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M-Lin

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Everything posted by M-Lin

  1. I was also accepted off the waitlist! I did hesitate for a few days though I already committed to another much smaller program in the city. What I heard is that Columbia does still hold sway in the publishing industry - this is from two separate people, one published author and one who worked in publishing for two years and went on to do her own MFA. From a current student - it is what you make of it! You do get access to your professors if you're willing to hustle. There are a lot of opportunities but limited spots so, again, you have to hustle. I don't think you would be able to keep a full time job because classes are mostly during weekdays. A lot of students there complain that they have less time to write during the program than before they started because there were so many classes to take. About a quarter of the cohort are people coming right out of college, which is not the ideal cohort for me. Because the large cohort size, it's definitely somewhat competitive, but she said she felt it was also supportive in a lot of ways. Another published author (who graduated from the program 10 years ago and I cold emailed her) told me that she thought the large network does help in terms of securing an agent. For me, I felt like I never got any personal attention throughout the whole process and the atmosphere did not feel warm and collegial. For my MFA, I wanted time to write, personal feedback on my writing, and a community of like-minded writers. I don't think I'll get that at Columbia, unless I try really really hard, but at this point in my life I don't really want to chase after professors and feel like I'm an inconvenience if I wanted more of their time. It just sounds exhausting. Ultimately I turned down Columbia's offer, but it could be right depends on what you want! Giving up the access to the resources Columbia (the University) offers was particularly hard for me, because I'm interested in taking classes outside of the writing program.
  2. Wanted to thank everyone for going through this together for the past months, it felt like forever! I'll be attending Brooklyn College in the fall. To those who are going to apply again next year, hats off to you -- you are some strong minds! To share another anecdote - I learned today that a writer was rejected by every school she applied but Iowa (not this year, a while ago). Just want to remind everyone again how subjective this application process can be. After all, what is good writing anyway? I will be on my way to figure that out, hope everyone here will, too, inside or outside the university system. Good luck to all of us!!!
  3. Hey just wanted to let you know that this thread has a tireless troll that's been around the whole season. Don't mind them! Best of luck with your negotiations!
  4. I just have to rant again about Columbia. I emailed them asking if there are any opportunities for people on the waitlist to get to know the program a little more so if and when admitted, I can make an informed decision. I know every school has events for admitted students but if I miss all those events as someone on the wait list, how am I going to know if I want to attend the program or not? Especially for Columbia, it’s hard to get a real sense of what the program, classes and students are like. What I got was a form “waitlist” answer that explains how the waitlist works and a disclaimer that the adcom is not able to review additional materials, and did not address my question at all. Also no acknowledge of my name (no “Hi xxx,” or “Dear xxx”), which I find rude. I wonder if the person even read my email? ?
  5. Not a word! But definitely can assume a rejection at this point, not even sure if they send out official rejections? Lol
  6. and a very good one at that! I’d believe it
  7. I see... same difference ? thanks!
  8. Thanks!!! And yes, BU e-mailed rejection this morning. If you didn’t get it, maybe a good sign?
  9. The Columbia letter said that the waitlist "has no rank"... but it must do??? how else are they going to decide who to let in when the first spot becomes available? ?
  10. it said the waitlist could drag into the summer so do you really, really want that? I'm so happy that this is all over, haha. I hope you have the best time in the UK!
  11. Virtual hug!! I was waitlisted at Columbia ?‍♀️
  12. Yeah the only one I would be a little torn about would be BU. Columbia was more just for my vanity... no way to afford and honestly not interested in the size of the program, and already not getting a good feeling from the institution anyway, lol. Not sure if this is just our coping mechanism working at its best but I think I'm making the right decision. It just feels right!! When I started looking at Amtrak and Chinatown buses to Boston... I was already like, please no. hahaha
  13. BU rejection came in! Honestly super relieved because I am just falling in love with another program and didn’t want to have to make a difficult decision. Anybody got good news?
  14. His MFA at NYU was in Film, if that matters. But yeah, I guess being a celebrity gets a lot of passes in life, haha.
  15. James Franco, who's disappeared for other reasons, lol. I don't know if he was doing everything at the same time though. I can say that he was definitely attending some classes at NYU, but not sure about his attendance at other programs. Brooklyn College's MFA program does consider him an alumnus and lists his publications on their website, so I assume he did graduate.
  16. i talked to a current student in an MFA program today and asked about what people do with publishing - if they submit short stories to lit mags in the course of the program or that's not really a thing. She just said it depended on the person. She did a little bit but now mainly focus on shaping a collection to send around. So maybe the people currently in the program are not doing the lit mag submission grind? oooh i remember that moment. I was on the Zoom live. it was kind of awkward... and they definitely think very highly of their own program (I'm sure a lot of faculty do of the programs they preside over) but somehow that pride came off a little bit off-putting to me. I did like the community spirit they showed in the open house though. and they're very proud that they're fully-funded.
  17. thumbs down to them for dragging it out ? i hope they tell you what's what soon!!
  18. What did the professor say? I applied to Hunter too and find their whole process extra-opaque, and the fact that they only give people a week to accept their offers (way before April 15) very weird. I don't know if that's still true, but that's what it says on the website. Don't know any other school that does this. I read two novels by Hunter recent grads last year and they both had merits. A Burning & Little Gods, if you want to check them out!
  19. that seems to be the problem for most of their accepted students. I do hope they work out something better for you. such a shame with all the amazing writers on the faculty and no funding for their students ?
  20. That is simply not true. I'm rejected by NYU for one, and possibly Columbia as well? Don't let that mess with your head!!! Congratulations on your acceptance!
  21. would be amazing if you could ask. thank you!!
  22. I submitted to Sundance this year, only made through the second round and not the final round. Their competition has always been insane but perhaps this year was even worse than usual, just like the MFA apps. Welp. And yes I’m in New York too. Nice to meet you here!!! Good luck with your show bible (I have not done one of those but they sure look like a LOT of work).
  23. I’m still waiting for a few but very possibly Brooklyn College ?
  24. That's so exciting. I am also a screenwriter though I've recently lost my passion for it (for many reasons). But I know how crazy the competition is, if not even worse than this application cycle. So congratulations on your almost fellowship! Go get it!!!
  25. I also obsessively check the schools that I'm waiting on and know there will be nothing in them. I try to only check them once a day...but sometimes I do it almost out of habit when I sit in front of my computer so I lost count ? I'm likely to decline my The New School offer so if they do have a waitlist, I hope you're on it and can benefit from it! I truly love the spirit of TNS (I often listen to lectures offered by their Center of Public Scholarship) and my friend who attended the program (fiction) also speaks highly of her experience there. I love the neighborhood. I am turning it down mainly for financial reasons as well as the larger size of the cohort. Wishing you the best!
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