2025 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[brokenjewelrybox]

Does anyone know if it's possible if Syracuse sent out rejections before acceptances/waitlists this year? I see on the MFA Draft spreadsheet that there are a ton of rejections but no acceptances/waitlists. But I'm guessing ppl who got acceptances or waitlists just aren't in the group?

[isabella swan]

3 hours ago, gordonandwafflesandmrblik said:

Does everyone’s Iowa application status say “To inquire about your application status please contact your department.” Under where it says “In Progress” ? Had a middle of the night stress moment about sending my application materials, and now looking for validation that this doesn’t mean they threw away my application lol

says the same for me. Until a few weeks ago, I wasn't able to access it since the uni had the hawk id thing down. can access it again now, and it says what it said the day I submitted my application

[janetdamnit]

Congrats to everyone who's received good news!!! And here's hoping for more good news for everyone in the next coming days/weeks!!!! 🫠

[Hjanep]

3 hours ago, brokenjewelrybox said:

Does anyone know if it's possible if Syracuse sent out rejections before acceptances/waitlists this year? I see on the MFA Draft spreadsheet that there are a ton of rejections but no acceptances/waitlists. But I'm guessing ppl who got acceptances or waitlists just aren't in the group?

I think so, (that acceptances and waitlists for fiction havent gone out yet) there are people who still haven’t heard which makes me think they’re still in it

[vilum]

Anyone else waiting for their official JHU rejection? 🫠

[Hjanep]

5 minutes ago, vilum said:

Anyone else waiting for their official JHU rejection? 🫠

Yup

[Nauna]

8 hours ago, exvat said:

UMass Amherst update: my portal status just changed to "Decided - Decision Pending". Looks like the axe is comin', y'all 🕊️

Yeah mine just updated to R.... My very first. I suppose it's better than waiting with bated breath. 

[Jane Wyman]

Just got a no from Amherst. It's especially disappointing because last time, they said "faculty encourage you to reapply." No such wording this time.

[strawberrymatcha]

looks like there was a JHU waitlist that dropped today??

(also–congrats to everyone getting good news :))

[Tinky C. Clown]

only two alabama rejections on the spreadsheet has me a little worried they’re not as selective as i’d hoped…. i know selectivity isn’t everything but i do think it can give some insight 

[prufrock_]

4 minutes ago, strawberrymatcha said:

looks like there was a JHU waitlist that dropped today??

(also–congrats to everyone getting good news :))

 don't give me hope, i've considered JHU a soft rejection for a week!

 

2 minutes ago, Tinky C. Clown said:

only two alabama rejections on the spreadsheet has me a little worried they’re not as selective as i’d hoped…. i know selectivity isn’t everything but i do think it can give some insight 

A lot of people don't report! They've one of the oldest programs, they're definitely very competitive. Are you maybe having a bit of a Groucho Marx moment (“I don’t want to belong to any club that would accept me as one of its members.”)? I'd wanna go to alabama just for the chance to work on BWR alone! Plus their option of using a 4th year to ~vibe~ is rad as heck.

[everything bagel lover]

13 minutes ago, Tinky C. Clown said:

only two alabama rejections on the spreadsheet has me a little worried they’re not as selective as i’d hoped…. i know selectivity isn’t everything but i do think it can give some insight 

Idk if that's the best attitude to approach this with. All fully funded MFA's are selective and competitive as hell. Even partially funded ones are selective and competitive. There's only 88 Michener notifications in the draft out of their 800 reported applicants.

 

4 minutes ago, prufrock_ said:

 don't give me hope, i've considered JHU a soft rejection for a week!

I considered CSU a soft rejection or waitlist at the best because one person got accepted into fiction weeks ago. But alas, it was not the case! You're not out til you're out! 

Edited Thursday at 03:27 PM by everything bagel lover
edit for clarity lol

[Tinky C. Clown]

1 minute ago, prufrock_ said:

 don't give me hope, i've considered JHU a soft rejection for a week!

 

A lot of people don't report! They've one of the oldest programs, they're definitely very competitive. Are you maybe having a bit of a Groucho Marx moment (“I don’t want to belong to any club that would accept me as one of its members.”)? I'd wanna go to alabama just for the chance to work on BWR alone! Plus their option of using a 4th year to ~vibe~ is rad as heck.

word, okay, yeah. i’m sorry. that’s a really good quote to describe what i’m feeling. as a second round applicant obviously used to rejection, i do feel a little suspect of any school that says yes. i think there’s a word for this, oh right – imposter syndrome. thank you for the reassurance 

[nauseated]

I've kind of mentally prepared myself for a blanket of rejections because a) I applied to too few programs and b) they're all deathly selective, and I already have one soft + one full rejection out of 4. surely that would mean that this would feel less icky, but no!

[Sumire11]

 

 

I received an R from Alabama and didn’t report, I think most people who have a string so far aren't really up to reporting such stats - for any school.

Edited Thursday at 03:32 PM by Sumire11

[rhaenyra]

1 minute ago, nauseated said:

I've kind of mentally prepared myself for a blanket of rejections because a) I applied to too few programs and b) they're all deathly selective, and I already have one soft + one full rejection out of 4. surely that would mean that this would feel less icky, but no!

Although it's good to temper expectations, don't lose hope or assume you'll get rejected! What one school has to say has zero impact on what others might.

[Mystic_Sunshine]

17 minutes ago, Tinky C. Clown said:

only two alabama rejections on the spreadsheet has me a little worried they’re not as selective as i’d hoped…. i know selectivity isn’t everything but i do think it can give some insight 

Anecdotal but last year I had a friend who applied to all geographically southern programs. She got into a few (and ended up at one) but ended up waitlisted at Bama (her top choice) and never came off of it.  

[strawberrymatcha]

5 minutes ago, nauseated said:

I've kind of mentally prepared myself for a blanket of rejections because a) I applied to too few programs and b) they're all deathly selective, and I already have one soft + one full rejection out of 4. surely that would mean that this would feel less icky, but no!

I feel this 100%, logically it’s reassuring to know that the odds were just stacked against us, but it’s disappointing nonetheless. Trying to just remember that these applications aren’t a reflection of our worth or skill as writers :”)

[exvat]

1 hour ago, Nauna said:

Yeah mine just updated to R.... My very first. I suppose it's better than waiting with bated breath. 

Yup, R confirmed

[HalBear]

6 minutes ago, nauseated said:

I've kind of mentally prepared myself for a blanket of rejections because a) I applied to too few programs and b) they're all deathly selective, and I already have one soft + one full rejection out of 4. surely that would mean that this would feel less icky, but no!

nauseated! I feel the same way. I applied to 3. Hard rejection from 1 of them. I have started making plans for a fall without a MFA. I will be pleasantly surprised if I get into 1 of the other 2. I hope for amazing news for you. Keep writing! Keep creating!!

 

[MegHe]

I just had my interview for Oxford's MSt in Creative Writing and ohhh my gosh they asked some questions I was not prepared for. Dying inside a little. But they were incredibly kind and gracious, even when I fumbled my responses. Just putting that out there - I know there was another person or two in this forum who were going to interview for the same program. Don't want to give too much away about the questions, but if it puts anyone at ease, the panelists were absolutely lovely. 

[rhaenyra]

Anybody else get superstitious about mentioning the results to friends or family? I know objectively the decisions are made and it won't impact anything, but I still can't help feeling like I can jinx the process somehow. 😅

[prufrock_]

31 minutes ago, Tinky C. Clown said:

only two alabama rejections on the spreadsheet has me a little worried they’re not as selective as i’d hoped…. i know selectivity isn’t everything but i do think it can give some insight 

you must have reminded alabama to send our their rejections with this post! more are hitting.

[Tinky C. Clown]

thank you all re: alabama for the reassurance! i don’t mean to sound entitled or ungrateful at all – i am just having a thing where my brain wants me to undercut my successes and feed my insecurities, y’know?

[Mystic_Sunshine]

Wonder if today is going to be loud or quiet.