Fruitsnacks
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Posts posted by Fruitsnacks
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Cool that you started a Facebook group! Most of the MFA app action on Facebook happens on the MFA Draft pages, so you might want to join that, too. This year's group has about 1,700 people in it and there's already an MFA draft '16 with a couple of hundred people. It's here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/228419750615188/
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I had a first person and third person story in my sample, so maybe if you're unsure include one of each? But really, if you love work you've written in first person, then I would submit that and not a story in third that you don't feel as strongly about.
And HeyIowa, Tin House is amazing! They always have a remarkable faculty list and the community of writers is great. It's also pretty expensive, so I'd only go if you get a scholarship or outside funding (or have extra cash in savings, of course).
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To those who struck out, this isn't a MFA rejection but somewhat similar: a few years ago I was a finalist for a dream fellowship that I didn't end up getting. I had put all of my eggs in that basket (unwisely) and I was devastated. But, I ended up pursuing another adventure and reapplied the next year to the same fellowship along with some writing and teaching grants/fellowships. I ended up with an even better offer on my second try and I'm really glad that I failed the first time. This is easy to say now because I am so happy where I ended up, but at the time I just cried and cried and didn't write at all for a while (productive, I know). I worked harder and was a better applicant the second time around and it paid off.
But most of all - keep writing! I did a workshop at Tin House last year and another semester-long workshop at a local community college and I think that REALLY helped with my applications because I had deadlines and a good round of feedback on my stories. I did this in addition to having my undergrad writing professors look at my work and give me feedback too. It helps to have 1-3 voices that you really trust and who get what you're trying to do; you can just tune out everyone else.
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I'll also second that 17k is a doable sum for living in Irvine. And really, even though it's in California, it's still one of the higher creative writing MFA stipends. I think only Michigan, WUSTL, Cornell and Austin are higher? Many/most TA positions pay around 9-13k per academic year, a least based on the programs that I contacted (which is more than I would care to admit, haha). But do others know of programs that pay better than that?
Good luck to those still waiting! I've got two offers and a wait list and the waiting is almost over, thankfully.
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Hey Nibs, those links are great - thank you!
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Aww, thanks so much!
And yes, I've heard a lot about being in debt for MFA programs (exactly the reason why I didn't apply to Creative Writing programs; I thought maybe film/screenwriting would be a bit better in the prospects of landing a job/making money -- but maybe that was just my blind optimism).
I'm just afraid that if I don't accept the MFA offer now, I'll never be able to have an acceptance in the future. I know it sounds silly... but yeh >.<
I'll take my time to decide and make updates on my fincal choice.
Hope your 2015 application cycle went well. Do share
Hey again! I don't think it matters at all if you have an MFA or what said MFA is focused on; it only matters what you do with your time and the work you create. Since, as every always says, you don't need an MFA to write, I've just looked at it as a chance to be paid to write, take classes and be part of a larger community. I'd say if you don't love your offers to try again next year and not let fear get in the way. You can also ask about deferring, although most programs don't let you do this.
As for me, I've got one funded offer and two wait lists. One of the wait lists is a dream program (and also asked me not to name them on forums and such), so I'm holding out on saying yes to another offer until I see what happens with the wait lists.
Good luck and happy writing
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Hey Smooshie,
I've got a few friends who went to film/screenwriting programs after undergrad and the two who paid for it wish they had waited (but still had a wonderful experience) and the one that got funding also had a wonderful experience but is now mostly debt free (she did take out some small loans to cover her living expenses). So, my two cents for any MFA: don't pay for it unless you've got some savings or are willing to be in debt for a long time. I don't know as much about the funding situation for screenwriting programs, but I'd try again.
Whatever you decide, congrats on your offers!
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On 3/26/2015 at 8:17 AM, papierbaby said:
So, I got an acceptance from Montana last night, via an email to check my status on the application website. I was so excited. I found it odd that this was the way I'd been notified, as I'd read other results of people getting phone calls and emails, but since I'm currently living abroad and had listed my now-defunct house phone number on the application by accident, I figured it made sense.
Log back in just now and when I click on decision letter... it's been replaced with a rejection. Completely different PDF, I now have both saved.
Um.
What fresh hell is this?
Yes, email or call them for sure! It sounds like a huge fuck up on their part, but it doesn't hurt to ask at all. Here's hoping that the rejection is the mess up and not the other way around
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Hey everan,
You've looked at the Gradcafe results page, right? http://www.thegradcafe.com/survey/index.php?q=creative+writing&t=a&o=. Of course it's anonymous, so there's no way of knowing how accurate it is, but if you see that a program has notified a bunch of people and you're still waiting, it probably doesn't hurt to contact them and ask about your application.
I know a friend of mine got into Indiana sometime last week and UC Irvine has already sent out their acceptances, as HeyIowa mentioned (I emailed them about this and they confirmed that all of the acceptances and wait lists have gone out and that they'll be mailing rejection letters soon). Those are both for fiction; I don't know if poetry is the same.
Good luck! And good luck to everyone still waiting to hear back from programs and waiting on wait lists!
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In terms of the waiting game, I sort of feel like like it's February again. Though I have an acceptance that I'm happy about, I'm also on the wait list at a school I'd really love to get into, and I'm still waiting on another school to start notifying. I'll be glad when it's over!
Best of luck to us all!
I feel the same way, ovalwriter! I also have a offer, a wait list and one I'm waiting on. I will be happy when the fat lady sings.
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Thanks, Emburst! Now I just gotta work up the nerve to call them...I don't know why that idea makes me nervous, but it does.
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Hey all! I just found this forum and am happy that I'm not the only one sweating out this application process.
Question: I saw on the results page that there are fiction acceptances and rejections for UC Riverside, but I still haven't heard from them. I'm guessing it's a no for me, but at what point do you think I should call them and ask? Maybe they have a wait list? I've got an offer and a wait list from two other programs but I'd really like to hear from Riverside. Any thoughts or advice?
Thanks!
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Western Kentucky University is starting an MFA this year and their deadline is April 17th and it's fully funded from the sound of it: http://wku.edu/english/mfa_creative_writing.php
Also, I think that UC Riverside has a later admission deadline, but the deadline to be considered for funding passed in January. Like Jforms said, you may want to hang on and apply for next year.
Happy writing!
Fall 2016 MFA
in Literary
Posted
TonyB, Yea I've edited it twice with the correct link and it's still not working; not sure why. But if you type "MFA Draft '16" into the Facebook search box it pops up. Kenzie Allen is the admin.