npc

If it makes you feel any better, he said "otherwise great." If his annoyance at a perfectly acceptable, if slightly cliché, phrase keeps you out of Iowa... I don't even know what to say about that. I hope you will get good news soon @LazyEmergency . I really think it was just him venting. It's a petty thing he selected to pick on. If that is his main complaint, the applications must be looking pretty good this cycle, and that should be more worrisome. (Just kidding) I think there's always the potential that our SOP could rub the adcom the wrong way and there's no way to know if they've just happened to read several that are quite similar to yours. I'm also overthinking and despairing with you. I found a typo in my writing sample I submitted to my dream program and I've been obsessing over that. Then I let it go, because I can't change it now and the sample's purpose is to show my potential. It's far more likely that my writing is not a fit for them, and that's why I don't get in -- not because of a mistyped word.

University Of Minnesota (English) - Creative Writing, MFA (F18) Rejected via E-mail on 20 Feb 2018 A 20 Feb 2018 report spam 0 good schools/0 confused schools/2 schools that suck/10 pending Lied about liking Charles Baxter anyway, dude puts me to sleep. Dead.

I applied to other programs so I'm not going to risk it. I feel for you though, this is a stressful time. And you're right, his tweet is not helpful. Maybe it is for next season applicants, but it just stresses out those who already paid the application fee, stressed over their writing samples, statements, etc. I just feel sorry for Iowa applicants who see his tweet and cringe when they realize they put that phrase in their letter.

I didn't apply to Iowa. Maybe I should reply.

I agree with you completely. Pretty tacky for him to be subtweeting about applicants. I thought Iowa was classier than that. Also, reminds me of that one professor that got torn apart on Twitter when she said applicants should stop putting the phrase, "Ever since I was young, I have been fascinated by..." Perhaps these schools should stop asking such obvious questions if they want to stop receiving obvious answers. Of course an applicant to a science program is fascinated by science. Of course an applicant to an MFA wants to become a better writer.

I feel for this poster: University Of Wisconsin- Madison (English) - Creative Writing Fiction, MFA (F18) Rejected via E-mail on 19 Feb 2018 20 Feb 2018 Major vibes right now: Being one of those writers who wastes away in self-imposed obscurity and is only discovered after their early demise, at which point they become a cult favorite beloved by chain-smoking teens who use obscure art to develop their senses of self. But in all seriousness, congrats to everyone who is getting into their dream programs, and best of luck to everyone still waiting to hear back. 0a/0w/2r/5 pending

I really wish the person posted their conversation but I understand why they didn't. I know Hunter is a great program, but I was turned off completely and didn't apply. It seems like the faculty wants their egos stroked more than anything else. Some highlights from Hunter's admissions page: (full page here: http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/creativewriting/how.shtml) When the online application form asks which other colleges you're applying to, if you don't list any colleges we'll assume you've applied to lots but would rather not say. If you are applying only to Hunter please write "Hunter Only." When we ask you what other colleges you have applied to we would really like to know. 4. 500 words explaining why you are right for us (and vice versa). In administration-speak this is the “statement of purpose” that accompanies your application. In real life it’s a 500 word letter in which you tell us who you are. Even more importantly, it is your opportunity to tell us what you understand about where you are applying. Before you write a word you should have read the most important work of the three writers who would teach you at Hunter. You should have also read their interviews and visited their websites. You will have attended the Open House if that is possible. Lastly, you will have also read this website carefully. To check how successful your letter is, try changing the name Hunter to Iowa (or NYU or Michigan). If the resulting letter makes no sense it is absolutely perfect.’ 6. Make sure you know who the faculty are Your reasons for coming to Hunter might include its convenience on the subway, or the very reasonable tuition costs. These are both good reasons, but not what the Hunter MFA is all about, which is to assemble the best collection of students and faculty in the country. We'll be spending a lot of time reading your work and then finding out who you are. Likewise, to better understand what you are getting into, you should find out more about us. See Who will teach you. (Translation of part 6: the faculty is the most important part and you better know it)

Same, some of the creative writing MFA responses are great. I saw this one from last year, though it's actually an applicant rejecting the school: City University Of New York (CUNY Hunter) Creative Writing (Fiction MFA) Accepted after one of the strangest conversations of my life, I declined. I am so curious... Also, I had to laugh because the Hunter MFA admissions page is quite possibly the most pretentious thing I have ever read in my life.