FalloutCoversEverything

You never know--they might not have been one of the primary readers this year, depending on how they do things. I wouldn't let it stop you from applying next year if you have to. It's often a crap shoot.

Now I'm thinking they've only rejected the joint MFA/PHD applicants at this point. I could be wrong. Looks that way. =( Congrats on the waitlist! Fingers crossed for you!

That would be nice since I haven't been rejected yet either =)

Yep, just saw that also. Also, the Michigan waitlists just went out. I applied to both. Bleh. Based on previous years it seems rejections often go out from Cornell on the same day as waitlists. So we'll likely have a final verdict on our status at Cornell soon.

Also, worried about the large number of "half tuition" fellowships they give out. Getting one of those will basically be like getting a rejection. Sigh.

Yeah, if I got good funding there it'd be one of my top choices. I feel that way about Rutgers - Newark too. Congrats on the CalArts acceptance! They have awesome faculty. Also, they just hired Brian Evenson!

I am also into crossing things off of the list! I do wish I was crossing them off in the context of a funded acceptance. Thanks for the crossed fingers! Crossing mine for you as well!

Yeah, for some reason it feels like things should be finishing up--but, actually, less than half of my schools have accepted anyone. I'm waiting on 3 schools that have already reported by now in previous years. I feel like it is only unhealthy though. Like, if they show up int he results and I don't get in it isn't going to make me feel better. Eh. I really wish I had a funded spot already so I could feel less stressed about this. Blah.

Huge congrats on the WashU acceptance -- great program with great funding!

I just did a search and looks like acceptances usually go out around the second week of March. I highly doubt any acceptances have gone out yet. Makes sense too: they have to go over the applications post-deadline, and they also likely have to confirm funding (which often involves the graduate school).

Don't. Some of these top tier places take 1-2% of Fiction writers, some less. It's like submitting to literary journals or submitting a novel. If your writing is good enough you have a chance of getting in, but it is still no guarantee. Also, sometimes it comes down to who faculty want to work with not who is the "best" writer (by whatever rubric) at the time of admission. If you don't get in, go to some non-MFA workshops and try to push your writing and try again next year. Apply to more places. It's not a judgement of your ability or how successful you may be as a writer down the road. I actually was just watching a Ta-Nehisi Coates interview last night and he said most of what makes for great writers is sticking with it, because there may be people who are more talented or skilled, but most of them are going to quit because writing is hard. Like, lots of people who get into and graduate from MFA programs don't publish books, or they only publish one and then stop writing because jobs/life/etc gets in the way. Eh. If it's for you, stick with it. Don't let some MFA rejections stop you.

Yes, this will be helpful--especially the teaching experience. There are programs that go entirely by the writing sample, but there are many, many more that don't. And even if they center the writing sample, most start looking at additional stuff once deliberations get past the first round.

Commutes can be good opportunities to get reading done if you take public transit. So, if you treat it like "work time" the commute might actually be beneficial.

It seems like some interviews have gone out. Unsure if that includes poetry or if it is just for fiction.

I applied to NYU also! Fingers crossed!

Wow, the UMass rejection posted to the forum last night sure is salty. Lol.

There's a chance only Fiction acceptances have gone out from Michigan. Also, there haven't been any waitlists posted... so I wouldn't totally give up hope yet. But yeah, I find myself worrying too much about each decision because I don't have a funded acceptance yet. I don't care where I go among the programs I applied to, I just want to go to one of them with funding =)

@GlowStick I wouldn't send the same sample, especially to schools you've been rejected from. If you don't get in anywhere, maybe take it as an opportunity to take a summer program (Jupiter / Iowa / Naropa ) or an online workshop. You'll likely end up with a much better packet of writing and you might do substantially better next go around. I mean, you have the greater part of a year to work on two documents--writing sample and statement of purpose, why not make the most of it. But hopefully we'll both get in programs and not have to worry about it. =) I also agree with @JenP that sending stuff out to journals isn't a bad idea either. Maybe make a habit of trying to write things to send out so you can build a substantial portfolio to pick from for next year. That said, sometimes it is HARD to write stuff (/ progress as a writer) while working / not in school. That's why I think the writing workshops might not be a bad idea.

I'd assume there aren't any yet if they haven't been posted on either gradcafe or the draft. A substantial number of students are accepted to Iowa in each genre--if not one acceptance made it up, I'd assume they haven't started notifying yet.

Yeah, we won't know who has been waitlisted at Iowa until early March, so there's still hope. Also, it seems they're still calling. It looks like Syracuse was the last rejection for one applicant, and the first for another. This whole thing is a weird rollercoaster.

I don't think we're in disagreement =) Like, U of Minnesota (I have a friend who went there) has one substantial fellowship per year that is diversity based. There are summer funding opportunities, but only 4-5 students out of 36 get those each year. Students also have to pay some fees there. It's not totally livable unless you're lucky and get summer funding. It IS a great program and is definately worth attending if you're admitted. I feel that way about most of the "fully funded" programs--if you get full tuition, a semi-livable stipend, and health care--great! If I have to work over the summer, or if I end up having to take out 5k in debt to make things more livable, it's not the hugest deal. Yeah, like you said, there's a huge difference between 5k in debt and 50-100k. Re: Columbia: I feel the fully covered tuition and stipend makes it livable, supposing one does some kind of summer work.

@holycat Those fees are substantial. If I do get in I'll want to know if the TA stipend includes fee remission as well (they often do... but it is absolutely worth looking into). I do think it is worth noting that many schools are going to be 4-5k short of what is really livable in any given area. There are some exceptions to this like Cornell, Michigan, and the Michener Center. LSU maybe. But yeah, most places you're going to get from 10-15k and have to teach. Some places 10-15k is "more" livable, but it is still going to tight.

@holycat You're going to get back your taxes on 24k once you deduct rent, bills, education expenses, and so on. If you're careful filling out taxes given how high the living expenses are in NYC, it is _highly unlikely_ you'll have to pay taxes on that amount. Also, the credit load isn't as substantial as it appears to be given that the workshops are 6 credits and the thesis course are 9. And creative writing courses can be used to generate material. Actually, if you play it right, extra classes may be a great way to put together a thesis. But yeah, if I don't get funding I won't be attending. I do think 24k is livable with some sort of summer employment. @BananaStand Yeah, I personally will consider any acceptance w/o funding a rejection. But there are some fully funded opportunities, there are just only a handful of them. I think it is worth noting that there is just a high of chance of getting one of those as there is of getting into many other programs. That said, part of me would consider going somewhere else just based on the type of students that might be in the classes given the cost/lack of selectivity. Another part of me is willing to suck it up to connect with the awesome faculty / the location.

@Ultralight For me, trying to get something in NYC has to do with my partner wanting to do a training program there. I didn't apply exclusively in the NYC area, but I had to give it a try. I also was semi-limited in terms of geography to places in the eastcoast to central midwest region. Hopefully neither of us have to re-apply! =)

Well, Columbia's teaching assistantships pay 24k a year according to the website (the info might be dated also). I'm sure there are additional summer teaching positions to be had teaching high school students, etc. It's not great for NYC, but with some form of summer funding/work it is doable. I don't think it's too much work. Almost all of the funded MFA programs require you to teach, and most of them require you to take 2-3 classes a semester.