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Fingers crossed for you, it ain't over til it's over 🤞 Fwiw, my first cycle was straight rejections. I decided to focus on my writing independently, get a job, get booed up again, etc. That became 7 years somehow, and in the midst of it all I got some wonderful experiences at workshops, conferences, and even in the slog of submitting and publishing. The next time I felt "ready" to apply again was this cycle, and I (still pinching myself) got into a program I'm excited about, and plan to attend. So even if this cycle is a bust (🕯️🕯️), time is a lie, life is real, and there truly is nothing more important than the very next breath you take in.

Outta reactions, but thank you! Will! With gusto 💪

If I were in your shoes, I'd be cautiously optimistic, yes 🙏🕯️

Wow!! Congratulations!!! 🎇🎇🎇

My first broad hypothesis is that the accepted cohort email segment was sent to Housing's people, and they sent their welcome emails before checking that the MFA program had sent their own 😬 saying this as someone who sent mass emails for years. This is my worst nightmare come true as a sender 😂 But also holy shit The #FutureCoog Cohort sounds potentially legendary 😂 "Yo, you read so-and-so's new book? This one HAS to win them the NBA. They'd be the last of the [fabled] FCC to win it..."

Welcome, and good luck to you too! I feel like Oprah, telling people to look under their keyboards for good luck 🤪 Yeah, I'm not looking forward to the ol' NYC housing hunt again. Total shit show usually, but it does reward patience, fortitude, and diligence. If you end up there, I'm happy to share my housing search experiences (pre-panini).

It is, and conveniently also my only affordable choice. The program is a better fit for me than Columbia, my other option. I really miss living in NYC, my bestie lives there, I have family and friends close by, et freakin cetera

Congrats if I haven't already!!! My understanding is that the waitlist for NYU does get called up, so good luck! And def email them back if you're interested. Yup, my acceptance email came from the grad program manager, so I just replied back directly, to let them know they're my top choice, some other stuff. I also cc'd Deborah Landau, since her email was given to us. But I'm sure a direct reply-to will get to the right peeps.

Yaaassss tattoo tourism 😍 I got 2 distraction tattoos while waiting for decisions this cycle, and loooove them. Enjoy your trip/ink, and best of luck!!

I'm trying for patience myself (re: moolah), but I think you could probably check in a little earlier than 4 weeks. Tho I'm definitely not knowledgeable of the waitlist arts, so maybe I'll defer to those who are. However! The Columbia professor I talked with yesterday was like, "Be the squeaky wheel about money! Ask for what you need! Be bold!" So I'm drafting The Ultimatum™ this weekend to send to their bean counters. Fwiw!

Thanks for this. It does seem like, over the last six months or so, the discrepancy has grown between the faculty listed on their website versus who's actually teaching... V cool 😑 I guess that's common with websites tho. I emailed an Ivy League school last year to let them know they deadnamed Stephanie Burt. They were cool about it tho, so.

Hell yeah!! I feel the same about Columbia and their $200k price tag 😂 Feels amazing, even with the imminent decline. Def celebrate!!! Feel you on the NYU half-tuition thing. Same boat, hopeful that SOMETHING more will roll downhill by April 15, as sounds like a modest possibility. Either way, I'll likely accept, since I can prooooobably swing the equivalent of a car loan after graduation, for the opportunity to work with Sharon Olds, Terrance Hayes, and Ocean Vuong 😆 Will certainly have to keep a 20-25 hr/wk job while there ofc, just to live.

Congrats on the huge W!!!! 🎇

Congrats and fingers crossed!! 🤞 🤞

Congrats on Houston!! My ex went there for fiction, and I believe had a great experience. Even stayed in Houston for a few years after graduation.

CSU funding come oooonnnn 🤞🤞 And I totally feel you on the location/move/partner stuff. My longest relationship's [inevitable] end was catalyzed by their moving to Texas for a fully funded MFA. I had a location-specific career on the West Coast, which I would have considered leaving... But not for Texas. And I even liked the city itself. Fingers crossed for you!

[Jack Nicholson from Mars Attacks!] NYU still employs 2 out of 3 professors that I wrote in my SOP I wanted to work with—and that ain't bad.

Also, a word of comfort for those—and their supporters/recommenders—who were surprised by certain outright rejections. The professor I talked with had assumed—assumed! without my even bringing up the school!—that I had gotten into UMass, my alma mater. He thought so highly of my poems and overall application (SOP played a significant role btw!!!!) that he couldn't even fathom the idea that Columbia would have me, but not UMass. I told him that I can't presume to know what sort of cohort they're building in Amherst, but it would seem I'm not a good fit for their vision. And I do believe the difference between an A and an R can be as slim as fit.

Just got off my post-email acceptance call with Columbia (poetry). Really lovely and chill convo, kept it very real. Affirming balance of encouraging me to make the best decision for myself, and really hoping I'll be their resident Old Poet in the cohort 😆 Will keep the option open until my other offer shakes out, but likely politely declining because of money. Maybe my spot and $20k will roll to someone for whom they'll make All The Difference 🙏

Meanwhile, congrats on SL!

🙏❤️

Thanks so much for sharing your experience, and I'm really glad you have the larger perspective you do. I commend your strength, resolve, and levity. And am SO happy that you have better options available to you! NYU is my only realistic offer, and I will almost certainly accept. So any and all intel/hot goss is appreciated🙏

Make it cosmic law

The only 2 poets I knew who were familiar with my work and could write letters were my former workshop leaders at weeklong writers' conferences. The third letter was from my Chemistry MS advisor... from 15 years ago. I'm not sure what your timeline and financial means are, but for me (who's never taken a lit/English course), workshops were pretty much my only access to potential recommenders, as well as writing community in general.

Yo, WHAT???? Are they trying to alienate applicants en masse???