Mina82

You have a great point there. Having taught at UVA would open up some doors I would assume. UVA admits 5 fiction writers and 5 poets. I really do like that the program is so small and that I could concentrate on my writing the first year. Gosh, this is sooo difficult. But you did help me a great deal, since I didn't consider that teaching at UVA could have some benefits in the future. Thank you so much!

Sallyj thank you so much for your input. Yes, I have spoken to current students and they seem to be very happy with the program and location. What worries me also about UMass is the student to faculty ration. UMass accepts 10 poets and 10 fiction writers (I'm a fiction writer) and at any given time in the semester, there are 30 fiction and 30 poets. I like the idea of a small program like at UVA or UW-Madison. Although the teaching load seems a lot there are only 15 students in a class (I guess that's good in a semester where I would only teach one class). What seems good is that I wouldn't have to create my own syllabus. The Writing Program gives out fixed syllabi and the duty of the TA is pretty much guiding the students through the class and grading papers. I've seen UVA and let me tell you, it is gorgeous! I can see myself writing on late summer nights under the shade of a tree, taking in the humid air of southern summers...sorry, I'm like all of us writers, a daydreamer. I wasn't able to see Madison, WI but heard lots of good things about the city and university. I will be visiting Amherst hopefully in April but that's still in the air. Just by going off my gut, I would say all 3 of them: I want to clone myself and attend all 3!!! That's the problem I'm running into: I feel good about all three. I have this feeling that regardless of which one I end up choosing, I'm going to tell myself, "Ah, stupid girl, you should have chosen X or Y."

My dear friends, I'm in desperate need of your help. I have been accepted to UMass, Amherst, UW-Madison, and UVA. It is crunch time and I have to make a decision and would like your input and insight. All three programs were my top choices and regardless of how I toss and turn it, I can't seem to make up my mind. Funding UMass $19,175 for three years UW-Madison $22,000 for two years UVA $20,000 for two years with a possibility of third-year funding $10,000 Teaching UMass 3 courses per year in composition with a possibility of teaching creative writing UW-Madison 2 courses per year (first year creative writing and second year compositon) UVA 2 courses per year (no teaching in the first year) I know that UVA and UW-Madison are well known and regarded schools but I couldn't find much about UMass' MFA reputation. If one believes the P&W rankings from 2012, UMass Amherst has been ranked number 13. I first heard about UMass' program through Tom Kealey's book "The Creative Writing MFA Handbook" (he did his MFA there) and thought after researching the program, location, and faculty that it would be a good fit for me. What I like about UMass is that they give you 3 years. What I don't like so much is teaching 3 courses per year, which strikes me as a little too much. UVA gives its students time to concentrate on their writing in their first year and in their second year students only teach creative writing. I love UVA's program and faculty but, for me, it is not enough teaching (I'm playing with the idea of getting my PhD in creative writing after my MFA). UW-Madison seems like the golden medium: teaching creative writing in the first year and composition in the second. Now you might say, "go with the golden medium" but UMass' three year program sounds very luring (minus the teaching load). Does any of you know how good or well known UMass' program is in the MFA world? I'm getting super antsy and time is running out. I appreciate ANY input/insight. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!