lenegary

Thanks, DWD, for the reply back. Hi, Patrick. Nice to see another VCFA fan around here. Smiles, Lené

Hi DWD, Vermont College of Fine Arts (VCFA) has a great program. Some people aren't familiar with VCFA because it's a limited residency program, but it is among the best. Poets & Writers ranked it #1 among low-residency programs in 2011: http://www.pw.org/co...idency_programs I graduated with a dual-genre MFA in Creative Writing (CNF & Poetry) from VCFA and continue to be impressed by by both the faculty and the students. VCFA requires that students to be on campus for 10-days of intense workshops, readings, lectures, and other community events each semester. During those residencies, students interview faculty members and are then assigned one based on their faculty preferences. The student and faculty member then work one one one during the residency to devise a study plan, bibliography, and assignment goals that the student will complete after he/she returns home. In this way, the program is highly individualized (and as you noted, able to be completed at a distance). It also encourages students to adopt certain lifestyle habits of working writers, as one needs to be self-movitivated, organized, and directed to succeed. This is not to say that each writer isn't strongly supported by his/her faculty member and student community after returning home, but ultimately, one's success in this program requires an added level of responsibility in setting a schedule and protecting writing space within the changing demands of everyday life. You can read more about the residencies and how they work on the VCFA website: http://www.vcfa.edu/...ng/how-it-works If you're still wondering about the credibility of the program, you might want to take a few minutes to scroll through the faculty bios. http://www.vcfa.edu/...g/faculty-staff My first semester of studying poetry at VCFA, I had the privilege and pleasure of working with Betsy Sholl. At that time, she was the Poet Laureate of Maine. I didn't intend to write so much, but in reading your post, I definitely wanted to acknowledge your concerns and also help assure you that Vermont College of Fine Arts is a legitimate, and also exceptional, program. Best wishes, Lené Gary