2024 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[Scribe]

8 minutes ago, writernity said:

I am a NY resident, but 25% tuition means I'd still have to pay about 23.5k for the 2 years 😅 and more if I did the extra semester they encourage. Plus whatever it costs to do the summer Southhampton conference, which they don't fully cover. That is NOT a full ride by any means and even putting the full 2 years stipend towards tuition would bring it down to 10.5k, so I'd still have some debt and still have to work for living expenses. It's not a HORRIBLE amount of debt which is why I'm still keeping it in consideration, but it's definitely not ideal.

you have different info than i do. my math says it's about 14.5 for the two years after the remission but before the stipend. I'm not counting the conference. 

 

[Rixor]

Ugh, now on PC, Chrome browser, this forum keeps trying to download malware just by visiting... I really hope they fix this site soon. Thank goodness my browser keeps blocking the downloads. 

[Scribe]

16 minutes ago, decayingballads21 said:

Congrats on your waitlist!! I’m also waitlisted here and it’s one of my top programs. I’m curious to know how big their waitlist is and if it’s ranked. I already emailed them thanking them for the update and letting them know I’m very interested. Would it be weird to email again and inquire about the waitlist? I don’t want bother them haha but am definitely wanting to know more. 

congratulations! i applied too. i guess another one bites the dust. 

[writernity]

1 minute ago, Scribe said:

you have different info than i do. my math says it's about 14.5 for the two years after the remission but before the stipend. I'm not counting the conference. 

 

The admissions page estimates $9,117.90 a semester for a full-time NY resident, x4 is $36,471.60. The tuition remission is $6500 a year, x2 is $13k. Subtracting that from tuition is $23,471.60 before stipend (which would total another 13k). It does also seem that for the 2024 Spring semester the price has gone up a bit to an estimated $10,043.16 which may stay as high for the Fall- however, in the breakdown it looks like $3k of that is health insurance, so if you can waive that (which I would be able to for at least the first year) the tuition per semester is closer to $7k-- which WOULD be around $14,885 after remission. Not sure if I've got it right, what numbers are you looking at??

[Chex]

47 minutes ago, Scribe said:

you can ask for more but i don't know how that works. i do know 50% leaves a lot to pay for. then there's the roof and food. 

I've heard they could offer more, especially towards April when some people begin to decline offers. It's also possible to leverage one's existing offers to negotiate.

I don't plan to go without a full offer plus stipend. NYC is expensive and I'm not trying to struggle like that.

31 minutes ago, AngusWanderer said:

Oh no Chex, sorry to hear that! NYU is notorious for its ridiculously high tuition...

Yeah, it's rough.

19 minutes ago, Hjanep said:

Do we know what their tuition is? I wonder if anyone is going to slam the door in NYU’s face or if everyone is going to hold out for April to see if they sweeten the deal

No idea yet, but I know it's not cheap. Plus the cost of living there and the cost of moving. Not worth it for me. If I get an offer from one of my remaining schools I'll slam the door in their face pronto! But otherwise, I'd wait to see what changes.

[Saints_]

26 minutes ago, Rixor said:

Ugh, now on PC, Chrome browser, this forum keeps trying to download malware just by visiting... I really hope they fix this site soon. Thank goodness my browser keeps blocking the downloads. 

Same on mobile. We're really out here exposing ourselves to malware in hopes to hear ANYTHING lol 

[Scribe]

3 minutes ago, writernity said:

The admissions page estimates $9,117.90 a semester for a full-time NY resident, x4 is $36,471.60. The tuition remission is $6500 a year, x2 is $13k. Subtracting that from tuition is $23,471.60 before stipend (which would total another 13k). It does also seem that for the 2024 Spring semester the price has gone up a bit to an estimated $10,043.16 which may stay as high for the Fall- however, in the breakdown it looks like $3k of that is health insurance, so if you can waive that (which I would be able to for at least the first year) the tuition per semester is closer to $7k-- which WOULD be around $14,885 after remission. Not sure if I've got it right, what numbers are you looking at??

after stonybrookdotedu

/commcms/sfs/tuition/_documents/1244GRAD.pdf

you would not be full time  46 credits over three years. 

[writernity]

4 minutes ago, Scribe said:

after stonybrookdotedu

/commcms/sfs/tuition/_documents/1244GRAD.pdf

you would not be full time  46 credits over three years. 

Yeah wouldn't it be 46, 12 credits a semester on average as the admissions page says?? it's a 2 year program full time, not 3 years (though you CAN do part time and a lot of people do an extra semester for thesis focus, the credits needed would be the same). Idk what you're looking at differently because I'm referring to the same document in the 2024 calculations I did.

[Scribe]

24 minutes ago, Chex said:

I've heard they could offer more, especially towards April when some people begin to decline offers. It's also possible to leverage one's existing offers to negotiate.

I don't plan to go without a full offer plus stipend. NYC is expensive and I'm not trying to struggle like that.

Yeah, it's rough.

No idea yet, but I know it's not cheap. Plus the cost of living there and the cost of moving. Not worth it for me. If I get an offer from one of my remaining schools I'll slam the door in their face pronto! But otherwise, I'd wait to see what changes.

do you wanna know? let's put it this way, boy are they offering you a lot of money. 

[AngusWanderer]

33 minutes ago, Chex said:

I've heard they could offer more, especially towards April when some people begin to decline offers. It's also possible to leverage one's existing offers to negotiate.

I don't plan to go without a full offer plus stipend. NYC is expensive and I'm not trying to struggle like that.

Yeah, it's rough.

No idea yet, but I know it's not cheap. Plus the cost of living there and the cost of moving. Not worth it for me. If I get an offer from one of my remaining schools I'll slam the door in their face pronto! But otherwise, I'd wait to see what changes.

I guess if anyone declines their fellowship then the pot might be sweetened. I'm just looking into the cost of living in NY and it's a little bit daunting. Chex you can pm me if you want to know more about the details of the funding and moving to NY as an International student. I landed in New York when I was 18, having never been to the States. I only stayed there for a few months, but it was one of my most memorable experiences. 

I'm praying for you and I hope you get a better deal real soon. 

[Scribe]

2 minutes ago, writernity said:

Yeah wouldn't it be 46, 12 credits a semester on average as the admissions page says?? it's a 2 year program full time, not 3 years (though you CAN do part time and a lot of people do an extra semester for thesis focus, the credits needed would be the same). Idk what you're looking at differently because I'm referring to the same document in the 2024 calculations I did.

 

"The time limit for the MFA is three years for full-time study and five years for part-time study."

 I see now it's time "limit". don't know what the fuck that means with respect to full time status. 

I don't see two year program on the admissions page. i do see funding options for first and second year and then another possibility for a third. 

 

Also, I emailed the program director because I couldn't apply until after jan 7 so i wanted to know if funding was actually contingent on that deadline. at least some of the info on that page is wrong.

 

i swear it seems like all these schools are trying to keep shit a secret. 

so, how did they offer the package?

[writernity]

6 minutes ago, Scribe said:

 

"The time limit for the MFA is three years for full-time study and five years for part-time study."

 I see now it's time "limit". don't know what the fuck that means with respect to full time status. 

I don't see two year program on the admissions page. i do see funding options for first and second year and then another possibility for a third. 

 

Also, I emailed the program director because I couldn't apply until after jan 7 so i wanted to know if funding was actually contingent on that deadline. at least some of the info on that page is wrong.

 

i swear it seems like all these schools are trying to keep shit a secret. 

so, how did they offer the package?

Some of my info I might have got from going to the open house, a lot of stuff on the admissions page is definitely not accurate! It also says Jan 7th as the funding deadline in one spot and Jan 1st somewhere else, it's very unclear lmao. It doesn't say years on the page, just that it's average 12 credits for a full time semester (since most courses are 4 credits) and at the open house they said it's usually 2-2.5 years full time. There's definitely a lot of obscurity lol it's so frustrating. If you have any other questions about stuff there I have notes from the open house and can see if I have any answers!

You might've missed my other reply earlier, repasting-- "Yesterday I got the "acceptance offer pending admissions board review" email I mentioned, and then today I got an email to check my portal where there was a more official acceptance and funding offer!" It does also say that the 25% tuition remission can apply to a third year, but not the stipend.

[lychees]

Just received an email notifying me that I'm on the waitlist for University of Idaho — very sweet, kind, and personalized email that offered various ways to get information on the program or get in touch with other professors if I'd like despite not being an acceptance.  

[Scribe]

6 minutes ago, writernity said:

Some of my info I might have got from going to the open house, a lot of stuff on the admissions page is definitely not accurate! It also says Jan 7th as the funding deadline in one spot and Jan 1st somewhere else, it's very unclear lmao. It doesn't say years on the page, just that it's average 12 credits for a full time semester (since most courses are 4 credits) and at the open house they said it's usually 2-2.5 years full time. There's definitely a lot of obscurity lol it's so frustrating. If you have any other questions about stuff there I have notes from the open house and can see if I have any answers!

You might've missed my other reply earlier, repasting-- "Yesterday I got the "acceptance offer pending admissions board review" email I mentioned, and then today I got an email to check my portal where there was a more official acceptance and funding offer!" It does also say that the 25% tuition remission can apply to a third year, but not the stipend.

Well, looks like it’s a thanks but no thanks from me. 
shit. 

[sunnysequoia]

5 hours ago, decayingballads21 said:

I know waitlists are good but for some reason it feels like being a last minute choice to fill a spot rather than being someone they actually rly want in the program. My brain keeps coming to this negative conclusions about it. Can someone make me feel better about waitlist status 😭😭

I can share with you an excerpt from my letter from Ohio State:

"All of us on the faculty here greatly admire your work and would be delighted to have you with us next year should a spot open. The truth is, determining “who gets in” versus “who gets waitlisted” once we have agreed on a group of writers we want to admit is always ridiculously difficult. This is an inexact business (and of course it’s not a “business” at all), and ours is a very small program by design. Please be aware that you are among a distinguished group of writers who received enthusiastic “yes” votes from every one of the relevant faculty."

Being waitlisted really does mean that they want you in the program. They wouldn't waitlist someone they would feel reluctant to admit; they would just reject you instead of wasting their program's funding and faculty's time for 2-3 years on someone they're not enthusiastic about. I'm certain that if any of our waitlists had twice the number of open spots, they would gladly admit us without hesitation.  

[mr. specific]

Got an interview request from University of Miami along with my anticipated rejections from both UT-Austin programs.  In other news, it appears I never sent in the Vanderbilt application fee, so that would explain the lack of response there. Going to be dropping out of Indiana's waitlist today (which I hear is long, but hopefully that helps someone.

Currently at: 3a/ 1w / 1 interviews/ 5 r/ 6p

Trying to decide between Michigan, NYU, and Syracuse. Maybe Miami (if they let me in. For the weather, mostly).

[Srs2024]

A question about visiting programs - I recently had an interview with a program and was offered the opportunity to both visit the campus and speak with a current student, which I am in the process of doing.  They have not accepted me.  I'm hoping this is a sign that they will admit me - have other people been in this position? 

Edited February 29, 2024 by Srs2024

[ssuunn]

58 minutes ago, Srs2024 said:

A question about visiting programs - I recently had an interview with a program and was offered the opportunity to both visit the campus and speak with a current student, which I am in the process of doing.  They have not accepted me.  I'm hoping this is a sign that they will admit me - have other people been in this position? 

Are they covering some or all of the travel costs? If so, I think that's a good sign. If not (which they might not even if you are to be admitted lol), then I'd personally wait until I was offered admission. I wouldn't want to fund my own trip somewhere just to not even get in! But it's up to you.

[Hjanep]

3 hours ago, mr. specific said:

Got an interview request from University of Miami along with my anticipated rejections from both UT-Austin programs.  In other news, it appears I never sent in the Vanderbilt application fee, so that would explain the lack of response there. Going to be dropping out of Indiana's waitlist today (which I hear is long, but hopefully that helps someone.

Currently at: 3a/ 1w / 1 interviews/ 5 r/ 6p

Trying to decide between Michigan, NYU, and Syracuse. Maybe Miami (if they let me in. For the weather, mostly).

Are you able to visit and sit in on classes / get a feel for what it would be like to attend?

[dasiena]

22 hours ago, cowboifairy said:

I would recommend not contacting personally. I know the professors fairly well, and I get the vibe that they prefer to be 'left alone' somewhat for the decisions process. That said, they're all incredibly kind, so I don't think it would be a point against you by any means. However, I think waiting until mid-March since they stress mid-March might be wiser. Also, I am happy to answer Brown question people have since I know it's a bit mysterious over there! 

Thanks for this!

Is there any other info you could share about Brown? I know it's known for being a program that focuses more on experimental writing and mixed media/arts. This confuses me slightly because I also know writers like Ottessa Moshfegh went there whose writing (to me) doesn't quite seem experimental (but maybe it used to be before she got popular) but more so literary fictionesque. Anyway don't really know what I'm asking but if you know anything more about what they're looking for or if you have stories of bad or good experiences with the program would love to hear them! 

(Also because I'm wondering if it's a school I should reapply to next year should I fail this cycle.) 

[dasiena]

Does anyone know *how* programs contact admits, like in what order? I'm assuming they start with who they MOST want then go to you know...who they least most want...or is it in alphabetical order? Just curious if anyone knows. 

 

[ssuunn]

9 minutes ago, dasiena said:

Does anyone know *how* programs contact admits, like in what order? I'm assuming they start with who they MOST want then go to you know...who they least most want...or is it in alphabetical order? Just curious if anyone knows. 

I wouldn't worry about this, because it probably varies and is unintentional. Maybe they printed out applications, made their decisions, and go back to their email and contact their admits in whatever order the apps were in. Maybe they do it from a ranked list. Maybe alphabetical. If you are admitted somewhere, then it doesn't effectively matter if you were contacted first or last, they wanted you in their program regardless.

[dasiena]

Also not to triple text in the g chat (sry) but how normal is it have literary agents going into an MFA? I've looked up current students at IWW as well as recent Iowa admits to see that a few already have literary agents, one being signed with the same agent as Sheila Heti (holy shit). I'm wondering why someone would want to get an MFA if they already have an agent. I guess it would just be a sort of long paid fellowship to work on the book they are already set to publish? Seems cool & wish it could apply to me. Also is a little discouraging. 

[ssuunn]

9 minutes ago, dasiena said:

Also not to triple text in the g chat (sry) but how normal is it have literary agents going into an MFA? I've looked up current students at IWW as well as recent Iowa admits to see that a few already have literary agents, one being signed with the same agent as Sheila Heti (holy shit). I'm wondering why someone would want to get an MFA if they already have an agent. I guess it would just be a sort of long paid fellowship to work on the book they are already set to publish? Seems cool & wish it could apply to me. Also is a little discouraging. 

I would say this is very rare (and probably even rarer in poetry)! I don't know anyone with an agent even after they've completed their degree lol. You also don't need an agent to get a book published. Maybe at like... the big ones... but you can still find lots of success without one!

People might go for the MFA because it is the terminal degree in our field, meaning that you can teach with it at the college level. (I'm wary of the CW PhD in theory, but that's another story.) I could see that, if someone already has some initial success with their writing, they'd want to go for the degree in order to land teaching gigs later. Maybe they want paid time to write and a community to bounce ideas. Who knows? Same reasons as all of us, probably.

[itsbeensnowing]

7 minutes ago, dasiena said:

Also not to triple text in the g chat (sry) but how normal is it have literary agents going into an MFA? I've looked up current students at IWW as well as recent Iowa admits to see that a few already have literary agents, one being signed with the same agent as Sheila Heti (holy shit). I'm wondering why someone would want to get an MFA if they already have an agent. I guess it would just be a sort of long paid fellowship to work on the book they are already set to publish? Seems cool & wish it could apply to me. Also is a little discouraging. 

Having an agent isn't the be all and end all, so I think there'd still be plenty of motivation for someone to pursue an MFA. Most people who write still have to keep other jobs regardless of representation, so having funded time to write and improve is important, as is gaining a degree that could open the door to teaching, which is what a lot of writers end up doing to keep the lights on.

Don't be discouraged, though, it really shouldn't be a factor in your admission. Not only is it rare for someone to apply while already having an agent, but what an agent looks for isn't necessarily what an admissions committee is looking for. Plenty of people get in without having any sort of publication or representation.