winq

So I saw that you posted this in August and the application cycle is almost over, but I thought I would reply in case you or anyone else might find insight into this topic useful. I am also an international student, but from a Western country, so while there are significant overlaps they are not fully comparable to your situation. This is my subjective opinion as someone who attended a fully funded MFA program and is now starting a creative writing PhD, both in the USA. I will be honest and say the schools you are applying to are incredibly competitive, and you are at a distinct disadvantage as an international student due to funding restrictions and internal politics. However, I hope you still apply to all of them, because you never know if your work will resonate with a committee. I would suggest adding a few more, less well-known schools to your list. Most of the schools you list have 500-1000 applications per year for 10-25 slots. NYU accepts almost 50 and only funds about 5. And as someone who has been in the system, well-known does not always equal the best education, good mentorship, or supportive community. You can message me if you want some specific recommendations based on your interests, as there are still some deadlines open. Generally speaking, go for more schools that aren't on everybody's list. Some people who get into 'top' programs are still rejected by lesser-known schools, and some incredibly talented writers only get one acceptance. Almost every fully funded school will still have an acceptance rate of below 5%, but your overall chances will be much higher if you cast a wider net. All you need is one yes. Unfortunately, there are not really alternatives to the MFA system for those of us outside of the United States who write in English. Even if you integrate yourself into a local writing community, the experience is not comparable. Not inferior, just very different. I think you should apply and also be prepared to apply multiple times. I also think there is a lot of benefit to waiting, should you not get in this cycle. I know it feels like all or nothing, but you have your entire life to be a writer, and you will absolutely be a much better writer one, two, three years from now, even if you are not in a program. It is important to pursue your dreams from a place of certainty that this is your calling, that you have something you need to say, and not fear of the alternatives. Further schooling is not a safety net, it's often a security blanket. There is nothing wrong with taking a job, even if it's not an amazing job, and working for a few years, as long as you're able to support yourself and have a good QoL. Enjoy not being a student for the first time, grow as a person, and continue writing, because once you start an MFA, especially as an international, there is no easy way to pivot off of this track without starting over. You might even regret going straight into an MFA, as I've heard many people say, because you'll be under a lot of pressure to 'make it' and uncertainty about what exactly you want from your life/career. That, and you will likely experience a lot of personal and financial difficulties that are simply out of your control once you begin, and these growing pains are harder to weather without life experience. You will make it, I promise. It really is up to you to decide when and under what conditions, even if it doesn't feel like it. And this is for future reference and for others who are curious. I would advise against applying for a creative writing PhD or a hybrid English PhD without an MFA. Honestly, I would say to not even bother applying for a pure critical English or CompLit degree if what you want to do is write creatively because you will either not be accepted (they aren't usually supportive of writers in these programs), or it will actually hurt your development as an artist due to the academic workload (there are some exceptions, but they require insider connections that you currently do not have). It is standard to already have an MFA for a CW PhD program, and generally, only working artists and other exceptional talents circumvent this unwritten convention. Even if you get in, you are right, you do not want to be locked into one institution for 5-7 years when you do not even know yet what kind of writer you are. PhD programs are much less guided than MFA programs because they expect you to already know what you are doing when you get there. If you get an American MFA before your PhD, you will be better equipped to navigate the American PhD system and make use of a doctoral education and the unparalleled security it offers, and you will have additional privileges since you already possess the CW field's terminal degree. Best of luck.