Search the Community

Just wanted to put my two cents in here when it comes to MFA programs and funding. Of course full-funding is ideal; I wouldn't recommend going in debt for an MFA unless you have a solid plan for a job post-graduation. BUT there are a lot of programs that don't make the full-funding list, but they do fully-fund most of their students. So you have to do a bit more of your own research rather than just relying on the lists of fully-funded programs, but you can still find programs that will fully-fund you, and where you have a better chance of getting in. EWU (Eastern Washington University) is one of those. I'm advocating for them because my time in the program was so wonderful that I want them to get the attention they deserve. They really want to be able to fund everyone, but they can't just yet. They do offer funding to about 75% of the students, and there are tons of opportunities beyond just teaching comp. You could teach literature, do technical writing, manage a lit mag (Willow Springs) a small press (Willow Springs Books) run educational outreach programs and coordinate a literary festival (Get Lit!), direct the Writers in the Community program (teaching outside the university classroom) and second year MFAs have the opportunity to teach creative writing (instead of comp.) So it really is worth your time to do a bit of extra research beyond the lists. It's great to aim for those really selective programs, but smart to put some of the programs that are a bit more under the radar on your list. EWU has around an 11% acceptance rate, and it's seriously an awesome program. Spokane is a great city for writers (poets especially) and really cheap to live too. Any questions about that program let me know!

Hi everyone, I'm wondering if anyone can recommend creative nonfiction MFA programs (or faculty) that have a focus on reportage, as I'm told that most nonfiction MFAs focus on memoir or essays. I'm a journalist and I have a specific book project in mind, which I envision as a blend of historical research, reportage, and memoir. I'm hoping to find programs that can help me learn the craft of creative nonfiction writing properly, with the goal of producing a book by the end of the program. I'm told that Pitt's nonfiction MFA and NYU's MA in literary reportage could be a good fit, but I'd appreciate other suggestions to broaden the pool. Thanks!