2018 Hollins MFA

[RooibosInTheRain]

Hello. Just wanted to create a little space for dialogue in case anyone else is considering this program.

[Perszona]

Yes, I was the one who asked about the Hollins program on the Acceptances Forum. I cannot choose between Hollins, Minnesota Mankato, and NC Wilmington. I was accepted at all three with full funding, and Hollins seems to be such a mystery. Great history of course, but what is the reputation of the program now? How is it better/worse/different than other programs? What is the program like? I would appreciate any info on Hollins and/or the other two programs.  

[mirvelt]

1 hour ago, Perszona said:

Yes, I was the one who asked about the Hollins program on the Acceptances Forum. I cannot choose between Hollins, Minnesota Mankato, and NC Wilmington. I was accepted at all three with full funding, and Hollins seems to be such a mystery. Great history of course, but what is the reputation of the program now? How is it better/worse/different than other programs? What is the program like? I would appreciate any info on Hollins and/or the other two programs.  

I'm definitely not as lucky as you when it comes to options, but I'd like to know a little more about Hollins as well since it's my only acceptance! It's consistently ranked as a top program yet I never hear much about it...

This is what I know so far from talking to students:

• Friendly environment. Despite the fact that some students have stipends and others don't there isn't much competition in the cohort. Apparently, it used to be bad back when they only had a limited amount of tuition waivers. Even if you have a stipend, you will most likely need another parttime job just so you're no completely stressed about money.
• First years are required to take a small tutorial of 3-4 students plus a mentor as well as a large mixed-genre workshop filled with grads and undergrads. Expect to have your work workshopped biweekly at the minimum.
• Genre fiction is popular with undergrads and some grad students, but a mixed bag when it comes to the professors (I'm not worried about this because my accepted sample contained YA high fantasy).
• Hollins provides funding for conferences and research trips. Many of the grads have taken trips for research on novels, essays, and poems.
• Roanoke is really affordable in terms of rent.

I would still like to know more about the professors and incoming class size.