xenawins

Congratulations on your acceptances! WHOO!! Yeah, I was FLOORED when I saw how much Columbia was and the funding options... yeesh. Sending you all the vibes for whatever decision you make!

Hello all, Been gone for a hot second...going through a divorce so shit has been incredibly difficult. In some ways, it's been a distraction from the agony of waiting for my final response. But now I'm happy to report that I received an acceptance offer from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale with full funding! That brings my results to 1a/2w/5r. It feels so good to know the results and as this is my first time applying, I'm really pleased with the outcome! Still waitlisted at ASU and UTK. I'm so grateful to this group for all the valuable info, encouragement, and insights offered here. I'm curious if anyone here has any info about SIU's program? It sounds amazing and right up my alley. Plus I read a piece by one of their faculty today and got choked up by the intense resonance I felt. I'm waiting to hear back from a current student about her experience, but while I wait, figured I'd bring it back to the group if anyone has thoughts Hope everyone is getting the offers, info, and encouragement they need through this. Sending epic word-smithing thoughts!

Started the morning out with the rejection from Mich. I feel better knowing at least! ...AND THEN I GOT NOTIFIED I'M ON THE WAITLIST AT ASU!! I'm so pleased, this makes waitlist #2 and just feels like a huge boost and validation, no matter what ends up happening. I'm going to keep on writing whether I end up in a program this year or not, but gosh, it always feels nice to be noticed!

Welp, official rejection from University of Kansas via a "you have a status update" email. My first real rejection! Sending good vibes to all of us as we wait for the rest

Sometimes a gif just says it all

Thanks for the tip! I had wondered if this was an option

Congratulations on the interview! I would also imagine (contributing my own grains of inexperienced salt) that them taking the time to interview you means that the rest of your application was promising. I don't imagine they have the additional time to interview anyone they're not seriously considering. They may also be interviewing you to get a sense of that intangible essence of "fit" when it comes to the culture of their program and how they operate. Regardless of writing talent, not everyone will be a good fit for every place. I actually appreciate the idea of interviews because it also gives -you- an opportunity to interview -them- and better decide if this is the institution you want to commit such considerable time and energy to. I'll give the interviewing advice I have offered others, just as ideas to consider (YMMV): - ask your own questions, especially (in this instance) about funding, teaching expectations, if any, and costs not reflected or captured in the funding offered - what about their program are they most proud of? what are the challenges/growth opportunities they see for their program? - what have their alumni gone on to do? is their program more geared toward supporting future educators, publishing, and/or literary prestige? I imagine a lot of them might say "all of the above" but it's still helpful to get a sense of what kind of education you might receive in these different areas and align them with your own personal goals. Some programs have extensive opportunities to learn about publishing, for example, while others have a cursory one-class option once a year kind of thing. - are there opportunities to connect with the writing community outside of the institution? - do they provide funding options for development, such as funding conferences/trainings, international trips, and/or scholarships/fellowships for special projects. - what can you expect regarding timeline after the interview? what do next steps look like? - are there themes, subjects of emphasis, or specific qualifications they are considering as they build their cohort? (this could give you insight into what kinds of things/people you might see in the workshop space) - as you are a parent, asking additional questions about university support (such as childcare on-campus) might be helpful. Also, how have other parents fared in the program? I've noticed some programs are much more holistic about the contesting demands on their students, while others (IMO) have had extremely unrealistic expectations for students, regardless of other responsibilities. Again, congratulations and best wishes on the interviewing process!

Thank you for your work and all you do for the community. I'm a mental health therapist and the situation in my region is dire, desperate, and underfunded in every possible way. Your work is important and I also incorporate these themes as they have shaped so much of my life, personal and professional. Encouraging meaningful life and instilling hope remains one of the most powerful acts I think we can do as human beings.

Thank you so much! After all the nail biting (my stubs hurt) it feels nice just to have reached a level of consideration. I am proud of the piece I submitted so it feels like a resonant validation of the kind we all need from time to time as writers.

Ohhhhh! I was just informed I made the waitlist for UTennessee in fiction! I'm trying to manage expectations, as they only take 5, but this is my first official correspondence from a program and a much needed mental boost! EEEEEEEE! Hang in there everybody!

I feel like there was an awesome compilation of notification timelines that got posted somewhere, either here or in the Draft but I can't find it anywhere now! Waiting sucks and this is a great reference so I can calm my tits about everything (as you said, theoretically). But I've been distracting myself with the massive revision/rewrite I'm doing on my novel so that definitely helps.

Eh, it was just the graduate school responding...not the program. But HEY ANY CORRESPONDENCE IS GOOD RIGHT? AMIRITE? ...please? ....won't someone love meeeeee? *paws pathetically from the sad place under my desk*

I'm curious why you're applying then? Seems like a lot of work to do for something you're good without. Also, I have a lot of compassion for this mindset. It was the exact mindset I had when I applied to UMontana years ago. I didn't get in, because on some level, I was scared to put my best self forward and irritated at the gatekeeping mentality of having my work judged. (not saying any of that is applicable to what you're feeling, just sharing my own experience) I've worked through that and am a much better writer now (I think). I do hear you though - if I don't get in, I'll keep writing. I have two published books (small press and indie) but I would love to teach and gain more experience/opportunity to dive deeper into my craft, especially through a literary lens. Those are my motivations now and though rejection will sting, I also know my love of writing continues on with or without a MFA.

At some point, you have to call it good. I also have some regrets about some schools that I've found interesting after the fact. Brown and VTech among them. But yes, it's ridiculously expensive and time consuming! We can only do the best we can with what we've got at the time. Maybe these "missed" ones can be a seeded opportunity for next round if needed. Hang in there!

Interesting note in the world of "shit happens" in applying to schools... I received a message from ASU saying there was someone else using my social security number??? I'm flabbergasted, though they said it could be a simple mistype in someone's application, so I had to send a special encrypted email through ASU with actual pictures of my social security card. And yes, I double checked to make sure I wasn't yeeting my information into some phish void. Have never encountered this before but it does make me a bit nervous that maybe my info is being used by someone else. Hahahahahha or maybe *I* was the one who mistyped it! Fun things to mull over as I agonize in wait-and-see purgatory.