2025 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[Eloise2897]

So I made a mistake and I'm wondering if it tanked my chances on two waitlists. When I got waitlisted at Minnesota at the beginning of this month, they were genuinely my top choice, so I let them know in a polite email that I would like to stay on the waitlist as they were my number one choice. 
I was so surprised to get waitlisted at Syracuse yesterday that in all the excitement I sent them basically the same email. I'm realizing that I told two schools they're my top choice. Could this actually get me struck from these waitlists?
 

Edited Friday at 10:57 PM by Eloise2897
edited to be less rambly and panicky

[GhostOfHermann]

1 hour ago, Eloise2897 said:

Could this actually get me struck from these waitlists?

Neither school has any way of knowing that you are on any other waitlists, or what you may have told other schools. I'd say, sit tight, and you're fine. In the event that you get admitted from the waitlists to both Minnesota and Syracuse, then pick one, and you'll have a mildly awkward rejection to send to the other. But I'm sure they heard everything and far worse. And congrats! You're doing well.

Edited Saturday at 12:02 AM by GhostOfHermann
typo

[Nauna]

Just hoping for hugs here... I usually feel great and upbeat but as responses are coming through on the spreadsheet from my top-wanted programs, I'm starting to feel a little bummed out. 

[Mystic_Sunshine]

2 minutes ago, Nauna said:

Just hoping for hugs here... I usually feel great and upbeat but as responses are coming through on the spreadsheet from my top-wanted programs, I'm starting to feel a little bummed out. 

Solidarity here. Yesterday I cried literally all day. It's been a rough season and it's okay to feel down. 

Best of luck to you in the coming weeks. 

[Nauna]

Just now, Mystic_Sunshine said:

Solidarity here. Yesterday I cried literally all day. It's been a rough season and it's okay to feel down. 

Best of luck to you in the coming weeks. 

Thank you so much. Sending you hugs and hoping for good news for you, too. ❤️ 

[Mystic_Sunshine]

10 minutes ago, Nauna said:

Thank you so much. Sending you hugs and hoping for good news for you, too. ❤️ 

Thank you ❤️ I really appreciate it!! 

 

[KennyK]

Has anything from Riverside been posted on draft today? If anyone is able to check please 🥺 I don’t have fb

Edited Saturday at 12:36 AM by KennyK
Wasn’t finished

[ssuunn]

Just wanted to give you all a heads up... University of Oregon poetry decisions are still being worked on! Wasn't told when they'd be done, but it was "getting there". Stick in there, y'all!

[Hjanep]

46 minutes ago, Nauna said:

Just hoping for hugs here... I usually feel great and upbeat but as responses are coming through on the spreadsheet from my top-wanted programs, I'm starting to feel a little bummed out. 

Solidarity

[DJ Lambchop]

50 minutes ago, Nauna said:

Just hoping for hugs here... I usually feel great and upbeat but as responses are coming through on the spreadsheet from my top-wanted programs, I'm starting to feel a little bummed out. 

Sending a virtual hug. I have a really fortunate life right now but getting a sweep of rejections has made me feel like I’m stuck in a cage, watching my life go past from behind bars. 

[beefy5layerburrito]

27 minutes ago, KennyK said:

Has anything from Riverside been posted on draft today? If anyone is able to check please 🥺 I don’t have fb

nope, no reports from Riverside at all on draft. hope you hear from them soon!

[pearadox]

Finally got an account, though I've been reading this forum like a madman.

On one hand, I should feel happy that I've been accepted to Columbia with much enthusiasm. On the other hand, it's financially impossible for me to attend. Of course the one non funded program I apply to is the one that is interested in me lol.

I have a friend in research grant dispersal at one of these big state universities. Federal funding is apparently getting cut down to like 15% or something crazy, and everything is totally insane (like "oh we'll have to cut our Cancer Research Division of the school" type conversations. I can't help but wonder where poetry funding is on the chopping block lol) . While that school is not one that I'm applying to this cycle, I can't help but wonder how many of these programs are getting screwed by factors completely out of my and their control.

Has Iowa started calling people about poetry yet? Still waiting on UVA, Rutgers Camden, Houston, Iowa, NYU. This entire week has been Super Dead for me. It's maddening; I feel like I am in a hydraulic press.

1a/1w/3r/5p

[exvat]

6 hours ago, zaira said:

I knew I was gonna run out of reacts before something like this happened and here we are. CONGRATS VIA ACTUAL WORDS AND NOT AN EMOJI HEART!!! I bet this feels amazing! 

Ahhh thank you!! Been rooting for you too, and hoping to celebrate for you! This feels like waking miraculously healthy after a long illness.

[Tinky C. Clown]

45 minutes ago, ssuunn said:

Just wanted to give you all a heads up... University of Oregon poetry decisions are still being worked on! Wasn't told when they'd be done, but it was "getting there". Stick in there, y'all!

omg finally some u of o info. assuming it’s the same deal for fiction. thank you so much 

[goodluckbabe]

are all the nyu acceptances done then according to draft?  i assume so given there's no reason to stagger acceptance emails...

[sgrad]

got into chapman! but no word on funding. is there any word on draft if people received fellowship offers with admission?

[Jitterbug98]

Does anyone have recs for comforting books, tv shows, movies, video games? My mental health is not great right now (I’m sure plenty can relate)— MFA apps are a factor but it’s also just life in general. I’m hanging in there but feel like I could really use something comforting to get lost in and forget about things for a bit 

[exvat]

11 hours ago, Jane Wyman said:

Hell yeah!

Thank you, and best of luck with Iowa! 🙏🤞

[widfara]

8 hours ago, snottlebie said:

Don’t have any insider knowledge but judging from the Draft spreadsheet and posts here I’d guesstimate 15-20 if not more. It’s ‘short’ maybe in comparison to the cohort size, but still sizable, unfortunately. (Ex. Virginia Tech admits 4/genre but the fiction waitlist is 22 people. Syracuse admits 6/genre but waitlists 14. So a 25 person cohort probably waitlists at least 25, but it depends on their retention rate. More selective schools most likely have smaller waitlists.)

Thanks! That's pretty much what I was thinking, too. Well I guess I'll just be here, hoping/praying/dreaming that good news comes...

[exvat]

13 hours ago, Tuxedocat said:

Congrats!!!!!!! I just ran out of reactions for today but this is so exciting!

Thank you!! And WOW congrats to you on your own NYU offer!! 🎉🎉🎉 That's so exciting! Perhaps we'll end up in a cohort together...

Fingers crossed for my own funding update 🤞🙏

[exvat]

4 hours ago, goodluckbabe said:

are all the nyu acceptances done then according to draft?  i assume so given there's no reason to stagger acceptance emails...

NYU began sending acceptances Monday and continued all week. Someone here got accepted Wednesday. Two folks (me included) got in today. Not sure if they're done or heading to waitlist or what. I wouldn't lose hope though!

Edited Saturday at 07:22 AM by exvat
For reference, my hope officially died on Thursday at 10:20am, and yet...

[nauseated]

once again here to say I'm absolutely beaming for everyone getting good news and sending the most smothering hug possible to those who are in the dark or in the light of clarity they would much rather not have. 

that being said, I'm going to start telling people that JHU was so stunned by my work they couldn't say anything back to me for all of eternity, for as long as writers and MFAs and the idea of correspondence will survive and be alive

[tomat0tomat0]

53 minutes ago, nauseated said:

once again here to say I'm absolutely beaming for everyone getting good news and sending the most smothering hug possible to those who are in the dark or in the light of clarity they would much rather not have. 

that being said, I'm going to start telling people that JHU was so stunned by my work they couldn't say anything back to me for all of eternity, for as long as writers and MFAs and the idea of correspondence will survive and be alive

if any person in my real life had left me on read for as long as jhu has i would quite literally never talk to them again 

[quadcrossedfingers]

12 hours ago, Nauna said:

Just hoping for hugs here... I usually feel great and upbeat but as responses are coming through on the spreadsheet from my top-wanted programs, I'm starting to feel a little bummed out. 

Big ole i-feel-ya hug, friend. The anxiety is almost unbearable, and time is stupid and made up, but the phrase that has helped me along is you only need one. But waiting for it....ugh. I also missed all my top programs. But if it wasn't the right fit, it just wasn't. My mentor had really good advice when they were like you *know* you work has so much merit, that's not the factor, people at these programs want to take in folks they know they are well-suited to guide. The right one will see you. ❤️

[Jane Wyman]

7 hours ago, Jitterbug98 said:

Does anyone have recs for comforting books, tv shows, movies, video games? My mental health is not great right now (I’m sure plenty can relate)— MFA apps are a factor but it’s also just life in general. I’m hanging in there but feel like I could really use something comforting to get lost in and forget about things for a bit 

The 1995 Pride and Prejudice mini-series? Righteous Gemstones?