2025 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[pananoprodigy]

7 minutes ago, lurkingwriter3 said:

Hello,

I have a question regarding recommenders.

 

An application required 3, I submitted 4 because I was unsure if one would actually submit, but I knew it would be a phenomenal rec if they did. The 4th never submitted. I've seen them over this past month and they keep telling me they'll submit, but still haven't. I'm worried that this could be a pink flag, or worse, considered an incomplete app by the admissions committee.

 

Anyone with experience / advice?

I think as long as you have the required 3 you're totally fine!

[Jane Wyman]

Well, I'm at 4 hard r's, 1 soft r at least, 8 pending. Can't help but think that not waiving my right to see recommenders' letters on some apps made me an easy no. I'm also older, and a potential transfer, with an unprestigious undergrad career (but a 4.0 at my current school).

I can't help worrying that, no matter how good my sample and letters are, I'm not the kind of *person* they're looking for, at least not on paper, so I'm not going to get in next round regardless of how hard I work.

[PsychPoet]

12 minutes ago, Jane Wyman said:

Well, I'm at 4 hard r's, 1 soft r at least, 8 pending. Can't help but think that not waiving my right to see recommenders' letters on some apps made me an easy no. I'm also older, and a potential transfer, with an unprestigious undergrad career (but a 4.0 at my current school).

I can't help worrying that, no matter how good my sample and letters are, I'm not the kind of *person* they're looking for, at least not on paper, so I'm not going to get in next round regardless of how hard I work.

I've sat on PhD admission committees and I can tell you no one ever cared about that. I don't recall it even being in the applicant dossiers we received. 

The not waiving your right to see LoRs IMO is fully irrelevant to the committees. If it did matter, it would be a wild assumption in that you could have very well asked your recommenders for permission to view them and to not waive this right. 

Where it can impact you is with the letter writers themselves. It's considered rude to not waive unless you've asked them first. For all grad apps I always ask if my writers will send me a copy themselves, they've always agreed, and I have them all on file. 

As a recommender, I have occasionally run into requestors not waiving, and I don't really care, but in many instances would decline to write for them after this. That piece for me is really dependent on who they are. If I suspect they're the type that would come back to me saying my letter wasn't strong enough, I'd tend to decline to do a letter for them in subsequent years. 

I did have a colleague who a student threatened to litigate what she considered to be a malicious letter, though no one in our dept thought it was that. 

TL;DR - My opinion is that there is approx. a zero percent chance this would impact your application. 

[Mystic_Sunshine]

3 hours ago, Chex said:

Can't believe there's been nothing from WashU so far. They've never (per recent records) been this late with decisions. And to think that their deadline this time was a full 2 weeks earlier than usual. Wonder what's keeping them. 

But on the other hand, the week is long and much more WILL happen between now and Friday/the weekend. Buckle up, folks. Eyes on Michigan, Iowa, UNLV and more. 

We really think it will be that many this week?

Idk if I can take it. 

[zaira]

Just now, Mystic_Sunshine said:

We really think it will be that many this week?

Idk if I can take it. 

Yep, I have Iowa, Michigan, and Boston on my list of potentials this week. Iowa and Boston tend to scatter acceptances around so we might see that bleed into the following week. Busy time. 

I know it's a lot but you'll make your way through! 

[Jitterbug98]

In general, is it true that the odds of getting into a funded program for poetry or CNF are a bit better than the odds for fiction due to the number of applicants? 

[Jane Wyman]

34 minutes ago, PsychPoet said:

TL;DR - My opinion is that there is approx. a zero percent chance this would impact your application. 

That's comforting. Thanks!

[Runningforcats]

Rejections from Cornell, Vanderbilt, and Syracuse have come in…the Syracuse one hit hard, I made the mistake of opening it at work…couldn’t wait. 
 

anyways. Feeling sad I might not be walking around a campus anytime soon… I still have three Im waiting on though. Best of luck this week~

[exvat]

1 hour ago, Runningforcats said:

Rejections from Cornell, Vanderbilt, and Syracuse have come in…the Syracuse one hit hard, I made the mistake of opening it at work…couldn’t wait. 
 

anyways. Feeling sad I might not be walking around a campus anytime soon… I still have three Im waiting on though. Best of luck this week~

I feel ya, and best of luck. Also feeling like this is another year of all rejections.

[eternalwhitenights]

9 hours ago, Lady Gladys said:

Have you taken any of their undergraduate fiction writing classes? 

I haven't, no! My novel I want to make my thesis in there is a historical fiction love story that takes place in Ireland during the Great Potato Famine and the years immediately preceding, and possibly after, as well, so the two classes I've taken (am currently taking them, actually) are relevant to the research I need to do for my novel anyway. I'm taking the Irish language because my main character would have spoken Irish historically, and I'm also taking a broad survey of Irish history to give me a sense of grounding in terms of where to focus my research and help me with the context of some of the larger thematic concepts I'm working on weaving into my novel.

[exvat]

Yeesh, already fantasizing about what I'll do with my life instead of an MFA.

Maybe pack a bag, lap the cat, hop in our lil EV, and hit the road... Cue "Graceland" 😂

[misssalem]

8 hours ago, Chex said:

Can't believe there's been nothing from WashU so far. They've never (per recent records) been this late with decisions. And to think that their deadline this time was a full 2 weeks earlier than usual. Wonder what's keeping them. 

But on the other hand, the week is long and much more WILL happen between now and Friday/the weekend. Buckle up, folks. Eyes on Michigan, Iowa, UNLV and more. 

I was thinking the exact same. 

[Prosaic Ioniser]

About to ask what i feel like is a pretty stupid question but:

Is there any expectation to reply to semi-nice rejection emails when they are from the Director of the MFA program and address you by name (I understand this can be automated)? Especially if you plan on reapplying in the future.

Asking mainly because I’ve already noticed quite a few cultural differences in the app. Process from this thread (US vs Europe). For example the letter of continued interest + especially the whole debate about waiving the right to see rec. letters after reading what @PsychPoet said. Here, it’s pretty common to be involved/ at least heavily consulted in the writing of your letter by your recommender (I even know of people who’ve had to fully write their own then it goes through review from their recommender because they don’t have time to write them one). The thought of a student threatening to sue because of one is wild to me lol!

Edit: also anyone apply to UBC or Guelph in Canada?

Edited Wednesday at 08:13 AM by Prosaic Ioniser

[jka0124]

On 2/17/2025 at 12:26 PM, vilum said:

I don't know what my placement is on my waitlist and i honestly could not imagine someone declining their acceptance to vanderbilt...

 

1) congratulations!! 
 

2) people turn down Vandy all the time. Chances are the people who got into Vandy also got into Michener or Iowa or Michigan or whatever. I’m crossing my fingers for you! 

[jka0124]

13 hours ago, prufrock_ said:

i wrote a python script that monitors the draft spreadsheet for me. It writes out each new row to a pretty ascii table; it also moos when it does this, so i know to look. it moos because a cow moo was the first mp3 i found. it also tells me the other schools the applicant has applied to. It color codes those results with green for admit, yellow for wait, red for rejection.

it's basically my emotional support cow.

Say what now? I want a moo cow! Why doesn’t my spreadsheet moo?! I created the damn thing. *pokes spreadsheet* moo. moo? 

[isabella swan]

is iowa admission page showing in progress for everyone?

[Allrich90]

Hey friends, I got an acceptance for a scholarship program my university is offering. It would mean that I can study as a regular MA student for creative writing for a year at a UK University, and it is fully funded. I have to get back to them by next week.
I would prefer to be part of a full MFA program in the States. Should I talk to the universities I applied to and haven't heard back by now to explain my situation? Any experiences?

[tomat0tomat0]

52 minutes ago, isabella swan said:

is iowa admission page showing in progress for everyone?

yes mine says that too i think it's been that way for a while 

[vilum]

1 hour ago, jka0124 said:

1) congratulations!! 
 

2) people turn down Vandy all the time. Chances are the people who got into Vandy also got into Michener or Iowa or Michigan or whatever. I’m crossing my fingers for you! 

Juste received an email from Major Jackson (program director) which says I am ranked #10 on the waitlist... bye Vandy!

[Lady Gladys]

9 hours ago, eternalwhitenights said:

I haven't, no! My novel I want to make my thesis in there is a historical fiction love story that takes place in Ireland during the Great Potato Famine and the years immediately preceding, and possibly after, as well, so the two classes I've taken (am currently taking them, actually) are relevant to the research I need to do for my novel anyway. I'm taking the Irish language because my main character would have spoken Irish historically, and I'm also taking a broad survey of Irish history to give me a sense of grounding in terms of where to focus my research and help me with the context of some of the larger thematic concepts I'm working on weaving into my novel.

That sounds great! If I may offer some advice if you don't receive an acceptance this year: take some undergrad fiction writing classes. You are in a uniquely favorable position -- some of the professors in the grad program also teach undergrad classes. You will get to know the professors and know what they are looking for. You would also start to gain from their knowledge of the craft, which is exactly what you would want from the MFA program.

Good luck!!

[KennyK]

Fingers crossed today is another day filled with results! 🤞🏾

[everything bagel lover]

I keep oscillating between dizzying excitement and dread, anyone else? I'm also hoping today is full of results and hopefully some positive ones at that! 

[curfew]

Did I really have to get rejected by Syracuse on my birthday. Like bro pls I know you can see my data liquified into your system just set like an alarm to do it the day after pls

[KennyK]

4 minutes ago, everything bagel lover said:

I keep oscillating between dizzying excitement and dread, anyone else? I'm also hoping today is full of results and hopefully some positive ones at that! 

I feel the same way. I’m hoping i hear from notre dame today. Some good news would not be taken for granted

[everything bagel lover]

6 minutes ago, curfew said:

Did I really have to get rejected by Syracuse on my birthday. Like bro pls I know you can see my data liquified into your system just set like an alarm to do it the day after pls

Happy birthday!! I'm sorry about Syracuse tho :,( I hope you can yell about it with loved ones today ❤️ 

Also, @KennyK I've got my fingers crossed for you! 

I just learned there's a limit on new posts within a certain time frame and my enthusiasm is being curbed lol