2024 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[flowermariela]

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! 

Edited March 12, 2024 by flowermariela

[airlinefood_enjoyer]

Okay never mind about all that. Arizona rejection just came through LOL

[alligator mississippiensis]

3 hours ago, Hjanep said:

Got my Iowa rejection (fiction). Including that my manuscript was well-received by readers and encouragement to apply again. Real talk: is this in every rejection letter?

Hello! Did you get this rejection by snail mail?

[untemperedoddity]

Well, I didn't make it into Arizona for poetry (and it looks like only 3 people will LOL). I'm really counting on that Iowa "still under consideration" at this point...

Edited March 12, 2024 by untemperedoddity

[pananoprodigy]

24 minutes ago, airlinefood_enjoyer said:

Okay never mind about all that. Arizona rejection just came through LOL

Me too. 😢

[lurking14786]

has anyone heard anything from Hunter nonfiction? for context, I interviewed on 2/22 and have been waiting since. 

Edited March 12, 2024 by lurking14786

[Fronkophone]

Hey hey, has anyone heard from NYU or University of Maryland on where they are with fiction applicants? Both are still under review/submitted and I am not sure if I am waitlisted or a soft rejection…

[branch]

AZ rejection came in right as I was joining a Zoom meeting. I had to be like 🙂🙂🙂

[sunnysequoia]

Also rejected from Arizona! Guess it's just the waiting game for my waitlists now 🙃😬🫠

[Hjanep]

46 minutes ago, alligator mississippiensis said:

Hello! Did you get this rejection by snail mail?

Yes, got delivered this morning (I’m in NYC)

[Scribe]

4 hours ago, Hjanep said:

Got my Iowa rejection (fiction). Including that my manuscript was well-received by readers and encouragement to apply again. Real talk: is this in every rejection letter?

it was the same as mine. 

 

also, NOW University of Arizona rejections are out. 

Edited March 12, 2024 by Scribe

[airlinefood_enjoyer]

32 minutes ago, pananoprodigy said:

Me too. 😢

ahh sorry to hear. In another universe we are classmates 😔

[wmly]

anyone else get a weird cryptic "we'll send definitive responses out soon" email from UCI poetry staff?

[ssuunn]

4 minutes ago, Scribe said:

4 hours ago, Hjanep said:

Got my Iowa rejection (fiction). Including that my manuscript was well-received by readers and encouragement to apply again. Real talk: is this in every rejection letter?

it was the same as mine. 

 

also, NOW University of Arizona rejections are out. 

Whoops, I guess I interpreted that as a handwritten note. 😓

[Scribe]

10 minutes ago, ssuunn said:

Whoops, I guess I interpreted that as a handwritten note. 😓

There seem to be others. I get they are trying to be kind, but until i see someone rejected with the words, "please learn a trade" I'm going to assume fraud. 

[subsolar]

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). 

[Scribe]

1 hour ago, prufrock_ said:

I recently moved away from Tempe because i couldn't handle the heat. I hope y'all that got into AZ are prepared!!!

but it's a dry heat. 

[airlinefood_enjoyer]

I think I might be wrapping up my application season with 3 waitlists and 0 acceptances (a few likely soft rejections still pending) 

currently drafting emails to program directors at my waitlists that just read "PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE". I guess if that doesn't work I'll try again next cycle 🙏

my thoughts and prayers to anyone else who will similarly be in waitlist limbo for another month+

[trenchywrench]

50 minutes ago, Fronkophone said:

Hey hey, has anyone heard from NYU or University of Maryland on where they are with fiction applicants? Both are still under review/submitted and I am not sure if I am waitlisted or a soft rejection…

i applied to both these programs for fiction!

on 3/7, i was waitlisted for NYU. i haven’t heard back from UMD yet at all. i believe NYU does rejections last, but tons of people haven’t heard back from UMD yet from what i can gather. a few others who applied to UMD have been telling me to treat my status like a soft rejection…but honestly, i have a feeling UMD isn’t done with acceptances yet. as for NYU? yeah, they’re done with acceptances but they may be still waitlisting people because their waitlist doesn’t come out all at once—from what i gather, the notifications are individualized!

best of luck to you! i hope we crawl out of UMD’s limbo sooner rather than later.

[aurqcyei]

Somehow knowing, for weeks, that I'd be rejected at Iowa pushed my existential dread and sadness past a certain threshold and it looped around the Crippling Self Doubt and Depression Spectrum (TM) into unreasonable giddiness and excitement as I ripped open my letter and hunted around for a pushpin (could only find tape). I did get a tiered rejection, but I do feel like a good portion of people get a tiered rejection? Who knows.  

[seeleimraum]

1 hour ago, wmly said:

anyone else get a weird cryptic "we'll send definitive responses out soon" email from UCI poetry staff?

 

@wmly I did! Really not sure what to think...other than it's kinda verging on obnoxious, in a way? LOL. Hoping it means something ultimately positive, but I'm not about to get my hopes up. Let me know if you hear anything further, and I will do the same. Good luck!

Edited March 12, 2024 by seeleimraum
tagged OP

[sylviaplathtears]

6 minutes ago, aurqcyei said:

Somehow knowing, for weeks, that I'd be rejected at Iowa pushed my existential dread and sadness past a certain threshold and it looped around the Crippling Self Doubt and Depression Spectrum (TM) into unreasonable giddiness and excitement as I ripped open my letter and hunted around for a pushpin (could only find tape). I did get a tiered rejection, but I do feel like a good portion of people get a tiered rejection? Who knows.  

Umm I did the same thing.. I literally smiled reading the letter and immediately hung it on my wall.. there may be something wrong with us lmao 

[jbs]

Oh my god just got accepted at a school that I thought was a soft rejection. They mistyped my email. 

[picklesaa]

7 minutes ago, jbs said:

Oh my god just got accepted at a school that I thought was a soft rejection. They mistyped my email. 

Omg congrats! Which school??

[jbs]

University of Montana for poetry