2024 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[mr. specific]

I got interviewed by Miami today and came away with a really excellent impression of the program there. They said they only take 3 in each genre, so my odds are still long, since I assume, based just on time slots they offered that the'yre interviewing at least ~10 per.  But if they take me I would definitely consider moving to S. Florida.

Also got a really nice waitlist notice from UVA several days ago, and they said not to post anything until the 5th. This is the only school I've seen do that, but I guess they want to wait till they can notify everyone (instead of waiting weeks like some schools). They won't say how many people are on the waitlist, though.

[itsbeensnowing]

8 minutes ago, Scribe said:

linked in lets you know who searched you. 

Ahhh I see. I don't like thinking about these programs googling me, because one of the only things that comes up with my name is a book of short stories I wrote when I was 10 that my dad self published for me. There's no escaping it, it haunts me

[goldentulip]

19 minutes ago, mr. specific said:

I got interviewed by Miami today and came away with a really excellent impression of the program there. They said they only take 3 in each genre, so my odds are still long, since I assume, based just on time slots they offered that the'yre interviewing at least ~10 per.  But if they take me I would definitely consider moving to S. Florida.

Also got a really nice waitlist notice from UVA several days ago, and they said not to post anything until the 5th. This is the only school I've seen do that, but I guess they want to wait till they can notify everyone (instead of waiting weeks like some schools). They won't say how many people are on the waitlist, though.

I didn’t go to UM, but I did go to FIU for undergrad and most all the CRW professors are friends. I’ve heard great things about their program so fingers crossed for you!! If you want any info about Miami, or South Florida, let me know—I was born and raised here! 

[Scribe]

22 minutes ago, mr. specific said:

I got interviewed by Miami today and came away with a really excellent impression of the program there. They said they only take 3 in each genre, so my odds are still long, since I assume, based just on time slots they offered that the'yre interviewing at least ~10 per.  But if they take me I would definitely consider moving to S. Florida.

Also got a really nice waitlist notice from UVA several days ago, and they said not to post anything until the 5th. This is the only school I've seen do that, but I guess they want to wait till they can notify everyone (instead of waiting weeks like some schools). They won't say how many people are on the waitlist, though.congratulations. And sorry, you’re which genre and when were you notified of an interview?

[mr. specific]

10 minutes ago, goldentulip said:

I didn’t go to UM, but I did go to FIU for undergrad and most all the CRW professors are friends. I’ve heard great things about their program so fingers crossed for you!! If you want any info about Miami, or South Florida, let me know—I was born and raised here! 

Wow thanks! I hope I hear back from them in a week or so. I'll definitely hit you up for Miami advice.

[Scribe]

That was a congratulations 

also, what genre again?

[goldentulip]

Kind of random, but still literary! Since Miami has been mentioned, and its 305 day (our area code, it’s a big celebration), I must share about our city! Aside from what you all may have heard about this city (and the state it resides in), it’s an awesome literary city! If you ever want to visit, we have an amazing poetry festival (O,Miami) every April (national poetry month) that “aims to have every person in Miami-Dade County encounter a poem during the month of April.” (I’ve seen Kaveh Akbar, Paige Lewis, and Hanif Abdurraqib here!) They do a lot of great community work! Then in November, we have a really well rounded, week long book fair. Both events get incredible writers into the city (in previous years I’ve seen poets like Ross Gay, Major Jackson, Sam Sax, Chen Chen, Mahogany L. Browne, Nicole Sealey, Sandra Cisneros [got to interview her!!!], Fatimah Asghar)! 

And finally: our local, independent bookstore—Books & Books, just recently started a literary foundation to help continue its community building and help fight against a lot of the book bans and restrictive legislation we’re facing in the state! 

Okay, sorry for my ramble, but I do love this city, and hope you all can come one day and visit (maybe during these special events)! 

Edited March 6, 2024 by goldentulip
mistakes

[mr. specific]

21 minutes ago, Scribe said:

That was a congratulations 

also, what genre again?

I applied for poetry.

[Scribe]

6 hours ago, mr. specific said:

I applied for poetry.

Good

[decayingballads21]

8 hours ago, DanielNiver said:

Hahaha my bad! I just didn't want to inflate expectations for those who applied to the specific program, but Wyoming was the program which I was told by a current MFA student that was a bit lower than normal.

This makes me feel a little ~bad~ bc they rejected me, and in their email they told me the whole spiel about “we had a significantly larger number of applicants this year” 😭

[Scribe]

10 hours ago, itsbeensnowing said:

Ahhh I see. I don't like thinking about these programs googling me, because one of the only things that comes up with my name is a book of short stories I wrote when I was 10 that my dad self published for me. There's no escaping it, it haunts me

how is there not a lmao emoji here?

[ssuunn]

I have been listening to Carrie & Lowell by Sufjan Stevens to prepare for my Oregon trip... not sure it's the right move, because it's so depressing lmao

[Scribe]

3 minutes ago, ssuunn said:

I have been listening to Carrie & Lowell by Sufjan Stevens to prepare for my Oregon trip... not sure it's the right move, because it's so depressing lmao

Ha! As we speak, I'm googling california songs. 

[airlinefood_enjoyer]

1 hour ago, ssuunn said:

I have been listening to Carrie & Lowell by Sufjan Stevens to prepare for my Oregon trip... not sure it's the right move, because it's so depressing lmao

We're all gonna die, we're all gonna die, we're all gonna die, etc. etc.

[decayingballads21]

Y’all, I emailed one of my schools that waitlisted me with a follow up email asking about the waitlist size and if it’s ranked or not. I emailed them on Friday last week and I haven’t gotten a reply back yet. Do you guys think this is a bad sign?  I’m stressing out 😭

[untemperedoddity]

19 hours ago, Mxxyr said:

Thank you so so much you all. ❤️ 

Congratulations on your acceptance! This is huge! Did you recieve a call or an email to schedule one? Tell us everything!

[Rixor]

22 minutes ago, decayingballads21 said:

Y’all, I emailed one of my schools that waitlisted me with a follow up email asking about the waitlist size and if it’s ranked or not. I emailed them on Friday last week and I haven’t gotten a reply back yet. Do you guys think this is a bad sign?  I’m stressing out 😭

I don't think it's a bad sign. I don't think it's wrong to ask, either, unless the initial email specifically says not to ask. Things are just busy, I'm sure. 

[lemmmein]

Wellllllp brown/hunter/u of houston can suck it if they decide to accept me this late in the game. I officially accepted my spot for fiction at NCSU and withdrew from U of Oregon's waitlist. Feels really good to just have it all settled!

[Scribe]

16 minutes ago, lemmmein said:

Wellllllp brown/hunter/u of houston can suck it if they decide to accept me this late in the game. I officially accepted my spot for fiction at NCSU and withdrew from U of Oregon's waitlist. Feels really good to just have it all settled!

Awesome. I'm considering them a soft rejection, but don't know anything about the timeline for hunter or houston. i didn't apply to brown. 

when you know, you know. hunter definitely won't give you the cabbage ncsu does anyway. 

[pomelo]

21 minutes ago, lemmmein said:

Wellllllp brown/hunter/u of houston can suck it if they decide to accept me this late in the game. I officially accepted my spot for fiction at NCSU and withdrew from U of Oregon's waitlist. Feels really good to just have it all settled!

Go Pack!

[Scribe]

Sheesh. Apparently it's illegal to live in a van in orange county. fucking fascists. 

[lemmmein]

27 minutes ago, Scribe said:

Awesome. I'm considering them a soft rejection, but don't know anything about the timeline for hunter or houston. i didn't apply to brown. 

when you know, you know. hunter definitely won't give you the cabbage ncsu does anyway. 

Yeah, I don't think they've released decisions, but it's hard not to expect a no anyway. I don't think I'd want to move for any of these programs regardless?

When you know you know for sure! Definitely wouldn't spend NYC living cost extortion $$ (+ the half I'd be on the hook for at Hunter as a non resident year 1) when I'm already cozy in NC.

[ssuunn]

While I'm on the topic of music—if anyone has a long road trip as they move this summer, (36hr drive for me most likely), do yourself a favor and listen to Hejira by Joni Mitchell. Or just listen to it now. One of the all-timers for sure.

[Rixor]

My goodness whoever got into UW-Bothell (congrats!!!) gave me the biggest heart attack of my life when I saw "University of Washington" (with the Bothell cut off) added to the Google sheet.

[sylviaplathtears]

Would it be bad to email Hunter and ask when they plan to send out acceptances? Also, is emailing a letter to the program director about how much you want to get off the waitlist a bad idea? Do I just need to wait and stop being neurotic..