Boomer not Ok

As best as I can tell on CU, if you’re applying for CNF, they are making calls for some accepted applicants. I have not seen any results posted for poetry or fiction, so I suspect these have not been released yet. Given the “immense” size of the incoming fiction and poetry cohort (my estimate is around 80-90 folk) plus the fact that CU probably will accept more than 80 or 90, bc they will lose many of them due to their funding, you would definitely see some postings on the results page. As for the calls, I think they do make them. But I suspect these go out to their top choices and most people who get in with no funding will find out through email.

Me too. I think they also give their accepted candidates a 1 week turn-around time to accept and I guess most do. For the 1 or 2 that don't accept their offer, I think they have a B list and you would probably know if you're on it by now.

Thanks for update. Too bad about NYU low acceptance rate this year. But it would be good to get the final word from all these places. Again, well done on BC.

I’m sharing your vent. I’m waiting on NYU, Hunter, BC, and CU. Anyway, congrats on BC. Seems like a bunch of folk on this forum got in and will probably end up there. That’s amazing. Seems like a great program. Would you know if they will have a waitlist? (I assume they’ve notified all the accepted applicants by now.) I’ve written off Hunter. I think they contact you only if they’re interested. As best as I can tell, CU has only notified for CNF so far. I have no idea if NYU will have a waitlist. Apart from this, I’m still waiting on 4 other schools. 1 hasn’t bothered to respond to my inquiry. (Not a good look lol.) And it’s like mid-March already. Sheeeeeet...

I have no access to Draft but I haven't seen anything for NYU on waitlists or rejects on Gradcafe. For CU, I've seen 1 CNF result but nothing for fiction or poetry. I don't think they've released fiction/poetry results yet bc given the large size of the cohort, there would be multiple postings. Not sure about New School waitlists but I think all acceptances have gone out.

Off topic a bit but I have 4 poems, I CNF piece and a short story at the moment staked out in Submittable Land and I've gotten this almost exact rejection from 2 separate pubs recently. Is this a new kind of form rejection letter? Any one else getting this response? Thank you for sending us ">>>>>>>>>>>>". We appreciated the chance to read it. Although there was a lot to like here, it didn't quite come together for us in the end, and we regret to pass. Although we're sorry we don't have better news at this time, consider submitting to us again in the future!Thanks again for thinking of us. Best of luck with this!Sincerely,

Definitely does not sound like a normal rejection letter. That’s really classy. Beats my UMASS rejection which laconically stated “Application Denied.” ? l

Yes, if I hear from them, I’ll holler. I’m in the northeast. We get the occasional hurricane. We also get polar vortex freezes, blizzards, and howling nor’easters!!!

You’re right. There should be a dual option offered at more places. I think McNeese is a tough nut to crack and pretty competitive. I did a fair amount of research into places before applying. I sent an app into McNeese bc it’s free and on the off chance I got in, I’d probably decline bc of relocating hassles. But I liked the vibe of the place and I like Cajun food, so... I haven’t heard from them either. Still waiting on 8 schools.

Do you mean McNeese State? I think they offer that dual degree. You can also apply to them without fee through Submittable. They don’t ask for recs. But it looks like they only have 2 or 3 teachers on their faculty.

I asked this question before. From my own experience this first time round, I would say it does not help. I submitted some pieces that had been published in “competitive” paying lit mags. The kind that have editors and all kinds of intern readers with MFAs. Has it hurt me? Not sure.

TBH, anyone who can coin something as wonderful as being “a nervous chihuahua piloting a human skin” should be getting a call from Iowa begging them to attend, even if they didn’t apply. Really hoping this comes through for you.

So I heard back from Emerson. Said they are still processing apps and will release decisions by the end of the month. Great. No response yet from Rutgers Camden. Not sure what's happening there. Something kinda whack with that place. I recall you had to email them your submission portfolio. Just checked my portal to see if they'd snuffed my app after my inquiry but still says "No decision."

My theory is this person actually went to Iowa and having attained the grail but not any publishing success has gone full-blown "imp of the perverse."

Well done on Brooklyn!!! That seems a great option. Still waiting on 8 schools. Nada...

Thanks. That now actually makes fiscal sense when you consider the degree from a credit perspective. That's a lot of credits (60). I think we have some overlap in our programs. I applied to mostly NYC schools, Rutgers Camden and some in Boston. I think my shot at CU is "iffy," considering I haven't had any contact from my other NYC schools (NYU, Hunter, BC), although they are more competitive. (I passed on New School, CCNY and Queen's.)

I'm also interested in Columbia but have concerns about the $$$ (especially compared with other partial funded or fully funded programs). Seems like Columbia charges 2x market rate. From looking at websites of other programs in NYC area, it seems some of the profs moonlight or teach at multiple locations. Makes sense, if they're not permanent hires.

Saw a nonfiction Columbia acceptance on Results page. Not sure if they release separately from fiction and poetry. Anyone see anything on Draft for Columbia poetry and fiction? Also emailed Rutgers Camden and Emerson to find out when they will be releasing their decisions. Will advise if they reply.

Thanks for this. Agreed. This is my first time round and when I started researching this MFA process I read a lot of stuff about it, as did probably most people here. I recall some one saying "people get rejected who have published in top-tier lit mags or have book contracts with prestigious publishers." Of course, Adcoms may decide such accomplished writers may not get much out of an MFA, but it's impossible to know what they are looking for. I sense from this community a ton of intelligence, articulateness, passion for the transformative value of language, and I am sure any number of us could thrive in most programs. I know from personal experience, having been writing on and off for 8 yrs with some published success and a lot of rejection, it's hard to tell with whom your work will resonate. At the end of day, the rejections have been good for me because I've developed a rhino skin, which has helped me in this application process. But whatever happens (I am still waiting on most of my decisions), I know I have to keep writing. It's what I think about all the time, even when I'm not writing (which is not good sometimes for my job life). Writing is how I try to make "sense" of our precious existence; it's my therapy and, when the work comes together, I feel a rush like nothing else and I suspect most of us here feel the same.

Yeah, I know. Seems the "scam likely" callers are upping their game. My phone is not screening them well these days and I get something in Mandarin or Cantonese. Like how did their AI or algo connect my phone number to some place in China? Totally weird.

Columbia's calling? Didn't see anything on Result's page but I guess it's early days.

Just not sure about the Bardic references. Isn't the slave accompanying the Roman general during his march of triumph along the rose-strewn streets of Rome on his way to the Forum a better metaphor? I mean the slave who whispers over and over into the general's ear amidst the din and clamor of the adoring crowds, "This is all an illusion, you are not a god, you are nothing...?"

Not sure what's up with their "Cecilia 2" handle. I mean, if we're all delusional dotards, shouldn't then "Cecilia" be "Cordelia?"

I don’t see yet any waitlist or acceptances for Brown on results page. I assume the notification they just sent is all rejection as accepted candidates would have been called before?

Haven’t seen any posts by “Yorick” or “Rosencrantz” yet.