FairleyAlfy

Haha Where to begin? I have a pretty lengthy list. Since I served as an AmeriCorps member, many of the universities I'm interested in waived the application fee for me so I thought I would apply to as many as I could afford. So far, I have completed applications for the following: 1. Cornell 2. U Virginia 3. Purdue 4. Notre Dame 5. OSU 6. U Mississippi (Ole Miss) 7. Vanderbilt The rest of the universities that I have on my list are: 1. BU 2. NC State 3. Florida State University 4. U Florida 5. U Maryland 6. Hollins 7. Bowling Green U I've got a mix of colleges. I mainly look at faculty I would like to work with, funding, and teaching load. If anyone has any information about these universities, good or bad, please let me know. I applied from reading the work of the faculty, and what they put on the website.

Thank you for the advice! I let a few professors and former classmates read my portfolio, and it was all pretty positive. The critiques they gave were easily fixed. My former professor (who's now a director of a low-residency MFA program) said that the depressing aspects of my poems fit in with the theme of southern gothic that is present in my portfolio and to not add humor to it. Super helpful advice so I'm feeling better about my submission. I'll have to read that poetry book! I've been reading so much new poetry lately with being quarantined and sick. California just went into shutdown mode where I live so not a whole lot to do besides remote work, filling out applications, and reading. I hope everyone is doing well!

First, I'm feeling the exact same way. Still recovering from COVID so I think that's making it harder to focus on applications. Set out a list for yourself (a doable list), and do not allow yourself to go to bed before completing that list. It could be editing your SOP or editing a couple of poems for that day. I find that having a set daily list and not focusing on everything at once is super helpful. My former professors have been valuable as well. One of them is an MFA low-residency director so he knows exactly what I need for my application. That has taken away some of the anxiety for me. Do you have any former professors who can look at your writing sample and SOP? It might help to have a new set of eyes. I'd would be happy to look at SOP's or writing sample. Also, make sure to take breaks. I will usually do yoga, watch a stand-up comedy show, drink a cup of tea outside, or cuddle my pets. Take deep breaths and find someone to rant too. You've got this! It will be over soon, and we will all wait for responses together. haha I hope you feel better soon! Take vitamin C, drink plenty of liquids, and get plenty of rest.

If you wouldn't mind, I would love to see it. Thank you for your help and advice! It has helped relieve some anxieties.

Agreed. I've dealt with people like him in many writing workshops. The best thing one can do is ignore them.

Thank you! I'm worried that it sounds a bit boring, but I'm trying to sound like a sane person. haha My professor has offered to zoom meet with me and talk about revealing more of myself in my statement without going overboard. He did say that I sounded "stiff and uncomfortable" compared to my writing which is accurate.

Thank you! It's definitely not easy to write with the constant fatigue, but I still want to apply and not put it off another year even if I don't get in this time around. This is my first time applying so I feel like I'm moving in the dark, but even if I don't get accepted, at least I gave it a shot. I'm meeting with a my former poetry professor tomorrow who said my SOP definitely needs work, but he's impressed with my writing sample so that makes me feel much better about my application. I'll let you know what advice he gives me on my SOP. He's the director of a low residency MFA program because of this, he reads hundreds of SOPs every year. Lots of colleges are lenient when it comes to reference letter timing because that's sometimes out of your control. As long as you submit your application, they will probably overlook your reference missing the deadline of submitting your letter. Maybe shoot them an email and let them know what's going on. Every program is different though so can't say for sure they will be understanding about it. I wish you luck! Your reference still has several days to submit before Dec. 1st though so I wouldn't panic yet.

Wow...Looks like I missed a lot while I was gone. I'm worried about deadlines. I've fallen behind in my battle with COVID. I've had a bad case, and I'm still not completely well. Just trying to pull myself together so I can get these applications in before the deadline. SOP has been my biggest struggle. Every program seems to list different things to talk about, and I can't fit them all in two pages...help! I've read a bunch of sample SOP's, and I seem to be falling in a state of overthinking. I hope everyone is well!

Thank you! This is helpful.

Thank you for the advice!

Does anyone worry about the content of their writing? I worry that my poetry is too depressing. Should I add humor? I am not sure I can even write humor in this current climate, and being in quarantine has only brought depressing ideas to surface. Some days I look at my poetry and think, "yea, I can write." Other days, I hate the sight of what I write and think of giving up. I think this comes with rereading a poem over a hundred times, or I just really can't write and fall into delusional grandiose state of mind.

They didn't accept me either. We might need to make a new group with the current misfits and rejects.

All of the above...It feels strange to be applying to grad schools and focusing on the future as the world crumbles around us. I feel like I'm in a Tarantino film. I'm also editing my SOP a ton. It's hard to balance between sounding interesting but not sounding crazy and bragging about yourself but not sounding egotistical.