2021 Applicants Forum

[NLake]

Saw this Tweet from MFA Writers Podcast. I think it’s great advice for the coming weeks. Best wishes to all of y’all!

“As MFA decision letters start to roll in, two reminders:

1. Be kind to yourself. Your personhood is unrelated to a program decision.

2. Be kind to others. Your safety school is another person's dream school.“

[Yellow62]

1 hour ago, JPReinhold said:

I hit the REJECT ME ALREADY, YOU COWARDS wall about a month ago. I've been living on dread and Little Debbie oatmeal snack cakes. 

I feel so lucky that I got an acceptance a week ago because the SPIRAL, people. THE SPIRAL. 

Oh yes, the spiral is in full effect right now  Congratulations on the acceptance tho!!!

[Ydrl]

I’m so mad right now. One of my recommenders went dead silent two months ago and I was like, well he sent his recommendations in all at once, so I should be fine. Today I realized that he didn’t send in anything for Rutgers or UNO. I don’t care too much about UNO because it was free and the funding isn’t great, but Rutgers was 70 dollars. Why.

[rivermoon]

Hi all.  I applied to Cornell's Comp Lit program and didn't get asked to interview, but did not get a rejection letter yesterday, which it seems a lot of people did.  Thoughts on this conundrum?  Not sure how Cornell usually goes about admissions.  Assuming rejection and wondering if I should solicit if I don't hear anything back within the next week or so.  

[Ydrl]

1 minute ago, rivermoon said:

Hi all.  I applied to Cornell's Comp Lit program and didn't get asked to interview, but did not get a rejection letter yesterday, which it seems a lot of people did.  Thoughts on this conundrum?  Not sure how Cornell usually goes about admissions.  Assuming rejection and wondering if I should solicit if I don't hear anything back within the next week or so.  

Ah, this is the MFA creative writing program forum. But if Cornell does it like they did for MFA applicants last year, they do rejections all at once.

[teasel]

1 minute ago, rivermoon said:

Hi all.  I applied to Cornell's Comp Lit program and didn't get asked to interview, but did not get a rejection letter yesterday, which it seems a lot of people did.  Thoughts on this conundrum?  Not sure how Cornell usually goes about admissions.  Assuming rejection and wondering if I should solicit if I don't hear anything back within the next week or so.  

 

Hey there! You might be better off asking this in the Humanities/Eng PHD thread. The majority of us are applying to creating writing MFA's, so we won't be able to answer you with much specificity. For what it's worth, I would take it as a good sign that you haven't been rejected yet--maybe they are interviewing people in waves. 

[Ydrl]

Say, did anyone apply to UC Davis here? There’s a waitlist and I want to know who to congratulate!

[teasel]

3 hours ago, mrvisser said:

Someone says they were rejected from the University of Washington, not through email, but by checking the site. I just checked and my status just says my application has been received and will be reviewed, so I'm not sure what that's all about.

Yeah, I noticed that as well and it seems kinda early? I checked my portal, and all it says is that they received everything basically. Might be the Bothell campus? Also, I think UW is a bit more demanding with their qualifications. 3.0 GPA, critical sample... wondering if maybe that has something to do with it. It's shitty that they would reject someone without sending an email. 

[mrvisser]

5 minutes ago, teasel said:

Yeah, I noticed that as well and it seems kinda early? I checked my portal, and all it says is that they received everything basically. Might be the Bothell campus? Also, I think UW is a bit more demanding with their qualifications. 3.0 GPA, critical sample... wondering if maybe that has something to do with it. It's shitty that they would reject someone without sending an email. 

I don't think they fund all their MFAs, either, which is too bad. But I would hate for my first rejection to come from my alma mater, lol.

[WolfMan]

Do you guys realize that trolls can post fake acceptances just to fuck with ya'll

 

[teasel]

41 minutes ago, mrvisser said:

I don't think they fund all their MFAs, either, which is too bad. But I would hate for my first rejection to come from my alma mater, lol.

 

Yeah, the funding situations is confusing! I was under the impression that they fund their students with TA positions? But maybe that's not entirely true... it's generally talked about as a "funded" program. UW isn't my alma mater, but I have publications and awards specific to WA state, so if I don't get in at UW I'm not sure I'll get in anywhere :')  It's basically my "safety school" (though of course, there is no such thing and I'd be honored and very grateful to attend--I mean "safety" as in I feel I have a better change of being admitted there than anywhere else). 

 

 

Edited February 4, 2021 by teasel

[teasel]

Just now, WolfMan said:

Do you guys realize that trolls can post fake acceptances just to fuck with ya'll

 

This has definitely crossed my mind. Yeah, it's not very hard to mess with MFA app folks. We're a neurotic bunch to start with  

[tippybug]

3 minutes ago, WolfMan said:

Do you guys realize that trolls can post fake acceptances just to fuck with ya'll

 

I hate to imagine the loser who has the time and energy for that lol. I mean trying to fuck with grad school applicants...? I feel like that's as exciting as fucking with senior night bingo

 

[rivermoon]

25 minutes ago, Ydrl said:

Ah, this is the MFA creative writing program forum. But if Cornell does it like they did for MFA applicants last year, they do rejections all at once.

 

25 minutes ago, teasel said:

 

Hey there! You might be better off asking this in the Humanities/Eng PHD thread. The majority of us are applying to creating writing MFA's, so we won't be able to answer you with much specificity. For what it's worth, I would take it as a good sign that you haven't been rejected yet--maybe they are interviewing people in waves. 

Thank you all so much!! Good luck with your applications!!

[orangeslice]

42 minutes ago, Ydrl said:

I’m so mad right now. One of my recommenders went dead silent two months ago and I was like, well he sent his recommendations in all at once, so I should be fine. Today I realized that he didn’t send in anything for Rutgers or UNO. I don’t care too much about UNO because it was free and the funding isn’t great, but Rutgers was 70 dollars. Why.

I was in a similar situation with one of my letter writers. I got in touch with the individual schools and they were able to give me some reassurance and advice. Maybe try reaching out? I sort of feel like they may be a bit more lenient because of covid so it doesn't hurt to call  

[WolfMan]

16 minutes ago, tippybug said:

I hate to imagine the loser who has the time and energy for that lol. I mean trying to fuck with grad school applicants...? I feel like that's as exciting as fucking with senior night bingo

 

Lmao have you been on the internet before? In my experience there is no shortage of energy-leeching trolls.

[teasel]

6 minutes ago, WolfMan said:

Lmao have you been on the internet before? In my experience there is no shortage of energy-leeching trolls.

I think the general sentiment is that it's hard to imagine being that pathetic, but then again it's hard to imagine why a middle-aged white dude would pose as various women of color to blather on in irrelevant Shakespeare quotes. Truly difficult to fathom, for those of us who generally just want to commiserate and hear about one another's success. But to each there own. 

[spacedumpster]

3 hours ago, JPReinhold said:

I also grew up in the Midwest and most of MY writing is full of corn, soybeans, and despair! *extends hands to shake* 

One of us! One of us!

[mess_mess]

19 hours ago, pattycat said:

It's possible. Historically, though, they've done all fiction acceptances in the same day. ?

I already feel out to be honest. All my programs are such long shots.

 

?

[gustav3]

1 hour ago, teasel said:

But to each there own. 

I mean it is always a challenge understanding other people. Some people think there is great wisdom in card reading. Some think it is voodoo.

One thing we can all agree on. There is a lot of nervousness here over fake results.

[WolfMan]

Tarot is such bullshit. If I offended anyone, I'm not sorry. 

[Ydrl]

6 minutes ago, WolfMan said:

Tarot is such bullshit. If I offended anyone, I'm not sorry. 

Uh, you okay bro? So, the way I see tarot isn’t an end all be all system of “magical prediction”. The cards mostly give advice, not all of them will make sense, that ain’t possible. Those people who claim it is fate and charge you a lot of money for it are most likely scammers. Some of the card will never make sense. That being said, you don’t have to be mean about it to the people who truly believe in it. Calm your salty self please.

[gustav3]

6 minutes ago, WolfMan said:

Tarot is such bullshit.

 Then how do you explain that this Creative Writing professor at Ashland University offering:

Literary Life Tarot Readings

For $55, I’ll pull tarot cards on your literary quandary or crossroads and send you a write up exploring what this moment is really about— what spiritual invitations you’re receiving, what energies exist in the options you’re facing, and how you might think about the path forward. 

narrative alchemy — katherine e. standefer (katherinestandefer.com) 

 

[eternalwhitenights]

Y'all, I think Gustav and Wolfman are trolls. Is there a way to report them?

[WolfMan]

1 minute ago, eternalwhitenights said:

Y'all, I think Gustav and Wolfman are trolls. Is there a way to report them?

Lol so you're gunna try to ban me for saying that I don't think tarot is legitimate? You're either a troll or sensitive to the touch.