I've been deliberately avoiding MFA blogs/forums during this whole process, so forgive me if I'm totally lost. I wanted to answer some of the questions but not sure how.
Here's my list:
Accepted: University of Michigan (Feb 18)
Rejection: Washington University (Jan 31) ; University of Texas, Austin (Mar 2)
Waitlisted: Purdue (Feb 22)
Still waiting on the others; I applied to ten programs total. As an international student, I was subjected to a higher fee, averaging $80 for each school. Plus, the GRE and TOEFL fees. It all amounts to at least $1000.
First feedback was a rejection from Washington, and while it stung, I took comfort in its swiftness. Ate tons of ice cream. Second feedback was thankfully an acceptance from Michigan via email. I cried on the bus. It was on Feb 18 like many others said on this forum, around 3~4pm (EST). My status didn't change for at least a week after receiving the email and the phone call. Third feedback was Purdue, a waitlist. A short one according to the email. Purdue accepts three fiction writers and has asked those accepted to kindly reply with decisions by March 21st, if possible. The national date is April 15th and they'll ultimately observe that deadline. That seemed fair. Fourth feedback was NWP, a succinct but polite rejection.
Really appreciated how the rejection/waitlist letters were worded; they were very polite, very kind. It's a thoroughly humbling process so I was glad for those words. Still waiting on six others. Curious when it'd be really, truly over. I know a friend who got accepted into a wonderful program mid April last year, so I know it can go that far.
I just wanted to say I admire everyone on this forum. Hope you all get into programs you want (or write that novel you always had in mind), whether it be this year or the next.