hablair91

Well, this goes against my self-interest, since I also applied to the Stegner Fellowship, but that's what I'd go for if I were her. Even though you don't get a degree in the end, it's very prestigious, and its somewhat likely that whatever she writes during the program will be published. Plus, if finances are a factor, the $75k stipend for Stegner fellows is pretty helpful. It's true that if she's looking for a career in academia, she'll probably need a degree later. It's fairly easy to get into a degree program, though. In comparison, the Stegner Fellowship is a once in a lifetime thing. People who get the Stegner Fellowship also have a leg up for the even more prestigious Hodder Fellowship and other similar high-profile writing opportunities. I don't have any knowledge of your relative's specific situation or goals, though, so take this all with a grain of salt. In some cases, it might be better to have the degree in the end.