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Just received an email from Columbia to check the portal. Just based on that I knew I had been rejected. I also applied to GMU as part of the second pool of applicants (still considered for funding). Haven't heard back yet. Waitlisted at LSU (removed myself from waitlist), and rejected from Iowa and Northwestern. But I've already accepted an offer to attend JHU's MA in Writing program part-time because I just started a new job, which is writing intensive, and the employer will cover the full tuition cost for part-time graduate study! This was my first application cycle, and even though JHU had initially been a back-up, I'm incredibly grateful things fell into place the way they did. I also learned a lot about what it looks like to prioritize writing in my everyday routine. I think my biggest takeaway from this cycle is that writing is what makes a writer, not a grant, fellowship, or an acceptance to a program. Even if I had been accepted to my top program, if I didn't discipline myself to continue writing (and revising and editing), I'd just be an alum of a great program. I'm also super grateful for all the info and support from this forum, and for all the resources that were shared in Draft! Planning to take a workshop this summer from a non-university organization. Best of luck to you all in the future! And to take a line from some friendly rejection emails: I look forward to reading your work in the future (even if I'll never know if it was written by one of you ?)!

Hey all, Hypothetical question. Let's say you interviewed with a professor/writer you admire at an MFA program, received an offer, but turned it down. Do you think it'd still be possible to establish a relationship with that professor/writer (keeping in mind, of course, that the students they advise and their own work will take priority over you)? How would one go about that? Is it frowned upon to try to establish such a relationship?

I have that for LSU, but I also have an email from the director of the graduate program confirming I can wait on requesting an official transcript until decisions come out. If you want a peace of mind, I'd just reach out to confirm!

Didn't know about the controversy surrounding Poetry Foundation until I saw the posts in this thread. Interesting to follow, as it seems it's become a movement to provide a platform to share the voices of incarcerated individuals. I'm reading and learning more about it, so I don't have a stance on it right now, but I'm torn between a few thoughts and questions: 1) It seems like the purpose for providing a platform for the thoughts and voices of incarcerated persons is for the public to recognize them as individuals with a selfhood that transcends their crime 2) How do you draw the line, if at all, to determine which incarcerated individuals to publish? I mention the if at all part because if the primary purpose is to assert that incarcerated people are defined by more than their crimes, is it best to follow through on that purpose no matter what crime they're imprisoned for? If lines are drawn, is it a bit like playing god if you pick and choose? Or maybe each journal or organization takes an individual stance and draws their own line depending on their values? Curious to hear other people's thoughts. Currently mulling over this article: Poetry magazine published a child porn convict in its prison issue, but did it deserve the backlash? (slate.com)

Congratulations!! ?

I hope everything works out for you! ?? I haven’t taken any local workshops, but I sought the feedback from two former coworkers who hold MFAs, and they were kind enough to offer me really constructive feedback!

I was in the same boat as you! I was a full-time high school English teacher and worked part-time at a gym closer to my apartment. I wrote a piece during my first year of teaching, staying up until 2 or 3 a.m. to draft and research. But after it was published, I was exhausted and knew that kind of schedule wasn't sustainable. Even without making time to write, I felt like I was burning the candle at both ends every day. I ended up using teaching material to brainstorm topics to write about and research, or thinking of different angles to approach that material in my writing. I wrote those ideas in my phone or in a word doc. Sometimes I'd add a few sentences or bullet points. But that's as far as my writing went while I was teaching. After a lot of reflection, I felt that my desire to carve out more time for writing stemmed from a deeper desire to create a life that was not only a bit slower and more intentional, but also allowed me to spend time the way I wanted to. For about a year, I felt selfish and guilty for leaving, but the burnout was real, and I felt like I had every right to make my life actually feel like a life. I now work as an editor, and I'm happy with my choice. Personally speaking, I don't think it's the job, but rather the lack of work-life balance that can be a hindrance to one's writing. And I don't think the work-life balance is limited to time, but also stress. When your job is so stressful it leaves you emotionally drained on a regular basis, it's hard to want to do anything except decompress, even if you do get off at 5 p.m.

9 required courses at a little over $3k each. More info here if you're interested. I'm not sure if they're ever fully funded ?

Thank you!!

Congrats! ?

Thank you!

Just accepted via email to Johns Hopkins' low-res MA in Writing program for nonfiction!

"Beloved professor, gone too soon" ? That gave me a nice chuckle!

Thanks for the reassurance ?Interesting that serif fonts tend to be more legible! Northwestern was the only school I applied to that specifically instructed applicants to use TNR, and those instructions only appeared in the sections for the creative and academic writing samples. Iowa instructed applicants to use a 12-point font for the creative writing sample. As I read over this response, I’m seeing the extent to which the anticipation is driving me up the walls ?

Good to note for future applications!