KZK

Wow - so much good news this weekend! Congrats y'all! I am officially in purgatory with four of my final five having sent out responses to others in the last few weeks but nothing to me yet (looking at you, Rutgers-Camden, University of Montana, University of New Mexico, and Hollins)! Ugh, the waiting is so brutal! Just put me out of my misery!

HUGE congrats! Hollins is an absolute dream program for me (especially that dreamy mountain living!).

I've only seen fiction and nonfiction for Montana so far (in Draft and on GradCafe). Hang in there!

I've seen two acceptances via for Montana so far - one in CNF (yesterday) and one in fiction (today). From previous results, it looks like Montana is somewhat all over the board with notifications so here's hoping that bandaid gets ripped off sooner rather than later.

Thanks all, for your comments and advice! ?

I did! I think they usually respond in early to mid March. I also applied to Montana and the nonfiction program at Iowa so with acceptances (and likely rejections) coming out now, it looks like the next two weeks will be real nail-biters. In other news, I was emailed on Friday regarding to a TA interview at one of my schools. I have a few years of teaching experience so I feel relatively confident on that front, but any additional thoughts or tips?

Just got my rejection from Northwestern. I knew it was a longshot but it still stings to watch that door close. That brings me to 1a/2r/0w/6p. My remaining schools all tend to notify in March (Iowa, Hollins, Montana, New Mexico, and Rutgers-Camden, which has notified others but nothing for me yet). Also still waiting to hear on funding from George Mason (my one acceptance - it seems like many in draft have been offered funding already so I'm nervous). Blergh! This is the worst!

@Phoebe R thanks!

Eek! How did you check the status? I just logged into the portal and don't see any information other than "submitted."

For whatever it's worth, I also included a CNF flash piece in a few of my applications, mostly to show a bit of range. We'll see if that's helpful or hurtful.

Thanks! George Mason is in my area, so I wouldn't have to relocate, which is great. No communication doesn't mean I'm out of the game necessarily - it could mean waitlist! But it seems as though Rutgers-Camden has called/emailed acceptances and since I haven't gotten anything from them, I'm assuming it's a no and I'll get my rejection in a few weeks.

Hi friends! Congrats on all the recent acceptances, waitlists and life news/updates! And solidarity to the rejections - what a painful process this whole thing is! I found out last week I was accepted as a CNF Candidate to George Mason (still waiting to hear on funding but - hooray!) and found out today that I was rejected from UMass Amherst (boo!). So that's 1a/0w/1r/7p, although based on the lack of communication from Rutgers-Camden (compared to others), I'm assuming it's a no. For those who have the time/means, I highly suggest taking an online workshop to help distract from the waiting game. I just finished one workshop and it was a great reminder of *why* I'm doing this and the joy in generating new work. I'm also starting another workshop at the end of the month, because I find the workshop/group accountability and comradery to be really helpful and motivating for my writing (which, incidentally is why I originally started considering MFAs in the first place! I've taken so many classes over the years I figured, why not do this formally?).

Holy smokes, did anyone else just get an email from Northwestern with regard to delayed decisions? My heart just about stopped seeing "Decision Date" and "Northwestern" in the subject line, haha. And on that note, I think I'm going to take a bit of a break from GradCafe and Draft until decisions begin in earnest in mid-February. The constant refresh/anxiety spiral is so draining! See you all in a few weeks! ?

Ugh! I had a publication do that to me as well (change the title of an essay for more clicks) and I really don't love the new title. I used the essay as a sample for a few schools and was so conflicted about which title to use, haha. This piece is really great! Thank you for sharing, I loved reading it!

It looks like UMass typically sends out acceptances in early February so an interview for TAship/funding may be on par with that timeline (but who knows!). I applied to UMass and haven't heard anything - not losing hope yet, but it was definitely a long shot so *shrug.*

Eek! So far I've seen the following results on the board for FA21: Lancaster University - Acceptance (Dec 2020) University of Tennessee - Move to Round Two (Dec 2020) Kingston University - Acceptance (Dec 2020) Western Colorado University - Acceptance (Jan 2021) University of Illinois - Wait List (Jan 2021) UMass Amherst - Interview (Jan 2021) Congrats to those accepted and wait listed and good luck to those moving to round two and interviewing!

Oh wow. This sounds like a really moving experience for when one is in the right headspace. Putting on my TBR list! I also have Lila by Robinson on my shelf, perhaps a read for the new year. Curious - do you often read writers in order of publication? It's always interesting to watch an author grow! Adding Cleanness to the list as well! And isn't Moshfegh's new book a quasi-mystery? I read and watch very broadly across the mystery genre (and into adjacent and sub genres like noir, procedural, etc.). Around the holidays, I like to save up or re-read cozy and "whodunnit" styles a la Christie, PD James, Knives Out, and Murder She Wrote (!) but I also have the new Tana French, Anthony Horowitz, and Louise Penny all waiting patiently for me. I'm also currently binging Shetland on BritBox which I highly recommend! I've had an idea for an essay about my relationship to the genre percolating for some time - maybe I'll use my few days off to explore! :]

Congrats!! I've been meaning to pick up Greenwall's new book - how are you liking it? I always save up some mystery novels for this time of year so am looking forward to end-of-year (and end-of-applications!) unwinding.

I'm curious if anyone is applying to a low-res program? I didn't for my first round, as funding is pretty dismal for low-res programs, but am considering a round of applications in the spring (pending full-res decisions!). Currently looking at Bennington, Lesley, Sierra Nevada, and Alma.

If you search your school/program in the "results" section of Grad Cafe (top left corner) you'll see reports of when others heard back with acceptances, rejections, and wait lists in years past. However, they do seem to vary from year to year and I'd imagine things will be a bit different this year with the different working conditions due to COVID. I'm planning on putting it out of my mind until late-February, when I can start stressing in earnest haha.

I saw it in another MFA group that I'm in, but you can also find the info here: https://www.gsn.newark.rutgers.edu/creative-writing Good luck!

Oh my gosh, YES. I had to ban myself from re-reading all my SOPs. All it does is cause a tailspin of anxiety in what I could/should have done better. Blergh. But what's done is done! Also - wanted to mention for the fiction and poetry folks that Rutgers-Newark has extended their deadline to January 1 and waived the GRE requirement.

Hi all! Long-time lurker, first-time poster. Reading through the 2020 and 2021 forums was really helpful during the application process and I look forward to the camaraderie as we enter the waiting period. By way of introduction from recent questions: I'm 30 and based in the Washington, DC area (originally from upstate New York) and I've just completed applications for nine programs in creative nonfiction. I applied to Iowa, UMass Amherst, Northwestern, University of Montana, University of New Mexico, University of New Orleans, Hollins, George Mason, and Rutgers-Camden. This is my first round of applications and, based on decisions come spring, I may put in another round of applications in the future, to low-res and other programs. I have a few writing projects I'm planning on digging into this winter, and I'll be teaching some workshops and leading some virtual events which will be a good way to creatively distract myself. Also planning on some long hikes and book/show/podcast binges! Best wishes to those completing their applications and fingers crossed!