Cristie

Congrats!!! I've been in touch with one of the CNF profs there (I'm also on the WL), the program sounds amazing. Prof I've been speaking to said he "continues to feel confident about my chances" so we'll see!!! Maybe we'll see eachother on campus in the fall!

Hey everybody. I accepted an offer from University of Florida yesterday. I fucking did it, and I'm gonna fuckin' do it, and I still can't believe it's real. I was fully expecting rejections across the board as this was my first year applying and applicant numbers are up seemingly everywhere. 
Anyway, best of luck to everyone still waiting on results, waitlists, etc! If you don't get in this round and plan to try again, I will say that I have been blown away by the warm welcome, positivity, and transparency about difficulties from the MFA community at UF-- grads and faculty alike. If you're looking for an aggressively friendly environment, it sure seems like you can find it in Gainesville.
Much love, my fellow neurotic internet pals.

Do y'all ever submit to places you really, really have no business submitting to? Because I'm laughing at myself due to the magazine I just submitted to.

I submitted to The New Yorker, so... no. Never. I clearly don't set my sights high enough. 

I'll admit that "lesser-known" is super subjective. But anything outside of Iowa, Michener, Brown, and the NYC mileiu is a good start. A decent measure is how often you're seeing fellow applicants here and on Draft (by this metric, I'd also consider UVA, for example, in the "super competitive" tier).
The list you have here seems strong to me. I've heard good things about many of those programs, and they're not what I would call "household names."
To be clear, there's nothing wrong with applying to the big names. I'm just encouraging people to be strategic. Plus it breaks my heart to see people getting discouraged about their writing because they didn't get into these programs with a .5% acceptance rate.

Northwestern's program is also a dual MFA+MA.

Got rejected from Brown lol (of course) BUT.... I GOT ACCEPTED TO NORTHWESTERN FOR A MASTERS IN JOURNALISM!!
(I applied to journalism and creative writing) sooooo it looks like I'll be going to grad school after all! I still have 2 MFA programs left to hear back from since I only applied to 4. Exciting yet nerve-racking times!! 

Yeah, that's how I would take it. Ice cream and tequila shots and singing Fleetwood Mac's Rumours.

It kind of makes me feel like getting dumped and then...well, again....and again. It's not you it's me, lol. 

That’s the one! But I also just read that you meant McNeese, so never mind! For anyone else looking for that sick MA/MFA deal, though, you can do it in Alaska!

Oh that hurts my heart. The only rejection I've got right now is Brown and it was pretty standard, "You're cool, but not right for me" kind of thing. I can't imagine opening my status and seeing, "DENIED A-HOLE!"

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. 

You really have to teach yourself unfortunately, by the end of this process, I feel like I should be putting a bullet point on my CV that says, "Professional Graduate School Applicant" because that's honestly what I feel like. It's like a second job. I suggest really researching each one and ones you've never considered too. I found one school I really want in because they offer the MA in English dual with the MFA in Creative Writing and why NOT get TWO at the same time! I can't find a single other school that does that (?) and am amazed that I don't see that school mentioned here (and only a few times on the thread search). No one told me about that, I had to find it on my own. So I say depend on no one to teach you, I used Poet & Writer's list to help me narrow down deadlines and full-funding. Good Luck!
Cristie

My prof said the same thing, that there was no point getting into a prestigious program and being stuck with a faculty whose writing you don't actually like and aspire to.

I got some advice from a professor and he said to apply to schools that once you research their faculty, read their works and styles... and then figure out what appeals to you about them. To really make sure it is a good fit for YOU and not just a big name. That there are some really awesome instructors at other schools. Not everyone (who teaches and has a family) wants to pay for the crazy cost of living where those big name schools are. He said ideally apply to 5 dream schools and 5 realistic schools. 
I also don't want to go to a school where they refer to you as a number (like that's #3,  or there goes #4) cough..Iowa.
 

I got some advice from a professor and he said to apply to schools that once you research their faculty, read their works and styles... and then figure out what appeals to you about them. To really make sure it is a good fit for YOU and not just a big name. That there are some really awesome instructors at other schools. Not everyone (who teaches and has a family) wants to pay for the crazy cost of living where those big name schools are. He said ideally apply to 5 dream schools and 5 realistic schools. 
I also don't want to go to a school where they refer to you as a number (like that's #3,  or there goes #4) cough..Iowa.
 

I got some advice from a professor and he said to apply to schools that once you research their faculty, read their works and styles... and then figure out what appeals to you about them. To really make sure it is a good fit for YOU and not just a big name. That there are some really awesome instructors at other schools. Not everyone (who teaches and has a family) wants to pay for the crazy cost of living where those big name schools are. He said ideally apply to 5 dream schools and 5 realistic schools. 
I also don't want to go to a school where they refer to you as a number (like that's #3,  or there goes #4) cough..Iowa.
 

Hi, 
My plan is if I don't get funding to try to find a full time job at the school-as long as they offer tuition discount to full time employees.. so you are getting paid and a deep discount. Most have a lot of listings on their employment pages. If you REALLY want to go, work a year and while there, also work towards applying for everything you possibly can for the second year. And most universities have really great benefits too. Sometimes the schedule doesn't work out but most professors I've worked for are willing to work around class schedules or work something out. Just a thought. 
Good Luck, 
Cristie

Hi, 
My plan is if I don't get funding to try to find a full time job at the school-as long as they offer tuition discount to full time employees.. so you are getting paid and a deep discount. Most have a lot of listings on their employment pages. If you REALLY want to go, work a year and while there, also work towards applying for everything you possibly can for the second year. And most universities have really great benefits too. Sometimes the schedule doesn't work out but most professors I've worked for are willing to work around class schedules or work something out. Just a thought. 
Good Luck, 
Cristie

Hi. 
New here.
UMKC-Accepted
U of Wyoming-Rejected
Florida State-Rejected
U of Tennessee Knoxville-Rejected
Still waiting: U of Florida Gainesville, U of Charleston S.C., U of New Orleans, and McNeese State U.
Has anyone heard anything from/about those?
Many thanks,
Cristie

Hi. 
New here.
UMKC-Accepted
U of Wyoming-Rejected
Florida State-Rejected
U of Tennessee Knoxville-Rejected
Still waiting: U of Florida Gainesville, U of Charleston S.C., U of New Orleans, and McNeese State U.
Has anyone heard anything from/about those?
Many thanks,
Cristie

Do you mean the College of Charleston in Charleston SC? Or is there a University of South Carolina MFA program at a charleston campus?
 
I used to live in Charleston and can attest wonderful things to the CofC faculty and alumni. The city also has a fantastic bookstore there called “Blue Bicycle Books.”