2025 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[programedlove333]

21 minutes ago, cooliejulie86 said:

Is anyone here also on Draft? If so, how long did it take for a moderator to approve you? I've been waiting a week so far, but maybe that's just because of the holidays...

im on draft and i got approved pretty quickly (i think 1 or 2 days) but it has been less active for the past week so it may just be the mods being busy with holidays 

[prufrock_]

On 12/30/2024 at 1:38 PM, cooliejulie86 said:

Is anyone here also on Draft? If so, how long did it take for a moderator to approve you? I've been waiting a week so far, but maybe that's just because of the holidays...

approvals come in batches. also make sure you answered the questions when sending the request; if you left that blank then you will not get approved.

[cooliejulie86]

18 hours ago, prufrock_ said:

approvals come in batches. also make sure you answered the questions when sending the request; if you left that blank then you will not get approved.

Argh, it's been so long that I don't even remember if I answered all of the questions...do you think I should cancel my request and try again? Thx!

[programedlove333]

hi everyone! has anyone else found it almost impossible to write anything new the past 2 months? I felt so consumed with application stress which has now transformed into application dread lolll... wondering how you guys are working through it / any good books to distract myself with? happy New Years n best of luck with results!

[Kristen Michone]

36 minutes ago, programedlove333 said:

hi everyone! has anyone else found it almost impossible to write anything new the past 2 months? I felt so consumed with application stress which has now transformed into application dread lolll... wondering how you guys are working through it / any good books to distract myself with? happy New Years n best of luck with results!

If you have access to any online learning based programs like masterclass, coursera, etc.. that might be a solid way to pass the time/relieve some anxiety, and generate more writing! I have a list of courses I especially enjoyed if you're interested!

[Catpaw]

7 hours ago, programedlove333 said:

hi everyone! has anyone else found it almost impossible to write anything new the past 2 months? I felt so consumed with application stress which has now transformed into application dread lolll... wondering how you guys are working through it / any good books to distract myself with? happy New Years n best of luck with results!

I ran into exactly this issue when I first applied two years ago (this year is my second round). I really didn't anticipate how burned out I'd feel after submitting my apps, nor how absurd my anxiety would get while waiting on results. It was impossible to focus on anything creative while in limbo mode. Felt like those muscles had just gone limp.

This time around, I figured January through March will be lost months anyways. So I had friends recommend me their favorite movies and TV shows, and weird video games, and comfort-reads in genres that are removed from what I write. I plan to work my way through that. I've also scheduled a ton of activities for myself that will get me out of my apartment on my off days—ideally activities with other people, but also stuff like solo museum visits or seeing local concerts. I've noticed that being out and about makes it harder for me to get too trapped in my own head for long. Which is what I'm after, really.

And I'm like, okay, neat, at the end of these limbo months I'll have experienced a ton of stuff that I might not have picked up normally! And I get to make my friends excited because I watched all their favorite mini-series and now they can talk about them with me. Win-win.

[analog_e]

15 hours ago, programedlove333 said:

hi everyone! has anyone else found it almost impossible to write anything new the past 2 months? I felt so consumed with application stress which has now transformed into application dread lolll... wondering how you guys are working through it / any good books to distract myself with? happy New Years n best of luck with results!

I'm in a poetry bootcamp with Lisa Spaar at UVA and it's already keeping me occupied. Helps to have the obligation of a poem per day.

[pananoprodigy]

16 hours ago, programedlove333 said:

hi everyone! has anyone else found it almost impossible to write anything new the past 2 months? I felt so consumed with application stress which has now transformed into application dread lolll... wondering how you guys are working through it / any good books to distract myself with? happy New Years n best of luck with results!

I think this is super normal. You've just finished a project (applying is a huge project!) and I think it's totally fair that your creative brain needs a rest before diving into anything else. Embrace the in between!

[Mystic_Sunshine]

On 1/2/2025 at 5:52 PM, programedlove333 said:

hi everyone! has anyone else found it almost impossible to write anything new the past 2 months? I felt so consumed with application stress which has now transformed into application dread lolll... wondering how you guys are working through it / any good books to distract myself with? happy New Years n best of luck with results!

I haven't been writing but I've tried to supplement that with reading more! Which I think is what I will be doing for the next few weeks. I'm in an M.A program. So, I have to start writing soon but until then I'm just trying to rest. 

Writing was actually really difficult for me while applying. I freaked myself out thinking that every word/sentence needed to be the best thing I've ever written. So, I think I need a bit to recharge. 

[Mystic_Sunshine]

Maybe a silly question but just wondering for the next few weeks to come - is it useless to check portals? Since a lot of responses show up via email? 

I guess the question is will you all be logging in to check portals or just waiting for emails/calls to come? According to draft Ohio state notifies in Jan so I'm already starting to get nervous. 

[prufrock_]

1 hour ago, Mystic_Sunshine said:

Maybe a silly question but just wondering for the next few weeks to come - is it useless to check portals? Since a lot of responses show up via email? 

I guess the question is will you all be logging in to check portals or just waiting for emails/calls to come? According to draft Ohio state notifies in Jan so I'm already starting to get nervous. 

 

1) yes it is useless, mostly, to check portals without prompting from an email. I think there's a .00001% chance of looking at a portal and seeing 'acceptance' before getting an email or a call.

 

2) i will still be obsessively checking the portals anyway, because i have no self control.

[Mystic_Sunshine]

2 minutes ago, prufrock_ said:

 

1) yes it is useless, mostly, to check portals without prompting from an email. I think there's a .00001% chance of looking at a portal and seeing 'acceptance' before getting an email or a call.

 

2) i will still be obsessively checking the portals anyway, because i have no self control.

lolll love that we are in this together. 

Okay. I will try to limit the portal checking  thank you.

[Sumire11]

I'm hearing chatter that the poetry waitlists at UIUC are out. Does anyone know anything about this? Does anyone know if anyone related to fiction has gone out?

[snottlebie]

3 hours ago, Sumire11 said:

I'm hearing chatter that the poetry waitlists at UIUC are out. Does anyone know anything about this? Does anyone know if anyone related to fiction has gone out?

I've heard that there was at least 1 poetry waitlist, probably indicating there have been poetry acceptances. Poetry nearly always hears back first (for all programs), so don't sweat it! No fiction rumbles - according to notification data, there haven't been acceptances this early for fiction.

[janetdamnit]

Hi,

So, University of Montana's application portal is a little weird. I've submitted all of the needed items, but there isn't a button to hit for the final submission. It says they've received everything and will let me know when a decision is reached, I just still wanted to make sure I actually submitted and I'm not missing a step....any help is gr8ly appreciated ❤️

[Mystic_Sunshine]

11 hours ago, Sumire11 said:

I'm hearing chatter that the poetry waitlists at UIUC are out. Does anyone know anything about this? Does anyone know if anyone related to fiction has gone out?

Ohio State and UIUC are usually the first to notify for fiction. Last year it was around the 16th so it's probably going to be another 1-2 weeks. 

[pananoprodigy]

On 1/6/2025 at 2:27 PM, janetdamnit said:

Hi,

So, University of Montana's application portal is a little weird. I've submitted all of the needed items, but there isn't a button to hit for the final submission. It says they've received everything and will let me know when a decision is reached, I just still wanted to make sure I actually submitted and I'm not missing a step....any help is gr8ly appreciated ❤️

I didn't apply to Montana so can't speak to them specifically but I definitely had a few like this and I agree it's a little stressful! Like pls just give me a big red button that says SUBMIT so I can turn my OCD off. That said, I empathize but I'm sure you're fine!

[rocinante78]

Hey, I've applied for the first time. Honestly I found out the existence of this course pretty late but fingers crossed!
I applied to Iowa and the physical manuscript seems to be stuck in some status : Current Status : Received Receptacle from abroad. Has anyone else faced this problem?
I don't know when it's going to reach. Does this mean I'm out? Have anyone of your accounts been updated regarding the status of the manuscript, whether it's received?

 

[prufrock_]

4 hours ago, rocinante78 said:

Hey, I've applied for the first time. Honestly I found out the existence of this course pretty late but fingers crossed!
I applied to Iowa and the physical manuscript seems to be stuck in some status : Current Status : Received Receptacle from abroad. Has anyone else faced this problem?
I don't know when it's going to reach. Does this mean I'm out? Have anyone of your accounts been updated regarding the status of the manuscript, whether it's received?

 

from their website:

Please allow up to four weeks for us to acknowledge your manuscript via your online admissions profile; if your manuscript has not been acknowledged by January 20th, please call the office to make sure it’s been received; please note: we cannot check on manuscript status before January 20

 

---

 

i'd call them around jan 20th if it still says something other than received in your online profile.

[Mystic_Sunshine]

5 hours ago, rocinante78 said:

Hey, I've applied for the first time. Honestly I found out the existence of this course pretty late but fingers crossed!
I applied to Iowa and the physical manuscript seems to be stuck in some status : Current Status : Received Receptacle from abroad. Has anyone else faced this problem?
I don't know when it's going to reach. Does this mean I'm out? Have anyone of your accounts been updated regarding the status of the manuscript, whether it's received?

 

Mine did change to received.

 

Edited Wednesday at 07:27 PM by Mystic_Sunshine

[Mystic_Sunshine]

I know I'm screaming into the void. 

But I'm not sure if things will be easier after the first response or harder lol. But it is soooo hard to focus on anything else. I have things to keep me busy but like...AH.  

[pananoprodigy]

4 hours ago, Mystic_Sunshine said:

I know I'm screaming into the void. 

But I'm not sure if things will be easier after the first response or harder lol. But it is soooo hard to focus on anything else. I have things to keep me busy but like...AH.  

Do you have a top choice? It's corny but I'm making little collagey vision boards of what life would look like at my top picks (spots I'll want to check out in my new city/town, the landscape, how I'll decorate my new apartment, etc). Maybe something like that would be fun for you. I'm also telling myself it's a manifestation technique lol

[Mystic_Sunshine]

56 minutes ago, pananoprodigy said:

Do you have a top choice? It's corny but I'm making little collagey vision boards of what life would look like at my top picks (spots I'll want to check out in my new city/town, the landscape, how I'll decorate my new apartment, etc). Maybe something like that would be fun for you. I'm also telling myself it's a manifestation technique lol

ooo that is a good idea! Manifest Manifest Manifest. 

[Catpaw]

Did anyone who applied to UC Irvine opt to include the self-addressed postcard (aka, the postcard that they'll mail back to you as proof that they received your printed-out manuscript)? If so, have you gotten the postcard back yet?

EDIT: I'm not on Draft due to not having a Facebook, so not sure if this has gotten mentioned there or not...

Edited Thursday at 06:21 AM by Catpaw
Added a detail

[Mystic_Sunshine]

Draft has posted the notification sheet. 

I can't believe someone got a poetry acceptance at UIUC on the 3rd! That is so early. Congrats to them. That's the only notification. 

I'm fiction though. So more waiting  I'm hoping that next week is the week.