holycat

Yes, indeed. Congrats and good luck to you and everyone else here!

Well well...visited a campus, attended a workshop, and I'm in love. Maybe they were just nice because I was a prospective. Hehe. But as far as I could see, everything went awesomely. Met current students, who were all wonderful, and the authors were fantastic. I have found my home for the next whatever years (actually like the city so much that I can see myself staying post MFA; we shall see). As for Columbia, it's the "update" link on your portal. There are a bunch of letters, which I too skipped. I have officially declined. On another, somewhat irrelevant, front: a certain Program's director decided to send me the "so and so were impressed by your stuff" e-mail after I declined. Maybe he saw my decision come through and remembered he was supposed to tell me those things long ago but forgot, so he still wanted to be able to say he "tried"? lol. That's one of the things that I've found striking throughout this process: the different types of organization, style of communication, etc...Not all the schools, despite the fancy websites and the likes, are on top of their games. Have another example of a big Program where the left hand doesn't seem to know what the right is doing.

FYI: for all who are waiting on Columbia. Finally got their financial aid info. They're offering me 30K in scholarship and the maximum Federal Loan (20,500). By their own estimates, cost of attendance is 90K+/year.

Have read so much about the "poopy" characters, but I suppose that's just like life, right? I just need to master the art of sifting through feedback to figure out what's useful and what isn't. I've heard about racism in MFA Programs before and recent comments I've seen on the results page have confirmed my suspicions of brewing anti immigrant sentiments, however faint at the moment. Perhaps because people believe we wouldn't make it to those Programs if it wasn't for diversity considerations. Not that I can't handle any such backlash, but I hate that it means I am not allowed to be flawed now and may have to go the extra mile to prove that I am there because I earned it. And I'm not just there for me but representing an entire race/continent/diaspora community. My shortcomings, by default, can be arguments against "diversity" policies. Unfortunately, mistakes and flaws and that very human thing of growing uneven are luxuries afforded to those considered the benchmark/the normal/the ruling majority. It's nothing new to me, but is still exhausting. BUT: there might be a good side to all this; maybe this will drive me to get stuff done! STILL: STAY AWAY FROM ME, RACISTS, STAY AWAY, I HAVE SPICES THAT BURN THE EYES REALLY REALLY BAD; YOU WILL CRY FOR MOMMY!

I hope you do too! And do you celebrate Holi? Happy Holi if so!

I respectfully turned down an offer from George Mason recently. They were sweet to me.

You're not hallucinating. I haven't received an e-mail either. But, like @FalloutCoversEverything, it's irrelevant for me at this point. Visiting the campus of the Program I'm planning to accept the offer of. I request that all fingers here be kept crossed for me: everything about this Program has been on point so far. Their organization is impeccable. Loving the professors and the current students. The financial aid offer is immensely generous. My would be advisor is the dream mentor. What could possibly go wrong? Under normal circumstances, probably nothing. But I sometimes suspect that I am (or someone somewhere along the line of my ancestry is) cursed! Shyt tends to happen right when things are going great. So, fingers crossed that, when I meet them in person, they're all as awesome as they sound via e-mail/phone. The right chemistry. Etc...I REBUKE THE DEVIL AND HIS ARMY OF PESKY LITTLE EVIL SPIRITS TO KEEP THEIR DAMNED FINGERS OFF MY THINGS -- IN THE NAME OF JESUS! Do I hear amen?!

Congraaaats!

I was told 30K on the phone. Still waiting for the e-mail/letter. I'm assuming that's half tuition? With an estimated cost of attendance at 85K (could be conservative), no way in hell I'm taking out 55K/year in loans for an arts degree. Even if I wasn't given a full ride elsewhere, would rather wait another year than do that.

Thank you. I suppose. Even though they have a very high acceptance rate compared to most others. In any case, I feel lucky and happy with the way things have turned out. Onto the new terror now, to the challenges ahead. The Program I'm gearing up to accept the offer of admitted three people this year. No chance of "hiding" amidst a large student body like I would have been able to at the NYC schools. I'M FREAKING TERRIFIED; WHERE THE EFF IS JESUS?!

Congrats! Same here. I think I chuckled when he said the amount. I don't think I'd be able to afford them if I sold my kidney. Did you get the e-mail? I'm still waiting for mine. Grateful for the acceptance and kind phone call, though.

Read that article a while back. Felt embarrassed for him, and I don't think I was able to finish. As for NYC schools, it would be nice if all schools spelled out the financial aid packages they are able to offer. I've noticed from the acceptances I have gotten so far that the ones that provide vague information about their funding on their websites are the lousiest ones. They know if they said how much $$ they have, the number of applications will likely decrease + quality of applications will go downhill. They won't be getting applications from serious people. That would be one advice I'd give future applicants: don't waste your $$ and time applying to schools that don't say what they offer.

Thanks! Not sweating it at all; just intrigued! And learning more and more about the politics that goes into the admissions process. I was invited to step into a similar (but not so obvious) trap by another Program yesterday and responded with a different approach just to see what happens. I'm curious. AND: just got rejected by Brooklyn College. (That $125 in application fees is going to haunt me for a long time!)

You guys! Long time no see. First thing is first: congrats to all who got acceptances! And hugs for all who've been at the receiving end of rejections. I just got rejected by a certain university (after the weirdest exchange ever!). Even though I will probably write about this in public someday, can't go into detail right now because I actually work for said university in a temporary capacity (i.e. disposable like a kleenex) and I don't want to create problems for myself (when you have gotten involved in third world politics, then you can judge me for my paranoia :)). But just for the benefit of applicants who may find themselves in a similar position, I will say this: if a Program asks you if you have pending offers elsewhere before they make you a written offer, DO NOT BLABBER. I am not saying you should lie and say you don't have offers if you do have them, but phrase whatever you say in such a way that maximum stroking of egos is achieved. Basically: tell them that, yes, you do have some offers but not too satisfied and are particularly interested in what this Program has to offer you because they're your better choice, etc...etc. You can provide details about your offers during negotiations later on, after you have received a written offer, which they can't take back for non-extreme cases (like lies on application, etc...). But don't say/show anything that might make them feel like you're going to turn down their offer and, thus, waste their time. I have so much to say about this, but, as I said, don't want to get into detail right now... But I will definitely write about this at some point because I feel like that Program's exchange with me reveals something important about the way admissions decisions are undertaken. (Not that we haven't suspected these things before.) It's likely that this Program had no intention of accepting me, but was just considering me for a wait-list and, after finding out that I have "a particularly excellent" (yep, used those words and it's true!) offer elsewhere, they figured it's just going to be a waste of their time. But here is the thing: for aspiring writers (which an overwhelming majority of us applicants are) who are emotionally vulnerable and desperate for some validation, making it to the waitlist of a highly-rated competitive Program would be a compliment on its own. But now, thanks to that exchange I had with them, I will never find out that I made it that far. I'll just get a mass printed generic rejection letter saying, sorry, you weren't good enough. I am extremely lucky to be in a position where I have received acceptances from some awesome programs and got positive feedback from writers I didn't expect to be having conversations with at this stage in my writing career. And for that reason, I (and everyone I know) was more amused by the way this Program behaved than hurt. But imagine if I wasn't in that place. Imagine I was so desperately waiting for what this Program in question has to say. Think of how hurtful it would have been! And since I would have nothing to go by, I would be imagining three million possible reasons for the rejection and feeling worthless. That's why I think somebody needs to write about the politics behind the scenes of admissions processes; to help young and vulnerable writers realize that it isn't always about their writing. That said: five acceptances and two rejections so far. I have decided where I want to go, but still waiting to hear from four schools. Paid $$ to apply after all; why not find out what everyone has to say. In any case, considering that the fear of being rejected by every single Program I applied to was so prominently featured in my thoughts in the months after application deadlines, I have come a long way! I know I am very lucky! Good luck, everyone!

This is very true! Also, I remember someone on Draft posting a link to some tool that allows low income people to get fee waivers for applications. @icantanymore ask around about these opportunities. (I'm now trying to remember why I didn't rigorously apply for fee waivers despite being unemployed...) THANK YOU! I'm gonna go make my first million with that and make you proud!

Why oh why?! Don't you know there's such a thing as being too hot to handle?! You might be "too much" for the lowly programs. Seriously, though, a friend who is in a completely different field once told me about her grad school application experience and it struck me. We talk a lot about how our CW applications are subject to so much subjectivity. My friend is in the hard sciences, typical overachieving, straight A person. When she applied for her PhD, she was rejected by the lowly ones and was accepted by a top program. The theory goes: when some schools see that you have an awesome application packet and can get into programs with better rating/better money/better city/etc...they assume you're going to reject their offers anyway, so why waste their time/breath kind of situation emerges. I learned from her experience and distributed my applications across rankings: went for some top tier, some mid level and some that are nowhere on the rankings. Got admitted to a top ten ranked program (that I had marked as a potential rejection) with full funding, got rejected by another (that I also had marked as a rejection) today. @icantanymoresorry about the rejections. But this forum has all kinds of uplifting stories that basically mean one thing: the damn thing is unpredictable af. If you want to be a writer, be a writer. MFAs help, sure. But only you decide if you want to be a writer; they don't get a say over that, thank goodness! And if you want to take advantage of an MFA, apply again next year and apply to as many schools as you can. Definitely more than three, though. As for the credit cards, nothing will take away your fear of being in the red as much as being stuck in the red for a while because you simply don't have a choice. I didn't even have a job when I applied to eleven schools and paid a total of a thousand bucks for applications and transcripts. This is not a financial advice, so please don't take it. Just putting it out there. Listen to @FalloutCoversEverything. Now, WHERE IN THE HELL IS MY HUG, YOU BASTIDS?! I used my Brown rejection to solicit all kinds of hugs today!

First rejection: Brown! Boohoo!

First self-quoting post of the thread? Ah well... THIRD [AND VERY IMPORTANT] POSSIBILITY: that I actually love the Program for legit reasons!

So, here's a strange phenomenon I'm observing in myself...or is it familiar? I applied to eleven schools. I've only heard from four so far. While I wait for the others, the folks from the one school that has so far offered me full funding are growing on me so much...so so much that I'm kind of secretly wishing for the seven outstanding Programs to either reject me or offer me less than what this school is putting forth. Just so that I don't have to decline. I can't figure out if this is either due to my ineptitude at managing relationships (I once kept on dating someone for months and months because I didn't want to break their heart) or if it is some complex subconscious operation to protect myself from oncoming heartbreak via rejections.

Congraaaaats! On a Saturday too! Go out and celebrate (or whichever way you do your celebrations)!

@DangerDetectiveI know it's a cliché to say don't give up, etc...But I just wanted to tell you that I read that and it made me wanna cry. Sorry you're feeling this way right now. But very soon, I'm sure you'll find a brighter perspective -- another aha moment -- to rejuvenate and get you going again. I don't think I have any words of wisdom to share atm. Only hugs for now.

And it makes sense, doesn't it?! It's called "creative" for goodness sakes; everyone should be open to anything and everything, at least in principle! And oh yes, I would have a lot to think about if I get in, but keeping my expectations very low. (Their first year stipend is chuckle-inducing, though. But at least they give that much and no teaching is required! Also, one thing I've learned is: the stipend amounts posted on those department websites aren't always accurate; there appears to be a few more thousands to go around. That's what I've learned in at least one instance so far: the package ended up being 6K larger than what's advertised. It was a nice surprise. It's as if they're trying to keep people away or something. :))

You're too kind. I'm only trying. And thank you.

I don't think I'm "weird" enough for them, which is one of the reasons why their row is marked as a "rejection" in my spreadsheet. But I also feel like I might be a little too weird for most others; and there's so much suppressed weirdness looking for an opportunity to exhale. As a general rule (and as someone who genuinely struggles with propriety in everyday life), I gravitate towards people/settings/things/etc...that embrace/promote innovation and dynamism and weirdness. But sometimes, when innovation is your spelled out mission, maybe you're gonna push me to be "weirder" than I want to be. And it happens to be so important to me that my writing makes an attempt to connect with the working masses, with whom I'll always try to stand in solidarity, despite the temptations of "The Clouds." In short, wishy-washiness rules.

Thanks! There's no history to speak of if we're talking about publications and the likes. But if you're asking about me writing for me, it spans a couple of decades (no, I'm not eighty), and different countries and languages. Without saying too much to have myself identified (yes, I'm paranoid), let's just say that I'm here by the grace of my complicated history, which, apparently, has lent me a somewhat "distinct" voice and so much material. AND, of course, serendipity! Just two years ago, I was looking to do a second bachelor's in CW because I didn't think my writing was good enough to get me into an MFA program. That's until I accidentally met a professor at some big university who was impressed with my work, inspired and encouraged me to write more, and introduced me to other "important" people, resulting in at least a couple of great LoRs. This is why I'll never forget how lucky I am to get this far. I know that there are too many talented people out there whose stuff may never go anywhere simply because they weren't at some place at some time to meet some established person (or aren't good sales people!). (I have a super long way to go, obvi. Maybe the MFA program I hoped would improve me ends up destroying my voice (and me!). Maybe I'll have such horrible relationships with my professors that I end up rejecting humanity altogether and signing up for that free one-way flight to Mars. But barring all those unforeseen circumstances, I consider myself lucky.) ANYWAY: I don't think you should be concerned about your age/still being in undergrad. I believe there was at least one person on this forum last year who got into Iowa while still an undergrad. Sometimes they say more life experience helps. Maybe that's the general rule. But there are also people who apply with plenty of life experiences and still get rejected. I don't think there's one set formula for these things and it's frustrating. Just do your best. And good luck!