2024 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[mr. specific]

Has anyone seen any actual money from Columbia? or have info on how many people they fully fund?

[writercl]

On 3/11/2024 at 12:45 PM, branch said:

I didn’t apply, but I love SMC! I did my undergrad there (in French, mind) and know Marilyn Abildskov pretty well. I also have an uncle in the Brothers’ community. Fingers crossed for you, their MFA program was just beginning when I went there and it seemed like they were really, really invested in their students. Plus the campus is beautiful. 

Oh, awesome!! Thank you so much 😇😇 I hope I get in!!

[rlion]

For people applying to Hollins, do you know if the second wave of acceptances has gone out? Or any rejections or waitlists or anything… 

[frogonalog]

Hi all, first-time poster! Would really appreciate some insight. I was accepted to a few programs in NYC and would absolutely love to move there this year. However, my partner is currently looking for a new job and he's unsure if he'll be able to find one in NYC. He'll likely know for certain after April 15-- closer to end of April, beginning of May. I would love to accept an offer, but I'm worried that I'll have to reneg if we aren't able to move after all. Is anyone familiar with what happens if you accept an offer and then decline it later? Are you blacklisted from the school, or do you need to pay a fee? Alternatively, is there any way I could defer an offer? Thank you so much.

Edited March 18, 2024 by frogonalog

[Mxxyr]

1 hour ago, frogonalog said:

Hi all, first-time poster! Would really appreciate some insight. I was accepted to a few programs in NYC and would absolutely love to move there this year. However, my partner is currently looking for a new job and he's unsure if he'll be able to find one in NYC. He'll likely know for certain after April 15-- closer to end of April, beginning of May. I would love to accept an offer, but I'm worried that I'll have to reneg if we aren't able to move after all. Is anyone familiar with what happens if you accept an offer and then decline it later? Are you blacklisted from the school, or do you need to pay a fee? Alternatively, is there any way I could defer an offer to next year? Thank you so much.

Many programs in the NYC offer deferral’s for a maximum of one year. I would inquire directly with the department. You may have to “apply” for a deferral but many times that means just explaining your circumstances in an email. A good friend of mine was able to defer an acceptance at an NYC school for a full residency MFA. Not sure how low-res works in that regard. Good luck! 

[BeneGesserit]

Hello, friends in Purgatory.

1st time poster here. So far I'm 0a/5w/6r/4p. Hoping for movement on the waitlists soon. Still haven't heard anything from Iowa, which is nerve wracking, but... promising? I don't know. I've only seen rejections for fiction so far, has anyone heard about acceptances?

Wishing you all the best ❤️

[BeneGesserit]

3 hours ago, big_al15 said:

Okay. I think I'm going stir crazy at this point, and just need this season to be OVER.

I have only heard from 2 of my schools (Brown and Washington-Seattle) both rejections. However, I am still waiting to hear from UMich - Ann Arbor, University of Oregon, University of Montana, and Boise State for fiction. I want to just take these all as soft rejections, but I also haven't seen a lot of discussion about Montana or Boise, and am not sure if anyone else has heard otherwise? Are they just late in finishing up decisions? One can hope, I suppose...

Are there perhaps some folks that may have heard something about these schools? 

In the same place dude, gnawing the bars of my enclosure and turning circles like the damn hadron collider. I haven't heard back from Oregon yet, if that helps. 

Best of luck!

[darr1]

UNLV….where art thou… 😞😞😞😞

Jealous (happy jealous!) of anyone who gets to go to Boise or Montana, those landscapes look so conducive to writing cool stuff!!

[sunnysequoia]

Shoutout to WUSTL for their update! They told me, "If you’re receiving this, you are currently placed 3rd or below on our alternate lists," and that students in my position have received offers of admission in the past. Also that the waitlists are short and have grown shorter over the weeks due to applicants accepting other offers. They said that 2 students have accepted and 1 has declined (don't know if this is just for my genre or for all of them), and it's still too early to offer admission to waitlisted candidates. 

So if you've been waitlisted at one or more schools, don't despair! Seems like there is a lot of movement happening even if schools haven't given any updates.

Edit: I emailed to ask for clarification on who has accepted and declined, and they replied very quickly, saying that they need 4 declines across all genres before they start making offers to waitlisted candidates. As of this afternoon, two offers total have been declined, and several more have dropped off the waitlist. So definitely lots of movement happening!

Edited March 19, 2024 by sunnysequoia
Added update

[trenchywrench]

9 hours ago, doomgeneration said:

Has anyone here heard back from Bennington, specifically for fiction? I saw a few people got accepted last Tuesday (via Draft). It's the only program I applied to, so I'm feeling pretty anxious. 

fiancée got into the fiction low-residency last week with a $7k scholarship—she’s declining that offer in favor of one closer to us. i don’t believe they’re done accepting yet. 

Edited March 19, 2024 by trenchywrench

[camwithquestions]

Hello everyone,

 

new to the forum. Have heard back from two programs, one in NY and one in the UK. I’m still waiting to hear back from NYU and Columbia. Has anyone heard from those programs yet, or have an idea when they should announce acceptance or not-just waiting is always so excruciating! Thank you and good luck to everyone !

[My Mlemtonia]

20 hours ago, big_al15 said:

Okay. I think I'm going stir crazy at this point, and just need this season to be OVER.

I have only heard from 2 of my schools (Brown and Washington-Seattle) both rejections. However, I am still waiting to hear from UMich - Ann Arbor, University of Oregon, University of Montana, and Boise State for fiction. I want to just take these all as soft rejections, but I also haven't seen a lot of discussion about Montana or Boise, and am not sure if anyone else has heard otherwise? Are they just late in finishing up decisions? One can hope, I suppose...

Are there perhaps some folks that may have heard something about these schools? 

Don't know much about the other ones, but UMich notifies acceptances mid-Feb, and Welcome Weekend is happening soon. There's always the waitlist, but I'm not sure how that works. Hope you get some good news and peace of mind soon. 

[mr. specific]

1 hour ago, camwithquestions said:

Hello everyone,

 

new to the forum. Have heard back from two programs, one in NY and one in the UK. I’m still waiting to hear back from NYU and Columbia. Has anyone heard from those programs yet, or have an idea when they should announce acceptance or not-just waiting is always so excruciating! Thank you and good luck to everyone !

I heard from NYU a month ago and they already had their accepted students visit. Columbia announced acceptances pretty recently and also have invited all their students to an event. So I'd say they're done with acceptances, but I don't know about waitlists. Some people have reported waitlists I think. Strange they have not told everyone yet.

[Karmazinov]

Pretty certain Rutgers Camden for fiction is OVER, but my portal still says decision pending, and I've received no communication. What's the point of not telling me yet?

Anyone got word on their process?

[trenchywrench]

3 hours ago, camwithquestions said:

Hello everyone,

 

new to the forum. Have heard back from two programs, one in NY and one in the UK. I’m still waiting to hear back from NYU and Columbia. Has anyone heard from those programs yet, or have an idea when they should announce acceptance or not-just waiting is always so excruciating! Thank you and good luck to everyone !

i was notified of my full-residency NYU waitlist for fiction on March 7th. like someone else said, i know they had their accepted students’ visit already. fiancée is still waiting to hear back from the Paris low-residency program. i don’t know what their status is with the waitlist but i would infer they’re done with their initial list of accepted candidates.

[sylviaplathtears]

Does most waitlist movement happen on April 15th or is it more like if you haven't heard back by that time, it's most likely a rejection? 

Edited March 19, 2024 by sylviaplathtears

[ssuunn]

6 minutes ago, sylviaplathtears said:

Does most waitlist movement happen on April 15th or is it more like if you haven't heard back by that time, it's most likely a rejection? 

Waitlist movement happens until the cohort is finalized. Which is sort of a crappy answer, but it's true. Last year, I was rejected after not making it off the waitlist on 4/13. Some people have gotten off waitlists after 4/15. It just depends on many factors.

[OctopusCactus]

22 hours ago, mr. specific said:

Has anyone seen any actual money from Columbia? or have info on how many people they fully fund?

Yes. A number of people in Draft have reported scholarships, most in the $20-$40k range. Others say they got no funding.

Edited March 19, 2024 by OctopusCactus
clarifying

[seeleimraum]

Has anyone on here heard anything from UCI, post that-weird-waitlist-but-not-waitlist email?

[3a/1w/7r/2p]

[branch]

Everyone!!! I've been off the forums for a couple of weeks (for my own sanity), but my application round has officially come to a close... with an acceptance from San Francisco State University. I got the email last night and I'm still kind of in shock?! Trying not to let the imposter syndrome tell me it's not the achievement that it is. 

SFSU was the only program I applied to that isn't fully funded, so all of it will depend on whether or not I get any scholarships (I applied by the priority consideration deadline), and I'll probably want to apply to some other fellowships on their list. But I would be able to stay local, continue working part-time at my current job, and not have to rush my wedding this summer. 

NC State is still lingering out there, with waitlist decisions expected May 1. I'm not as wedded to it as I was before. If SFSU was meant to be, then I will take this as a sign!

It's made me so proud to see all of your accomplishments, and I'm grateful that you all made a space for me here. You are all phenomenal writers with infinite promise, and life is full of chances. If there's one thing I've learned since submitting work professionally in the past couple of years, it's that a rejection is ultimately meaningless. Your acceptance is out there, your moment will come, and in the meantime, cultivate your craft and your love for it, continue to make it yours, and cherish the connection you have with your words, when it's just the two of you in a quiet room, and no one is listening. That will be your anchor, I promise!

Much love!

EDIT: Also, while all of this was going down... I made my first paid sale for a story earlier this month, in a magazine that I LOVE. The story had been rejected 5 times, subbed around for over a year. NEVER GIVE UP!

Edited March 19, 2024 by branch

[lemmmein]

11 minutes ago, branch said:

Everyone!!! I've been off the forums for a couple of weeks (for my own sanity), but my application round has officially come to a close... with an acceptance from San Francisco State University. I got the email last night and I'm still kind of in shock?! Trying not to let the imposter syndrome tell me it's not the achievement that it is. 

SFSU was the only program I applied to that isn't fully funded, so all of it will depend on whether or not I get any scholarships (I applied by the priority consideration deadline), and I'll probably want to apply to some other fellowships on their list. But I would be able to stay local, continue working part-time at my current job, and not have to rush my wedding this summer. 

NC State is still lingering out there, with waitlist decisions expected May 1. I'm not as wedded to it as I was before. If SFSU was meant to be, then I will take this as a sign!

It's made me so proud to see all of your accomplishments, and I'm grateful that you all made a space for me here. You are all phenomenal writers with infinite promise, and life is full of chances. If there's one thing I've learned since submitting work professionally in the past couple of years, it's that a rejection is ultimately meaningless. Your acceptance is out there, your moment will come, and in the meantime, cultivate your craft and your love for it, continue to make it yours, and cherish the connection you have with your words, when it's just the two of you in a quiet room, and no one is listening. That will be your anchor, I promise!

Much love!

EDIT: Also, while all of this was going down... I made my first paid sale for a story earlier this month, in a magazine that I LOVE. The story had been rejected 5 times, subbed around for over a year. NEVER GIVE UP!

Ahhh congrats!! I still have my fingers crossed we'll be in the same cohort at NCSU, but I'm glad you have another great option. Also would love to read this story!!

[GoldenTree]

41 minutes ago, branch said:

Everyone!!! I've been off the forums for a couple of weeks (for my own sanity), but my application round has officially come to a close... with an acceptance from San Francisco State University. I got the email last night and I'm still kind of in shock?! Trying not to let the imposter syndrome tell me it's not the achievement that it is. 

SFSU was the only program I applied to that isn't fully funded, so all of it will depend on whether or not I get any scholarships (I applied by the priority consideration deadline), and I'll probably want to apply to some other fellowships on their list. But I would be able to stay local, continue working part-time at my current job, and not have to rush my wedding this summer. 

NC State is still lingering out there, with waitlist decisions expected May 1. I'm not as wedded to it as I was before. If SFSU was meant to be, then I will take this as a sign!

It's made me so proud to see all of your accomplishments, and I'm grateful that you all made a space for me here. You are all phenomenal writers with infinite promise, and life is full of chances. If there's one thing I've learned since submitting work professionally in the past couple of years, it's that a rejection is ultimately meaningless. Your acceptance is out there, your moment will come, and in the meantime, cultivate your craft and your love for it, continue to make it yours, and cherish the connection you have with your words, when it's just the two of you in a quiet room, and no one is listening. That will be your anchor, I promise!

Much love!

EDIT: Also, while all of this was going down... I made my first paid sale for a story earlier this month, in a magazine that I LOVE. The story had been rejected 5 times, subbed around for over a year. NEVER GIVE UP!

Congrats, Branch! I remember when you first came on the thread! Really happy you got in somewhere. I hope it all works out great for you 🎉 

[mr. specific]

2 hours ago, OctopusCactus said:

Yes. A number of people in Draft have reported scholarships, most in the $20-$40k range. Others say they got no funding.

Do you know if that mean stipends or tuition assistance? 20-40k toward Columbia tuition still leaves a lot of tuition.

[sleeeeep]

On 3/18/2024 at 1:25 PM, Ancestralhand said:

Has anyone heard anything from UCR?

Assuming you are asking about UC Riverside—I received a phone call from them with an acceptance for fiction on 2/28. I was told there are about 20 people on their waitlist. I did get the sense that all of their As and Ws are out, but as I've learned, you never know until you get that official notice. 

[OctopusCactus]

1 hour ago, mr. specific said:

Do you know if that mean stipends or tuition assistance? 20-40k toward Columbia tuition still leaves a lot of tuition.

Tuition. A few people reported getting higher scholarships but from what my friend in that program says full tuition scholarships there are rare. No one in Draft has reported getting full tuition plus a stipend, this year at least.