2022 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[immyc]

Hi! Does anybody know what's going on with UC Irvine? Have decisions already gone out?

[koechophe]

15 hours ago, abcdpppp said:

Am I so stupid for not trying again at the fully funded places in a year? Will I regret this forever......... PLEASE HELP

Heya, I can't tell you if it's a good idea or not. I also don't think you'd be "stupid" for taking an offer you're excited about. That being said, here's a few things you might want to consider.

I've met a lot of writers on the forum and on Draft who took multiple cycles to make it into the programs they wanted to be in. I actually think making it in on the first round is more of an exception than the rule, tbh, especially if applying was a last minute decision.

If you take time to really workshop your pieces, push your writing out, and grow as both a person and a writer, it is likely that next year, you will end up with better offers than the one you got this year. There's no guarantees here, which sucks, but I can't think of any stories I've heard where someone does worse the second year than they did the first. There are some where the second year isn't any better, but the majority I've seen who post here/draft do better over time.

I've also seen a number of writers who end up "settling" for a program with less than ideal funding. The loans aren't great, especially since life happens, expenses we don't expect rear their ugly heads, and people often end up in more debt than they planned for. I was raised by a single mom (who actually got a "get a job" degree, I might add) and she still hasn't been able to pay off her ~18k in loans after more than 30 years, and that amount is now much, much higher.

But the bigger issue (in my opinion, some people would say the money issue is bigger) is the kind of experiences you might get. When people settle for a program that has less funding, they often end up finding the quality isn't what they'd hoped for. Yes, you might love the teachers, but from what I've heard and experienced, the quality of your cohort tends to matter even more than the quality of your professors. If your cohort isn't up to giving you quality advice, you might end up not growing as much or being as satisfied with your program. 

Most people on here, myself included, would advise trying again when you're more prepared, but for all I know, you'll go into the program, love it, and it will be worth it. 

Either way, here's hoping everything works out for you! 

[RosA-R]

8 hours ago, Sydup said:

Who else just wrote next year's personal statement because me too. 

I finally got up the courage to re-read the ones I submitted... if I do this again I should start writing soon, too.

I feel a lot of what got to me was a fear and lack of understanding of these programs, like how early and selective interviews were. If anyone interviewed, what was that like?? I am a very nervous and awkward person, and got overwhelmed doing applications that I had plenty of time to prepare for, lol. 

Edited March 23, 2022 by RosA-R
clarification

[1moreX]

1 hour ago, RosA-R said:

 If anyone interviewed, what was that like?? I am a very nervous and awkward person, and got overwhelmed doing applications that I had plenty of time to prepare for, lol. 

I had two interviews, one as a finalist at Brooklyn and one as a high waitlister at Florida State, both with program directors. I thought my heart would burst before both of them and had to go out for a run to get myself under control. There were no tricks and they didn't grill me. I had prepared for the interviews by thinking up possible questions they'd ask and writing down answers in case I completely blanked out on something like "Who are your favorite writers?" There was NOTHING like that. It was not like a job interview. They didn't even ask about my goals, but since I'd prepared that, I told them. I also told them why I was interested in their school. I'd advise you to prepare a couple of things about yourself that you want them to know. Not show-offy things, obviously, but true personal stuff related to your aspirations as a writer. If you want to teach, let them know that, too. Also, prepare specific questions to ask about their programs.

Both directors led with a compliment to me about my writing sample. One of them quoted something in my personal statement. Listen, they REALLY know our writing. Then it was a regular conversation that was mostly structured around my questions. At FSU we talked a lot about the assistantships, for example. At Brooklyn, it was about the academics.

Hope this helps. If I can think of more, I'll add.

[abcdpppp]

20 hours ago, abcdpppp said:

Hi new here! Thanks for letting me read and be anxious and happy with you all 

I applied to only 4 schools, all of which I was really interested in, and was rejected from IWW, Brown, probably Columbia but I actually haven't heard back (can't afford it anyway...). This was my first time applying. And honestly it was all a little last minute, I got together my IWW and Brown app in like 2 days (not the writing obviously)....

I've been accepted into Brooklyn College's poetry cohort and I'm really excited about this — Ben Lerner and Anselm Berrigan are on the faculty and are some of my favorite writers. They offered me the grant that only one applicant across all all genres gets, and its a CUNY, so I'd walk away with around 15k in total debt. I know this is obviously a personal decision but does this sound reasonable for an MFA? My undergrad debt is currently just over 5k (maybe TMI)

I know it's a great program esp. for more experimental writing, though perhaps not as well known outside of the East Coast. I want to move to New York and honestly have been feeling so aimless recently, so it's a really good time for me to settle back into school. But

Am I so stupid for not trying again at the fully funded places in a year? Will I regret this forever......... PLEASE HELP

Thank you so much everyone for your comments on this, I realize it was a pretty self-indulgent irrelevant post haha so I so appreciate you taking the time to humor me. 

I just found out I was accepted at COLUMBIA. What the fuck. So now it's even more complicated, not because I want to accept there (that's simply too much debt......), but bc now I am really thinking if I spent more time I'd have a real chance next year to get into the fully funded places.

I know New York is expensive, but Brooklyn offers a lot of work on campus, adjuncting your second semester for good money and editing the Brooklyn Review, which I thought would be especially interesting as it would serve as double-way into the literary world of nyc, as a student/writer and as an employee. In a way that you may not get at like IWW, I want to learn how to work in literature, too. 

In other words I'd making more money and be more connected than if I just showed up in new york, which I was sort of planning on doing anyway, and that would be worth the bit of debt to me. Also honestly I'm ready to hustle a little, I've been cruising for the last years...

But now I have no fucking idea what to do, and so little time to decide. Going to call my undergrad advisors and see what they have to say. Thanks again everyone ❤️ 

Best of luck in all your writing and studying and decision-making endeavors!

[Sydup]

11 hours ago, RosA-R said:

I finally got up the courage to re-read the ones I submitted... if I do this again I should start writing soon, too.

I feel a lot of what got to me was a fear and lack of understanding of these programs, like how early and selective interviews were. If anyone interviewed, what was that like?? I am a very nervous and awkward person, and got overwhelmed doing applications that I had plenty of time to prepare for, lol. 

I had one of my past professors help me this year, but I honestly, I am unsure if it helped at all. I reread mine, and I feel like although I worked on them for months and wrote a unique essay for each school, it was lacking. I had a moment of inspiration and said "You know what, f it" and just wrote it yesterday. I focused this time on something that doesn't read like a resume of past experience, goals, and specific interests in the program, but a life story that pulls from who I really am as a person and a writer. 

But the truth is — I have no idea what they are looking for. 

[chuey]

Just got waitlisted at UFlorida! I was very close to accepting my offer to UMass Amherst, but will now wait until closer to 4/15. What are peoples thoughts on both programs? I feel like in terms of reputation in the lit world they're similar enough? Everyone at UMass has been very friendly, but they're asking for $6K in fees which seems unfeasible to me entering my first year. I remain... dumbfounded at that surprise price tag.

Anyway, appreciate any thoughts on both programs. I don't know if there will be any movement with Florida since they only have two spots to begin with, but still, making my mental calculations now rather than later.  

[Sydup]

Does anyone know anything about Oklahoma State University Creative Writing MFA? I was offered full funding there last night, but I am unsure if it is the right path for me. I would love the insight of anyone who has experience or information on the program. 

Edited March 23, 2022 by Sydup

[Sydup]

I also am waitlisted for Virginia Tech and have realized this program seems more in tune for me, at least what I know of it. If I don't get off the waitlist,  I am wondering if I should reapply next year? Does anyone know what VT is looking like? Anyone know if any of the fiction writers accepted their positions? 

[panglosian]

PLEASE please please if anyone here is accepted to VCU in poetry, please let me know if you're gonna turn down your spot I'm sweating here ❤️

[nicolette7766]

1 hour ago, Sydup said:

I also am waitlisted for Virginia Tech and have realized this program seems more in tune for me, at least what I know of it. If I don't get off the waitlist,  I am wondering if I should reapply next year? Does anyone know what VT is looking like? Anyone know if any of the fiction writers accepted their positions? 

I’m not sure what the accepted applicants for fiction are doing but I do know someone on draft removed herself from the waitlist about a week ago. Hopefully this helps you!

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Sydup said:

I had one of my past professors help me this year, but I honestly, I am unsure if it helped at all. I reread mine, and I feel like although I worked on them for months and wrote a unique essay for each school, it was lacking. I had a moment of inspiration and said "You know what, f it" and just wrote it yesterday. I focused this time on something that doesn't read like a resume of past experience, goals, and specific interests in the program, but a life story that pulls from who I really am as a person and a writer. 

But the truth is — I have no idea what they are looking for. 

This is an awesome approach  Hopefully I'll be able to rally like you have!

[retrotyping]

1 hour ago, Sydup said:

Does anyone know anything about Oklahoma State University Creative Writing MFA? I was offered full funding there last night, but I am unsure if it is the right path for me. I would love the insight of anyone who has experience or information on the program. 

I’ve heard really good things about the program. I was especially interested in how many classes you could take in other depts (American Indian studies, env studies etc.) it’s definitely an established program and seems like it has good resources in terms of visiting writers, events, opportunities for MFA students etc. I talked to some current students who all had good things to say, but I ultimately turned down my spot there because I decided it was too far from home. I think I would’ve been happy there though! I’d recommend getting in touch with students if you can! 

[spencerlr]

14 hours ago, abcdpppp said:

Thank you so much everyone for your comments on this, I realize it was a pretty self-indulgent irrelevant post haha so I so appreciate you taking the time to humor me. 

I just found out I was accepted at COLUMBIA. What the fuck. So now it's even more complicated, not because I want to accept there (that's simply too much debt......), but bc now I am really thinking if I spent more time I'd have a real chance next year to get into the fully funded places.

I know New York is expensive, but Brooklyn offers a lot of work on campus, adjuncting your second semester for good money and editing the Brooklyn Review, which I thought would be especially interesting as it would serve as double-way into the literary world of nyc, as a student/writer and as an employee. In a way that you may not get at like IWW, I want to learn how to work in literature, too. 

In other words I'd making more money and be more connected than if I just showed up in new york, which I was sort of planning on doing anyway, and that would be worth the bit of debt to me. Also honestly I'm ready to hustle a little, I've been cruising for the last years...

But now I have no fucking idea what to do, and so little time to decide. Going to call my undergrad advisors and see what they have to say. Thanks again everyone ❤️ 

Best of luck in all your writing and studying and decision-making endeavors!

Congrats on getting into Columbia either way--but still, what were we all smoking when we applied there? Lol it seems like everyone on here (including me) applied to Columbia even though its reputation is common knowledge. Hope you get this all figured out.

Edited March 23, 2022 by spencerlr

[Sydup]

2 hours ago, retrotyping said:

I’ve heard really good things about the program. I was especially interested in how many classes you could take in other depts (American Indian studies, env studies etc.) it’s definitely an established program and seems like it has good resources in terms of visiting writers, events, opportunities for MFA students etc. I talked to some current students who all had good things to say, but I ultimately turned down my spot there because I decided it was too far from home. I think I would’ve been happy there though! I’d recommend getting in touch with students if you can! 

I am worried that it's too close to home for me. Hmmm, it's just not settling right for me as of now. I will have to do more poking. 

2 hours ago, nicolette7766 said:

I’m not sure what the accepted applicants for fiction are doing but I do know someone on draft removed herself from the waitlist about a week ago. Hopefully this helps you!

Thank you for this info! I hope the final decisions come out quickly about the waitlist applicants. I feel like my life will be on pause until April 15. 

[evergreen13]

4 minutes ago, spencerlr said:

Congrats on getting into Columbia either way--but still, what were we all smoking when we applied there? Lol it seems like everyone on here (including me) applied to Columbia even though its reputation is common knowledge. Hope you get this all figured out.

lol agreed. i applied thinking maybe their funding packages couldn't be that bad...but they're terrible. i got a "good" offer of roughly half tuition which would still require at least $75K in loans.

columbia is making $10-16 million every two years off of a cohort. that should be criminal. 

*this assumes a class size of 110, $150K in total tuition & fees, and that, at best, 25% of total cohort costs are funded. 
https://www.pw.org/content/columbia_university_school_arts

[gagne]

Lols, everyone mentioning hearing from Columbia and I haven’t heard a peep. I was recommended by a professor to apply to Columbia and put a lot of faith in her, which is why I applied there. Likely would not apply again if don’t get in and get miraculous funding as the program was more a shot in the dark for me.

[koechophe]

1 hour ago, evergreen13 said:

lol agreed. i applied thinking maybe their funding packages couldn't be that bad...but they're terrible. i got a "good" offer of roughly half tuition which would still require at least $75K in loans.

columbia is making $10-16 million every two years off of a cohort. that should be criminal. 

Yikes. I could get 0 funding from some of the programs I applied to and walk away with much, much less in loans regardless. It's not even like they're somewhere cheap to live, NYC is dang expensive. 

I hope that people who applied accept the validation and good feelings that come from getting an acceptance... without actually accepting the offer. 

I hope everyone here knows, you deserve to be treated better than a program who makes you get thousands of dollars in debt to hone your craft. 

[autumn wind]

1 minute ago, koechophe said:

Yikes. I could get 0 funding from some of the programs I applied to and walk away with much, much less in loans regardless. It's not even like they're somewhere cheap to live, NYC is dang expensive. 

I hope that people who applied accept the validation and good feelings that come from getting an acceptance... without actually accepting the offer. 

I hope everyone here knows, you deserve to be treated better than a program who makes you get thousands of dollars in debt to hone your craft. 

this, this, this. also, as many before me have said, the columbia mfa does not have a great reputation among the literary world. this was discussed briefly on draft, but there are those non-writers who will hear an ivy league name uttered and automatically assign prestige/status to your acceptance or even graduation there, and then there are publishers, editors, and writers who will hear columbia and think about what a scam its mfa program is. of course, no program will "bar" you from publishing, per se, but if you're looking to go to a school that will elicit an immediate positive reaction when placed in a bio or cv, columbia is the last place you'd want to go.

still, important to remember (from draft): "Whatever you do next, now you can always say that YOU rejected Columbia! ? Their offer is worthy of celebration even if it is bittersweet."

[stella16]

Sorry if this is uncouth, but I'm new to the process. Which is more "prestigious" or would look better in the literary community: Cornell or Syracuse?

[koechophe]

1 minute ago, stella16 said:

Sorry if this is uncouth, but I'm new to the process. Which is more "prestigious" or would look better in the literary community: Cornell or Syracuse?

That's kind of a tricky question, since for a LOT of things you'd do with an MFA, "prestige" isn't that important.

If you're looking to be a teacher of some sort, prestige sort of matters, but only in the question of "did you do your MFA somewhere funded with teaching experience?" Any fully funded one will likely do about the same, some a hair more than others, but there's not that much difference, if any. To be frank, the more "prestigious" programs are often not any harder to get into than the little ones that only accept 3-5 writers a year. Since (to my knowledge) both are fully funded, you're going to be checking the "prestige" box with either just fine for teaching. 

If you're looking to get things published, prestige matters even less. The fact that you have an MFA doesn't even matter that much there tbh, the MFA is just there to make you a better writer and the theory is better writing (as well as contacts, those definitely don't hurt) will help you get published.

If you're looking to do something else with your MFA... I'm not sure what else you'd do with one tbh.  Maybe some sort of professional gig? In that case, prestige "might" matter, but I doubt there'd be a difference between the two you listed. 

I think in most cases, prestige is one of the least important factors when picking a school. It's better to research costs/funding, teaching loads, how much you like the area, how the faculty are, how big/small the incoming cohort is, how well you jive with the current cohort, and any other factor that determines how good of an experience it will be. 

[stella16]

12 hours ago, koechophe said:

That's kind of a tricky question, since for a LOT of things you'd do with an MFA, "prestige" isn't that important.

 

I totally get what you mean! I should note I haven't actually applied to the MFA yet, I'm just beginning to look into the process. I think it might take me a minute to get out of that mindset of "the name matters" from other grad/undergrad endeavors. This was really helpful info. Thanks!

[stella16]

10 hours ago, rejj said:

In one post, Cady ranked Cornell,

Agains, sorry I'm new to the MFA format — but what/who is Cady?

[koechophe]

16 minutes ago, stella16 said:

Agains, sorry I'm new to the MFA format — but what/who is Cady?

He's referring to a specific user on a specific Facebook page called MFA Draft. 

She's a frequent on that site and she holds the claim that the prestige of your MFA does affect your chances of getting published and into fellowships, all other things being equal. 

My research into the people who get into fellowships and who get published suggests otherwise. On a per-capita basis for things after graduation, a lot of these schools are very, very level, even schools that aren't "big names" like University of Houston or Boise State University. My conclusion from that is that it has less to do with "which" fully-funded one you go to.

Also, the take that some small programs are as hard to get into as Iowa is, on a numerical basis, pretty easily provable. Iowa usually offers around 25 slots for poetry and 25 for fiction. University of Florida, this year, offered 2 for each. Does Iowa get 12X the number of applicants as Florida? Not even remotely. Florida got hundreds this year, whereas Iowa statistics suggest around 1k each year.

Sure, you can make the argument that Iowa got higher-quality applicants, but considering it's more well-known, that is actually doubtful. Well-known things tend to get more applicants, period. 

That was my main point. If a program only accepts an extremely small cohort, it can be just as hard to get into as a well-known one that accepts a comparatively larger cohort. 

Not to say that getting into Iowa isn't a HUGE accomplishment, it really is. 

I recommend that anyone applying for an MFA apply to both types of cohorts. Getting in is extremely random. Some forum/draft users get accepted into the "top tier" schools while also being rejected from the other ones. It really does depend on what the program wants. 

[Rm714]

Got a call this morning from Columbia - in for fiction with a scholarship far greater than I'd imagined. I'm so grateful and thrilled. Thanks to a fantastic potential external scholarship opportunity, I might be able to afford it if I choose to go, especially combined with the scholarship they gave me. My mentor, an NYT bestselling author, went to Columbia, so this one actually meant a lot to me. This closes out my season at 7a/0w/5r. 

This group - all of you guys - helped me get through this. This season had so many ups and downs, and it's been a true honor to see so many of you succeed. To those still waiting, or those who didn't get the results you wanted, you're all still amazing, and nothing will ever make you not be a writer. 
Sorry for the gushy post. Lots of love going around!

Edited March 24, 2022 by Rm714
clarity