Unfortunately, I'm in the same boat as you, jforms. I, too, was rejected from all programs I applied to (7), and my "Plan B" is a little hazy at the moment, although it will most likely entail working in some sort of teaching environment for the time being. I intend on applying again in the fall to more programs—probably in the range of 12-15 schools this time around—although it is pretty disheartening to have to wait almost two years before possibly enrolling somewhere.
However, the time will undoubtedly need to be spent on improving my writing and creating more pieces that will be included in my next manuscript.
For those of you that were accepted to programs, do you have any advice on the manuscript itself? It seems near-impossible to find any samples/stories from previously accepted students, and I think it'd be very valuable to see what programs expect and demand from their applicants.
Would any accepted applicants be willing to direct me to certain stories (perhaps published online or elsewhere) that were included in your manuscript? I'm honestly just curious to see how strong the field is from year-to-year, and I'd like to get an idea of what to strive for as I revise and continue to produce more work.
Thanks!
