MissMosquito
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Posts posted by MissMosquito
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On 2/4/2022 at 12:40 PM, Rm714 said:
I'm starting to think I've read my writing sample more after submitting than before. xD
Same here. I found a typo, a word repetition, in my UT app that is killing me!
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10 hours ago, fireflystasis said:
Honestly I'm just really impressed that you're a nurse, especially at a time like this, so I have to express my thanks and admiration. I feel like you're already doing 100x more meaningful work than most people doing an MFA
Thanks for the commendation. It's been a tough two years and counting. That's for sure. I love helping my community in a meaningful way. I'm passionate about what I do as a psychiatric nurse, and much of my poetry is psych related. The first book I publish will be on themes of mental illness and recovery--whenever that happens, but it's good to have clearly delineated goals.
- xenawins and fireflystasis
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9 hours ago, poem for her said:
one of the first pieces of application advice i received from a creative writing professor during undergrad was to cite 2-4 writing inspirations in my personal statement that you would never see on a classroom syllabus
Oof. I wish someone had given me this advice when I was working on apps. I don't have any close contact with poetry professors being so far out of my undergraduate career, so my app prep was done almost entirely in the dark. I did cite verse that inspires me when universities prompted, but otherwise did not due to SOP word count limits--Virginia Tech had by far the shortest word limit with a barrage of questions they wanted answered within such confining restraints. While I understand it's important to show a breadth of reading and familiarity of lesser known poets, I felt it was more important to reference poems that are actual favorites. As many others have mentioned, I have also fallen victim to reading and rereading my SOP/Writing Samples for different apps, and I have one positive take away. Even if I receive across the board rejections, I'm damn proud of my writing samples and SOPs. I know that I submitted the best applications I could have thus far in my writing career. Everything else is left to subjectivity and chance as you say.
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Thank you all for your supportive comments. I'm sure we as writers know that words matter. They have power. This forum has been a godsend as I wait for decisions from schools. I'm used to rejection from my acting days, as well as all the submitting I do for publication. There is an added sting and weight to the rejection when you spend almost a grand on application fees. I know I will keep writing my lines of verse as inspiration hits and develop a more regimented writing practice in time--with or without an MFA degree. I'm aching for a writing community. Not many of my friends are writers. I didn't study English or creative writing in college, and I'm close to 15 years out from my first bachelor degree. I used to go to literary readings and open mics around town, but COVID has squelched that outlet for now. I think the hardest part of this month is this stagnant limbo of unknown. My boyfriend Matt and I can't make any plans because we don't know where we'll be yet come August. I guess I just have to take one day at a time, and try my best to focus on other areas of life. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for everyone on this forum as more results come rolling in. Ever grateful for this community.
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12 hours ago, Ogilvie said:
The vibe of this forum has been very Sartrean today.
I'm not up on my Sartre. What do you mean by Sartrean?
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22 hours ago, Rm714 said:
Two results for WUSTL up in Draft! I didn't apply there, but I know many here did. Apparently the acceptance and waitlist in the group both came via email.
Feeling super bummed today. WUSTL was my top choice--no email. And no email from University of Oregon. By induction, I can infer two rejections so far. : ( : ( This is going to be a tough month. I kept telling people, "I'm expecting not to get into any programs," to keep my expectations low. Now that statement is all I can hear, ringing in my ears. My boyfriend keeps telling me I can't measure my talent and potential as a writer based on whether I get in, but how can I not? I poured my heart and soul into those applications. I keep binge watching shows on my days off. I literally binged on Ozark yesterday for 17 hours yesterday--I kid you not. Luckily I'm a nurse, and my 12 hour shifts are too busy to dwell and ruminate on work days. So much for telling myself to learn a new hobby during this time!
This is the third time I've applied to grad school. The first time, it was for an MFA in Acting when I was in my twenties. Back then, I got one callback, but ultimately all rejections. I only applied to three of the top schools at the time, which I realize now was a mistake. Then last year, I applied to become a Nurse Practitioner. I only applied to UT--Austin, because I didn't want to leave my hometown or do an online program for a terminal nursing degree. Second rejection. I didn't even get an interview. This time, knowing that poetry is where my heart and soul reside, I applied to fifteen schools. If I don't get into any...ugh...I don't even want to finish that sentence. Sorry ahead of time for the rant. I don't usually dumb on complete strangers I've never met.
- xenawins, MDP and Regimentations
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On 2/3/2022 at 5:56 PM, Ydrl said:
Got into fsu!!!
Congratulations!!!! I'm so very happy for you. We've all been rooting for you to be able to switch programs and find yourself in a more inclusive and supportive workshop environment. I've heard great things about FSU in this regard. Plus, I just want to take the time to thank you for being so supportive on this community forum. It really means a lot, especially someone who has never applied to MFA programs before this year.
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On 2/3/2022 at 4:09 PM, poem for her said:
just found out i got into northwestern for fiction this week (still in shock)! my first response so far. wishing everyone good vibes + good luck as decisions continue to roll in!
Congratulations!!! And thanks for the good vibes! I think we could all use it right now. : )
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On 2/1/2022 at 4:02 PM, mjr58 said:
I'm pretty sure I'm staring down the barrel of over a dozen straight-up rejections.
After two of my schools have posted acceptances, and radio silence so far in my inbox, the dread that I may be bracing myself for 15 rejection emails is growing heavier by the day. What are people doing to stay positive?
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Has anyone seen evidence of poetry acceptances from UO yet? I've still only seen fiction. Maybe this means they haven't announced poetry decisions yet?
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UO acceptances are out today! So far, I've only seen an acceptance for fiction on the results page. My chest just tied itself in a triple knot! Oh god, how am I going to get through this day?
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1 hour ago, sassydragon said:
(I did get sent to stage 2 for UTK and OleMiss unlike last year, so yay?).
Congrats on advancing to Stage II for UTK and OleMiss. I loved just how streamlined OleMiss's application process was. The only reason I didn't apply to UTK was for the scholarly essay requirement. I just couldn't bring myself to dust off and polish a scholarly essay I wrote from almost twenty years ago!
Are you applying for poetry or fiction?
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20 minutes ago, hot_toddy said:
Have you heard back from Ole Miss yet as a fiction applicant? Sorry I'm paranoid about this one I would like at the very least to achieve some level of success, even if I ultimately get rejected lol.
When they sent me my email on Tuesday (for poetry) 1/18, I was told not to post any news on social media--I hope this doesn't count as social media per se--and that they haven't even ranked fiction applications yet. Hope this insider info helps. : )
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11 minutes ago, Ydrl said:
Thanks. I'm still learning how to navigate this site. Also, I notice a number of people have a section below every one of their posts like an email signature with their stats:
Applying to:
Accepted:
Waitlisted:
Rejected:
Withdrawn:
How do I add these stats so they're automatically included at the bottom of my posts?
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4 hours ago, Ydrl said:
Sheesh, the rejections for ohio state on the results page are full of salt. I wonder if that's how this year is gonna go.
What results page are you referring to?
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31 minutes ago, Rm714 said:
Unfortunately, they've set the deadline for my response to their offer as March 15th, which is pretty early..let's hope I hear back from my top choices before then!
Oof! Yes, fingers crossed for you! I was actually wondering about this exact predicament. If a program offers you acceptance, will they allow you to wait until you've heard back from all prospective programs before deciding? I wonder if St. Andrews would make an exception if it turns out you have not yet heard back from all the programs by March 15th. It can't hurt to ask, right?
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56 minutes ago, SteveHolt said:
Also congrats! I applied to Mississippi for fiction. So in some distant, unlikely universe we'll be cohort buds
Haha--at this point in January, it is still a mere thought in an unlikely universe. Let me know if/(when!) you move onto Stage II. Here's hoping that universe becomes more likely in the coming months. : )
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So, I took a break from posting on here to check my email, and guess what I found in my inbox--an invitation to advance to Stage II of my application for poetry to University of Mississippi! I know this is not an acceptance letter, but it's encouraging to know they responded positively to my writing sample and SOP, especially it being the first application I submitted.
Well guys, I guess I have one more application to complete. : )
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41 minutes ago, xenawins said:
Yeah, the NW is awesome - but as I get older and the longer I've been here...the longer the dreary winters seem to get. Olympia is quite rainy though, not all regions are the same. None of my applied locations are where I might set up for a long haul, but having never been to several of them I'm open to possibilities. Most of my criteria centered around whether there were opportunities for cross-genre work, any speculative/sci-fi/eco emphasis, diversity, faculty, cost of living, and teaching opportunities.
I've applied at (not in any order):
- University of Michigan
- Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
- Arizona State
- University of Kansas
- Cornell
- Syracuse
- University of Alabama
- University of Tennessee
I also struggled with feeling like I was asking a lot of my recommenders, even though they're all very supportive. It also helped me cap my enthusiasm and get more focused on which programs I applied to. Still feeling some regret at not having applied to a couple, but ah well, maybe next year if I decide to apply again.
Living in Austin, TX for 35 years, it's the sun and heat that get me. I know that in general sunny weather and all that Vitamin D support mental health, but our summers are brutal. The sun can be so bright that it's blinding and I can feel my skin burning in a matter of minutes. I'm yearning for 4 distinct seasons! In Austin, it's hot about 80% of the time. Like today, it's in the 70s. Don't get me wrong; it's beautiful. I have the windows open, wearing a cami and running shorts, sitting on my bed, enjoying the breeze as I type away. I'm surprised you didn't apply to Brown. I was impressed by all they had to say about encouraging cross-genre work in their program. I also wanted the opportunity to explore other genres and revisit my playwriting. That and I only applied to programs that had at least two female identifying permanent faculty members.
As an aside, how do you include your list of applied programs, acceptances, deferrals, rejections, etc. at the bottom of all your posts?
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30 minutes ago, SteveHolt said:
Can confirm; I grew up in Eugene. Other than being a little college-towney, it is a very nice place to start a family (especially if you like outdoor sports). I was happy to grow up there, although it is the type of place that kids are driven to leave as adults, as me and my brother and most people I know did.
Thanks for the confirmation. I love the outdoors. I grew up as a tomboy, playing in the creek near my house, a heavily wooded area that felt like it was in the middle of nowhere, but still just a 10 minute drive from UT campus. It was a perfect place to grow up. May I ask, what about Eugene drove kids to leave as adults? The only thing pushing me out of Austin is all the Cali/NY transplants driving the cost of living up and up.
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1 hour ago, oubukibun said:
Everything else is just a gift, or better yet, a reason to keep experimenting and playing with an empty page!
I love this thought. What a playful and inviting sentiment! Too bad I find my writing mind addled almost to inebriation by the anticipation of program decisions. The only thing I seem to be able to do as far as writing is concerned is edit those poems I'm in the process of submitting for publication. If it's still needed, I tend to tweak a poem here and there every time I submit it.
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2 hours ago, xenawins said:
It's so interesting hearing other people's experiences. The hardest part for me is the waiting... I can deal with what I know, it's the unknown that drives me batty. Also why I'm doing #sowell during this pandemic and the continuous unknown rolling into year three. ? I'm thinking now though, why doesn't rejection bother me as much? I definitely have a harsh inner critic that vacillates wildly between "this is shit...YOU, in all the ways, might even be shit" to "wow, I think this is pretty great!" I can only say maybe it's because I've come to accept rejection as an inevitable part of being a creative. There is almost nothing as subjective as what one considers art, much less "good" art, so it feels easier to not make it personal to me. After all, I'm not everyone's cup of tea and I'm actively working on my own people-pleasing tendencies so receiving rejection always feels like a healthy process for me to experience. Sorry, all this navel gazing and I know I'm just trying to avoid checking my email again. Carry on!
Hi xenawins,
I don't know if this helps, but I'll tell you a bit of a story. Way, way back in undergrad circa early aughts, I was one of those type A students so tightly wound around my 4.0 GPA that I agonized after exams during that period of unknown. My thoughts were dominated by ruminations like, "I should have chosen answer A rather than B," "Why didn't I make this point to support my thesis," etc, etc. I would scour my textbook to find out whether or not I'd answered an uncertain exam question correctly. Realizing that period of unknown for what it was helped me let go of my perseveration. Out of nowhere, it occurred to me, "The exam is turned in. There's nothing I can do about the resulting grade right now. I might as well forget about it until grades are posted." If you lean into the unknown and treat it as a vacation in limbo, you might find yourself having some much needed fun. I know, I know! Easier said than done.
And I'm on the same page with rejection. In order to thrive as an artist, you have to get used to far more rejection than acceptance. I used to be a professional actress, before I was a psychiatric nurse, before I was a poet, and rejection is most of what actors know. You audition, and audition, and audition. You're rejected, and rejected, and rejected--until you aren't. Whenever I found myself discouraged, I remembered that it's not personal. The rejections meant that for any number of countless reasons, I wasn't right for that role. On the other hand, when I landed a role, there was only one reason for the casting. At that time, for that production, I was the only actress who was the best fit to play the role. The process is very similar to the rejection writers face when they submit for publication. The only difference is that as an actor, rejection prevented me from acting. There's nothing stopping me from writing my poetry, no matter how often I'm rejected. This is why looking back to my acting, I much prefer writing now.
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4 hours ago, Ydrl said:
Last year I panic applied too and all the schools I did that with were the ones I got into. Also we applied to so many of the same schools, poets unite.
Really?! I guess I should have pushed my worry aside regardless of my recommenders' workload and panic applied away!
Poets unit indeed!
2022 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum
in Literary
Posted
Thanks for the idea. I've considered this, but decided last month that I was still too drained to apply to workshops/fellowships just yet. Maybe it's time now. Any good ones you could suggest?