2025 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[Scribe]

On 7/29/2024 at 5:35 AM, samlyn said:

Yep, I'm really only looking in the city or within commuting distance. Thanks for the tip on Rutgers! I had heard of the Rutgers-Camden program and didn't realize the Newark campus also granted MFAs. I will definitely look into it.

Good to know also about Columbia. Even in the extraordinary event I were to get funding, I don't know how I would feel about attending a program where many of my classmates are going into $100,000+ debt. Feels...icky, and also like it might attract a certain type of student. My perspective on funding/debt is that if my writing isn't good enough to get me funded¹, I'm probably not ready to be in a program. In that case, I'll keep working and apply again some other year.

1 - At least partially funded to the extent I don't need to take on debt - I pretty much expect to work during the program and could afford to pay a small amount of tuition from savings.

This is wrong. JUST WRONG. I got into Columbia and 4 fully funded programs. do NOT let an institution's economic dynamics be any indicator of the credibility, worth, or quality of your writing. 

[Scribe]

On 10/4/2024 at 6:58 PM, Hjanep said:

I’m also baaack for round two. And mostly done with the admin work for this year and generally feeling calmer so far? We’ll see if that sticks. Applying for fiction to: Iowa, Michigan, Michener, UVA, Brown, Vanderbilt, Syracuse, Northwestern Litowitz, Montana, UCI, Stegner (lol), NYU

Finally someone wants to be an anteater!

[pananoprodigy]

@Hjanep I feel you, I'm also feeling weirdly chill about the whole thing at this point. This time last year I was already checking gradcafe 50 times a day lol. 

This round I've applied to: Wyoming, Brown, Cornell, UTK, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Indiana, NAU, U of Oregon, &  Minnesota. Still working on apps for: Iowa, Montana, Rutgers-Camden, Michigan, & Ohio State. 

So far I got fee waivers for all except Wyoming, Syracuse, Minnesota, and NAU. NAU is the only non-fully funded program I'm applying to, and only because I really love Flagstaff and I've heard they sometimes do offer full funding. 

Open to tweaking or adding to the list if anybody has input!

 

[Dave M]

Happy to be here.  Sixty-six years young and applying to NY Tri-state full residency programs (literary fiction) for fall 2025. Can anyone direct me to a list of MFA application coaches/consultants? Grazie!

[exvat]

Hey, y'all. Been a while since I last applied, better part of a decade now.

Kinda kept my nose to the grindstone and was fortunate to experience cool things like Bread Loaf, a wild (and mostly wholesome) AWP Seattle, and publications in places like Pshares, APR, and Palette. And I was more or less content to keep on living as a "working" poet, making pretty good money in a career that afforded me stability, a decent quality of life, and an opportunity to cultivate my solitary writing life. But when, deep down, you really wanna teach something you're passionate about, and good at... Well, it's like Stephen King wrote in The Dark Tower: "Talent just wants to be used."

But what I consider my biggest strength—my unconventional literary path—is also my biggest insecurity applying to MFA programs this time around. I have a BS and MS in Chemistry, and don't recall taking a single literature course in my post-secondary education. I've read a good deal, have attended a whole buncha workshops (BLEWR 🙏), and have some big name poets who have very generously offered to write on my behalf. But I def still feel like I'm a weak candidate because I am not straight out of an English/Lit undergrad or Masters program (among a few other reasons).

I guess you just never really know, huh. Anyway, geography was really a top factor for me, as well as faculty (relationships), so I'm keeping the list very tight this year and applying to: Columbia, NYU, UMass Amherst (my alma mater), and Vanderbilt.

If you're as prone to overthinking and spinning about this whole process as I am, then here's a little chant I created for myself, based on a Buddhist Equanimity chant:

• Regardless of my wishes for them, my application decisions are not in my hands.

• I alone am responsible for the contents of my applications.

• May I accept my application decisions with equanimity.

• May I find a true source of happiness.

• May I find peace exactly where I am.

Just trying to keep that in mind while still chipping away at obsessively crafted application materials 🙃👋

[writeordie]

Long time lurker, first time poster.

I'm a book editor and writer. I applied for fully-funded MFAs a decade ago to no avail. Published an anthology and an academic primer. Wrote a lot of stories, then a few partials and a novel (workshopped at Tin House and going out on sub soon, fingers crossed!). I still desperately want to spend a couple years getting mentored by the best and workshopping with my peers, and especially producing as much material as possible.

Shooting my shot for Iowa, Michener, NWP, UMich, Syracuse, NC State, UVA, Vanderbilt, and Brown. I am one of those people for whom IWW is on an altar where I mentally leave flowers and blood vials, lol, though Michener/NWP's faculty is also off the proverbial hook. 

Question to the group: I know novel excerpts have a bad rap vs. short stories when it comes to MFA apps, but is that old advice? (e.g., genre fiction used to be frowned on in lit fic programs, but is now welcomed most places) Or am I doomed, given that I haven't written a short story in several years and have only novels/partial manuscripts that I'm happy with to draw from?

[Leeannitha]

On 10/17/2024 at 12:29 AM, exvat said:

Hey, y'all. Been a while since I last applied, better part of a decade now.

Kinda kept my nose to the grindstone and was fortunate to experience cool things like Bread Loaf, a wild (and mostly wholesome) AWP Seattle, and publications in places like Pshares, APR, and Palette. And I was more or less content to keep on living as a "working" poet, making pretty good money in a career that afforded me stability, a decent quality of life, and an opportunity to cultivate my solitary writing life. But when, deep down, you really wanna teach something you're passionate about, and good at... Well, it's like Stephen King wrote in The Dark Tower: "Talent just wants to be used."

But what I consider my biggest strength—my unconventional literary path—is also my biggest insecurity applying to MFA programs this time around. I have a BS and MS in Chemistry, and don't recall taking a single literature course in my post-secondary education. I've read a good deal, have attended a whole buncha workshops (BLEWR 🙏), and have some big name poets who have very generously offered to write on my behalf. But I def still feel like I'm a weak candidate because I am not straight out of an English/Lit undergrad or Masters program (among a few other reasons).

I guess you just never really know, huh. Anyway, geography was really a top factor for me, as well as faculty (relationships), so I'm keeping the list very tight this year and applying to: Columbia, NYU, UMass Amherst (my alma mater), and Vanderbilt.

If you're as prone to overthinking and spinning about this whole process as I am, then here's a little chant I created for myself, based on a Buddhist Equanimity chant:

• Regardless of my wishes for them, my application decisions are not in my hands.

• I alone am responsible for the contents of my applications.

• May I accept my application decisions with equanimity.

• May I find a true source of happiness.

• May I find peace exactly where I am.

Just trying to keep that in mind while still chipping away at obsessively crafted application materials 🙃👋

Hey, thanks for this chant! In my opinion, your background is a strength. I think it makes you more interesting and shows dedication. I wouldn’t be insecure about it! Play it up in your SOP and be proud of your journey so far!

[Leeannitha]

On 10/17/2024 at 10:49 PM, writeordie said:

Long time lurker, first time poster.

I'm a book editor and writer. I applied for fully-funded MFAs a decade ago to no avail. Published an anthology and an academic primer. Wrote a lot of stories, then a few partials and a novel (workshopped at Tin House and going out on sub soon, fingers crossed!). I still desperately want to spend a couple years getting mentored by the best and workshopping with my peers, and especially producing as much material as possible.

Shooting my shot for Iowa, Michener, NWP, UMich, Syracuse, NC State, UVA, Vanderbilt, and Brown. I am one of those people for whom IWW is on an altar where I mentally leave flowers and blood vials, lol, though Michener/NWP's faculty is also off the proverbial hook. 

Question to the group: I know novel excerpts have a bad rap vs. short stories when it comes to MFA apps, but is that old advice? (e.g., genre fiction used to be frowned on in lit fic programs, but is now welcomed most places) Or am I doomed, given that I haven't written a short story in several years and have only novels/partial manuscripts that I'm happy with to draw from?

Good luck with your book on submission soon! I’d say people definitely get in with manuscript excerpts but I’m wondering about once you get into a program if you will perhaps naturally switch to short stories… it seems like with the amount you will have to produce and new things you will learn that short stories might be better suited to actual workshop. This is all just a hunch. Maybe try writing one just for fun once you submit apps and see how you feel?

[prufrock_]

On 10/17/2024 at 12:29 AM, exvat said:

Hey, y'all. Been a while since I last applied, better part of a decade now.

Kinda kept my nose to the grindstone and was fortunate to experience cool things like Bread Loaf, a wild (and mostly wholesome) AWP Seattle, and publications in places like Pshares, APR, and Palette. And I was more or less content to keep on living as a "working" poet, making pretty good money in a career that afforded me stability, a decent quality of life, and an opportunity to cultivate my solitary writing life. But when, deep down, you really wanna teach something you're passionate about, and good at... Well, it's like Stephen King wrote in The Dark Tower: "Talent just wants to be used."

But what I consider my biggest strength—my unconventional literary path—is also my biggest insecurity applying to MFA programs this time around. I have a BS and MS in Chemistry, and don't recall taking a single literature course in my post-secondary education. I've read a good deal, have attended a whole buncha workshops (BLEWR 🙏), and have some big name poets who have very generously offered to write on my behalf. But I def still feel like I'm a weak candidate because I am not straight out of an English/Lit undergrad or Masters program (among a few other reasons).

I guess you just never really know, huh. Anyway, geography was really a top factor for me, as well as faculty (relationships), so I'm keeping the list very tight this year and applying to: Columbia, NYU, UMass Amherst (my alma mater), and Vanderbilt.

If you're as prone to overthinking and spinning about this whole process as I am, then here's a little chant I created for myself, based on a Buddhist Equanimity chant:

• Regardless of my wishes for them, my application decisions are not in my hands.

• I alone am responsible for the contents of my applications.

• May I accept my application decisions with equanimity.

• May I find a true source of happiness.

• May I find peace exactly where I am.

Just trying to keep that in mind while still chipping away at obsessively crafted application materials 🙃👋

to address your insecurity: i have a very uncommon academic background as well. But like, in the opposite direction of you: no masters; took 10 years to graduate from a no name school; hardly had a 3.0 gpa.

Last round I got cold feet and took a lot of big names off my list, scared I was wasting time. But then I got into the most academic program I applied to. Which proves to me that the application process really is 95% based on the writing sample. 

 

 

[exvat]

22 hours ago, prufrock_ said:

to address your insecurity: i have a very uncommon academic background as well. But like, in the opposite direction of you: no masters; took 10 years to graduate from a no name school; hardly had a 3.0 gpa.

Last round I got cold feet and took a lot of big names off my list, scared I was wasting time. But then I got into the most academic program I applied to. Which proves to me that the application process really is 95% based on the writing sample. 

 

 

This was very helpful. Thank you for sharing that 🙏

[writeordie]

On 10/18/2024 at 11:46 PM, Leeannitha said:

Good luck with your book on submission soon! I’d say people definitely get in with manuscript excerpts but I’m wondering about once you get into a program if you will perhaps naturally switch to short stories… it seems like with the amount you will have to produce and new things you will learn that short stories might be better suited to actual workshop. This is all just a hunch. Maybe try writing one just for fun once you submit apps and see how you feel?

Oh yeah, I didn't mean that I intended to only work on full novel manuscripts in the program--just that excerpts are my strongest sample material for apps (assuming the mere fact that they're not stories doesn't doom my apps from the jump). Thanks so much for your thoughts and warm wishes! 😅 Will keep plugging away on revising those excerpts.  

[zaira]

On the subject of writing samples, I'm also trying to make a tough decision. 

Right now I have: 

• Short story (10 pages) 
• Short story (11 pages)
• First chapter of a novel-in-progress (10 pages) 

All three feel strong and have gone through the workshop gauntlet. Tbh, I feel most confident about my novel excerpt and the longer of the two short stories. 

I've heard it's best to send just two writing samples for prose. Thing is, that would only give me 20-21 pages. That's perfect for programs like Virginia that have a strict 20-page max. But for Iowa, is that really enough? They say average samples are at least 30 pages total. 

Trying to decide whether to err on the short side or send all three to programs that allow it. I'm probably way overthinking this (as usual). 

[Expensive_Tip]

hey all! hi!

I am so glad to have found this forum...I have a few questions regarding some fully-funded programs.

[MFA in creative writing] I was wondering how worth it is a fully-funded MFA in CW if the university is not considered amongst the more prestigious ones and not located in a city/town where it is easy to make contacts?

I won't mention names obviously, but how worth my time would it be if I were to accept a place in a fully funded program at a uni where it is not easy to meet a community and make contacts? 3 years is no joke, and I'm approaching 30. People who enrolled in such programs, what was your experience like and did you think it was worth 3 years, and the biggest Q of all: do you think, honestly, those 3 years helped you get closer to getting an agent, time reserved to only practice writing aside?

I am not from the USA, primarily I am applying for the community and networking opportunities.

[Expensive_Tip]

one more question...John Hopkins requires applicants to write a critique of their work, how is this done? I don't understand what they want exactly and I have tried googling and youtubing, went on reddit as well, still no clue what it is exactly that they want. 

Do they want me to explain my choice of themes, or do they want me to get academic and explain my paragraphs based on Judith Butler's theories, or do they want to know the reasoning behind my aesthetic choices, or why I added a certain line/plot device, maybe to heighten tension and suspense?

Endless possibilities when it comes to critiquing , can someone please advice me on this?

sent them an email but their not exactly the most responsive university, which is understandable given how prestigious JHU is, probably receives a whole boatload of emails every hour.

Edited October 23 by Expensive_Tip
adding information

[Leeannitha]

13 hours ago, Expensive_Tip said:

one more question...John Hopkins requires applicants to write a critique of their work, how is this done? I don't understand what they want exactly and I have tried googling and youtubing, went on reddit as well, still no clue what it is exactly that they want. 

Do they want me to explain my choice of themes, or do they want me to get academic and explain my paragraphs based on Judith Butler's theories, or do they want to know the reasoning behind my aesthetic choices, or why I added a certain line/plot device, maybe to heighten tension and suspense?

Endless possibilities when it comes to critiquing , can someone please advice me on this?

sent them an email but their not exactly the most responsive university, which is understandable given how prestigious JHU is, probably receives a whole boatload of emails every hour.

Hi. I’m also applying to JHU. I am just looking at my sample from their perspective and trying to explain my choices. I’m also looking at my future goals for improvement and explaining how their program could help me reach those goals. I think it is very much up to you and how you interpret the prompt. As long as you engage with your work in some way and connect that to your reasoning for applying, I think you will be ok. 

[Jane Wyman]

Question: I'm in my first semester of a program but applying elsewhere. Someone suggested that I should ask for an LOR from my current program. Is that standard? Or a good idea? Feel like former teachers would be better.

[mr. specific]

Hi. I wanted to offer help to folks in whatever capacity I can. Last year I was accepted to 6 fully funded programs in poetry and wait-listed by another 3 top programs. Due to health reasons, I'm currently deferred from my fellowship and have a lot of down time. I expected to be a full time student, but now instead I could potentially help people out as the dates get nearer. I think I could especially be of help with personal statements, since that seems like the hardest part, (and one you can still do something about), but also could maybe answer questions about specific programs. I lucked out with the advice available to me through mentors and recommenders, but I know not everyone has that. So please message me if I can be of assistance. I have a fair amount of experience with this stuff and will try to be prompt in responding.

 

 

[prufrock_]

Less than 30 days for quite a few deadlines now!!! I hope everyone is making good progress on their SOPs!

[spewilicious]

Hi all. I just found this forum today after reading MFA threads from past years (why does google like 2019 so much?) looking for literally any MFA advice.

I graduated with my BA in English May 2022 when I was 36 years old. I applied to three terminal PhDs in 2022, two PhDs and two MAs in 2023, and now I'm applying to who knows how many MFAs this year. I had surgery in July and meant to start shopping programs in August to be prepared for the September application openings, but I've had a really bad year that's included putting my dad in assisted living and losing my job when the school board approved a budget that eliminated my position. So I'm really, really behind on where I thought I'd be in the process and some deadlines are December 1. While I have plenty of time now to work on my applications, I feel like I'm getting in my own way because I don't know what I'm doing and I'm really stressed.

I spent all last week looking at programs and I feel like I have too many that I want to apply to. There are 27 on my list, and if I prioritize the 2 year programs, that leaves me with 20. If I drop Michener and Ole Miss, I'm at 18. Is that too many? I worry about asking my recommenders to submit that many letters of recommendation, especially with the special instructions some of them require. In previous years, I only applied to a handful of programs because I couldn't afford the application fees, but this year (sans job), I'm going to apply for fee waivers wherever I can and attempt to cast a broader net. I have a friend who got into UA Fairbanks last year (for this year), and he applied to 15 programs and was accepted at two.

I just... miss academia. I miss the community. I want to read and write and teach so desperately. And I feel like I don't have enough time to get a handle on what I need to do and do it.

The list of schools I'm considering, in no particular order: UC Riverside, Boston, Brown, Maryland, UC Irvine, Cornell, Michener, Ole Miss, Sarah Lawrence, Northwestern, Washington, Kentucky, Chapman, OS Corvallis, Iowa, John Hopkins, Hollins (does anyone know anything about Hollins?), Virginia, Pittsburgh, Vanderbilt, VCU, Syracuse, Arizona, Boise, George Mason, Ohio, UMinn.

Funding is obviously very important to me, as are program, faculty, and faculty diversity. Location much less so.

And thanks for taking the time to read this.

 

[zaira]

14 hours ago, spewilicious said:

While I have plenty of time now to work on my applications, I feel like I'm getting in my own way because I don't know what I'm doing and I'm really stressed.

First off, take a nice, deep breath. This process is incredibly stressful, but you still have time to get your applications together! 

Since it's already November, I'd strongly consider getting your list down to a manageable number. Personally, I find it overwhelming enough applying for 10 schools with three full months to prepare. Doing 18 in under a month seems like a lot. Plus, programs like Johns Hopkins require some unusual supplemental materials (critique of work) that'll take you extra time to finish. 

I know you said location doesn't matter, but when you have to be somewhere for 2-3 years, in the pressure cooker that is an MFA workshop, being able to enjoy your surroundings helps. To narrow down my list, I imagined myself actually living in each city. Even pulled up Google maps for a quick tour of campus. I crossed four schools off my list based on location alone. Cost of living is another big consideration. Some programs offer funding that only barely covers COL or falls woefully short.

For now, focus on cutting programs you're even slightly iffy about and prioritizing programs with a December 1 deadline. You still have plenty of time to apply for Boston, but Michener? That deadline's coming up fast. 

Also, keep in mind that Michener and Iowa require a two-step process. You submit your basic application info first, wait a day or two, then the program sends you a special login to complete the application. Start the first application ASAP so you're not left in the lurch 24 hours before deadline. 

Wishing you the best of luck! Keep plugging away at your SOP and samples. You got this! 

Edited November 5 by zaira

[prufrock_]

23 hours ago, spewilicious said:

Hi all. I just found this forum today after reading MFA threads from past years (why does google like 2019 so much?) looking for literally any MFA advice.

I graduated with my BA in English May 2022 when I was 36 years old. I applied to three terminal PhDs in 2022, two PhDs and two MAs in 2023, and now I'm applying to who knows how many MFAs this year. I had surgery in July and meant to start shopping programs in August to be prepared for the September application openings, but I've had a really bad year that's included putting my dad in assisted living and losing my job when the school board approved a budget that eliminated my position. So I'm really, really behind on where I thought I'd be in the process and some deadlines are December 1. While I have plenty of time now to work on my applications, I feel like I'm getting in my own way because I don't know what I'm doing and I'm really stressed.

I spent all last week looking at programs and I feel like I have too many that I want to apply to. There are 27 on my list, and if I prioritize the 2 year programs, that leaves me with 20. If I drop Michener and Ole Miss, I'm at 18. Is that too many? I worry about asking my recommenders to submit that many letters of recommendation, especially with the special instructions some of them require. In previous years, I only applied to a handful of programs because I couldn't afford the application fees, but this year (sans job), I'm going to apply for fee waivers wherever I can and attempt to cast a broader net. I have a friend who got into UA Fairbanks last year (for this year), and he applied to 15 programs and was accepted at two.

I just... miss academia. I miss the community. I want to read and write and teach so desperately. And I feel like I don't have enough time to get a handle on what I need to do and do it.

The list of schools I'm considering, in no particular order: UC Riverside, Boston, Brown, Maryland, UC Irvine, Cornell, Michener, Ole Miss, Sarah Lawrence, Northwestern, Washington, Kentucky, Chapman, OS Corvallis, Iowa, John Hopkins, Hollins (does anyone know anything about Hollins?), Virginia, Pittsburgh, Vanderbilt, VCU, Syracuse, Arizona, Boise, George Mason, Ohio, UMinn.

Funding is obviously very important to me, as are program, faculty, and faculty diversity. Location much less so.

And thanks for taking the time to read this.

 

If your writing sample is in a good place (as in you have 20-30 pages of your best work that you're ready to ship out right now), and you already have 3 people willing and prepared to write letters of recommendation this round, then applying to 18 places is realistic.

I'm applying to 17; it seems about 10-15 is the normal range for MFAs, but I didn't get any push back from my recommenders about 17 (this is my second round; i did 12 last round).

Is it possible you can apply to a smaller number of your top choices this year, with a plan on applying to more next round if you don't get in?

[spewilicious]

Zaira, prufrock_, thanks. Just writing out my worries made me feel better, and reading your responses and thinking about them has really helped me refocus and strategize. I feel a lot better now. Thank you.

I've eliminated some programs based on location after the results of the election, and I've also decided to cut out all the programs with a deadline in the first week of December except Cornell. I think I can easily get together one application by the first, and then have time to refine it for all subsequent application deadlines. My number one top picks all have later deadlines, so there was no point putting that pressure on myself trying to apply to programs I wasn't 100% all-in, dead set on.

My revised list is now Cornell, Brown, Northwestern, Iowa, OS Corvallis, Maryland, John Hopkins, UC Riverside, Boston, Hollins, UC Davis, Sarah Lawrence, New Hampshire, and Chapman.

Thanks again for your thoughts and advice!

[prufrock_]

9 hours ago, spewilicious said:

Zaira, prufrock_, thanks. Just writing out my worries made me feel better, and reading your responses and thinking about them has really helped me refocus and strategize. I feel a lot better now. Thank you.

I've eliminated some programs based on location after the results of the election, and I've also decided to cut out all the programs with a deadline in the first week of December except Cornell. I think I can easily get together one application by the first, and then have time to refine it for all subsequent application deadlines. My number one top picks all have later deadlines, so there was no point putting that pressure on myself trying to apply to programs I wasn't 100% all-in, dead set on.

My revised list is now Cornell, Brown, Northwestern, Iowa, OS Corvallis, Maryland, John Hopkins, UC Riverside, Boston, Hollins, UC Davis, Sarah Lawrence, New Hampshire, and Chapman.

Thanks again for your thoughts and advice!

No problem, glad you're feeling better!

(Also, not sure if you know, but Northwestern Litowitz does require an academic paper, which is uncommon-- so if you don't have one ready to go, it might be better to sub in a different program.)

[pananoprodigy]

Does anybody have a list of NON fully funded programs that DO offer full funding? (that sentence makes my head hurt lol). I know there are schools that aren't considered fully funded bc they don't offer full funding to everybody, but do offer it to some. Curious if anybody has a list to that effect. I'm bored and unemployed and thinking of adding a few to my list for shits and giggles. 

[zaira]

On 11/9/2024 at 12:17 AM, pananoprodigy said:

Does anybody have a list of NON fully funded programs that DO offer full funding? (that sentence makes my head hurt lol). I know there are schools that aren't considered fully funded bc they don't offer full funding to everybody, but do offer it to some. Curious if anybody has a list to that effect. I'm bored and unemployed and thinking of adding a few to my list for shits and giggles. 

It's surprisingly hard to find a simple list. I only know of this list which has a category for partially-funded programs. It's from 2019 so not sure how accurate it is. It also lumps all partial funding in together -- everything from 50% tuition remission to full rides for a limited number of applicants. 

NYU is one of the more prominent ones I can think of that offers this sort of competitive system. Columbia is another one. Personally I'd be so stressed trying to keep my funding every year! I know some programs require you to keep competing in your second and third years. Yeesh. But hey, if you have the spare time and want to try it out for shits and giggles, could definitely be worth it. Why not, y'know?