mosss

(don't know if anyone's still checking this forum but F it I'm excited lol) I'm going to GCSU this fall! Bit of a shitshow waiting until MAY to find out, but after three years of applying I'll take it lol (also UTK still hasn't contacted me...they told me a week ago they were still figuring out their last spot and that I was "very high" on the waitlist but that's whatever now, I've got GCSU :p) This forum's been great and I just wanted to put one last Happy Thing out there:) hope those of y'all starting MFAs this year have an easy transition into the next chapter of your life, and I hope those of y'all planning on applying again next year keep your heads up. if you want it enough, and keep working to improve each year, you'll get in. It just might take longer than you thought

Yes, April 15 is the deadline for people to accept spots, so there's generally a lot of movement in waitlists on that day (and sometimes the following days!). If you've been waitlisted somewhere and don't hear anything on April 15, that doesn't automattically mean a rejection--sometimes it takes a day or two to move down the waitlist to get someone who accepts, since most schools will give waitlisted ppl 24 hrs to think about it after April 15 has passed. If you haven't heard anything back AT ALL from a school, at this point it's likely a rejection (and you should email them if you haven't been accepted/waitlisted/rejected at this point). Good luck, and happy ides of April to all who celebrate!

Not sure, but I don't think they send this email out to everyone...they're making sure they have bodies to fill seats, yes, but they still have standards

I also got this email! I'm thinking, at best, it's like a waitlist for the waitlist. Not officially waitlisted but not rejected either. A type of purgatory. Two years ago BGSU purgatory-waitlisted me (I heard nothing back from them so I emailed late-March and was told they were waiting for all positions to be filled before sending rejections). Last year they officially waitlisted me, sent the official email and invited me to the virtual meet day and everything. This year ig I'm back in purgatory lol

Congrats! If you have specific questions about the program/want to request to talk with current students, I would reach out ASAP. Better to get all the information you need sooner so you can make a decision before April 15!

how are y'all holding up? i thought i was doing well, but these last couple of days have been roughhhhhh literally all i've been able to think about is if i'm getting off these waitlists (0a/2w/~5r) or not--and i know movement doesn't really start until late march/april, but i just want to know alreadyyyyyy like should i be apartment hunting??? can i make plans for the summer or??? ugughghghhgh i can't seem to do anything to get my mind off this (usually i'll do something creative--make little dudes with clay, write, or build a castle in animal crossing or smth but my brain feels like hot soup slipping through my fingers rn and i cannot. stay focused.). i just want to hibernate until april 15 lol hope things are going better for y'all than they are for me (and if anyone has any good hibernation tips lmk)

yeah they're weird about their rejections. when I applied there two years ago they didn't reject me until april (and I had to nag them for it)

BGSU has already sent out all waitlists/acceptances. source: my friend is currently in their program

congrats on the acceptance (still great validation, in my opinion)! all my profs have told me that I shouldn't get an MFA if I have to take out loans/pay for it--it's not worth it, financially. the job market post-MFA is kind of abysmal...I see getting an MFA as personal fulfillment, not as a means to getting a well paying job (and so it wouldn't be wise to sell your soul for it)

I have 20+ rejections piled up over three rounds of applying to MFAs--my first year I was rejected everywhere (no waitlists, no personal emails saying I was close, zilch), and last year I had one waitlist-turned-rejection. It stung, but it also opened my eyes to how much work I was going to have to put in if I wanted to get in somewhere. Even if I don't get off either of my waitlists this year, I know that I'm a better writer for going through the application process. I mainly write flash, but this last year I wrote ~60,000 words towards this story I came up with specifically with MFA apps in mind. My longest project prior to that was ~11,000 words--everything else I've written being more in the 500-2,000 range. I guess what I'm trying to say is: it's going to hurt. No matter how you try to rationalize it or what anyone says to you, it's going to hurt. Because you want it. What I've done is use that hurt to write better stories, to push myself. (Not sure if this will work for you, since everyone is different, but I sincerely hope you keep writing). Try not to wallow in your hurt--morph it into something you can use

if an MA is something you want, then yeah! go for it! there's no harm in applying for an MA and an MFA at the same time--sounds like you'd just be widening your net:) but if an MA is something you DON'T actually want, then that's going to be a rough couple of years sludging through a degree just for the sake of getting a degree

waitlisted at georgia college and state university (fiction) !!! excited but also nervous bc I didn't get into the one place I was waitlisted at last year (but this year I have TWO waitlists, so that means I'm getting better...right??? HATE how arbitrary this system is lol) now just waiting on WVU...

Nope! I applied in fiction and have heard nothing back yet, though I'm thinking it's a rejection (gut feeling, nothing logical)

I second dagreenkat--if you got in, then you're good enough. The only thing you should ask yourself is whether or not you actually want to go to NYU

I also got my vandy rejection...it's nice to officially check it off my list, lol

congrats! this is my first good news, but I'm hoping UWV and/or Georgia College and State University will have some good news for me in the coming weeks 🙏

y'all I got waitlisted at University of Tennessee Knoxville (fiction) :):):):) feels really good after one formal rejection and two 99%-sure-I've-been-rejected-but-they-haven't-fucking-emailed-me-yet rejections even if I don't get in (since there's only two spots for fiction this year) I'm counting this as a win :):):):):):) hope the rest of y'alls days go well!!!! :):):):):)

I did my undergrad at WY and got to know the CW/ENGL faculty well while I was there (really love the support I got from my profs), so let me know if you have questions about Laramie/general vibes of the campus and program! Congrats!

I'm fairly certain there are no rules as to when schools notify. I've heard about people getting calls on weekends, late at night, holidays, etc...it really just depends on when that particular director for that particular program wants to make a call/send an email. Not trying to freak you out or anything, it's just that this process is incredibly school specific. Maybe one program only notifies during school hours, but that doesn't mean another one isn't going to contact you at 10PM on a Saturday (something that happened to someone on draft a year or two ago) I've just accepted that my nerves are going to be mush for the next month or two, lol. Hang in there [insert cat meme here]

Jess from FB draft has said that all offers (acceptances and waitlists) have gone out at Vanderbilt. So if you haven't heard anything (like me) then it's a rejection I also applied to west Virginia and haven't heard anything yet, so I feel your pain

Do y'all have any good recommendations for books/podcasts/youtubers that discuss writing well? Every time I think I've found a good writing podcast I can't get more than ten minutes in without toning it out (could be the ADHD, lol, but usually if I'm doing something with my hands then I can listen to stuff). The only book on writing I've enjoyed so far is Nancy Stohlman's Going Short, which is about flash. Would love any books on plot or long form if y'all know any:)

(this is my third year applying, for reference) I couldn't write much the first time I was rejected to all the schools I've applied to. I had a hard time finding a writing group/schedule on my own, but last year I started drafting a novel and that's taken up a bunch of time! These last few months, especially, I've pushed a bunch words out and have done well with talking about my writing and workshopping some stories for old college friends in return. Finding people who you can talk to about writing definately helps! Starting something new is also hard when your brain is racked with stress. I'm working on stuff I've already made outlines and written out ideas for, so for me it's easier to get the words out (and still I'm struggling to separate my writing time with thinking about MFAs lol)

Totally understand the stress of waiting! Personally, I don't think panic applying will help unless you're sure you'll want to attend if accepted. Personally, it would kill me to get into a program only to reject it later bc it wasn't a good fit for me. If you really want to apply to another program, maybe look into Georgia State College and University (I applied there this year). Their app is due Feb 1st, and Milledgeville has a somewhat rural population (~16,000)--the fee is also fairly cheap compared to other schools ($35, I think). This is my third year applying. I know what it feels like to stake everything on these schools decisions. My advice? Sit down, and write out 3 scenarios: best, worst, and most realistic (this is a therapy technique, btw). Now, make contingency plans for all. Worst case scenario, you don't get into anywhere and you fall into a bit of a depression. What job can you take that would give you personal fulfillment? If you can't work somewhere fulfilling, what volunteer opportunities are available in your community? I worked in foster care for the first year after I was rejected from 12 schools, and it helped me feel like I had purpose/that I was putting good into the world. Libraries usually have notice boards with groups you can join as well, if you need more face-to-face interactions. You can also see a need within your community and make strides to fill it--organizing a clothing swap, work with a community center to do an outreach program in your town, etc! Personal fulfillment can also mean advancing your writing skills on your own. Find a community of writers online to swap stories with (or start a writing club at your local library!). Learn about writing through books, lectures, or other sources (create your own MFA, basically--and this is all good stuff to include in your SOP for reapplying the next year to show the adcoms that you're serious about writing). I also felt stagnant after two years of rejections. I wish I could tell you that you'll get in, but I don't know you, or your writing (and even if I did, MFA selection is an incredibly objective process). If you really want it, you just have to keep trying (and ignore the trolls, those who try to pull you down in order to make themselves feel tall). Best of luck--and if you ever need a workshop buddy let me know!

Phone calls are more common, but they'll likely email you as well. Also, they're not going to move on to the next person if they can't reach you immediately. A lot of schools let you check the status of your app online, as well, so if you miss a call and the email goes to spam (worst case senerio), you can always check there:)

Besides reading (I've been making my way through Ann Patchett's work after reading The Dutch House), I recently picked up a new hobby making little animal figurines with oven-bake polymer clay. I've found it soothing to be creative in an outlet that doesn't remind me of MFAs, since it keeps my brain occupied and gives me that "I made something!" serotonin boost. If I start feeling overwhelmed, I distract myself with a game/movie night with friends who support me and know what's going on:) I applaud you for applying again after trying last year--this is my third year applying myself, so I understand the anxiety of waiting to apply, applying, and then waiting to hear back! A lot of my professors told me that it generally takes 2-5 years to get into a good, fully-funded program, and that most of the accepted applicants are generally older, so don't kick yourself if you don't get in this year either (with that said, a good friend of mine got in straight out of her undergrad, so it really is just subjective!). Best of luck:)