgatory is feeling like the hardest part, for sure. Also..I horrifically realized that I submitted the Wrong manuscript to four schools! I deserve this pain ><

dudes..i applied to 20 programs + 2 fellowships abroad...if i get covered in rejection it'll be dark days. also, lol. just tripped over the 2016 mfa thread, which is a testimony to anxiety/waiting/this microcosmic life.

good luck, @BLeonard! it takes some guts to apply to just one~~

I ended up with Minnesota, Washington University in St. Louis, Rutgers-Newark, Brown, UMass Amherst, Boston, Syracuse, UVA, Indiana, Notre Dame, U. Washington, U Oregon, Cornell, Johns Hopkins, Iowa WW, UC-Irvine, and Wyoming----I've never applied to so many places at once! But all the talk about hyperselectivity compelled me to add (it was originally just 4 schools ><). I wish I'd applied to Arizona but at that point I thought my recommenders' hands would fall off. It'll be fun to hear everyone's results in a couple months--are you on draft? It's not so bad if you keep a healthy distance from it...

14 schools! I bet our lists are mirrors. I've just stuck with my one SOP, altering a bit here and there, because I feel like I achieved saying the thing I wanted to say...it might prove to be my downfall, but in my previous round of apps I was accepted to schools for which I didn't abide by the length rules...ehhh The chaos for me is getting my transcripts to the right places--some schools let you just upload the unofficials, and i've attended 6 schools ><

For creative nonfiction, have you considered that program at the U of Iowa? The students there seem happy. Also, has anyone else had trouble with the Rutgers-Newark app? It keeps deleting stuff, so that it's perpetually incomplete. I've basically given up on it...

nyu! yes. I've heard people use colleagues, bosses, and friends for Lor's, with a focus on those that can speak to either your writing or work (ethic). And if they've never written a rec before, you could point them toward examples.

@BLeonard Oh great! I'm applying there for Poetry (keeping my fingers crossed). What was your PhD in, and what's it like surviving (financially) as a student in NYC? Good luck!

Iowa! I'm finishing up my last year here--it's been really great, and my goal is to next go for an mfa in poetry and then (with luck) a PhD in Comp Lit~. I had been accepted to a few poetry mfa's in '15, but thought it would be better to solidify my foundation in languages/critical thinking first, I didn't realize though how hard it is to actually get accepted to poetry mfa's...I sometimes kick myself for the choice...UMass Amherst and Boston are my top choices b/c of proximity to loved ones (and they're great), but They're both Hella particular about their candidates, it feels like an alchemy puzzle.

14 must be a lucky number! That's what I got it narrowed down to as well---I took the gre in '13 and have just been using those results. My math was Bad, a score of 145 (20th percentile)-- that said, I was accepted into 2 phd programs and 3 mfas with that--I think it's the analytic and english portions they really care about. The analytic was hard for me because they said it was scored by a computer whose algorithms are programmed to look for specific things in your writing, and I found myself getting carried away with conventional essay structure...but I scored well on it, so maybe it's something to consider. Also brushing up on Latin roots for the vocab portion. Good luck!

@GlowStick Good luck! That sounds like a great variety--I'm really curious about Wyoming. It seems like a good program, but I'm weary of red states, and wonder what Laramie's like... I'm applying to four of the schools you list, too. So Stressful not knowing what this time next year is going to look like...the hardest part of this is putting a cap on how many schools to apply to.

Ha, yes, there's something less fraught about this website vs. draft! Wow @Jetamio, I've never seen the application rates parsed b/w fiction and poetry--that's a staggering difference! I'm applying to Wisconsin and Brown in poetry, as well, @slouching. Full disclosure, I've applied to Brown twice before and rejected. Applying there almost feels like required masochism at this point. Maybe I should submit this: https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/this-statement-of-purpose-will-blow-your-mind

Oh, great, a comrade! I'm trying not to over-shoot as far as quantity goes....I think I might limit my applications to 6, with my absolute preference being Boston (location, length, focus). I'm applying with an MFA in translation, so BU would be a dreeeeam. I'm also applying to Irvine and UMass Amherst. What are your top choices?

Thank you for sharing this!! It's a really good, human story. I hope you stay in touch on this forum to tell us how you progress---are you applying for fiction or poetry? Fully funded MFA programs are deeply competitive these days, and getting into the one you want has more to do with luck and alchemy, it seems...I was lucky to get into a couple programs in '15, when I first applied, but chose to pursue an MFA in translation first, feeling at the time that I wanted to strengthen my languages and critical writing. There's no point in regretting my choice, but I'm worried about not being able to replicate my acceptance results this year...16 programs is a lot, both of time and money! Do you have a preferred place?

Well if anyone else wants to commiserate, I'm applying now for Fall '17 in Poetry. Good luck to all!

Do you have a point-person that's helping you navigate paperwork, etc.? You should definitely ask/tell them about your scheduling issue!

Has anyone done their oral test via the phone yet? Just did mine......I went on a horrible tangent about peacocks in vermont turning wild and ambushing people's chicken coops. >< whyyyy

This convo is so helpful! As an independent student (without funding from family), I took out a student loan just to be sure that I wouldn't have to worry while in India---maybe that's something for you to consider @Haunted

congrats to you both, that's So exciting!!!

@rewong , yes, better safe than sorry! Get it signed by one of the two---maybe the requirements have changed since last year. How's everyone doing with the Visa process? Oh! And is anyone else's "1st day" (orientation?) on June 7th?

Ah! You're speaking to my inner quandaries there, with all the doctor stuff---I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it all works out!