Ogwick

So we are confirmed waitlists for Iowa Fiction are emailed?

Thank you for answering the question about Iowa waitlists (snail mail) - I knew the rejections were hard copies

(In Jim Carrey Voice) So you’re telling me there’s a chance….

I’ve just been told I’ve received the rare “Superstar” badge on my Grad Cafe MFA 2026 Applicants Forum profile page. Does this help my grad school admission chances? How do I let the committee know about the reference? Also - is there a cash prize as well? (I better make it clear this is sarcasm…)

The application process and the completion of a MFA thesis to submit is really the prime reason I applied this year. Forced me to do it etc. Everyone on this thread should be proud of themselves that they made the effort. They took the shot. Believe me — that separates you from 90% of the rest of the world. Doesn't mean auto money or success, but this effort should be primarily one of passion anyway (news headline - writing doesn’t pay well, FYI.. sorry if that is news!)

Congrats to you too - activity has picked up tonight!

Congrats! Go Blue!

“Right now, your brain is grasping for absolutes that simply do not exist in this process, as awful as that is. Sometimes recognizing that there aren't any, and finding something to be excited for either way is crucial.” You would make a good Philosopher @Theodosia! And a good explanation for Schrödinger’s Cat

This is a perfect post for me to ask this question. I’ve lived a life as an entrepreneur and when I see great mis-matches in demand / supply there usually is an opportunity to help the “market” specially I’m talking about the need for creative writers to get funding and support for their work historically this has come from Universities - but for several reasons (at least in the USA) you should assume 1/2 of liberal arts programs are gone in 10 years and all of the teaching jobs that go with it net - there needs to be a new funding and support system (fast and easy) outside the academic system (in support of it - not to replace the university - but the few remaining won’t be able to satisfy the demand from students / teachers) proposal / a system is set up where each author is given their own IDSN number and Crypto token (Solana based?) for the public to contribute $1 or $10 (their choice) to support these authors money transfers via low cost Solana crypto network tax and hassle free (or others - I’m Solana biased from research I’ve done) think of it as the 21st century crypto system for the public to support the art community directly this would have to be a free / charitable foundation approach. Not for profit (no “fees” taken etc) thoughts?!

FYI - I just sent this to @Sumire11over email - we are connected in the “real world” / why @Sumire11? I can sense trustful people pretty quickly and you can trust him Suggestion - let’s set up a WhatsApp MFA 2026 group chat to post in GradCafe but not for “anonymously posts”. Everyone has to show up in their “real self” And no obligation - we can share each others thesis and get feedback from each other That would be very helpful!! No obligation to share but I want others to read my work and give feedback and I know others would as well if you like this idea / go to my previous post and get my email to send me your WhatsApp info to get added to the group. I will send to @Sumire11 for him to have final approval into letting people into the chat (not me - two factor people authorizing is always better for systems controls) I can help with some tips to get this up and running on whatsapp - that’s my day job!

Thank you! Regardless of what happens to me specifically this year, this has been a fascinating process and I appreciate all the perspective and help here! My usual German Prussian Engineering vibes aren’t as pleasant or helpful

I think this is correct - with maybe one waitlist change before March, but if you’re not on an waitlist this week I would think it’s a hard “no” in the mail coming. While we torture ourselves on the Last Day - question to this group from a liberal arts newbie. Does anyone say “No” to Iowa —for fiction specifically?! Would someone pick another (assume fully funded fiction) program closer to home, or different school like JHU or NU to be in bigger cities, etc? Any record of someone getting multiple offers and declining Iowa Fiction in reality over the years?

I think the calls will wrap up Tuesday (today) at Iowa and definitely by the end of the week. But that is just my hunch!

Sure! If anyone wants a copy of my Iowa Thesis to see what you’re not supposed to do, I’d be happy to email it to you (as well as my final Libretto I’m finishing). I think I nailed the formatting part at least - for next years batch it might be helpful to see what one persons “output” was for the Fall 2026 batch (it was 86 pages but lots of white spaces). if a miracle does happen and I get into Iowa off a waitlist etc, I won’t email it out until I know I won’t be expelled for it! But either way feel free to email here and continue the conversation: https://www.xavier.edu/management-program/faculty/todd-wichmann

I’ll have my name and copyright info on the final work - and anyway my email address I’m using is on the university website I teach at (adjunct MBA in Entrepreneurship - not English!) so I can post it here too. my cell phone and university email exist on a public webpage so my spam and unknown calling filtering (usually set at NSA security levels) has been a real pain waiting for an unknown phone number… Bangladesh is NOT close! Yes to my fellow fat Germans in the Midwest it’s “close” but not to my standards.