rroseselavy

I'm expecting the real chaos to start today because I imagine a good amount of people who haven't made their choices yet will do so before tomorrow as a courtesy to the schools and waitlists of the schools they will be declining. As a fellow waitlister, I feel like vulnerable game in an open field that could be struck with an e-mail deciding my fate at any second. Stay strong everyone, we're in the final stretch.   

You are absolutely not alone. I hope you're able to manage your emotions/expectations during these next few days. We'll get through this! (We got thru the hardest part, after all -- the application itself!) 
I'm also waiting & hoping for a WL offer to come through, from 2 schools. One of which is my absolute top choice whom I suspect have an internal waitlist but they haven't communicated anything to me since 1/15/21 (UNM, I'm talkin about YOU!) and the other which is my 2nd top choice (b/c they're a 2yrs program, but with a lighter teaching load). Keeping my fingers crossed & sending all of us who are waiting for decisions lots of positive energy! 
 

So tomorrow is the big deadline for a lot of programs. Anyone else still holding out hope for a WL to come through? For those who have gone through this before--will there really be a lot of sudden movement? 
The program I'm waiting for says they may not be able to notify either way until the 15th or a couple days later...I was initially excited to be waitlisted at a program that is a top choice for me, but this holding pattern has made managing my expectations really difficult. 

Hi, I think I saw your post on draft. I'll respond here. In spite of the unkillable troll on this board, I find the people on draft weirdly more aggressive when it comes to Columbia.
In the info session, I think the Columbia admin said something like they wanted the essay to be "deeply nonacademic" and they wanted to know "what makes you the most excited" about the book while seeing you "address the text in a voice that feels authentic to you." I tried to look at it like coming up with a creative metaphor for a book you really like. I also tried to choose a book that feels significant but still speaks to my particular reading niche: a short, somewhat surreal book published in translation that had won a major prize in its country of origin. I write literary fiction, and it felt like the book I chose for my response piece was a bit different than the pieces I submitted.
They did mention that the sample and the response essay were the most important components of the submission, so it's good that you are thinking about it!
 
For the other troll victims on this board thinking about Columbia, I kind of think the "chosen one" stuff they espouse is B.S. By and large Columbia is very stingy with funding, so even the "top candidates" are getting what amounts to small discounts. Columbia is an academic brand, and if it weren't perceived to be worth the money they wouldn't get away with charging so much. If you live in Ohio and work at Starbucks it looks like a ton of money. If you live in New York (or another major urban center) and work in media, it doesn't seem quite as crazy. At the end of the day, your employer, agent or publisher won't care if your program was funded or not. It's about the work you do and who you know. It's ironic to see people sit around on these internet boards all day trying to tear down other posters for considering Columbia and preying on insecurities about money, talent etc. Just seems like the ultimate sour grapes. I mean it in the nicest possible way when I say: Get a life!

Hi all, was wondering about the process of being notified from a waitlist. Looking around it would seem a lot of movement happens around the April 15th deadline, which is understandable, and I have resigned myself to not knowing for a few more weeks. But do schools (specifically UW-Madison) notify before April 15th if/when all spots are filled?
I have a partially-funded acceptance from another school that wants a commitment (and non-refundable tuition deposit) by the 1st. I have contacted the program that has accepted me to ask about the April 1st deadline (and to ask for more money; let them know I am on a waitlist elsewhere lol) and haven't received a response yet. 
Sending good energy to folks as they wait, make decisions or prepare for whatever's next for them; some of the people on this forum has been wild at times but I appreciate all the info, support and commiseration. 

Well, sent an email asking about decisions to U-Wash (Seattle) earlier and just got this reply.

"The initial offers have gone out from both the poetry and prose committees. Because our offers involve funding, accepted applicants have until April 15th to let us know their decision although we hope they will tell us sooner. Given our funding, we cannot make new offers until we've heard the decisions of these initial applicants.
Waitlisted applicants will be notified by email from the Director of Creative Writing. These have not gone out yet. But if you do not receive a waitlist email you will probably not receive an offer this year although we will not deny anyone until we are close to getting our class.  
Thank you for your patience during this process."

Guess that's a nope.

People -
1. don’t feed the troll. 
2. Where ? is ? IOWA.

I've lurked for a long time and had to finally say how much of a relief it's been to read everyone else's struggle going through the application process and now the decisions. It's so wonderful seeing how supportive everyone is of each other and their successes and even the mutual middle fingers when there are rejections. You're all delightful and I'm so glad to not feel completely alone in this hair pulling, nauseating thing we've all done. 
I have an acceptance from SLC with a small scholarship, but am still waiting on Brown, Iowa, Columbia and NYU. I ate an entire large bag of candy today as my lunch with one shoe on because I'm definitely not stressing over the waiting whatsoever. nope, super chill over here. Probably not even gonna buy another bag of candy from the dollar store. Anyone know a good dentist?

Just saw an Iowa acceptance for poetry on Twitter. Looks like the person was notified yesterday 

Since it's that time of year... [gets on soapbox again]
As y'all may know if you've read previous years' forums, I went through two application cycles before I entered an MFA program. My first cycle, I got into a couple programs, but I was unable to secure the funding I needed. Having to wait a year turned out to be really good for me. Looking back, I wasn't ready for grad school that first year (in terms of craft /and/ life circumstances). In the year between app cycles, I grew a lot as a person and a writer, in ways that wouldn't have been possible while in a grad program.
Of course, those gains didn't fall into my lap. I was very intentional about learning from my experience the first year. I would say my biggest tips are:
Apply to some less well-known programs, which will improve your chances way more than applying to many highly competitive programs. Many state schools have great funding and faculty despite not being household names! Keep looking for writing opportunities outside of the MFA world. Many of y'all are already doing the second one. @pattycat, your critique group is a great idea! I'd be more than happy to participate during the summer, when my workload is lighter. Long story short, I know it's rough right now. It's totally normal to feel discouraged and disappointed. But I hope you can also appreciate the work you did. Even if you don't end up applying again, your efforts planning, writing, and asking for LORs are still worth something! That's valuable experience you can use in many other contexts. You should be proud of yourself for that hard work, especially at a time when everything feels harder than ever. Not everyone would have done that

Since I couldn't find any info on here when I was doing research, I'm sharing SAIC interview experience for people who may be interested in the future. 
The panel is with two faculty members--mine were Mary Cross and Nathan Hoks. Many of the questions came directly from my statement of purpose so I'm glad I looked that over again before the interview. They asked some standard questions: what are you reading; why SAIC; what classes are you interested in while here. Mostly it was just a conversation about major themes of my work and cross-disciplinary interests. They did praise my work--called out specific lines that stuck with them--but they did not ask me to explain or go over a specific poem.
I'd recommend not asking about funding during the interview. SAIC does an "interview weekend" and this includes a luncheon with everyone who was invited to interview, along with faculty, who can answer those financial questions (this happened over zoom this year). Getting together (again, via zoom) with current students was very informative as they were candid about representation among faculty (not diverse) and the cost. Decision will come within 2 weeks, I'm told, which includes merit based scholarship decisions. They generally give acceptances via phone call and then email and send a letter. 
good luck to everyone in this great time of waiting! 
 
 
edit:
Was emailed by Amaud Johnson from UW-Madison a little bit ago and notified I have been placed on  a waitlist! Did not disclose the number of people also on the waitlist.

Since I couldn't find any info on here when I was doing research, I'm sharing SAIC interview experience for people who may be interested in the future. 
The panel is with two faculty members--mine were Mary Cross and Nathan Hoks. Many of the questions came directly from my statement of purpose so I'm glad I looked that over again before the interview. They asked some standard questions: what are you reading; why SAIC; what classes are you interested in while here. Mostly it was just a conversation about major themes of my work and cross-disciplinary interests. They did praise my work--called out specific lines that stuck with them--but they did not ask me to explain or go over a specific poem.
I'd recommend not asking about funding during the interview. SAIC does an "interview weekend" and this includes a luncheon with everyone who was invited to interview, along with faculty, who can answer those financial questions (this happened over zoom this year). Getting together (again, via zoom) with current students was very informative as they were candid about representation among faculty (not diverse) and the cost. Decision will come within 2 weeks, I'm told, which includes merit based scholarship decisions. They generally give acceptances via phone call and then email and send a letter. 
good luck to everyone in this great time of waiting! 
 
 
edit:
Was emailed by Amaud Johnson from UW-Madison a little bit ago and notified I have been placed on  a waitlist! Did not disclose the number of people also on the waitlist.

I agree. Most of my interview was very conversational when they asked me about my work. It felt really empowering for my two interviewers to have resonated with the two short stories I submitted in my portfolio. One of the interviewers talked about how they could help build on one of my short stories to make it into a novel. I think the trick to the interview is really just being yourself and answering questions honestly. Even if I do not get into SAIC, the fact that the interviewers read and understood my work and its purpose validated me enough to know that this is what I am meant to do. 

Since I couldn't find any info on here when I was doing research, I'm sharing SAIC interview experience for people who may be interested in the future. 
The panel is with two faculty members--mine were Mary Cross and Nathan Hoks. Many of the questions came directly from my statement of purpose so I'm glad I looked that over again before the interview. They asked some standard questions: what are you reading; why SAIC; what classes are you interested in while here. Mostly it was just a conversation about major themes of my work and cross-disciplinary interests. They did praise my work--called out specific lines that stuck with them--but they did not ask me to explain or go over a specific poem.
I'd recommend not asking about funding during the interview. SAIC does an "interview weekend" and this includes a luncheon with everyone who was invited to interview, along with faculty, who can answer those financial questions (this happened over zoom this year). Getting together (again, via zoom) with current students was very informative as they were candid about representation among faculty (not diverse) and the cost. Decision will come within 2 weeks, I'm told, which includes merit based scholarship decisions. They generally give acceptances via phone call and then email and send a letter. 
good luck to everyone in this great time of waiting! 
 
 
edit:
Was emailed by Amaud Johnson from UW-Madison a little bit ago and notified I have been placed on  a waitlist! Did not disclose the number of people also on the waitlist.

Since I couldn't find any info on here when I was doing research, I'm sharing SAIC interview experience for people who may be interested in the future. 
The panel is with two faculty members--mine were Mary Cross and Nathan Hoks. Many of the questions came directly from my statement of purpose so I'm glad I looked that over again before the interview. They asked some standard questions: what are you reading; why SAIC; what classes are you interested in while here. Mostly it was just a conversation about major themes of my work and cross-disciplinary interests. They did praise my work--called out specific lines that stuck with them--but they did not ask me to explain or go over a specific poem.
I'd recommend not asking about funding during the interview. SAIC does an "interview weekend" and this includes a luncheon with everyone who was invited to interview, along with faculty, who can answer those financial questions (this happened over zoom this year). Getting together (again, via zoom) with current students was very informative as they were candid about representation among faculty (not diverse) and the cost. Decision will come within 2 weeks, I'm told, which includes merit based scholarship decisions. They generally give acceptances via phone call and then email and send a letter. 
good luck to everyone in this great time of waiting! 
 
 
edit:
Was emailed by Amaud Johnson from UW-Madison a little bit ago and notified I have been placed on  a waitlist! Did not disclose the number of people also on the waitlist.

Since I couldn't find any info on here when I was doing research, I'm sharing SAIC interview experience for people who may be interested in the future. 
The panel is with two faculty members--mine were Mary Cross and Nathan Hoks. Many of the questions came directly from my statement of purpose so I'm glad I looked that over again before the interview. They asked some standard questions: what are you reading; why SAIC; what classes are you interested in while here. Mostly it was just a conversation about major themes of my work and cross-disciplinary interests. They did praise my work--called out specific lines that stuck with them--but they did not ask me to explain or go over a specific poem.
I'd recommend not asking about funding during the interview. SAIC does an "interview weekend" and this includes a luncheon with everyone who was invited to interview, along with faculty, who can answer those financial questions (this happened over zoom this year). Getting together (again, via zoom) with current students was very informative as they were candid about representation among faculty (not diverse) and the cost. Decision will come within 2 weeks, I'm told, which includes merit based scholarship decisions. They generally give acceptances via phone call and then email and send a letter. 
good luck to everyone in this great time of waiting! 
 
 
edit:
Was emailed by Amaud Johnson from UW-Madison a little bit ago and notified I have been placed on  a waitlist! Did not disclose the number of people also on the waitlist.

Since I couldn't find any info on here when I was doing research, I'm sharing SAIC interview experience for people who may be interested in the future. 
The panel is with two faculty members--mine were Mary Cross and Nathan Hoks. Many of the questions came directly from my statement of purpose so I'm glad I looked that over again before the interview. They asked some standard questions: what are you reading; why SAIC; what classes are you interested in while here. Mostly it was just a conversation about major themes of my work and cross-disciplinary interests. They did praise my work--called out specific lines that stuck with them--but they did not ask me to explain or go over a specific poem.
I'd recommend not asking about funding during the interview. SAIC does an "interview weekend" and this includes a luncheon with everyone who was invited to interview, along with faculty, who can answer those financial questions (this happened over zoom this year). Getting together (again, via zoom) with current students was very informative as they were candid about representation among faculty (not diverse) and the cost. Decision will come within 2 weeks, I'm told, which includes merit based scholarship decisions. They generally give acceptances via phone call and then email and send a letter. 
good luck to everyone in this great time of waiting! 
 
 
edit:
Was emailed by Amaud Johnson from UW-Madison a little bit ago and notified I have been placed on  a waitlist! Did not disclose the number of people also on the waitlist.

Since I couldn't find any info on here when I was doing research, I'm sharing SAIC interview experience for people who may be interested in the future. 
The panel is with two faculty members--mine were Mary Cross and Nathan Hoks. Many of the questions came directly from my statement of purpose so I'm glad I looked that over again before the interview. They asked some standard questions: what are you reading; why SAIC; what classes are you interested in while here. Mostly it was just a conversation about major themes of my work and cross-disciplinary interests. They did praise my work--called out specific lines that stuck with them--but they did not ask me to explain or go over a specific poem.
I'd recommend not asking about funding during the interview. SAIC does an "interview weekend" and this includes a luncheon with everyone who was invited to interview, along with faculty, who can answer those financial questions (this happened over zoom this year). Getting together (again, via zoom) with current students was very informative as they were candid about representation among faculty (not diverse) and the cost. Decision will come within 2 weeks, I'm told, which includes merit based scholarship decisions. They generally give acceptances via phone call and then email and send a letter. 
good luck to everyone in this great time of waiting! 
 
 
edit:
Was emailed by Amaud Johnson from UW-Madison a little bit ago and notified I have been placed on  a waitlist! Did not disclose the number of people also on the waitlist.

Since I couldn't find any info on here when I was doing research, I'm sharing SAIC interview experience for people who may be interested in the future. 
The panel is with two faculty members--mine were Mary Cross and Nathan Hoks. Many of the questions came directly from my statement of purpose so I'm glad I looked that over again before the interview. They asked some standard questions: what are you reading; why SAIC; what classes are you interested in while here. Mostly it was just a conversation about major themes of my work and cross-disciplinary interests. They did praise my work--called out specific lines that stuck with them--but they did not ask me to explain or go over a specific poem.
I'd recommend not asking about funding during the interview. SAIC does an "interview weekend" and this includes a luncheon with everyone who was invited to interview, along with faculty, who can answer those financial questions (this happened over zoom this year). Getting together (again, via zoom) with current students was very informative as they were candid about representation among faculty (not diverse) and the cost. Decision will come within 2 weeks, I'm told, which includes merit based scholarship decisions. They generally give acceptances via phone call and then email and send a letter. 
good luck to everyone in this great time of waiting! 
 
 
edit:
Was emailed by Amaud Johnson from UW-Madison a little bit ago and notified I have been placed on  a waitlist! Did not disclose the number of people also on the waitlist.

Since I couldn't find any info on here when I was doing research, I'm sharing SAIC interview experience for people who may be interested in the future. 
The panel is with two faculty members--mine were Mary Cross and Nathan Hoks. Many of the questions came directly from my statement of purpose so I'm glad I looked that over again before the interview. They asked some standard questions: what are you reading; why SAIC; what classes are you interested in while here. Mostly it was just a conversation about major themes of my work and cross-disciplinary interests. They did praise my work--called out specific lines that stuck with them--but they did not ask me to explain or go over a specific poem.
I'd recommend not asking about funding during the interview. SAIC does an "interview weekend" and this includes a luncheon with everyone who was invited to interview, along with faculty, who can answer those financial questions (this happened over zoom this year). Getting together (again, via zoom) with current students was very informative as they were candid about representation among faculty (not diverse) and the cost. Decision will come within 2 weeks, I'm told, which includes merit based scholarship decisions. They generally give acceptances via phone call and then email and send a letter. 
good luck to everyone in this great time of waiting! 
 
 
edit:
Was emailed by Amaud Johnson from UW-Madison a little bit ago and notified I have been placed on  a waitlist! Did not disclose the number of people also on the waitlist.

Since I couldn't find any info on here when I was doing research, I'm sharing SAIC interview experience for people who may be interested in the future. 
The panel is with two faculty members--mine were Mary Cross and Nathan Hoks. Many of the questions came directly from my statement of purpose so I'm glad I looked that over again before the interview. They asked some standard questions: what are you reading; why SAIC; what classes are you interested in while here. Mostly it was just a conversation about major themes of my work and cross-disciplinary interests. They did praise my work--called out specific lines that stuck with them--but they did not ask me to explain or go over a specific poem.
I'd recommend not asking about funding during the interview. SAIC does an "interview weekend" and this includes a luncheon with everyone who was invited to interview, along with faculty, who can answer those financial questions (this happened over zoom this year). Getting together (again, via zoom) with current students was very informative as they were candid about representation among faculty (not diverse) and the cost. Decision will come within 2 weeks, I'm told, which includes merit based scholarship decisions. They generally give acceptances via phone call and then email and send a letter. 
good luck to everyone in this great time of waiting! 
 
 
edit:
Was emailed by Amaud Johnson from UW-Madison a little bit ago and notified I have been placed on  a waitlist! Did not disclose the number of people also on the waitlist.

Since I couldn't find any info on here when I was doing research, I'm sharing SAIC interview experience for people who may be interested in the future. 
The panel is with two faculty members--mine were Mary Cross and Nathan Hoks. Many of the questions came directly from my statement of purpose so I'm glad I looked that over again before the interview. They asked some standard questions: what are you reading; why SAIC; what classes are you interested in while here. Mostly it was just a conversation about major themes of my work and cross-disciplinary interests. They did praise my work--called out specific lines that stuck with them--but they did not ask me to explain or go over a specific poem.
I'd recommend not asking about funding during the interview. SAIC does an "interview weekend" and this includes a luncheon with everyone who was invited to interview, along with faculty, who can answer those financial questions (this happened over zoom this year). Getting together (again, via zoom) with current students was very informative as they were candid about representation among faculty (not diverse) and the cost. Decision will come within 2 weeks, I'm told, which includes merit based scholarship decisions. They generally give acceptances via phone call and then email and send a letter. 
good luck to everyone in this great time of waiting! 
 
 
edit:
Was emailed by Amaud Johnson from UW-Madison a little bit ago and notified I have been placed on  a waitlist! Did not disclose the number of people also on the waitlist.

short-time lurker, first-time poster. The two messages feel like the same, to me. Mine has the "attention: forwarded to Grad Committee..." up at the top. But the status (bottom right) also says simply: "in review."