2025 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[Nauna]

1 hour ago, kpoetrottenapplecore said:

Has anyone heard from UNCG yet for poetry?

I've been waiting too. Someone reported an interview request on 2/28. 

[seezeegee]

NYU fiction waitlist reported today on the GradCafe results page, indicating that acceptances are over and waitlists are out. Waiting on rejections now!

[Mystic_Sunshine]

 

1 hour ago, everything bagel lover said:

So in my heart I'm waiting for Wyoming and UNLV, but my partner is begging me to please not make us move to Wyoming and isn't a big fan of Las Vegas. NAU's program is really lovely but their lit classes are moving online next year and that really bums me out, as my undergrad was focused more on literary criticism and I'd love to do more but am not a fan of online classes. Discussion posts haunt me.

UNLV feels out of my reach tbh, and I'm just really rooting for CSU to fund me. I've told them they're my top choice and if they give me the GTA I'm there no questions asked. I'm grateful to have a funded offer no matter what, but my heart still holds on to CSU.

Edit: Also, I wanna reach out to faculty to ask questions about the program to express my continued interest but I've read the handbook and everything on the website over and over and over and I have zero questions, they've all been answered.

Just wanted to say I'm sorry! I understand the whole moving thing. It's possible I will be dragging my partner to a part of the U.S they don't want to live in. Unless, this whole thing doesn't work out for me lol and then we are going to try to be nomadic for a few months.

Does UNLV feel out of reach because of how many applicants they get? I also applied there so I'm trying to tell myself that it isn't likely to happen even though it was one of the programs I was most excited about. I think if I don't land anywhere this year though I'm going to reapply in nonfiction at UNLV. 

I'm really really hoping that CSU gives you that funding. I don't think you need to feel like you need to keep reaching out right now because it is likely that they are just waiting on people who are also waiting. Though, I get why you want to.

[zgirl]

I got a call from the University of Houston yesterday (with full funding). I also found out they are taking 4 MFA in poetry and 3 PhD Students—the same numbers for fiction. I'm waiting for the SLC and U of H funding package, but the University of Houston is my top choice. Thank you for all the advice and encouragement, and good luck to everyone still waiting to hear back.

[Tuxedocat]

Another day, another Brown (Playwriting) jump scare on draft 😭. I saw Brown, thought WOAH and then scrolled to the right, saw playwriting and went …oh

 

[Tinky C. Clown]

10 minutes ago, zgirl said:

I got a call from the University of Houston yesterday (with full funding). I also found out they are taking 4 MFA in poetry and 3 PhD Students—the same numbers for fiction. I'm waiting for the SLC and U of H funding package, but the University of Houston is my top choice. Thank you for all the advice and encouragement, and good luck to everyone still waiting to hear back.

do you know if they’ve started calling for fiction 

[VOID DARLING]

20 minutes ago, Tuxedocat said:

Another day, another Brown (Playwriting) jump scare on draft 😭. I saw Brown, thought WOAH and then scrolled to the right, saw playwriting and went …oh

 

does anybody know when the poetry notifs will drop? 🥺 literally my last decision and the wait is driving me crazy!

[everything bagel lover]

2 minutes ago, Mystic_Sunshine said:

 

Just wanted to say I'm sorry! I understand the whole moving thing. It's possible I will be dragging my partner to a part of the U.S they don't want to live in. Unless, this whole thing doesn't work out for me lol and then we are going to try to be nomadic for a few months.

Does UNLV feel out of reach because of how many applicants they get? I also applied there so I'm trying to tell myself that it isn't likely to happen even though it was one of the programs I was most excited about. I think if I don't land anywhere this year though I'm going to reapply in nonfiction at UNLV. 

I'm really really hoping that CSU gives you that funding. I don't think you need to feel like you need to keep reaching out right now because it is likely that they are just waiting on people who are also waiting. Though, I get why you want to.

That's okay, thank you I appreciate it. I'm grateful to have both an MFA to drag them to and a partner, but it does come with its own set of complications lol I hope that you end up somewhere you love and that your partner can find joy in it too!

Yeah, I think of the ones I applied to, UNLV is the most competitive. Not that it's impossible for either of us to get in, but I'm tempering my expectations. Are you a fiction or nonfiction applicant this year?

Thank you I appreciate it ❤️ They didn't sign the April 15th resolution so the person who has the funding offer now has until next week to respond which makes me sad for them because that's stressful, but a little relieved that I will know sooner. 

[exvat]

31 minutes ago, zgirl said:

I got a call from the University of Houston yesterday (with full funding). I also found out they are taking 4 MFA in poetry and 3 PhD Students—the same numbers for fiction. I'm waiting for the SLC and U of H funding package, but the University of Houston is my top choice. Thank you for all the advice and encouragement, and good luck to everyone still waiting to hear back.

Congrats on Houston!! My ex went there for fiction, and I believe had a great experience. Even stayed in Houston for a few years after graduation.

[Eloise2897]

Anyone hear anything from Northern Michigan? Haven't seen anything in draft but I know it's not the most highly applied-to program, so it's possible no one on draft has applied there (besides me!). They're a little later than usual. 

[zgirl]

19 minutes ago, Tinky C. Clown said:

do you know if they’ve started calling for fiction 

I don't know, sorry! 

[Mystic_Sunshine]

Just now, everything bagel lover said:

That's okay, thank you I appreciate it. I'm grateful to have both an MFA to drag them to and a partner, but it does come with its own set of complications lol I hope that you end up somewhere you love and that your partner can find joy in it too!

Yeah, I think of the ones I applied to, UNLV is the most competitive. Not that it's impossible for either of us to get in, but I'm tempering my expectations. Are you a fiction or nonfiction applicant this year?

Thank you I appreciate it ❤️ They didn't sign the April 15th resolution so the person who has the funding offer now has until next week to respond which makes me sad for them because that's stressful, but a little relieved that I will know sooner. 

Yeah, I agree it does have its own complications. College towns are always difficult because it can be hard to find communities outside of it. Thank you  

It's interesting because I think for a while UNLV a pretty under the radar program and now it doesn't seem to be that way. Although, reno definitely seems to receive applicants than Vegas. I think this season I didn't have a good grasp of what programs are highly competitive and which ones have less applicants (even though they all are). 

I applied for fiction this year. I had originally wanted to apply to a mix but I was doing more fiction writing at the time. I probably would do a mix next time. 

Well here is to hoping next week is filled with good news for all of us. 

[Tuxedocat]

15 minutes ago, VOID DARLING said:

does anybody know when the poetry notifs will drop? 🥺 literally my last decision and the wait is driving me crazy!

No I have no idea 😭 I too am waiting on poetry decisions from them and 3 other schools. I was really hoping to leave this week with answers but this week has been radio silent for me.

[pananoprodigy]

12 minutes ago, Eloise2897 said:

Anyone hear anything from Northern Michigan? Haven't seen anything in draft but I know it's not the most highly applied-to program, so it's possible no one on draft has applied there (besides me!). They're a little later than usual. 

I applied there too! No news yet

[everything bagel lover]

4 minutes ago, pananoprodigy said:

I applied there too! No news yet

I can't believe it's March and you still have 20 programs to hear from, that feels insane. Are a lot of them typically mid to late March notifiers?

Edit: Also, can I DM to chat about your thoughts on NAU so far? If it's my only offer, I'm going but as stated earlier, I'm kind of sad about the only online lit classes. Also, it's totally fine if not! No pressure

Edited Friday at 05:01 PM by everything bagel lover
more info

[MegHe]

Waitlisted at NYU!

[exvat]

Just now, MegHe said:

Waitlisted at NYU!

Congrats and fingers crossed!! 🤞 🤞

[Tuxedocat]

6 minutes ago, MegHe said:

Waitlisted at NYU!

Congrats!! I’m out of reactions for today so sending my heart here ❤️

[saintjdog]

waitlisted at NYU for fiction, i really thought i would get no positive news this cycle!!! my only goal was to get at least one waitlist i'm insanely proud of myself

[MegHe]

1 minute ago, saintjdog said:

waitlisted at NYU for fiction, i really thought i would get no positive news this cycle!!! my only goal was to get at least one waitlist i'm insanely proud of myself

Congratulations!!!! 

 

9 minutes ago, exvat said:

Congrats and fingers crossed!! 🤞 🤞

Thank you!!! Can I afford NYU with just the half-stipend? No way. Am I still jumping up and down in a random coffee shop? 100%. 

[exvat]

Just now, saintjdog said:

waitlisted at NYU for fiction, i really thought i would get no positive news this cycle!!! my only goal was to get at least one waitlist i'm insanely proud of myself

Congrats on the huge W!!!! 🎇

[pananoprodigy]

17 minutes ago, everything bagel lover said:

I can't believe it's March and you still have 20 programs to hear from, that feels insane. Are a lot of them typically mid to late March notifiers?

Edit: Also, can I DM to chat about your thoughts on NAU so far? If it's my only offer, I'm going but as stated earlier, I'm kind of sad about the only online lit classes. Also, it's totally fine if not! No pressure

20 total! I know most people do p for pending but the math was hurting my brain so I decided I like p for programs lol. Currently have 7 left which somehow also feels like a lot for this late in the game. 

And yes, please dm me! Would lovee to chat and bounce thoughts!!!

[exvat]

10 minutes ago, MegHe said:

Thank you!!! Can I afford NYU with just the half-stipend? No way. Am I still jumping up and down in a random coffee shop? 100%. 

Hell yeah!! I feel the same about Columbia and their $200k price tag 😂 Feels amazing, even with the imminent decline. Def celebrate!!!

Feel you on the NYU half-tuition thing. Same boat, hopeful that SOMETHING more will roll downhill by April 15, as sounds like a modest possibility. Either way, I'll likely accept, since I can prooooobably swing the equivalent of a car loan after graduation, for the opportunity to work with Sharon Olds, Terrance Hayes, and Ocean Vuong 😆 Will certainly have to keep a 20-25 hr/wk job while there ofc, just to live.

[orb weaver]

Got the call from University of Washington last night 😳 in for poetry

[MegHe]

6 minutes ago, exvat said:

Hell yeah!! I feel the same about Columbia and their $200k price tag 😂 Feels amazing, even with the imminent decline. Def celebrate!!!

Feel you on the NYU half-tuition thing. Same boat, hopeful that SOMETHING more will roll downhill by April 15, as sounds like a modest possibility. Either way, I'll likely accept, since I can prooooobably swing the equivalent of a car loan after graduation, for the opportunity to work with Sharon Olds, Terrance Hayes, and Ocean Vuong 😆 Will certainly have to keep a 20-25 hr/wk job while there ofc, just to live.

Right? Right?! 

Haha I'm so ahead of myself - I could well be on the bottom of the waitlist. I can only reiterate my interest in the program and limit myself to checking in with them like...once every 4-6 weeks. (Unless that's bad -- someone tell me if that's a bad idea!)