thelovelyunkown

I really thought it was going to be today but I guess not. Maybe that means thereʻs still hope to be had.

Thereʻs a Brown poetry waitlist on the sheet so Iʻm going to assume acceptances + waitlist notifs have gone out.

May this be the day. 🕯️ Iʻm so tired yaʻll

My apologizes for answering this late. As I compile my list for next year one of the biggest sticking points for me is course requirements. Some programs like UVA require students to take electives in literature and English. Other programs require students to pass a comprehensive exam or meet a second language requirement. I personally am more interested in programs where I am able to focus on poetry (no cross-genre requirement) and choose which electives I take. A program can have prestige, incredible faculty, full funding and still be incompatible due to structure.

For me, one of the most frustrating aspects of this process is writing a piece that would've slayed the sample after already submitting.

May tomorrow be the day Brown puts us out of our misery. 🕯️

I'm currently working on a series of poems that combine sculpture and writing. I am debating if I should include one in my writing sample for next round. Does anyone have insight into how MFA programs perceive poetry presented through visual art (other than Brown)?

Placing another candle for news from Brown. 🕯️ Not sure if I should consider it a soft rejection or not because it seems like nobody has heard anything for poetry yet. Wishing everyone luck!

That's so exciting!

CONGRATS!

Placing a single candle for decisions tomorrow. 🕯️

🕯️ 🕯️ 🕯️ 🕯️ 🕯️ 🕯️ Brown Acceptance 🕯️ 🕯️ 🕯️ 🕯️ 🕯️ 🕯️ Best of luck to everyone who applied! Hopefully decisions will be dropped soon 🤞.

Congrats! If you want any insight into life at SLC let me know. I went there for part of my undergrad.

Glad to hear they seem more like vibe checks. I took four semesters of english/writing courses during my undergrad but only had two professors. I got As in both of their classes and received really great feedback from both. Unfortunately, only one of them was willing to write me a recommendation. I was expecting a rejection from the one who declined (they are very accomplished and it had been a couple years since I took their class) and I canʻt picture them being willing to write one for next round either. Hopefully it all works out!

This is literally so helpful thank you! Iʻll likely have to go the virtual workshop route because I donʻt live in the mainland U.S. so between travel, lodging, and the workshop cost I wouldn't be able to afford it without substantial funding.

Thank you! Any recommendations for conferences/retreats?

Renewing my candles and hoping for news when I wake up! 🕯️ 🕯️ 🕯️ 🕯️ 🕯️ 🕯️ Brown Acceptance 🕯️ 🕯️ 🕯️ 🕯️ 🕯️ 🕯️

Iʻll keep that in mind!

Any advice on how to find/choose recommenders when you donʻt have a lot of options? None of my professors except for one can attest to my skills as a creative writer. Next round Iʻm a little concerned Iʻm going to have to ask them to write 5+ letters of recommendation. Iʻm not really sure what to do.

🕯️ 🕯️ 🕯️ 🕯️ 🕯️ 🕯️ Brown Acceptance 🕯️ 🕯️ 🕯️ 🕯️ 🕯️ 🕯️ I heard this worked in the past so 🤞

Thank you this is so helpful! The workshop/teaching information in particular.

Long story short, Iʻm almost certainly not getting in this round. I applied to one program (Brown) on a whim at the last minute knowing it was a long shot. Maybe a miracle will happen but itʻs far more likely Iʻll get a hard rejection. That being said, I am not giving up! I plan on reapplying to Brown and a bunch of other programs. Does anyone have any advice on how I should approach applications? I went into it blind the first time and want to be more prepared. I find the SOP particularly daunting and would appreciate any insight on what they are looking for content-wise. Anyway, I hope they release decisions soon because the not knowing is killing me >-<. Good luck everyone!