2024 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[jbs]

11 minutes ago, picklesaa said:

Omg congrats! Which school??

Oops University of Montana lol

[trenchywrench]

while i’m still here—or, rather, before i have too much fun at date night and forget how to type—has anyone heard where Rutgers (Camden) is for their fiction applicants?

i heard they send out their rejections super late and my application still says it’s under review. how has their spread been looking?

[sunnysequoia]

2 minutes ago, trenchywrench said:

while i’m still here—or, rather, before i have too much fun at date night and forget how to type—has anyone heard where Rutgers (Camden) is for their fiction applicants?

i heard they send out their rejections super late and my application still says it’s under review. how has their spread been looking?

I'm in nonfiction but according to the Draft spreadsheet it seems like a lot of acceptances and waitlists have already gone out. I haven't heard from them and am assuming a rejection.

Enjoy your date night!  

[pananoprodigy]

I'm still waiting on 2 schools, but....does anyone have experience telling their recommenders that you got rejected from everywhere? 😞 and asking them to do this all again next year? I only applied to 4 programs this year because I already have an MFA and wasn't sure I should/could do a second one, but now that I've had more time to mull it over I think I really do want to do it, and I'm looking at applying to a lot more schools next year. I'm not that close with my recommenders and for some reason that element is the most stressful to me right now even though logically I know they've already written my recommendations and would probably be fine uploading them again when the time comes. Idk I'm just at work and bumming myself out further for no reason. 

[sylviaplathtears]

Any news from Hunter?? So confused why there's no news on the spreadsheet if they've started interviewing/accepting people last week.. 

[nataliezimm]

2 minutes ago, sylviaplathtears said:

Any news from Hunter?? So confused why there's no news on the spreadsheet if they've started interviewing/accepting people last week.. 

haven’t heard anything either but I’ve been thinking it’s strange too. would love to just know at this point if it’s a rejection

[pomelo]

It seems like Iowa rejections came in the mail for a lot of people today. When I got home I ran to check the mail (I’m expecting a rejection but, still, I wanted to read what they said). Tell me why I ripped open the one envelope in there and it turned out to be an invitation to join a local Jehovah’s Witness church. Facepalm!

 

 

[seeleimraum]

1 hour ago, jbs said:

University of Montana for poetry

Congrats! Can I ask if you got a funded TA offer, or just an acceptance?

[alligator mississippiensis]

Hello all! I also received my Iowa rejection today. Did anyone get a personalized/handwritten note from Samantha Chang?  

[jbs]

35 minutes ago, seeleimraum said:

Congrats! Can I ask if you got a funded TA offer, or just an acceptance?

Waitlist for TA, they said it's "not unlikely" that I will get one.

[nothingnothing]

2 hours ago, sunnysequoia said:

I'm in nonfiction but according to the Draft spreadsheet it seems like a lot of acceptances and waitlists have already gone out. I haven't heard from them and am assuming a rejection.

Enjoy your date night!  

For poetry as well?

[_redrabbit7]

4 hours ago, pananoprodigy said:

I'm still waiting on 2 schools, but....does anyone have experience telling their recommenders that you got rejected from everywhere? 😞 and asking them to do this all again next year? I only applied to 4 programs this year because I already have an MFA and wasn't sure I should/could do a second one, but now that I've had more time to mull it over I think I really do want to do it, and I'm looking at applying to a lot more schools next year. I'm not that close with my recommenders and for some reason that element is the most stressful to me right now even though logically I know they've already written my recommendations and would probably be fine uploading them again when the time comes. Idk I'm just at work and bumming myself out further for no reason. 

yes you can. i think they should be willing to recommend you again next year. until then, keep hope alive since you still have two pending applications. 

i also got an MFA already (completing it this June actually), getting a second one, but got waitlisted by the only program i applied to. 

[Scribe]

3 hours ago, alligator mississippiensis said:

Hello all! I also received my Iowa rejection today. Did anyone get a personalized/handwritten note from Samantha Chang?  

Yeah. She was great. Said that there really wasn't anything they could teach me and that it just wouldn't be fair to the rest of the cohort or the first person on the waitlist. She then asked if she could send me something she's been working on and would i look it over and give her some notes.

[goldentulip]

11 hours ago, OctopusCactus said:

Proud of you! Not just the privilege to apply and dream: you were also brave enough to dream something that might have felt pretty unattainable and you're doing the work to get there. 

thank you 🥹

[branch]

8 hours ago, subsolar said:

Hi everyone! I finally decided to make an appearance after lurking since page one. Congratulations to everyone who has been accepted/waitlisted and to everyone who applied in general because man. Applying to MFAs feels like it could be a military torture method.

I'm currently waitlisted at both Maryland and Minnesota for Fiction, and I feel very appreciative because this is my first cycle, and I was kinda scared that I was going to write the email of shame to my recommenders. I'm lowkey already preparing my list for next year just in case, but we'll see. I was been beating myself up over one of my writing samples but what is done is done. I like both programs equally, and they both have their pros/cons for me, so I guess I'll just leave it up to fate (their admissions committees). Actually, I will say, Minnesota was #2 on my list, so it was exciting to hear from them. I think I applied to less schools than most people do but there were certain schools where I said "I'd rather be dead in California than alive in _____." And I only applied to programs I'd be very happy to attend. 

Funnily enough (but not that funny because I have $7 left), Minnesota and Maryland were 2/3 schools I couldn't use fee waivers for, and I told my friends that I better get good news from them because they took my money knowing I was broke. I think I manifested it on accident. 

Also, if anyone is in or waitlisted at UC Riverside, feel free to ask me any questions. I did my undergrad there for creative writing, and I had an absolute blast. I love UCR, but I didn't apply for my MFA there because I wanted to get out of my comfort zone. The professors know me and my writing extremely well already. The fiction faculty is amazing, and I could talk about them all day. I'd say MFA students there are treated well by students as well because I adored my TAs, and I only ever heard other students say kind things about them. It's an extremely diverse school and Riverside isn't as bad as a place as they make it out to be (as long as you don't have a catalytic converter). 

I have nothing exciting to add just that one of my best friends drew the art in your icon and it gave me a much-needed laugh ❤️

[arinakolee]

Well hello! 

I'm sorry to join so late in the game, but I just discovered this forum, and OMG I'm so grateful! And big congrats to everyone accepted! 

I have only applied to three programs, Sarah Lawrence, Brown and Iowa. So far, got accepted to SLC, which honestly I shook and cry when I learned the news, but... Upon further research, I'm uncertain how proud I should be really, and how hard is it to get in. They are yet to tell me how much funding if any at all they will be able to give me, because I was late with submitting my financial documents, so I'm waiting on that. But I debate if I should wait another year or just go to SLC? And should I be proud?... 

Got rejected from Brown, which was my #1. And so so so happy for everyone who got in, what an accomplishment! I've read here people got personalized rejections, too... what would that look like?  

Still waiting on Iowa.

[pomelo]

55 minutes ago, arinakolee said:

I have only applied to three programs, Sarah Lawrence, Brown and Iowa. So far, got accepted to SLC, which honestly I shook and cry when I learned the news, but... Upon further research, I'm uncertain how proud I should be really, and how hard is it to get in. They are yet to tell me how much funding if any at all they will be able to give me, because I was late with submitting my financial documents, so I'm waiting on that. But I debate if I should wait another year or just go to SLC? And should I be proud?... 

Welcome! I applied to SLC, Iowa, and Brown (as well as 7 other programs). First off you should be proud that you applied. Not many people take that first step. Second OF COURSE you should be proud you got in. If you check Gradcafe results and the Draft spreadsheet (are you in the MFA Draft FB group? It’s very active), there are people who got waitlist or rejected from SLC. It may not be as competitive as some of these other programs, but they certainly don’t have a 100% acceptance rate. SLC is a great program that has nurtured many great writers (including one of my favorites, T Kira Madden). Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a great program *for you*. I say wait to make a decision until you receive your financial aid package, visit the campus, and speak with some faculty and alumni. It’s not unheard of to apply for the MFA two, even three years in a row. Just my two cents, of course. 

[LinneaSage]

Yesterday I was notified that I got an interview at Hunter (fiction applicant) so it might not be quite over! Wondering if there's any advice from people who have interview with them? It's so nerve wracking to have interviews this late in the game because it feels like my last hope!!!

 

[parttimepoet]

Hi all! I've also been... lurking for a while here. It's been great to see this community coming together, and I'm so happy for those who got into programs that fit them!

I'm a creative non-fiction writer and work mostly with lyric essays, and am graduating with my BA this May. I'm an international applicant and applied to 7 schools. I got acceptances at SLC and Columbia (woo-hoo!), both partial funding (woo...hoo....). I also am on the waitlist for NYU but I'm pretty skeptical of getting off it. 

I wanted to ask this group more about SLC and Columbia to get a better sense of things. First off, I know the hard rule is to not go for an MFA without full funding, but ... I don't know. I was supposed to get a BFA for undergrad, was accepted and didn't go; applied to transfer to the same school for a BFA in my sophomore year, was accepted and didn't go again. All in all, I don't necessarily regret those choices because I love my college but I definitely also feel like I gave up something big not just once, but twice (even if those were the right choices for me at the times). All in all, though, this means that my urge to ignore the advice about funding is extra strong :'D 

I know someone asked about Columbia earlier regarding how competitive it is and whether that still meant it was an equally intensive program (or something along those lines). I think I have a similar concern, especially because I personally know profs and have also heard of profs who are anti-Columbia. Other than exorbitant fees and the general evil things that huge education institutes like them are up to, what specifically is it about their reputation re: writing that turn people off? (And if there are any Columbia stans out here, I'd love to hear that side too! Feeling super conflicted at the moment.)

As for SLC, my impression of it is that it's a program that encourages genre experimentation and hybridity, and that's what appealed to me. I'd prefer that over an extremely literary focus, but I was wondering if my sensing is wrong? Just curious!

Finally, how have you guys been formatting your replies to acceptances? Especially to negotiate for more funding? I seriously struggle with email communication and would love advice or even a template.

Thank you!!!

[sciencebasedlifter]

54 minutes ago, LinneaSage said:

Yesterday I was notified that I got an interview at Hunter (fiction applicant) so it might not be quite over! Wondering if there's any advice from people who have interview with them? It's so nerve wracking to have interviews this late in the game because it feels like my last hope!!!

 

i interviewed with them for fiction and received an acceptance! it was pretty chill-- just come prepared to talk about what you're currently reading, what you've recently read that you didn't like (lol), why you think an MFA would help your writing (and why specifically Hunter) and then be sure to have a couple well-researched questions about the program. 

Good luck!

[PinkBlue]

18 hours ago, flowermariela said:

Hello everyone, I've been a lurker for the last few weeks (only recently realized this space existed!) 

 

I wanted to see if anyone had any insights on the waitlist process regarding Syracuse? I'm feeling real lucky to be on the waitlist, but trying not to be too hopeful (what's meant for me will find me). 

I recently received an offer from the University of Miami (fully funded yay!) which I haven't heard many people on this forum talk about, if anyone has any insights on this, I'd love to hear it! 

Current status is: 

(1a/2w/8r/4p) 

Hoping to get at least one more acceptance, at least for the illusion of choice haha. 

Love to see such a supportive community! 

Congrats on the acceptance! If you don't mind me asking when did you hear back from UM? Also, did they say how many people they're accepting this year? 

[flowermariela]

6 minutes ago, PinkBlue said:

Congrats on the acceptance! If you don't mind me asking when did you hear back from UM? Also, did they say how many people they're accepting this year? 

Thank you so much! I heard back UM March 7th, but I interviewed with them March 4th. They sent out their acceptances earlier than they had originally said (March 18th was when I was supposed to hear back), in the interview they said they had accepted 6 fiction writers & 6 poets, & that there would be a waitlist! I hope this helps  

[mr. specific]

59 minutes ago, flowermariela said:

Thank you so much! I heard back UM March 7th, but I interviewed with them March 4th. They sent out their acceptances earlier than they had originally said (March 18th was when I was supposed to hear back), in the interview they said they had accepted 6 fiction writers & 6 poets, & that there would be a waitlist! I hope this helps  

Congrats! I got into Miami too! They told me they were only taking 3 poets and 3 fiction writers. Maybe they meant there were 6 over the two years, or maybe I misunderstood. Regarding Syracuse, I don't have any special insight on the waitlist, but I am accepted there and most likely will not go, so hopefully that's good news for someone. I visited and it's a great program.

 

 

[flowermariela]

7 minutes ago, mr. specific said:

Congrats! I got into Miami too! They told me they were only taking 3 poets and 3 fiction writers. Maybe they meant there were 6 over the two years, or maybe I misunderstood. Regarding Syracuse, I don't have any special insight on the waitlist, but I am accepted there and most likely will not go, so hopefully that's good news for someone. I visited and it's a great program.

 

 

Thank you! How exciting, congratulations to you! I might've misunderstood them in the interview (I was so nervous!) either way I am very happy to have a yes. Regarding Syracuse, thank you for keeping me updated, it's been a top school for me for a while now, and while I'm not getting my hopes up (I really do love Miami's program), I'm anxious to hear any updates from them, but I truly believe everything that's meant to happen will happen

[sleeeeep]

18 hours ago, subsolar said:

Hi everyone! I finally decided to make an appearance after lurking since page one. Congratulations to everyone who has been accepted/waitlisted and to everyone who applied in general because man. Applying to MFAs feels like it could be a military torture method.

I'm currently waitlisted at both Maryland and Minnesota for Fiction, and I feel very appreciative because this is my first cycle, and I was kinda scared that I was going to write the email of shame to my recommenders. I'm lowkey already preparing my list for next year just in case, but we'll see. I was been beating myself up over one of my writing samples but what is done is done. I like both programs equally, and they both have their pros/cons for me, so I guess I'll just leave it up to fate (their admissions committees). Actually, I will say, Minnesota was #2 on my list, so it was exciting to hear from them. I think I applied to less schools than most people do but there were certain schools where I said "I'd rather be dead in California than alive in _____." And I only applied to programs I'd be very happy to attend. 

Funnily enough (but not that funny because I have $7 left), Minnesota and Maryland were 2/3 schools I couldn't use fee waivers for, and I told my friends that I better get good news from them because they took my money knowing I was broke. I think I manifested it on accident. 

Also, if anyone is in or waitlisted at UC Riverside, feel free to ask me any questions. I did my undergrad there for creative writing, and I had an absolute blast. I love UCR, but I didn't apply for my MFA there because I wanted to get out of my comfort zone. The professors know me and my writing extremely well already. The fiction faculty is amazing, and I could talk about them all day. I'd say MFA students there are treated well by students as well because I adored my TAs, and I only ever heard other students say kind things about them. It's an extremely diverse school and Riverside isn't as bad as a place as they make it out to be (as long as you don't have a catalytic converter). 

omg hello! Congratulations on being waitlisted at both Maryland and Minnesota  That's incredible and my fingers are crossed for you! I live so close to UMD and hear great things about the school; it would have been nice to get an acceptance or waitlist but alas...my fortunes appear to be directing me instead to your alma mater, UC Riverside, where I got in for fiction! It's so great to hear that you had a wonderful experience with the fiction faculty. If you're down, I would love to talk to you more about what it was like studying there/living there, etc. I have also been lurking on here and just created an account after seeing your post. (And LOL/SOB at the catalytic converter thing. I have a Prius and I am realizing if I move there I will need to lock that baby up somehow...or else consider living maybe somewhere else.)