Ydrl

There are waitlist pools where everybody exists until the adcom happens to go through the pool and pick who they like. It's shitty, just like a ranked waitlist, but in a different way.

Update from Florida, got a very nice call from a wonderful faculty member at Florida. The reason I wasn't given an email was because they had to chop the bottom three poets from the waitlist, and I was one of the bottom three haha. Oh well.

So apparently I'm towards the bottom of the waitlist for Florida, I never got an email about it until today???

I love libraries haha, I basically lived in libraries for most of my childhood. There's something about a large library that makes me very very happy. Maybe I should renew my membership.

I did get a new email regarding being on the waitlist, but all it said was that someone from the program would be answering our questions in our private zoom meetings. So I'm gonna assume that my question regarding waitlist ranks/ pools vs ranked waitlists will not be answered until my Mar. 29th meeting.

I thought of something to add to the great age/experience debate (if someone has said this I'm sorry, I just wrote this so I didn't forget it). I was told by some people that MFA programs want you to be moldable(?) as well as talented and dedicated. Not "teaching you writing" a.k.a making everyone into the same writer, but that your professors have the ability to form you in the best way they know how. You have to have grown enough, but not too much that they can't work with you. If they think they will be able to help you and you feel the same, then it's all the more reason for them to want you in the program. Side note, I noticed some of you applied without doing too much research. It's helpful to read the professors' work ahead of time and figure out who you want to work with (you don't have to buy all the books, just read some of their work online).

Update, I emailed Mr. Hofmann from U Florida. I hope he responds, or anyone responds.

It took a lot of research both this year and last year. By a lot I mean I spent around 50 hours total doing program research. Last season was around 30 of those hours I would say, spent more time on that than I did school work. Also Florida has been silent. I'm not entirely sure what's going on. I called them on Monday to make sure they even got my application, which they did. Carla still hasn't emailed me either, I emailed more than once for different reasons. Nothing. I'm about to steel myself and just email the poetry program director to find out a timeline.

There are some programs that aren't interested in literary fiction exclusively. I think @feralgrad writes horror??? Correct me if I'm wrong. I would look on this link: https://www.pw.org/mfa It's not easy to find, but there are mentions of programs that don't mind or are interested in genre fiction as well. It's gonna take some searching for sure. I know this because I viewed every school in the US on their database in a state I wanted to live. Cornell was intimidating in an exciting way to me. I also applied because of the youtube readings.

@Blackhole @Cristie @caramelcarrottop Not to barge in on the conversation, but are you first time applicants? It's typically harder for someone to get in to the best programs on the first try (I personally aimed for the best schools last year and got burned real real bad). There are a lot of young people that get in, but I watched a panel from Iowa on youtube full of older applicants and they came to the conclusion that the more life experience you have, the better. And I got lost in a conversation and don't know what I was saying anymore. I don't think this is helpful but still gonna post it.

Crucified doll

I've seen something today that I can't unsee. Anyone get any news?

I'm sorry.

Don't you mean 4? What happened to U Florida?

My dead-name's last name begins with an F. I shouldn't be too far behind if I'm being rejected. The only reason I'm holding out hope is there haven't been any U Florida poetry waitlists on the gradcafe results page. Also if Florida does happen to waitlist me it would be exactly what Maryland did.

That's a big mood. If Maryland accepts me I'll cry happy tears until I drive there, then continue to cry when I get there.

I'm sorry about your rejection. I'm expecting one from Florida at some point. I just got done playing phone tag with their admissions office, the liberal arts college, and finally had to leave a message with the department, which might lead to another phone call and message to the program. All over a lack of response to my emails, and my lack of a status update. This is a nightmare.

Can we talk about something that's not problematic? Like trying to navigate MFA nonsense. That sounds quite nice right about now.

I don't want anyone to get offended or get angry at anyone else. I don't expect anyone to like or upvote this post. However, I do feel like it's an important thing to think about, that it's worth something. I can't be the only one here that needs to hear something like this. I edited this down to the things that really mattered. I wrestled with saying "You did your best to apologize" or "It's okay". But I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. I replaced a trigger for people of color with my worst trigger. It fucked with my head, because I knew that for a good chunk of people, how I feel about my worst trigger is exactly how other people feel about their triggers tied to current events. It's can be hard to predict what people will or will not be triggered by, I get it. My new trigger is particularly hard to know unless I mention it, or I get triggered and have to explain anyway. References to recent and/or especially rampant violence, death, racism, abuse...etc. are all things that should scream "don't talk about this in a completely unrelated space." No matter how nicely you say something, or tack on an apology or explanation afterwards, it can still hurt people badly. And I don't know about anyone else, but when I'm hurt, the last thing I want to deal with is the person that hurt me in any capacity, no matter if they want to help or hurt again. I know you didn't mean any of this, but not knowing how something hurt somebody isn't a great defense when the information is there and you haven't found all the answers yet. I'm sorry.

It's funny how you pulled that out of your ass, but not the massive stick that's up there too. You seem to know your way around town ??

I'm cackling over here. I'm like that too. Except replace Columbia with Maryland or Florida. And the notification with coupon emails.

Thank you. Mine took awhile to write, but I'm glad we're on the same page here.

I have more than a few concerns with this post... 1) You could have messaged her to see if she's alright. 2) NEVER include someone's real name from their facebook, there's a reason why people aren't on draft. 3) "Some black issue" Either you explain or you don't. Don't downplay whatever it was. For an entire community to jump on her probably doesn't mean it's downplayable, but you can't just say "some black issue". 4) You're speaking for @eternalwhitenights. Let her speak for herself. 5) People end their membership on draft all the time. Draft is poisonous.

I'm genuinely excited for Monday, not because I think I'll hear news though. I just want one of my three response emails to come back.

Anyone else hating Sundays solely for the lack of news about colleges? I realize this season is basically over, but last year I was dragged out until early April, and this year might be the same...