2021 Applicants Forum

[Pinskadan]

1 hour ago, shanbanan said:

Hi all! My Michener application portal switched to "Attention: Your file has been forwarded to the Graduate Committee for review" as of this morning. Anybody else get this? It's the first movement I've seen on any of my applications so I'm definitely overthinking/over-analyzing over here! My guess is that this is a generic notification that all applicants receive once Michener has made their decisions and sent them over to the Graduate Committee for final processing. But I'm curious nonetheless. Happy Friday, all!  

My portal says the same, but honestly I think it's been like that for a while? I could be misremembering but I've been checking the portal intermittently since submitting, and both Michener and NWP have the same language on them. 

[CanadianKate]

21 minutes ago, Ydrl said:

Ohhhhhh makes sense. Whoops

Mine says same... has been passed off..

[arden]

On 2/10/2021 at 8:41 PM, panglosian said:

My conspiracy theory is that I'm on the waitlist because of the advance email that not a ton of other people got, but they could also be notifying people alphabetically of rejection. Either way I'm fully prepared for either outcome and ready to GET THIS OVER WITH

Hope this helps ❤️

I know most people have already moved on with UMass, so this isn't really news, but I just wanted to say it seems like they are indeed notifying people alphabetically because...I still haven't heard back ?

For anybody who's been through this process before, is this normal? This is my first time and I expected this process to be difficult, but I had no idea schools could space out their decisions like this...

[Ydrl]

3 minutes ago, mrvisser said:

Ah, okay. Good to have some news. Where did you hear that? Of course my #1 option is going to keep me waiting...

Emailed the program admission guy: Billy Fatzigner. He got back to me within 15 minutes.

Edited February 12, 2021 by Ydrl

[Pinskadan]

bless u @Ydrl for sharing this info!

[babypoet2k]

is the results page down for everyone or has gradcafe decided that i've hit refresh one too many times and blocked all my devices? 

[DeepSyntax]

Here's a question: when you receive an email that says something like "An update has been posted to your application, please check the portal" does that pretty much always mean a rejection, or do they actually notify people that they've been accepted that way too? Has anyone received an email like that and logged on to find that they'd been accepted?

Just want to set my expectations accordingly if it always means rejection/waitlist.

[arden]

Just now, babypoet2k said:

is the results page down for everyone or has gradcafe decided that i've hit refresh one too many times and blocked all my devices? 

looks like it's down (though I definitely feel you on the constant refresh, though..)

[babypoet2k]

1 minute ago, DeepSyntax said:

Here's a question: when you receive an email that says something like "An update has been posted to your application, please check the portal" does that pretty much always mean a rejection, or do they actually notify people that they've been accepted that way too? Has anyone received an email like that and logged on to find that they'd been accepted?

Just want to set my expectations accordingly if it always means rejection/waitlist.

in all my obsessive searches, i seem to vaguely remember people being surprised at being accepted through an app update, but don't quote me on it. a more helpful way to see would be to search for results for the schools you've applied to and see what the general method of communication for each of the outcomes has been. you'll know what to expect that way

[Boomer not Ok]

Thanks, and I hope things work out for you. Yeah, I think I really blew it with the flash, because I included 3 pieces in my apps. Since I'm out of the running at UMass and probably Rutgers, this means my shot at some of the "higher tiers" I applied to is zero. Maybe a partial funded program will come through, but it's looking I'll have to revisit this process possibly next year, and then maybe go easy on the flash.

[mrvisser]

14 minutes ago, DeepSyntax said:

Here's a question: when you receive an email that says something like "An update has been posted to your application, please check the portal" does that pretty much always mean a rejection, or do they actually notify people that they've been accepted that way too? Has anyone received an email like that and logged on to find that they'd been accepted?

Just want to set my expectations accordingly if it always means rejection/waitlist.

I don't think it's common, but I have seen people mention they were accepted with an email to check their portal.

[KZK]

36 minutes ago, Nervis said:

I began my portfolio with a flash piece (then two longer pieces) and included my publishing credits so I will be a good case study! One of my publishing credits is actually forthcoming in the lit mag that is based out of a grad program that I applied to, so that will be interestiiiiiinnnngggg. I hate this. 

For whatever it's worth, I also included a CNF flash piece in a few of my applications, mostly to show a bit of range. We'll see if that's helpful or hurtful. 

[NLake]

20 minutes ago, DeepSyntax said:

Here's a question: when you receive an email that says something like "An update has been posted to your application, please check the portal" does that pretty much always mean a rejection, or do they actually notify people that they've been accepted that way too? Has anyone received an email like that and logged on to find that they'd been accepted?

Just want to set my expectations accordingly if it always means rejection/waitlist.

It might not be as common, but it can definitely be an acceptance. That’s how I was notified of an acceptance from Miami (OH). When I went to check the update I had to select an embedded link and there was a “Congratulations!” letter from the graduate college. I got an acceptance letter via email from the actual CW program the following day. I think it sometimes just depends on the timing, and who is getting to what tasks when. I’m sure it’s also heavily dependent on the school. But I say all this to say, don’t give up hope if you see a portal update email! It just might be good news

[mrvisser]

Heads up: Someone in Draft just got an acceptance call from Arizona State. Director Sally Ball called and said she would be calling the other accepted students today.

[NLake]

Just now, mrvisser said:

Heads up: Someone in Draft just got an acceptance call from Arizona State. Director Sally Ball called and said she would be calling the other accepted students today.

Thanks for the update! Do you know if it was for a specific genre, or if they’re calling all accepted applicants regardless of genre?

[mrvisser]

Just now, NLake said:

Thanks for the update! Do you know if it was for a specific genre, or if they’re calling all accepted applicants regardless of genre?

They didn't specify genre

[mrvisser]

Northern Arizona University is also calling people today.

[cecsav]

28 minutes ago, mrvisser said:

Heads up: Someone in Draft just got an acceptance call from Arizona State. Director Sally Ball called and said she would be calling the other accepted students today.

I received an acceptance for poetry (my first!). She said they are accepting 5 applicants in each genre, and all applicants would be called today. She also told me to expect follow up calls from Natalie Diaz and Solmaz Sharif! 

I am dying!

Edited February 12, 2021 by cecsav
Typo

[mrvisser]

4 minutes ago, cecsav said:

I received an acceptance for poetry (my first!). She said they are accepting 5 applicants in each genre, and all applicants would be called today. She also told me to expect follow up calls from Natalie Diaz and Solmaz Shari! 

I am dying!

Congrats! That's so exciting!

[cecsav]

Just now, mrvisser said:

Congrats! That's so exciting!

Thank you so much! I've been here, nervously reading everyone's post and too afraid to jump in. Good luck to everyone! 

[inotherwordz]

57 minutes ago, Boomer not Ok said:

Thanks, and I hope things work out for you. Yeah, I think I really blew it with the flash, because I included 3 pieces in my apps. Since I'm out of the running at UMass and probably Rutgers, this means my shot at some of the "higher tiers" I applied to is zero. Maybe a partial funded program will come through, but it's looking I'll have to revisit this process possibly next year, and then maybe go easy on the flash.

I just wanted to chime in and say that I absolutely don't think that is the case! I was accepted to UMass for fiction earlier this week (still reeling) and had included a flash piece.  When I was admitted the person I spoke to quoted a sentence from my flash piece as something that they liked--so, if anything, the flash I included was super important in my portfolio.  I'm sure the same is true for you! 

[NLake]

14 minutes ago, cecsav said:

I received an acceptance for poetry (my first!). She said they are accepting 5 applicants in each genre, and all applicants would be called today. She also told me to expect follow up calls from Natalie Diaz and Solmaz Sharif! 

I am dying!

Congratulations! That’s so exciting! 
 

Do you mind my asking how long ago you got your call? I want to gage how long I should hold my breath. Haha. 

[Blackhole]

2 hours ago, orangeslice said:

Same here!

Did they email?

[cecsav]

13 minutes ago, NLake said:

Congratulations! That’s so exciting! 
 

Do you mind my asking how long ago you got your call? I want to gage how long I should hold my breath. Haha. 

About an hour ago. It was 12:15pm my time. 

[NLake]

11 minutes ago, cecsav said:

About an hour ago. It was 12:15pm my time. 

Got it. Thanks for sharing!
 

Congratulations on your acceptance! What a way to end the week ?