feralgrad

Finally earned my "acceptance dream" badge. Last night I dreamed that I got accepted/funded at UMD (which I did not apply to this year). Really nervous I'll have a repeat of last year, when I got accepted but didn't receive enough funding to go anywhere...

@litty I don't believe there's an admitted students' day, but scheduling something with a current student might be smart. Honestly I'd go for it without a second thought if it weren't for the location (I have to drive on all the most terrifying highways in my area to get there).

Yesterday I got an email from GMU with a rough timeline for funding announcements and info about visiting campus. I visited the program when I got in last year, and I'm wondering if it's a good use of time to visit again. I think it'd be nice to show face and shake hands and such, but I'm not sure... Thoughts?

I have two friends that I share my work with, and they give me useful feedback. I think it helps to ask pointed questions and be clear about the feedback you want. For example, when I email them my drafts, I'll often mention one or two things I'm not sure about (a specific scene, pacing, etc.). Worse comes to worst, I'd also recommend an online workshop. I used a free trial of this one to polish my MFA portfolio, and it was a great resource. The quality of the reviews tends to be good since everyone on the website is serious about writing.

That's crummy. In my opinion, if you're gonna pay $50-100 on a application, you're entitled to a straight answer... I remember last year, VCU didn't officially reject me until May or June -- via post no less -- and honestly it was kind of offensive.

I toned down faculty mentions significantly this year compared to last year. I name-dropped a lot in my first round SOPs, even though I hadn't read anything by most of the people I mentioned. I think it shows when you're doing it as a perfunctory gesture. To be frank, rockstar faculty are nice, but ultimately I'm looking for a strong community, a well-rounded curriculum, and professional opportunities. It's not gonna help me stand out if tack on "oh, also, Professor XYZ is soooo talented" after listing all the things I care about more. That isn't to say I think it's pointless or foolish to mention faculty, but if your priorities are like mine, I feel being genuine is the best policy.

Michener doesn't seem to be terribly explicit about it on their website, anyway. I doubt anyone will care, especially if you show that you've done your research in other ways. Side note: that's exactly why I turned off email notifications haha!

Since they offer four concentrations, I imagine seats are split evenly between them (so three for fiction).

Although there's no need to be scared, in my experience those emails don't generally do any good. Usually just come back with "we'll let you know at some point :^)" Sometimes they give a more specific time range, but even then they have no obligation to honor it. It absolutely sucks, but adcoms are a black box that we simply can't peer into.

Congratulations! That's an excellent program! I'll pray to the Full Funding Gods for ya.

Thanks, y'all! Honestly it's such a relief, even if I don't know about funding yet. I was worried I wouldn't get in anywhere since I only picked 3 programs.

Yes, that was me!! I was absolutely vibrating at my desk cos the forum was down & I wanted to tell y'all. It's my first result of the season. I was feeling so miserable today at work, and it really lifted my spirits. And thank y'all (you especially, Y) for your support!

I'm sure many of you know this, but chiming in with a tip: Many programs have a page for their current cohort, which gives you an idea of what sort of writing they like. Failing that, you can always email the admissions office to ask before you apply. In my experience, they're happy to give pointers! I know it's too late for us, but figured I'd say this for future applicants/in case any of us do another round of apps next year.

Apparently I'll find out next week, but make no mistake: I will be checking the application portal five times per day anyway.

Chiming in to say that just finding a straight man who /truly/ respects women can be such a challenge. As a transmasc person, I genuinely think it's easier for me to find a good guy now that dating straight dudes isn't an option. So many of them, even if they're generally good people, have these deeply-ingrained misogynistic ideas that they've never questioned. Plus, I imagine you're better at discerning that than the average bear.

Exactly. Of course I'm concerned about my hopes and dreams and all that BS, but what really gets my heart palpitating is wondering if/where I'll be moving in 6 months...

Yeah, I'm still checking. Based on past years, there /is/ an off chance I'll hear next week or the week after from one of my programs. That's my (weak) justification, I guess.

They know that you're not likely to hear back until February or March, right? Seems awfully callous of em, honestly. I am getting excited/nervous as the acceptances start trickling in on the Results page. Logically I know that, based on past years, none of the schools I applied to are likely to notify until mid/late February; I'm trying to keep my expectations reasonable, but it's so difficult!

The advice I've seen from adcoms members is to "have something to say." I think there are many ways to do this, and addressing "serious topics" (by which I assume you mean social and political issues) is just one method of doing so. Talking about family relations and your personal experience, for example, are valid ways of "saying something" -- and there are plenty of current MFA students doing just that.

To be frank, I would try to untangle your admissions chances from your self-worth. You applied to very competitive programs; they get way more wonderful applicants than they have space for, so the decisions are incredibly subjective, sometimes even luck-based. You're basically asking a handful of people from each program if they personally can offer you mentorship, and on that level creative chemistry is more important than talent. It's possible that you won't get in this year, but if that's the case, it says more about the markets you were selling to than your work itself. Not to mention I've read books from MFA grads that are still crap, so... take that as you will.

Honestly, I assume we think about it way more than adcoms do. Really, you should feel bad for us cos there are way more of us jockeying for the same number of spots.

That's funny, because I saw one article suggesting /not/ to use firs person. My guess is that it depends on the program/professor. I included two pieces in my portfolio, one in first person and one in third. I think it's good to show some range.

Me, checking the application portal one (1) day after the deadline: this is a great use of my time!

Based on your username, it's very possible haha! I agree that the city is the main draw -- that's why I considered applying. I ended up deciding not to because I reached out to a current student, and she didn't seem that excited about it. She said it was more competitive than collaborative, which is a big turn-off for me. That said, it's a well-respected, well-funded program; I probably would have applied anyway if it weren't for the fact that it's pretty literary, so I have a 0% chance of acceptance. Can I ask: why did you apply if you're not excited about it?

I lived there for about 2 years, and I liked it. I still have close friends there, so I might even move back. I think Richmond is a hidden gem when it comes to queer life (at least in terms of its national reputation). Although it's small, it's funky and has loads of character. It's got a great art museum and a decent nightlife scene (again, for its size). The general quality of life suffers for VA's $7.25 minimum wage, though.