Rixor

Wow--this is such an unexpected response! So kind and so well-written! Thank you so, so much. And I appreciate the reassurance, too. For the record, the faculty at the one school has been extremely kind and gracious--it was an unforeseen circumstance that led to the possibility of it being cancelled. I just don't want to misrepresent them--they're great. I'm extremely proud of you, too. It's remarkable that you're doing so many 'firsts' and I think it's really, really admirable that you're a successful writer-and soon MFA student, especially when neither of your parents spoke English as their first languages. You're absolutely right that a lot of applicants have support systems that we might not. All we can do is give it our all (and, we already did!) and keep writing. Thank you for applying, too. It's been wonderful reading your posts here and it's been even better having a conversation with you:)

Scribe, Bluejay, I appreciate you both so much!!! You both are brilliant, really. :') @ sunnysequoia Happy birthday!! I hope it's wonderful!!

Going to ramble a bit. I'm a first-gen student so my family doesn't understand, and I don't really know anyone else who understands this process. I'll throw it up here in hopes of feeling better. I got so, so excited about my first acceptance!! Started reseaching the city, daydreaming about it, reading the work of the professors... And then I found out (I don't know the whole story) that the program is at-risk of being cancelled. News articles about the uni say that the admin has been acting a little unfavorable so even if the CW faculty is amazing, I'm bracing myself for cancellation. My second acceptance is to a wonderful school that I toured for undergrad, but I don't know if I'll get funding. I checked the box on my application that said "I cannot attend without funding" and got an acceptance anyways, so I'm hoping that's the case, but knowing that another admitted student on this forum got a TA-ship offer the day after their letter makes me think they might've passed me up. (I'm so happy for you, by the way!! Not trying to detract from your accomplishment!) When I emailed, they told me I'll know within the next few weeks. So, that leaves me with three waitlists. I'm extremely grateful for them, but they're also so vague that it's scary. I've got two programs I'm accepted into, but might not be able to attend. It also leaves me with one hard rejection, two soft rejections (Boise and USF), and only two left pending: Las Vegas, and UDub. I keep overthinking my application for the second one in particular. One of my short stories took place in Seattle, and in my SOP I wrote about how much I adore the city. That's entirely honest--I really do love the city, the multiculturalism, its history, its unique ecology, the people I met when I did volunteerwork there--but I keep thinking, man. It's honest, but that's probably not what they're looking for! I probably come across as a total, like... 'Seattle-weeaboo.' I do admire the CW faculty and their work, but to my knowledge, it's a bad idea to single out professors' work because it can make the professors you don't include feel a little bummed out. And I'd've been lying if I had said I was familiar with all of the professors' works. But yeah. Back in limbo. This process is tough and I can't help but dread checking the spreadsheet in case UNLV and UW-S notices go out without me getting one.

I've just been saying, "Thank you so much for this incredible news! I am so excited about possibly attending X University." And then follow up with some questions or more gratitutde. No need to say anything like, "I am so happy that I will be attending here."

Congratulations!! If I could ask, how were you notified for NAU funding?

Assuming you mean UW-S and not UW-B, last year they notified late Feb - ~March 8th. But the years before that, they notified mid-Feb. So it's a toss up!

UW as in Wisconsin, Washington, Wyoming?

Thank you all! I appreciate it a ton!

Aight sorry everyone. Super-specific tiny question. Was gonna ask on Draft but I got scared. Let's say you get waitlisted at your dream program. You'd like to email back expressing your gratitude and excitement. Is saying, "X school is my dream program" okay? Or is that too wistful and unprofessional? Is saying, "X school is my top-choice program," okay? Or does that come across as entitled or arrogant? I'm an anxious mess, I know. Thank you all!

I keep thinking about how much time I spend refreshing this forum, Draft, my email, and the Results page. I don't even consciously do it at this point. It's muscle memory. I wonder how much time I'll free up once this is all over.

Darn Robocalls... Every time I get an unknown call, my heart flutters a little. But it's always just a robot voice trying to scam me out of money. @decayingballads21 I don't know if this helps you feel better, but I keep telling myself that the people who got accepted into my top programs probably, like most of us, applied for 10+ schools. While your dream program might be OSU, an OSU acceptee's top program might be, idk, UWyoming, Cornell, NYU, UWMadison or something. And if they got into OSU, there's a good chance they got admitted or waitlisted those places, too. To my knowledge, certain schools like OSU have an incoming class almost entirely comprised of former waitlisted students. Other schools (e.g. John Hopkins) tend not to admit many students off the waitlist. You emailed, you told them the program is your top-choice, I think that puts you in a really good spot for consideration and I really hope you get admitted off the waitlist. Manifesting it for you!

I don't think it's inappropriate--especially if you explained your predicament--but unfortunately there's a good chance they won't have any information to give you. I'm sorry you're dealing with this. A lot of people on Draft are in the same boat. It sounds very stressful. Would it be possible to ask your complex for an extension instead? I hope you hear good news soon (and hopefully, before Feb. 29th)!

Did you tell the program they're your top choice? People in Draft said it's a smart thing to do (as long as it's true)! I'm waitlisted for fiction, and I sent a thank-you email. They're not my top choice (UDub please notice me) but they're high up on my list, so I told them I would be thrilled to go there. I hope you are able to sleep better soon.

Yup... You and I are on the same page. I've gotten so excited about UNR after more research, but then I've learned it's at-risk of cancellation. I wouldn't say it's a good chance. I'd like to think it's more likely to still exist, than to be cancelled. I mean, if it gets cancelled, that presents a whole mess of issues... Who's going to teach English 101, if not the grad students? What will sponsors/funders think? How will the university handle the potential hit to their reputation for cancelling the program (people are very upset with Florida for doing the same thing earlier in the process, and UNR's program is relatively new)? Getting a teaching position as a CW professor is something that many, many people want to do, and is also something that people regularly migrate across the country for. Undoubtedly there are tons of candidates hoping to fill the position--it's just up to UNevada. The faculty seems amazing and I have no doubt they'll be trying their best to keep things working.

I'm out of reactions, but congratulations to all of you with good news to share!!!!! I'm so happy for you all!! And I hope some of those w's turn into a's for everyone:) Everyone struggling with uncertainty--I wish I had something worthwhile to say. I'm holding out hope that you all hear good news soon. This process is difficult--both on our wallets and our psyches. Many of us spent hundreds on application fees alone. Everyone here seems so kind and talented; I'm hoping we all get into programs this cycle, if only to spare us from doing this process again in the future. Since learning there's a possibility my 'a' program might be cancelled, I've been thinking a lot about how to cope if I have to go through a cycle again next year (and maybe the year after that... And after that...)... Upon research, it seems like a lot of excellent writers--many of whom are authors/professors/etc--were rejected across the board the first time around. It's just that so much about the recruitment process is up purely to chance. I have no doubt that every person here would thrive in an MFA program. I keep telling myself that, if I do have to go another cycle, I'll be coming out of this with experience, drive, and connections. I now know about new programs to apply for. I now know not to accidentally apply for unfunded programs. I now know talented, skilled, kind people like you all who I could probably bug to read over my SOP and sample. I've got a plan lined out to submit more, write more, etc. I'm really, really hoping none of us have to go through this process again--because clearly, it is rough--but I think that, if we have to, we'll all be in a really good spot. I'm really hoping the best for everyone.

Ahhh congratulations!!! I'm accepted there, too--I might see you there:)

Oh man, I can't imagine enduring something like that! I'm so sorry--especially as an international student, that's so, so tough! Thank you so much. I hope all works out for you, too!

Nevada, the founder of the program is super, duper kind and it's a pleasure corresponding with him--and it's not like applicants were explicitly told "this might get cancelled," moreso, "there was a development" that could impact it. But yeah, it sucks to feel all uncertain again. Y'all, celebrate your acceptances but also don't get too daydreamy about them 😭 Unfortunately things happen and plans can become uncertain. I know I'm being a little doom-and-gloom but I told people "yeah, I'm going to grad school :)" and researched the city and stuff and that's not entirely certain anymore.

So, my 1a might functionally be an r. Someone resigned at the program without much notice, and now there's a possibility it might be cancelled. The faculty is very kind and communicate about this, but it's scary being back to feeling uncertain about whether or not grad school is happening for me. I'm hoping the program doesn't get cancelled--but I'm also hoping I get another "a" or that one of my "w"s officially turns into one!

I posted my own little advice thingy that contained this a bit ago, but it says "awaiting moderator approval" for some reason. But if you're still on the topic of submission cover letters, mine usually go: Dear [Editor Name], Thank you for considering STORY/POEM NAME, my XXXX-word GENRE piece, in MAGAZINE NAME. I am SHORT ONE SENTENCE BIO. My work has previous appeared in OTHER_MAGS_IF_APPLICABLE Thank you for your time and consideration, NAME The first time I submitted to journals, I used these long, earnest, heartfelt, editorializing cover letters that are embarassing to look back on and got rejected across the board. A professor helped me understand that short and simple is really the way to go in litmag submissions.

Just wanted to drop some input on the 'submitting to mags' thing. I only have one publication so far, but I have a long list of rejections (some 'higher tier' ones) so I feel somewhat experienced. I use two lists: Erika Krouse's and Poortere's, because I don't want to pay for Duotrope at this point in time. When I started out submitting, I would submit to very tiny journals (bad mistake, some are scams, most of them die in a month or so and then you lose 'first publication' rights) with giant, earnest, heartfelt, editorializing query letters (worse mistake!! embarassing looking back!). The query letters that my professor taught us to write are very, very basic. The letter that earned me my first publication was something like: Dear [Editor Name], Thank you for considering STORYNAME, my XXXX-word GENRE piece, in MAGAZINENAME. I am SHORT ONE SENTENCE BIO. Thank you for your time and consideration, NAME Most journals require like, $3 to submit, so unfortunately it can be inaccessible to 'put yourself out there.' Contests are even more inaccessible--like, $20 per submission is standard--so I don't submit to them. Pairing stories with mag vibes/themes (like, if you have a poem about queer identity and orange trees, submitting it to a queer Floridian journal) seems to garner the most success. If you can read and research the publication, even better, but I realize that can also be a big barrier to entry for people low on funds. Personally, I do an in-between thing between targeted and blanket submitting... I try to read whatever stories are free, research the editors, and submit if the vibe/themes match. It's a little unfortunate, but I just don't have the funds right now to subscribe to so many mags. Also, one professor of mine showed us her submittable page and it was a long list of rejections. Knowing that established, skilled, experienced writers still get denied all the time makes me feel a lot better about my own rejections. It's just a part of the game. Good luck all of you!

Cool topics! I'd love to read your stuff. I like writing about science, animals, biology, evolution, queer identity, diaspora, and very flawed characters/people.

Thank you!!! Good to know!

Just to be clear... When colleges offer "full funding" and "tuition remission" this generally applies the same regardless of whether you're in-state or out-of-state, right? All my possible programs are out-of-state and I'm secretly very fearful that I'll get hit with a, "sorry, you must've misunderstood, we only cover half the tuition for OOS students!"

I agree with the other commenter, I wish I could write speculative fiction. It's what I have the most fun reading. Every time I try to, I get discouraged and quit. I haven't cracked the code on how to make long plots interesting yet. Lots of respect for you. Did you happen to apply to any programs that are super friendly towards speculative fiction (e.g. University of Nevada in Reno, UC-Riverside, NCSU)?