2025 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[pom3granate]

1 hour ago, saintjdog said:

Why is Johns Hopkins staggering rejections??? It seems like fiction rejections went out last week on 2/18 and 2/19, but I still haven't received mine. I don't understand the point of this at all! Is this normal?

its so annoying, I'm a poetry applicant still waiting for mine

[programedlove333]

22 minutes ago, beet_root said:

me too! high five lol

omg yayyyy hopefully we are future cohort friends 🙏🙏

[inthesameboat]

2 hours ago, Eloise2897 said:

Continued radio silence from Syracuse has me gnawing at the bars of my enclosure

@Eloise2897 have you considered reaching out to admissions? I'm also going crazy waiting for my fiction response but not sure if emailing is a bad look... I might reach out if I haven't heard anything by mid-March.

Edited 22 hours ago by inthesameboat

[Magnolia Electric Co]

Hi everyone! I am a first-time poetry applicant, and I have been so grateful for this forum while I've been wading my way through my applications. The amount of collective wisdom and support here is truly amazing.

As someone with little knowledge of MFA programs, I was hoping the hive mind might be able to help me get a better sense of a few programs: Illinois (UIUC), Indiana Bloomington, and Notre Dame. Really any thoughts would be helpful - facts, opinions, hearsay, comparisons, speculation... The only information I have is what I can find on the schools' websites, what I've learned so far from this forum, and a sketchy Poets & Writers ranking from 2012.

Although I am a poet, I am hoping to learn more about the programs in general, so any thoughts at all would be much appreciated. Thank you so much, and I hope you are all making it through these months okay!

 

[Cosmicinkwell]

Rejected from CSU. Oh well...

[snottlebie]

21 minutes ago, Magnolia Electric Co said:

Hi everyone! I am a first-time poetry applicant, and I have been so grateful for this forum while I've been wading my way through my applications. The amount of collective wisdom and support here is truly amazing.

As someone with little knowledge of MFA programs, I was hoping the hive mind might be able to help me get a better sense of a few programs: Illinois (UIUC), Indiana Bloomington, and Notre Dame. Really any thoughts would be helpful - facts, opinions, hearsay, comparisons, speculation... The only information I have is what I can find on the schools' websites, what I've learned so far from this forum, and a sketchy Poets & Writers ranking from 2012.

Although I am a poet, I am hoping to learn more about the programs in general, so any thoughts at all would be much appreciated. Thank you so much, and I hope you are all making it through these months okay!

 

It’d help to know what specific info you’re looking for, as there are a lot of facts one could give. If you join the Facebook mfa draft group, and use the search function, you’ll find posts from current students that give helpful info, or you could always message them directly with specific Qs. Good luck on the journey!

[Magnolia Electric Co]

Thank you for your reply! That's a good point. I guess maybe the larger question is, what kinds of things set those programs (or really any two MFA programs) apart? I know concrete facts like 2 vs. 3 years, faculty, teaching load, and that sort of thing, but I imagine there are also a lot of qualitative differences that are hard to find just through looking through school websites. I was wondering if there were things known to be especially positive, or not so positive, about those three programs. Unfortunately, I am not part of Draft - otherwise I would definitely do that!

[analog_e]

Still waiting on my one program... I'm worried I'll be in Providence walking around the Brown campus when the email to check the portal for rejection comes thru since some friends and I decided to spend Spring break there

[writeordie]

3 hours ago, gordonandwafflesandmrblik said:

Wanted to give you a huuuge congratulations🎊 and also a huge thank you for sharing that they’ll keep making calls. This message allows me to keep dreaming/hoping/fantasizing for the week, so please know you’ve genuinely made a stranger’s whole week lol! Sending good karma your way

Oh MY GOD, SECONDING THIS, @gordonandwafflesandmrblik thank you SO MUCH for telling us. I have been looking at Draft every five seconds waiting to see how many Iowa calls have been registered and trying to guess, based on the ratio of "reported" acceptances vs. total whether there would be more. THANK YOU. AND CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! The literal dream. Way to GO. 

Edited 20 hours ago by writeordie
Ugh. Quoted the reply instead of the post.

[everything bagel lover]

2 hours ago, Cosmicinkwell said:

Rejected from CSU. Oh well...

Sorry friend still other programs on the horizon tho!

Also, congrats to @programedlove333 & @beet_root on the interviews!!! I hope they go well! ❤️ 

[Nauna]

5 hours ago, saintjdog said:

Why is Johns Hopkins staggering rejections??? It seems like fiction rejections went out last week on 2/18 and 2/19, but I still haven't received mine. I don't understand the point of this at all! Is this normal?

I agree & feel that way about all of these staggered rejections. I have literal crickets from all but three programs (interview with UPitt, Phase II for Ole Miss, R from Amherst). Two of my professors (who have their fingers right on the pulse & seem to know almost everyone at these programs) swear that the delayed response is better than an immediate rejection, even if it doesn't feel that way. They say that the programs want to keep their options open, so even if/when we're feeling the dread of a looming soft R (as opposed to even a waitlist), we should at least be heartened that our samples were put in a sort of question mark pile rather than a hard-R pile. 

Edited 19 hours ago by Nauna

[rafikiman]

So far there's 5 Iowa acceptances on the Draft and 2 reported here, right? I don't understand why it would take all week to call 25 people. 😩 Just put me out of my misery already please!

[programedlove333]

Does anyone have any advice on what questions I should ask during an interview? Or specific questions you asked that gave you helpful info? Thanks!

[saintjdog]

23 minutes ago, Nauna said:

I agree & feel that way about all of these staggered rejections. I have literal crickets from all but three programs (interview with UPitt, Phase II for Ole Miss, R from Amherst). Two of my professors (who have their fingers right on the pulse & seem to know almost everyone at these programs) swear that the delayed response is better than an immediate rejection, even if it doesn't feel that way. They say that the programs want to keep their options open, so even if/when we're feeling the dread of a looming soft R (as opposed to even a waitlist), we should at least be heartened that our samples were put in a sort of question mark pile rather than a hard-R pile. 

this honestly made me feel so much better and is such a great way of framing it -- maybe i'll be rejected, but at least it took them a while to decide!! thank you for sharing your professors' wisdom 

[MaxMyDog]

29 minutes ago, rafikiman said:

So far there's 5 Iowa acceptances on the Draft and 2 reported here, right? I don't understand why it would take all week to call 25 people. 😩 Just put me out of my misery already please!

7 is what I got too! And I agree with you! Hang in there

[essentialflowers]

Hello everyone! I emailed George Saunders about my love for his work and how he inspired me to apply to graduate school, and he actually emailed back! (I’m still pinching myself.) I’m pasting part of his message down below in case anyone might feel comforted by his words:

“

 

I hope you get in at one of those waitlisted places but, either way, being in an MFA does not make you a writer.  And a writer does not need to have an MFA.  At all.  Just a love for the craft and a good work ethic.  🙂”

 

He basically confirmed what has been repeated to me countless times: graduate school is not the end of the world. Rejection does not make you a horrible writer, and everyone who has ever written anything must face the hazards of feeling like we aren’t good enough to DO it. 

If you can’t believe in your craft right now, just remember that George does. (Un)surprisingly, it helps a lot. 
 

Best wishes to all! 

 

[exvat]

Struck out on day one of NYU/Columbia poetry acceptances. Major congrats to those who got in—and at least one with funding!! Wishing the rest of us peace and phone calls...

[prufrock_]

1 hour ago, essentialflowers said:

Hello everyone! I emailed George Saunders about my love for his work and how he inspired me to apply to graduate school, and he actually emailed back! (I’m still pinching myself.) I’m pasting part of his message down below in case anyone might feel comforted by his words:

“

 

 

I hope you get in at one of those waitlisted places but, either way, being in an MFA does not make you a writer.  And a writer does not need to have an MFA.  At all.  Just a love for the craft and a good work ethic.  🙂”

 

He basically confirmed what has been repeated to me countless times: graduate school is not the end of the world. Rejection does not make you a horrible writer, and everyone who has ever written anything must face the hazards of feeling like we aren’t good enough to DO it. 

If you can’t believe in your craft right now, just remember that George does. (Un)surprisingly, it helps a lot. 
 

Best wishes to all! 

 

ah! that's very cool. And a good reminder to email all your favorite living authors fan mail!!

Edited 17 hours ago by prufrock_

[jinny-r]

To those in Phase II for Ole Miss, can I ask if they confirm your submission of transcript via email? I sent a temporary, unofficial scan of my transcript, since I'm international and mine is still processing for at least 9 days at my former uni before I can mail it.

Also if you're international, did it show in your application status page that they received your English proficiency test result? Mine is IELTS and I've had British Council send an ecopy to the grad admissions comm, but the application status page indicates it hasn't been received yet.

Should I email to confirm? Am I panicking too much? 

[Chex]

2 hours ago, jinny-r said:

To those in Phase II for Ole Miss, can I ask if they confirm your submission of transcript via email? I sent a temporary, unofficial scan of my transcript, since I'm international and mine is still processing for at least 9 days at my former uni before I can mail it.

Also if you're international, did it show in your application status page that they received your English proficiency test result? Mine is IELTS and I've had British Council send an ecopy to the grad admissions comm, but the application status page indicates it hasn't been received yet.

Should I email to confirm? Am I panicking too much? 

I'd say you're fine. I emailed the department and they confirmed the following:

1. Your unofficial transcript sent to the two email addresses, (gschool) with (mfaadm) in cc, is sufficient for now. When admitted, you can then arrange for official copies to be sent via physical mail.

2. I bet they received your email even though there was no acknowledgement. They didn't acknowledge mine either, even though we'd corresponded earlier when I sought clarification.

I didn't have to send an English proficiency test result, but you could email the department (mfaadm) to confirm receipt of the ecopy from British Council. Perhaps also keep (gschool) in cc and attach a copy of your IELTS result to the email. I really don't think you have anything to be worried about.

[jinny-r]

1 hour ago, Chex said:

I'd say you're fine. I emailed the department and they confirmed the following:

1. Your unofficial transcript sent to the two email addresses, (gschool) with (mfaadm) in cc, is sufficient for now. When admitted, you can then arrange for official copies to be sent via physical mail.

2. I bet they received your email even though there was no acknowledgement. They didn't acknowledge mine either, even though we'd corresponded earlier when I sought clarification.

I didn't have to send an English proficiency test result, but you could email the department (mfaadm) to confirm receipt of the ecopy from British Council. Perhaps also keep (gschool) in cc and attach a copy of your IELTS result to the email. I really don't think you have anything to be worried about.

Ahh, thank you so much, Chex! I'm feeling less worried now. I'll email them about my IELTS then.

[nauseated]

Just now, jinny-r said:

To those in Phase II for Ole Miss, can I ask if they confirm your submission of transcript via email? I sent a temporary, unofficial scan of my transcript, since I'm international and mine is still processing for at least 9 days at my former uni before I can mail it.

Also if you're international, did it show in your application status page that they received your English proficiency test result? Mine is IELTS and I've had British Council send an ecopy to the grad admissions comm, but the application status page indicates it hasn't been received yet.

Should I email to confirm? Am I panicking too much? 

Hey! I'm not sure where you're from, but I'm from Pakistan and I noticed that sending the IELTs score via the British Council is pretty reliable - just that it depends on the uni, how long it takes for it to show on the portal. For me it took a day on UT Austin, reflected almost immediately on Dartmouth for a non-MFA degree I applied to, and took quite a few days for Brown. If you've sent the uni a copy of your eTERF via the BC Portal, you don't need to worry, but nothing wrong in emailing for clarity's sake 

[jinny-r]

5 hours ago, nauseated said:

Hey! I'm not sure where you're from, but I'm from Pakistan and I noticed that sending the IELTs score via the British Council is pretty reliable - just that it depends on the uni, how long it takes for it to show on the portal. For me it took a day on UT Austin, reflected almost immediately on Dartmouth for a non-MFA degree I applied to, and took quite a few days for Brown. If you've sent the uni a copy of your eTERF via the BC Portal, you don't need to worry, but nothing wrong in emailing for clarity's sake 

Oohh, thank you for this! It might've been just the portal taking its time, yeah, since my British Council account confirms they've sent it.

[everything bagel lover]

Good morning, you freaks ❤️ It feels like we're a third, if not half of the way through notification season. How are y'all feeling? 

I got so overwhelmed with stress yesterday I cried but then I felt better, so if you need to cry it out, cry it out. 

[Lady Gladys]

6 hours ago, nauseated said:

Hey! I'm not sure where you're from, but I'm from Pakistan and I noticed that sending the IELTs score via the British Council is pretty reliable - just that it depends on the uni, how long it takes for it to show on the portal. For me it took a day on UT Austin, reflected almost immediately on Dartmouth for a non-MFA degree I applied to, and took quite a few days for Brown. If you've sent the uni a copy of your eTERF via the BC Portal, you don't need to worry, but nothing wrong in emailing for clarity's sake 

Hi nauseated! Is that MALS with Creative Writing concentration at Dartmouth?