feralgrad

Whelp, according to Draft, TA offers went out for the only program where I have a shot for funding. Looking more and more like this is the end of the road for 2019...

Short answer: Don't go. Long answer: I didn't have to take out loans for my undergrad either, but I'm still not going into debt for an MFA. Generally, debt is not conducive to a positive MFA experience or a successful writing career. The whole point of an MFA is giving you time and freedom to write, and debt will take that away from you. You want a fully-funded degree so that you don't have to balance work with school/writing, and so you can take that unpaid internship at a major publishing house. Moreover, loan payments will put a LOT of financial pressure on you after graduation (easily hundreds per month with Columbia's tuition rates). This often leads graduates to taking on a full-time job outside the literary world, where they have less time to write than ever. Based on my research, this is the #1 reason some MFA graduates never publish (and why some regret getting their degree). Columbia is a well-respected program, but it's generally believed that it's not competitive to get in. Due to the cost, many applicants turn down their acceptances, leading to a large number of accepted applicants come April. And frankly, I think you're overestimating what an MFA can do for you. This degree will not give you money, success, or career opportunities. You get those things from networking, sending out manuscripts over and over (despite countless rejections), and writing consistently. An MFA can certainly help with those three things, but only if you have the time, energy, and financial flexibility to begin with. If you want this degree, by all means go get it. But in my opinion, the best way to do that is to keep applying until someone funds you. I know reapplying next year would suck -- trust me, I'll probably be in the same boat, and I'm not happy about that. But 2-3 years of fun is not worth decades of soul-crushing debt. I hope that's not too harsh. I'm just telling you what I wish someone had told me when I started applying to schools with minimal funding.

I'm glad you two were able to see eye-to-eye. Admitting to your misjudgement doesn't make you an idiot. It shows respect for your daughter, and I'm sure it means a lot to her. Congrats to you both!

It's not too early to think about this, but I'd recommend keeping multiple schools in mind and putting finances over a "name brand" school. Based on the website, Harvard's program looks pretty expensive. If your plan is to teach children, I see no reason to get an expensive degree from a fancy school. Your Master's will offer you the same pay increase whether you get it from Harvard or the University of Arkansas, and it's not like the job market for high school teachers is competitive. Also, keep in mind that a school's undergrad reputation =/= its grad reputation. I don't know about Harvard, but there are Ivy Leagues out there with Master's programs that are essentially cash cows (i.e. they aren't competitive to get into and they're very pricey). Some of Columbia's programs have this reputation, for example. Anyway, in the meantime I'd recommend getting tutoring experience where you can. Consider volunteering at your university's writing center. That will make you more competitive for the program and fellowships. I know this answer isn't as tailored as you wanted, but I hope it's helpful!

That is a really difficult position to be in, and admittedly one I don't know much about as an American citizen. But if possible, I would still advise shopping around more (i.e. reapplying next year) instead of making an expensive decision under duress. There are better-known (and ergo better-networked) programs that are less expensive. A large public institution may offer cheaper tuition and more scholarships. I understand wanting to go for it instead of continuing to write on your own. I feel the same way. But ultimately, the MFA is offering very little that you can't get for free if you're crafty (especially if you're not looking to TA). You can find a local community of writers through the internet, and if you want help publishing you can find an agent. I totally get why you want an MFA, but you simply don't need one -- no one does. Remember that many successful writers do not have one, while some MFA graduates never publish. How will you feel if you end up in the latter group? Seriously consider whether a couple fun, creative years is worth decades of debt. I recognize there's probably a lot factoring into this decision that I don't know about, but that's my stance. I hope you can find the best option for you.

Wine night was yesterday for me. Holding off tonight so it doesn't become Wine Week haha

Mixing up my whining with something visual:

From what I've heard, it's a nice way to accumulate tens of thousands in debt for a degree with no value on the job market. It's common for them to advertise the program to rejected applicants, who may be facing the possibility of reapplying next year. I'd pass.

MFA lurker, but as someone who lives in an expensive city I'd like to offer my two cents. As trytostay says, you can make it work with sacrifices, but you should consider if those sacrifices are viable long-term. If rent is your primary expense and you have little to no savings, will you be able to weather an unexpected expense? Can you rely on your family to throw you $500 for an unplanned hospital stay or a vet bill? This, in my opinion, is the difference between surviving and floundering for many young people in expensive cities.

After looking at their website, what stands out to me is that they offer very little funding. You've probably heard this before (possibly ad nauseum), but you should not pay for an MFA. I didn't take this advice too seriously when I first started applying, as I have no undergrad debt, and now I'm kicking myself for applying to several programs with meager funding. Over the course of this application cycle I realized how vital funding can be to one's success as a writer. Debt is not conducive to a successful writing career. Being debt-free will help you get the most out of your degree during and after the program. If you decide to pay for an MFA with loans, you will likely be working while you obtain your degree. After graduation, you may feel pressured to get a full-time job outside of writing to pay off loans (which will easily add $200-400 per month to your expenses). These financial demands (and the resulting stress) could make it very difficult to devote ample time to your craft, which is the entire point of getting an MFA. Yes, an MFA can help you get a job or a publishing deal down the line, but only if you have the time and resources to pursue those opportunities. Keep in mind that time (not a fancy degree) is the #1 thing unpublished writers lack. Sorry to get up on a soapbox, especially if you do have the money to pay for your degree without loans (in which case, do whatever you like). However, I wrestled with this issue a lot this year, and this is what I've concluded. Personally, I'd recommend beefing up your application and applying next year if you don't get the funding you need now. There's no age limit for getting an MFA, so I think you should wait until you can get the most out of it.

Thank you for the kind words. As much as this sucks, it's nice knowing I'm not the only one in this spot when it feels like everyone else has made a decision already. I'll be sending good vibes your way, too!

Still waiting on fellowship info, and I've been paranoid that I may have been passed up because I posted identifiable info concerning the program on here... I've heard adcomms sometimes lurk on these boards, but I wasn't thinking about that when I posted my results. I was trying to be helpful to other GCers, but now I think I may have just been foolish.

I might recommend looking for a roommate from your cohort (or another graduate program at your university). My best friend, who has found most of his roommates frustrating, had great success with this approach.

Hi, Younis. I think this question belongs in the Waiting it Out board or one of the discipline-specific boards. You'll likely get better information there.

For those who don't know, the Iowa Writer's Workshop is the premier creative writing program in the US. As such, applying there turns people into rabid animals.

It's very common for students to wait until the 11th hour to make a decision. As long as you respect the deadline, it won't reflect poorly on you. Good luck with your decision making process, and congrats on your acceptances!

I still don't have funding information from my top program. I knew there was a pretty good chance I wouldn't hear this week, but that doesn't make it any easier. It feels like everyone else on this board has already made a decision, and it's so frustrating.

Maybe people say "it shouldn't matter," but it's normal to want these men (who I'm assuming are family members) to be happy with your choices. It's hurtful when people you love don't respect your decisions, especially when you're doing so much work. I hope they learn to appreciate your efforts some day.

Are you sure she's actually "intimidated"? Because it doesn't sound that way to me. She's not worried it's going to be a hard program, she's worried it will be a poor fit for her. And I think she's right to do so. It's normal to take classes you hate in undergrad, but this should not be the case for grad school. If you hate 4 of your classes (which is a LOT in a program that only requires 3 courses per semester), then you've picked the wrong program. Each of your daughter's courses should be preparing her for her career -- otherwise you're not spending your money wisely. I know you're trying to look out for her, but she's probably done way more research on these programs and their alumni outcomes than you. She may still be young, but she's the expert.

This application cycle has been a lot of ups and downs for me anxiety-wise. Acceptances and rejections haven't been nearly as difficult as figuring out my finances. It's very easy for me to spiral out of control wondering if my career goals will ever be financially feasible. That said, overall I think this has actually been good for my mental health. As difficult as the past couple months have been, I'm proud of myself; I'm going after something I'm excited about, rather than coasting through an easier career because I'm afraid to take risks. I used to feel so much dread sitting at my desk and wondering if I'd spend the next 50 years writing Facebook posts for a living. Even if I don't get the funding I need to go to school this year, at least now I know that's not my fate. That wasn't exactly advice, but I think it's something we should all keep in mind: As scary as school/funding/the job market can be, it's not as frightening as being 70 years old and regretting all the risks we didn't take.

This is a really good point. While it can come off as mean, I would guess that your colleague said you're quiet because they want to hear you talk more. They probably think you're smart.

Maybe you've just been lucky until now, because in my experience some people are just bad at returning emails, point blank. Several of my coworkers are like that (although I work at an NGO, so it's a very different culture). But it's certainly frustrating, and I'll admit that it's more common in academia than other places. In all fairness, however, professors tend to have odd, fragmented schedules that fluctuate with each new semester. Professors and admissions/admin staff are also swamped this time of year. Like I said, frustrating, but it's nothing personal. We're all in the same boat.

Personally, I wouldn't do it. This is an extremely busy time for graduate departments, so unless you have a specific inquiry, "just checking in" messages are likely to be seen as unnecessary. No one likes unnecessary emails. I can't imagine how stressful this must be for an international student, but unfortunately there's not much you can do but wait.

Ahh, I see. Well I don't know this specific program, but it may have to do with how the department handles POIs. Perhaps every POI makes an offer to 2+ students, and if that leaves space in the cohort, they start sending out more offers. At any rate, if they're being vague it's probably a matter of departmental policy; they may not be able to discuss precisely how the decisions process works. The important thing is that it sounds like you're probably high on the list (even if it's not a "sure thing").

I'm not in grad school yet, but this has been on my mind a lot lately. My quietness seems to come off as a lack of interest in other people, which is not ideal for writing workshops... I don't often get "you're so quiet," but I've gotten a lot of "I thought you hated me"/"I was afraid of you." Not sure why people think that's a nice thing to say, either! I haven't found a good solution for this yet, so I'll be keeping an eye on this thread. Anyway, I'm sorry your colleague made you feel that way. I think outgoing people simply don't realize how hurtful those comments can be. That said, one person's evaluation doesn't negate your progress. If you feel like you're starting to overcome your shyness, you're probably right; it may just take a while before other people can see it.