Chex

True, but also: - Cornell and Hopkins respectively guarantee 2 and 1 additional years of support (funding + other resources) in consideration for teaching; - Michigan and Wash U have a competitive post-grad year (some of the students in every cohort get it); - Iowa and Wisconsin also have opportunities for a post-grad fellowship/teaching year, though I'm not clear on the details. These possibilities tend to sway candidates. If you knew you could have an additional year of support to keep focusing on your writing after the MFA, you wouldn't overly mind the 2-year tag. Most people don't tend to publish their MFA thesis as is, anyway. They continue working on the manuscript until they're ready to send it out.

Congrats, bagel! Love this for you!

Big F 'em!

Hi! Sorry for responding so late. I'm just going to copy and paste what a poetry vet who ultimately went to Cornell wrote about UIUC on the Draft 2 years ago: "I was admitted by them in 2021. I truly believe, in terms of faculty mentorship, they are almost unparalleled. And if UIUC hasn’t be on your radar yet, check them out! TL;DR: If your main reason for the MFA is mentorship, apply to UIUC! I was accepted by a good number of fully funded programs, including UIUC, in 2021. UIUC was the hardest to turn down and the only program I cried for. There is a lot to love, but since I didn't attend their MFA, I want to share the part I did experience: the recruitment process. When UIUC accepted me during the pandemic, ALL four poetry faculty members: Ángel García, Janice Harrington, Christopher Kempf, and Corey Van Landingham reached out to me with lengthy emails, specific praises for my poems, and enthusiastically chatted about our fit and welcomed questions. We scheduled for individual calls, class visits, and a staff meeting observation at their mag, Ninth Letter. They were the most organized and transparent program I experienced. Always kept in touch, never pushy. When I began getting acceptances elsewhere, Corey offered to share her honest opinion on each programs. She wrote me LONG emails to help me strategize, based on my exact needs, where she'd recommend me to go, like a dedicated mentor, even though it was against her own interest. The kindness, attention, labor, and expertise I received from Corey and others were truly remarkable. And we’ve been corresponding since. During recruitment, one of the profs said, "If you come, I'll bend over backwards to make sure you get everything you need in our program." The poetry faculty there are kind and generous people who genuinely root for you. Especially if you don't yet have mentors in your corner who will support your career for decades, this is a good place to be. I know a person, once a UIUC undergrad and now successful writer, who went to one of the top MFA programs and then THE most prestigious fellowship. And they said they never got elsewhere the attention, time, and quality of mentorship they got at UIUC. Having graduated from one of the 'bigger names' of MFAs, I totally concur. Mentorship can be a rare treasure to find." I've also heard from current students who say similarly wonderful things about the program. They also say that it's a beautiful place to live, the university is rigorous and has great facilities (including one of the largest university libraries in the world), the stipend (over 26k per year) is very liveable in Urbana-Champaign, and the rent is reasonable. Of Indiana, Wash U, UIUC, and Notre Dame, I think Wash U might edge out the rest in prestige, but I don't think it's by much. Indiana has a great reputation but is not as well funded as the others and the teaching responsibilities are higher. Notre Dame also has a very good reputation and, like Wash U, is a private university. I truly believe these programs are all excellent options and am rooting for you, whichever way you go.

Congrats! Michigan sounds like a dream. Wishing you a wonderful time there!

That's so great! Do you mind sharing where you're headed to? I'm just curious, lol, and living vicariously through other people's MFA plans.

I've heard great things about UIUC especially, but you're right, I'd probably choose Rutgers-Camden over it as well. R-C has a great reputation too, and better funding. Dunno about the relative cost of living, though.

Thank you. Hoping the same for you. ❤️

Congratulations! Crossing my fingers that you get in this time. Thank you for clarifying how Ole Miss phase 2 apps work. The previous times you got to phase 2, could you share around what time you heard back (month/date or timeline) with final decisions (R, I presume)?

Wow.

Right here with you, and I believe it's the same for @Mystic_Sunshine. I'm just confused; I thought that, if nothing else, the stage 2 application led to an automatic waitlist at least. But it's been 3 days since the first notifications went out and it's still crickets here. Makes me wonder what could have been so wrong with my application or if the original invitation had been sent in error. I'd like this process to be over. I need them to decide one way or the other so I can move forward. Tired and sad but keeping on. Now thinking of other ways to move on with my writing and year.

Thank you, Brown, for this immaculate edging. I've acquired 93 new mental illnesses today alone, had one not-mini breakdown, recovered from it, and am still perched on the edge of my seat here. Fantastic work, Brown. Well done! 👍🏾

Just checked and can confirm that one was for Oregon State (poetry), and the other was for Bowling Green State (not sure of the genre but possibly fiction, based on the comments). I am so sorry, Panano. So so sorry for your loss and the general feeling of overwhelm. I can relate to the crushing bruise of relentless Ls. It does a number on the heart. Not much I can say now but I pray your hurt eases and that your resounding good news is very very close. Sending you all the hugs 🫂🫂🫂 Congrats!

Sorry, I can't confirm the schools but one was way back in early February or so. The person was waitlisted and then accepted the next day. Another waitlister reported on the draft sheet a few days ago that they've been accepted off the waitlist. There are currently over 2,000 entries on the sheet and it's not very easy to trawl through, but maybe someone else will remember specifically and share here.

Yes, seen a few people report this on Draft. Sure.

Congrats! I haven't heard nada. Fingers fully crossed. Out of reactions but rooting for you, congratulations!

Ooh, that sounds promising! Please update us when you get the good news. Congratulations!

They were notified about two days apart, last year. Poetry came first.

Man, Pigeon Pie on the draft spreadsheet is showing out! 🔥

OMG, Pru! This is so ducking amazing, I've heard wonderful things about that program. Congratulations!!! 🎉 🎉 🎉

This just struck me now, and I don't think I gave it the appropriate amount of reaction. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!! 🎉 🎉 🎊🎊🥳🥳 Been following your journey and I'm so thrilled for you! Hoping Iowa turns out to be a wonderful place for you. Also wanted to give a shout out to @nauseated. That was a very thoughtful post, and I'm glad you have some decent alternative options this year. Whatever happens, please keep your fire burning, keep writing and hopefully someday some of us here will read your work. I wish you only the very, very best. ✨

This makes sense and I think you have the right idea. Congratulations on your success so far! UTK is a strong program and getting waitlisted there points to the fact that you're a competitive candidate. If you do reapply, here are some fully-funded schools with respected CNF programs to consider: Ohio State University, University of Arizona, University of Minnesota, University of Iowa, Washington University in St. Louis, University of Pittsburgh, Northwestern University (Litowitz), Rutgers-Camden, Rutgers-Newark, University of Washington-Seattle, UMass Amherst, University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Florida State University, Oregon State University, University of Alabama, University of Wyoming, Iowa State University (Ames), University of Idaho, and some more I forget now. NYU also has a nonfiction program but only a lucky few get full funding, the rest receive partial offers. The same goes for George Mason University, I think. You could also use the spreadsheet on Draft to research what nonfiction programs others applied to. Wishing you the very best!

Congratulations!! And thank you for sharing the deets here, as I'm aware there are people anxiously waiting to hear from Boston.

So cool! Congratulations!!! 🎉 🎊

Yep, they do, but depending on where in the world you are and how reliable the postal service is, you may or may not receive it. I did not receive mine last year, and had to email Deb West in May/June, who replied with a PDF version of the mailed letter. No idea why they couldn't just send that by email in the first place. In any case, the portal should be updated later this month, and it'll simply read: DENIED, or some such.