jjooeeyy

This is my first year applying and I tried to go into it thinking it was a test run with no pressure, (well that didn't work out.)
I'm honestly not even that upset at the rejections themselves; I'm more upset about the dreadful year I will have recovering from surgery and returning to the most mind-numbing shit at my job. What I find demoralizing about this entire process is that we have more work cut out for us than most other master's degrees, at least in the humanities. I honestly have little doubt I could've applied for an MA in English and gotten in somewhere decent, provided I had a specific research project in mind. Anyone applying for an MFA has to already be extremely good at what they do in order for their work to be competitive. We basically have to teach ourselves what these programs want to read and to mold ourselves into their image. I suppose I'm realizing that the MFA probably isn't to teach people how to write, it's mostly to reward those who write well enough into the club (and to use our cheap labor to prop it up.) This degree isn't seen as academically rigorous for a reason.
I have one waitlist and I have no idea if it will turn into an acceptance, though I'm not very hopeful at this stage.

Your response is completely valid, and I think that person put it too bluntly, however there might be a bit of truth to it. I'm not wanting to discourage you, nor am I trying to talk out my ass since I don't know you, but I joined the workforce immediately after ugrad and it taught me many things I wouldn't have if I immediately went into grad school. I inquired with my professors during ugrad about continuing to grad school and they all told me to take some time to work and gain some distance from academia. It's possible they said that because my writing was really terrible, but they were probably relaying advice from their own lived experience. It's good to have this goal and know what you want, and I'm sure it will happen for you in due time, but there are other things to experience that will also shape you into a more thoughtful writer.
But then again, I'm 30 now and I didn't get accepted, so who knows—really—I might be too old hahaha

Your response is completely valid, and I think that person put it too bluntly, however there might be a bit of truth to it. I'm not wanting to discourage you, nor am I trying to talk out my ass since I don't know you, but I joined the workforce immediately after ugrad and it taught me many things I wouldn't have if I immediately went into grad school. I inquired with my professors during ugrad about continuing to grad school and they all told me to take some time to work and gain some distance from academia. It's possible they said that because my writing was really terrible, but they were probably relaying advice from their own lived experience. It's good to have this goal and know what you want, and I'm sure it will happen for you in due time, but there are other things to experience that will also shape you into a more thoughtful writer.
But then again, I'm 30 now and I didn't get accepted, so who knows—really—I might be too old hahaha

I would say so if you know that you won't be attending even if you are granted funding. That gives them the opportunity to admit and interview someone else on the waitlist.

I would say so if you know that you won't be attending even if you are granted funding. That gives them the opportunity to admit and interview someone else on the waitlist.

I would say so if you know that you won't be attending even if you are granted funding. That gives them the opportunity to admit and interview someone else on the waitlist.

I would say so if you know that you won't be attending even if you are granted funding. That gives them the opportunity to admit and interview someone else on the waitlist.

i didn't get news from south carolina for over a month after they sent out initial acceptances and then i was notified that i was waitlisted. yeah, it's not a good sign overall, but truly anything could happen
edit: i also know someone who ended up getting waitlisted at 4 schools and had to decide where they were going to go on april 14th. there are a lot of last min decisions that get made and many things shift! it's not over til it's over

i didn't get news from south carolina for over a month after they sent out initial acceptances and then i was notified that i was waitlisted. yeah, it's not a good sign overall, but truly anything could happen
edit: i also know someone who ended up getting waitlisted at 4 schools and had to decide where they were going to go on april 14th. there are a lot of last min decisions that get made and many things shift! it's not over til it's over

just got my rejection from south carolina. i knew it was coming since everyone posted about their waitlist emails yesterday but it still stings a bit. hopefully something works out in my favor soon

Just got an acceptance call for Iowa for poetry! At this hour!!!

I just got a waitlist there as well!

I don't want to alarm anyone, but the poetry decisions for Iowa might finalized. Don't know when notifications are going out though... Watching the professors spend hours of their weekends here just pouring over the manuscripts together around a table was a wild sight. Godspeed to you all, drink water.

Received an acceptance email from Michigan for poetry this morning, holy fuck.
Also weird that it looks like the people last week got phone calls whereas people this week are getting emails?

Just got a weird waitlist email from South Carolina lol. Def thought I’d been rejected there 

I just got a waitlist there as well!

I just got a waitlist there as well!

@Norwood I don't have a L, exactly, but I spent 8 hours in the ER yesterday and I have to have surgery in 5 weeks. Also staring down 5 likely rejections thus far. 

@Norwood I don't have a L, exactly, but I spent 8 hours in the ER yesterday and I have to have surgery in 5 weeks. Also staring down 5 likely rejections thus far. 

yep, got my rejection at 9:15am (EST). was my top choice based on lots of factors. oh well. 

yep, got my rejection at 9:15am (EST). was my top choice based on lots of factors. oh well. 

Do I think I will get a notification on a Saturday? No.
Will I still check my email, the results page, and Draft every hour? Yes, of course I will.

Do I think I will get a notification on a Saturday? No.
Will I still check my email, the results page, and Draft every hour? Yes, of course I will.

Do I think I will get a notification on a Saturday? No.
Will I still check my email, the results page, and Draft every hour? Yes, of course I will.

Do I think I will get a notification on a Saturday? No.
Will I still check my email, the results page, and Draft every hour? Yes, of course I will.