Warelin

I'd like to add a small note here that a lot of programs that consider you for their master's program are unfunded ones or ones where funding is very competitive at the MA level. Several programs that come to mind are Colorado, Chicago, Carnegie Mellon, Rochester and SUNY Buffalo.

Depending on your school and program, there might be interest-free or very low interest loans for 6-12 months.

It seems like it is open to applicants that are open to moving within Europe and have a doctoral degree. The United States, however, is not on the list of countries eligible for funding. The full list can be found here: http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/data/ref/h2020/other/wp/2016-2017/annexes/h2020-wp1617-annex-a-countries-rules_en.pdf

If your ultimate goal is to teach creative writing, I'd recommend looking into either English PhD programs with a creative dissertation or a Creative Writing PhD program. I'd like to add a note here that Cornell University only has two tracks (fiction and poetry) for the MFA program. Nonfiction is still an often ignored portion of Creative Writing. Some programs that offer Nonfiction as a track include: Adelphi University Bard College Bennington University University of Cincinnati University of Houston University of Rhode Island University of Wyoming University of Utah As a side note, there are programs such as Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL) and (@M(allthevowels)H, correct me if I'm wrong) Vanderbilt that allow their enrolled PHD students to enroll in their well-regarded Creative Writing courses.

My cohort (in English) has 6 people. One of the other cohorts I was accepted into had 12 people.

Generally speaking, you'll want people within your field who have a PHD and understand how rigorous it is. Are the classes you took abroad relevant to the MA? What can Option A/C bring to the table that your current writers cannot?

Small note here: Unless it's changed this year, PSU only grants a B10 Fee Waiver to applicants who don't have a Master's degree.

First off, I think your scores are fine. They most likely won't get you discounted during the first round for those who go through rounds. A lot of schools are moving away from the subject test in general. Chicago, Columbia, University of Pennsylvania (Penn) , Brown, Duke, UNC, Wisconsin, UT-Austin, Illinois, Pennsylvania State (PSU), Vanderbilt, Emory, Ohio State, Maryland, Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL), and Rice University do not require the Subject test. Some of these schools are test-optional but many note that it will not make a difference when it comes to them deciding whether or not to admit you. Conference attendance won't really make a difference. Conferences might matter if you were presenting at a major conference but there isn't much that can be accomplished by attending. Presenting at conferences could also show that you're keeping up with the field and are involved with present ideas. Most students don't have any publications and many are advised against publishing early because the publication will be on your record forever. My concern is your focus on the top 30 schools. There are a lot of great schools just outside the top 30. Some are better than schools in the top 30 depending on your specialization. What do you want to focus? Schools in the top 30 are very different and each have significant strengths in certain areas which others may lack.

Private Universities are more likely to offer similar funding to all applicants. As a general rule of thumb, the top 50 schools (per USNews) should guarantee funding. I think there is only one in the top 50 in where funding isn't offered to all applicants and 2-3 that don't guarantee funding for all years. Some alternate the number of years of guaranteed funding. I'd be more than happy to share what I know via PM if you want to talk. There are a considerable amount of schools outside the top 50 which do offer guaranteed funding, have a good placement record and do very well in certain specializations.

A program's handbook usually has critical information regarding the specific department at the school. It might contain information regarding stipends, conference funding, program layout and expectations. The stipends might help you decide if you'd be able to afford to live in that city on that stipend alone or if you'd have to have one or more roommates. Some people have no problem sharing an apartment while others would prefer living alone. Conferences are an important part to your career. You'll want to make sure to know how funding works at that school. Some schools offer guaranteed funding; others have you compete for it. Some provide none. You'll want to know if you'll have to set aside money for those expenses. Program layout and expectations can provide a general timeline for when everything is expected in order to graduate on time. It'll also show you how many electives you can take outside the department. If your project is more interdisciplinary in nature, this is more important because there might be classes outside the department which can influence at how you look at your research that interests you. Looking at classes offered in recent years can also help you determine how well your interests align with current faculty interests.

I'd like to offer a different perspective. I was denied admission to a school where 3 recommenders had earned their Ph.D from, accepted into a school where 1 recommender earned their Ph.D degree from, and accepted into two schools where my recommenders had no connections to. I do think that if you have similar interests as your recommenders and you're applying to a similar field that it might be helpful in terms of navigating how well you'd fit in.

I have heard of some students accepting offers without funding. I could see no funding being offered for an MA program if there weren't any additional responsibilities but I'm not sure how students do it during a PHD program where those experiences are needed to land a job.

I agree with @CulturalCriminal. UCL is the most recognizable of the three based on its affiliations with a number of colleges. From looking at many faculty pages, I can say that a fair number have earned their MA from all three universities. I'd also like to point out that your MA degree won't matter as much as what you do during your MA. You might be judged on things that show a dedication to the field and will be expected to have a stronger SOP than an undergrad would due to the training and exposure that the MA is meant to provide. Your writing sample (and the language showing current research) and SOP will always be the most important component of your package. As such, you'll want to ensure that you're both happy with your choice and that you'll be able to (hopefully) revise a previous assignment to use as your submission.

Congrats!

Let's take a look at this financially and assume the following. 95,000 is loans is borrowed at the current standard rate of 6 percent for unsubsidized graduate loans. Over 10 years, that's a monthly payment of $1,054.69. In addition to the 95,000 dollars borrowed, you'd be paying $31,563.37 in interest. You could elect to pay the loans over 25 years at a monthly payment cost of $612.09. Doing so would result in your total interest being $88,625 or nearly double the amount you borrowed.

I think you've gotten it perfectly @a_sort_of_fractious_angel. If a tuition waiver isn't guaranteed, some people have been kind enough to include that in the notes section! With so many schools and programs now covered in the document, it's impossible to verify 100 percent of them so updated information is appreciated even if the school's information has been entered in a previous year. While not all schools offer mandatory fees, there are some schools that do. Tuition waivers and health care coverage aren't included under stipend because the amount isn't paid to you. Sometimes, information regarding conference funding can also be found in the departmental handbook if it isn't included in the acceptance letter.

Hi @parksandrec, I wouldn't worry too much about those scores. A 90th percentile or higher should be enough to have you considered at the majority of schools. I think Columbia is the only school that specifically mentions that "successful applicants trained in the U.S. will almost always have a GRE verbal score in the 95th percentile or better". But that does mean that there are applicants who are accepted and have a verbal score below the 95th percentile. From my conversations with multiple schools, a 3.7 GPA (overall) or higher will put you in good shape to go pass the first 'cut' of applicants. There are schools who might place more or less emphasis on grades than they do on other elements, but all you need to do is get passed their primary screening if they have one. There are some schools who screen and there are some who do read every application. I don't think it's possible to determine which school does which but I do think schools consider the Writing Sample and Statement of Purpose to be the most important as it allows them to see how well your interests fit in with theirs. I think it also might be worthwhile to note that the majority of schools do not have their students write a 60-80 page paper. The fact that you'll have several 20 page papers written should put you in good shape for application season because you won't be submitting an excerpt or trying to figure out which 60 pages to cut from the entire document. Most undergrads in English don't have research experience. Research experience or teaching experience is expected more if one has an MA. Schools often have higher expectations (such as a more polished WS, clearer interests, and higher verbal/subject scores) if one has earned an MA because they've been exposed more to research. Often, BA applicants are only compared to BA applicants. Finding how you fit into a program is the most important aspect of the application. And your idea of fit could differ from the university's. They might decide to move more towards Creative Writing. They might decide to move towards Environmental Studies. They might to decide to make a cohort that has a heavier focus pre-19th century. Somebody could retire or get a job offer elsewhere which means that your main POI that you focused on is no longer a match at that university. The only thing you can do is write well, compare interests and hope that it resonates with the committee. The same writing sample that could be rejected this year may very well be accepted the next year at the same school and vice-versa.

A one bedroom apartment in the area is 800-900 on average. This house was an incredible deal. The point being that there are good deals to be had where you don't have to share the space with anyone.

WUSTL is indeed a hidden gem. I'm unaware of any other program that offers English PHD students to take cw courses as electives and offers service-free fellowships during coursework. There are dual CW and English PHDs but they require a certain amount of workshops to be taken and are often more cw-focused than Lit-focused.

FWIW, I've recently found many properties for $1200 for a 3 bedroom house. A house does not imply that it is shared. And a house may be cheaper than an apt is because it doesn't have community features to upkeep. A house is also more likely to be quiet because you have fewer neighbors.

I'd like to chime in that Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL) also doesn't require you to teach while you take coursework. They also offer writing courses that you can take along current MFA students.

I'm sorry it didn't work out for you this cycle. But you came really close at some schools which is really good. If you apply next cycle, I'd be more than happy to offer whatever advice I can in whichever areas. :)

Hi @bike81, It is possible to change your decision after 4/15. However, there is a possibility that it will burn bridges with School B and it will require written consent from School B to change your decision. There is no guarantee that School A has a spot available as it's likely that it's already been offered and accepted by someone else.

I'm sorry to hear that.If you do wind up applying next cycle, let me know. I'd be more than happy to help you in whatever you'd like help in.

I agree with @Hermenewtics' analysis of Buffalo and have heard similar things from my professors. I've also heard that they are a top school for Psychoanalysis. I think @a_sort_of_fractious_angel can provide a great deal of information on Buffalo as a school.