fritzapie

I completed my creative writing MFA a few years and I'm starting the Fall 2023 PhD process now. My MFA focus was poetry but I write a lot more fiction now. I'm applying to: University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Western Michigan SUNY Binghamton SUNY Buffalo maybe others I need to be someplace cold and I need to be fully funded. I was accepted to UW Milwaukee (with full funding) and to SUNY Binghamton (with no funding) a couple of years ago but the COVID hit and really changed things in my world for a while, so I'm trying again. A question: have any of you felt pushback and criticism from family or friends for pursuing advanced degrees in writing? I'm kind of a sore thumb in my family and a lot of them don't understand why I feel the need for more school when I already have a well-paying job. (It's a soul-emptying, non-creative job and I'm working to redirect my path.) Good luck to all.

Hi All - I've been lurking for a month or so and I want to add my information here. I really appreciate everything I'm learning in this forum and I think I'll be better prepared when I apply again next year, which I'm sure at this point is an inevitability. I'm a painter and I've applied to: UCLA (dream program) Boston University (next dream program, because of the visual narrative representation) USC Tyler (started my undergrad there long ago) University at Buffalo Columbia University of Washington I heard nothing so far and I'm not super surprised. I've been out of the art loop for a while because I've been working to support my family. I've kept in casual practice with my painting but nothing intense enough to warrant a clearly representative body of work. My life circumstances changed enough that I can re-devote myself to my work. I'm an army veteran and deployed to Iraq during my time - are there any other veterans here? Thanks to all of you for your contributions here, and best of luck to you.

@Frank14 If it's of any use to you: I live in Missoula and did some of my undergrad in the art department here (earlier in the 2000's). Missoula is a great town but a lot of people are being priced out of their homes. Rentals are scarce and ridiculously expensive unless you're willing to share with several people or live in graduate student housing -- but the scarcity is the real problem. I've lived here off and on for 20 years and I'm looking to leave again, probably permanently, because of the housing situation. I guess housing is no fun anywhere right now. BUT the art building is great, the studios are bright, and the views cannot be beat.