baguettemagique

Second go-round of apps. Applied to 8 schools last year, several waitlists, and two acceptances with partial scholarships (Columbia & NYU, a pretty good amount off at both). No Stegner app just yet, as I know my limits, but maybe one day. Also did a few PhD applications last cycle and was accepted to two "dream" programs, but almost all of the academics I want to study with have retired or left the U.S. As I'm currently living abroad, I decided to wait to see how the political situation developed back home. I'm trying again, mainly for Iowa or Michigan, but also for Columbia & NYU. Got a no from Michigan and nothing from Iowa yet, so assuming a no. Last year's letter took forever to arrive, so we'll see. Columbia's not in the best of shape right now, so, should I get in again, they might be more generous with funding? Who knows. The novel chapters I applied with—risky, I know—were certainly in better shape this go-round... I've since workshopped those chapters, and now my MFA writing sample feels like crap in comparison. Anyway, I'm also applying for PhD programs and casting a broader net. I'd be leaving my parents alone in the U.S. for even longer, but it's not like I'd be living with them even if I did a U.S.-based program. Also, those PhD programs would help me earn residency or even citizenship in a country I also love. I could theoretically continue to attend online & local writers' groups (and maybe pay for manuscript feedback or a query letter course)........ but the siren call of the MFA is hard to ignore. All that's to say, if you all had the pick of the litter and money wasn't a factor, what program would everyone choose? Also, is anyone feeling weird about their "voice" and whether it sounds too AI? I love an em dash and am mostly working/thinking in another language, which is starting to affect my sentence structures in English, so I'm second-guessing everything about my writing right now. All in all, a fun time.

Nope! I'm an American applying from abroad and had a school overlook my current address. My response was very sleepy but very happy.

So, Columbia vs NYU for fiction... assuming the same $$$, which one would y'all choose?

Congrats! And yeah, it'd be hard to turn down a fully funded spot at Iowa... I'm on the WL and am not holding my breath.

Just heard back from Columbia! Accepted with decent financial aid—it's still Columbia and still NYC—but I'm not sure if I want to return to the U.S. right now. Pretty damn happy working in France!

Ah, good to know! Seems like others heard back earlier re: rejections, so just speculating. Especially now with JHU...

Just heard back from Michigan. Rejected, but no biggie. Maybe it's a good sign that it took so long? My surname is near the beginning of the alphabet, too. Anyway, It's good to get the closure. Still have six more schools to hear from, including JHU, so we'll just have to see...

Hello everyone, I'm also a fellow lurker! Reading through this thread has made me feel less alone, though I'm not sure it's helping my anxiety... I'm also not on Facebook, so no access to what's going down on Draft. This is my first year applying (fiction), and aside from being waitlisted at Cornell, I haven't heard a peep from Michigan or JHU. Not really sure what to think. Obviously, you hope for the best, but I can't help but assume it's an R. (I'm also an American currently living abroad, so I keep turning on my U.S. SIM card—that's the # I stupidly put on my application—to make sure I haven't missed any calls. Just sittin' here, twiddlin' my thumbs.)