2025 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[next_semester]

Hi everyone! I'm new here, but have read through everything to catch myself up 😅. I applied to a good chunk of MFA Fiction programs and received an acceptance from University of South Carolina and moved to Phase II for Mississippi! The other schools I've applied to I'm assuming will be rejections based on all the feedback in here, but I haven't seen any mentions about University of Miami (maybe I missed it). Does anyone know anything??

Congrats to all who have been receiving good news! 

[DJ Lambchop]

Anyone else not had a lick of good news this cycle? Like not even a rejection letter that says “please apply again…” I am fully preparing for 9/9 hard Rs. 

[seah0rse]

also hi - new to posting but have been lurking / cheering / miserable /anxious alongside all of you. joining the conversation now in anticipation of Brown decisions (next week?) - which has been my top/dream school since I decided to pursue the MFA a few years ago. at this point in the process I've exhausted my immediate support network 🫠 or they don't really understand the stakes/what it means to me. one of my mentors is on sabbatical this year & I'm trying not to overload them with emails. but I expect whatever news comes in March to hit pretty hard. I really appreciate that this forum exists & that we're not alone in what sometimes feels like a deeply unhealthy process 😅 

[exvat]

16 minutes ago, DJ Lambchop said:

Anyone else not had a lick of good news this cycle? Like not even a rejection letter that says “please apply again…” I am fully preparing for 9/9 hard Rs. 

Looking at straight rejections here for the second cycle, unless NYU/Columbia bears out.

[Nauna]

4 hours ago, sgrad said:

i cant get into my fb. does anyone know if there is any response for NC state for poetry yet?

I applied there too for poetry. ❤️ 

[ky figtree]

Hello! I’ve lurking for a hot minute so I’m writing to introduce myself ✨. Anyone know the deal with University of Minnesota/if I haven’t heard anything, should I assume it’s a no? I saw someone report a waitlist and I don’t have FB. (If someone wants to DM the spreadsheet I’d greatly appreciate it 🫶🏻)

[MegHe]

6 minutes ago, ky figtree said:

Hello! I’ve lurking for a hot minute so I’m writing to introduce myself ✨. Anyone know the deal with University of Minnesota/if I haven’t heard anything, should I assume it’s a no? I saw someone report a waitlist and I don’t have FB. (If someone wants to DM the spreadsheet I’d greatly appreciate it 🫶🏻)

Hey! It looks like folks started getting accepted January 28th from the University of Minnesota per the draft, and the waitlists went out February 7. Sorry to relay that info -- rooting for some good news for you! I think folks generally don't share the draft spreadsheet outside of FB because it's a moderated private group and folks haven't consented to sharing their personal info outside of that group. I hope that makes sense! 

[ky figtree]

1 minute ago, MegHe said:

Hey! It looks like folks started getting accepted January 28th from the University of Minnesota per the draft, and the waitlists went out February 7. Sorry to relay that info -- rooting for some good news for you! I think folks generally don't share the draft spreadsheet outside of FB because it's a moderated private group and folks haven't consented to sharing their personal info outside of that group. I hope that makes sense! 

Thank u for clarifying about the spreadsheet! And no worries about the news: it’s better some clarity than being left in the dark. I’ve gotten a waitlist from  Davis so I’m hoping for best!

[Cosmicinkwell]

2 hours ago, DJ Lambchop said:

Anyone else not had a lick of good news this cycle? Like not even a rejection letter that says “please apply again…” I am fully preparing for 9/9 hard Rs. 

Me me lol

[c0wgirlg]

4 hours ago, Eloise2897 said:

I'd like to know people's thoughts on whether or not to take a chance on a new program. 

I got accepted at Texas Tech with almost full tuition remission (I think I would owe ~$1400 per semester) and a TA appointment with a $15,500 stipend. 

Pros: The funding is pretty nice compared to other programs, at least from what I’ve seen. Cost of living in Lubbock seems to be reasonable. The faculty have been incredibly kind, responsive, and seem excited to work with me. Three of them reached out separately to congratulate me and say what they liked about my work. Some of their writing interests also seem to align very well with my own. I know that TTU is a respected university and that they have an established English department, including an MA program that I’ve heard good things about. 

Cons: Obviously, it’s a new program, so it doesn’t have the associated prestige. And although it's much more than just a tech school, I do worry that it having 'Tech' in the name makes it seem like it's not an artsy school--will someone look at my resume someday and wonder why on earth I'd go there for an MFA? It’s also very, very far from home for me (I live in far northern Michigan), which makes the risk feel, well, riskier. 

So far, my only other acceptance is unfunded, so I won’t be taking that offer. I’m waitlisted at my top choice and still waiting on the rest. So there’s a lot of room for things to change. Maybe a super obvious decision will fall into my lap. But until then, I figured I might as well start contemplating my next moves rather than sit here going nuts with anxiety.
 

 

Congrats on the acceptance!!!

I can't speak on the mfa program specifically, but as a student in Texas, Tech is known for their technical writing program (very different from an mfa of course) its more of an agriculture school than a "technical" institution. If I were in your shoes, the fact that it has another well known writing program would encourage me. The tuition rebate sounds really good, and yes Lubbock is very cheap. Their grad schools in general are well regarded.

The only other thing I would suggest you consider is the town itself. My dad went to law school at Tech and he says its was tolerable because he needed to be spending his time studying anyway. There isn't much to do there. Lubbock, unless you are a southwestern writer, may not spark much inspiration. The offer sounds really good, and is worth considering. Getting in on the ground floor may be worth it in the long run. I wouldn't worry about the "newness" of the program, I would consider if the town is a good fit for you. Congrats again!

[sgrad]

1 hour ago, Nauna said:

I applied there too for poetry. ❤️ 

omg good luck! ❤️

[rafikiman]

I think we can call Iowa done given that there weren't any new reported acceptances here nor in the Draft today. And now my brain can rest. 😌

[exvat]

39 minutes ago, rafikiman said:

I think we can call Iowa done given that there weren't any new reported acceptances here nor in the Draft today. And now my brain can rest. 😌

Last I heard, Sam Chang said she'd be calling ppl all week, but I'll let others confirm or refute that.

[luckylike56]

If I get an email saying they enjoyed reading my application and want to schedule a call, what should I take that as?

[kulfikat]

1 minute ago, pom3granate said:

If I get an email saying they enjoyed reading my application and want to schedule a call, what should I take that as?

If you're talking about Iowa, it's most likely an acceptance! They send rejections only through snail mail. 

[snottlebie]

3 minutes ago, pom3granate said:

If I get an email saying they enjoyed reading my application and want to schedule a call, what should I take that as?

No one rejects you by scheduling a call. Rule of thumb - if they want to speak with you, it’s an acceptance. 

[luckylike56]

7 minutes ago, kulfikat said:

If you're talking about Iowa, it's most likely an acceptance! They send rejections only through snail mail. 

It's not Iowa! But thank you

[luckylike56]

15 minutes ago, snottlebie said:

No one rejects you by scheduling a call. Rule of thumb - if they want to speak with you, it’s an acceptance. 

Thank you! I didn't want to get my hopes up.

[eternalwhitenights]

7 hours ago, currahcane said:

Hey! I just recieved an interview request from Notre Dame for Nonfiction, I am wondering if anyone has interviewed with them/another program and has any advice? Really nervous & excited!

Ahhhh, that's so exciting! Congratulations!! You just gave me hope ND might still have a chance for me yet, because I was convinced that they'd sent out all their interview requests on the same day (I.e. yesterday, Monday). Maybe there's hope, ha!

I haven't interviewed with them yet (just hoping to make it that far in the process, frankly), but I live here in South Bend, and actually work on campus already, so I can (try?) and help if you have any questions about campus life or anything like that in general about the area. Feel free to DM me if you'd like, and best of luck with your interview!

[nauseated]

No rejection from JHU still. I know it's a rejection - why can't you just tell me? Feeling situationshipped 

[Nauna]

1 hour ago, pom3granate said:

If I get an email saying they enjoyed reading my application and want to schedule a call, what should I take that as?

It sounds to me like a sort of vibe-checky interview. Grats! ❤️ 

[kpoetrottenapplecore]

anyone heard from UNCG for poetry? 

[exvat]

Wishing everyone an acceptional Wednesday ✨

[Nauna]

2 hours ago, kpoetrottenapplecore said:

anyone heard from UNCG for poetry? 

I haven't heard anything yet either.

[MegHe]

Ok minor (unrelated) writing success today! I've submitted stories to the New Yorker before, and never heard back on any of them. (From their website: We regret that, owing to the volume of submissions we receive, we are unable to call or e-mail unless a story is accepted for publication.) In January, I submitted one of the pieces I used for my grad application and THEY REPLIED! They still said it wasn't a fit for their magazine, but they said THERE WAS MUCH TO ADMIRE ABOUT IT! This may be the most excited I've ever been about a rejection 😆 

I feel like being a writer is so much about finding ways forward through rejection. Especially waiting on grad school admissions, it's nice to get something that encourages me to keep writing, and to try again.