2024 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[picklesaa]

When is Columbia sending poetry waitlists and rejections?? It's been nearly 2 weeks since acceptances went out -- Just want it to be over 🫠

[Hjanep]

7 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 got an NYU waitlist a couple weeks ago. I think in previous years they waited until around 3/23 to send out rejections. 

[Chex]

2 hours 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!

This is news I love to hear. So happy for you, branch! Congratulations on all the good things coming! And thank you for your wise and encouraging post.

[aurqcyei]

If anyone knows about any movement re: the Syracuse fiction waitlist, please let me know! I've returned to some semblance of a routine, but the radio silence is still killing me during the 10 minutes of each day I allow myself to refresh for news.

[daydreamersinc]

does anyone know anything about emerson fiction decisions? there has been very little news, but enough that im starting to stress about it. just wanna know if i should assume soft rejection eek.

[LivingUnderABigRock]

Any one have word on Arkansas, or Tenn waitlists?

 

Also I haven't gotten an offical rejection yet from NYU or Notre Dame, I imagine it's just taking a while 

[lychees]

Officially declined my offer from Colorado State for CNF — very oddly stressful (I felt bad declining, even though it was the right choice), but they sent a wonderful email back and I feel really positive about all the doors still open for me. I hope someone on the waitlist gets good news soon! 

[taliaj]

On 3/18/2024 at 11:50 AM, 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? 

Hello! I have been MIA from this forum for a bit, but as the Boise Expert (jk, I'm just all up in BSU's grill because it's the one school I applied to) as far as I know of, nobody has heard back from fiction. At least, nobody from this forum, GradCafe in general, or the Draft facebook group, or anywhere else that I can see. Mitch from BSU said they were going to email people in the coming week, but that email was sent March 6th, and I believe he was referring to last week, which is making me think, since nothing came out then, we should expect to hear maybe this week? But maybe I'm just holding out hope. I hope this made sense!

[sunnysequoia]

6 hours 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!

Congratulations!!! If you stay here continue enjoying the Bay Area weather haha. I didn't apply to any schools in California so will definitely be leaving the Bay to somewhere very cold LOL (it's unfortunate how spoiled I've been by the weather here my whole life 😅)

[Sumire11]

I've seen one person declining their offer and one giving up their waitlist, both for poetry. Nothing for fiction yet. I don't think I've seen offers for fiction anywhere as well. 

 @LivingUnderABigRock this is what I know about Arkansas

Edited March 20, 2024 by Sumire11

[Srs2024]

Anybody here considering St. Mary's College of California?  California College of the Arts?  

[ssuunn]

Not sure if anyone else is waiting on them, but I reached out to Miami University (in OH) and basically asked for a status update (since I'm not likely to attend either way). They said they'd know more in April when movement starts to happen... So I guess that means everyone who applied is waitlisted until their cohort is finalized? 😬

[trenchywrench]

on the note of Rutgers (Camden)...i applied for fiction and haven't heard anything, the latter of which seems to apply to a lot of us. is it true that R (C) has notified people of rejections in the past beyond the April 15 "D-day" deadline?

also, a question about Sarah Lawrence College, because this one wasn't on my radar for the 2024 cycle but i want to apply for their speculative track in 2025. what are their tuition remission/stipend packages like? is full funding common? i see info about student jobs on their site but i do sort of seek a balance between particular financial and opportunistic elements when looking at these schools.

especially for those of you whose packages included teaching assistantships, which is what i'm gunning for...what were they like, if you don't mind sharing?

Edited March 20, 2024 by trenchywrench

[itsbeensnowing]

15 minutes ago, trenchywrench said:

on the note of Rutgers (Camden)...i applied for fiction and haven't heard anything, the latter of which seems to apply to a lot of us. is it true that R (C) has notified people of rejections in the past beyond the April 15 "D-day" deadline?

Yes, tis true. My rejection last year was on April 18th, and I think that's true of everyone. They were also quite late in 2022, albeit a few days before April 15. Based on the results page, it seems like they used to be a lot more prompt about it (mid-March). I don't know if the past two years have been fluke years or if the late notifications is the new norm. (Based on the fact we haven't heard anything yet this year, I'm guessing it's the latter.)

[trenchywrench]

16 minutes ago, itsbeensnowing said:

Yes, tis true. My rejection last year was on April 18th, and I think that's true of everyone. They were also quite late in 2022, albeit a few days before April 15. Based on the results page, it seems like they used to be a lot more prompt about it (mid-March). I don't know if the past two years have been fluke years or if the late notifications is the new norm. (Based on the fact we haven't heard anything yet this year, I'm guessing it's the latter.)

even though we're calling their choices based on the data they're giving us, there's no way the program officials don't know how bad these very late rejections make them look. i hope they get it together in years to come.

[decayingballads21]

hi people! 

anyone have any info on the Pitt waitlist? size or if it’s ranked or not? 

I emailed asking about it but haven’t heard back yet

any info would be great!! 
 

TIA 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻

[Sumire11]

Hey people

Does anyone have any intel on the waitlist movement at Arkansas for fiction? Also, does anyone have any intel on acceptaces for fiction at Arkansas? Couldn’t find anything regarding this either here or draft. 

Kinda stressed with D-Day approaching lmao. 

 

[prufrock_]

Anyone else waiting on LSU or heard back? I saw one 'waitlist' on march 1st at draft, but seems like radio silence otherwise.

[pananoprodigy]

I feel silly goofy even asking this but has anyone worked with an MFA consultant or something similar during the app process? I'm pretty skeptical about that kind of thing but now that I'm thinking about next year I can kinda see the value in having someone help with the SOP in particular (I feel like that may have been the weakest part of my application; it's at least the part I put the least effort into😬). Idk, just fishing for thoughts. 

[Rixor]

I'm kinda in a state of uncertainty--one of my acceptances might be cancelled, the other hasn't given me funding info, and the rest of the good news I have are waitlists. I'm hoping I get to attend a program this year, but I've accepted it might not happen. 

Since I've been staying off this forum, I wanted to drop in and thank you all for being here and for all the wonderful advice and camaraderie. Thanks to you all, I've managed to survive this process with some sanity intact.

Hoping the best for all of you! 

[Scribe]

5 hours ago, trenchywrench said:

even though we're calling their choices based on the data they're giving us, there's no way the program officials don't know how bad these very late rejections make them look. i hope they get it together in years to come.

This.

1 hour ago, pananoprodigy said:

I feel silly goofy even asking this but has anyone worked with an MFA consultant or something similar during the app process? I'm pretty skeptical about that kind of thing but now that I'm thinking about next year I can kinda see the value in having someone help with the SOP in particular (I feel like that may have been the weakest part of my application; it's at least the part I put the least effort into😬). Idk, just fishing for thoughts. 

Look into Jess Silfa. They are an admin on Draft and offer workshops JUST for the admissions process. They've been on Jared McCormack's 'MFA Writer's Podcast' twice, once for just being an MFA expert.

[trenchywrench]

2 hours ago, prufrock_ said:

Anyone else waiting on LSU or heard back? I saw one 'waitlist' on march 1st at draft, but seems like radio silence otherwise.

i also applied—nothing yet for me!

also, @camwithquestions, fiancée got her NYU Paris low-residency rejection for fiction today. not sure if that information helps you as i don’t know to which program, or for which genre(s), you applied. but data is data and i thought of you.

Edited March 20, 2024 by trenchywrench

[picklesaa]

Hey all,

Has anyone ever received a full tuition waiver from Emerson? Any insight into what financial aid usually looks like? Any thoughts or advice on what to do to get more aid? Currently foundering in the idea that I may be paying off debt for the rest of my life

[trenchywrench]

1 hour ago, picklesaa said:

Hey all,

Has anyone ever received a full tuition waiver from Emerson? Any insight into what financial aid usually looks like? Any thoughts or advice on what to do to get more aid? Currently foundering in the idea that I may be paying off debt for the rest of my life

Emerson is a private institution. i’m not sure how exactly the M.F.A. is funded or how thoroughly, but my younger sister’s there for her undergrad with a 60% scholarship. she started as a Sophomore because she had enough credits from community college to waive her Freshman year, and she’s living on campus. let’s just say i’m one of her loan guarantors—because i love her—but i was skeptical about doing that because i would NEVER, EVER put myself into the amount of debt she’s going into, nor did i recommend she do the same. be wise. if your only option is to take out more debt than you’re comfortable with, consider applying next year. i’m in a similar boat with one waitlist to NYU right now and having not heard back from a lesser-known, newer program as for some reason they choose to notify just before the April 15 deadline.

[itsbeensnowing]

This is truly the most excruciating stage of the season. Waitlists, uncertain funding, presumed rejections without any official notification, and a couple random stragglers that seemingly haven't even sent acceptances yet. It's a strange limbo to be in: Pretty much done, yet can't finalize any plans yet because there's still technically a chance of something happening. Hoping the finish line is near!