2025 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[zaira]

3 minutes ago, analog_e said:

I'm sure you're right that it's very cohort dependent but I'm not sure how I could prepare and investigate more than I have already whether the program might be a good fit for me.

You're doing everything right! Especially visiting the campus (that sounds fun as hell). Enjoy Providence and (maybe?) come back with an awesome new tattoo!  

[seah0rse]

13 minutes ago, analog_e said:

Most of my impression of Brown is based on talking to people who went there for undergrad, my fiddle instructor whose brother and sister in law both work for Brown, and going thru interviews with folks. The overall impression I've gotten is that they just sort of let you take your approach, whether that's experimental or traditional, and don't really try to enforce a house style. That's the most important facet in choosing an MFA for me—I don't want to be wormed into writing the much maligned "MFA fiction" people speak of. Granted, this is all based on secondary or tertiary information and I have never been to Brown. I'm on a train to Providence right now because I figured I should go somewhere for spring break and why not tour the campus at least and engage in some tattoo tourism. I'm sure you're right that it's very cohort dependent but I'm not sure how I could prepare and investigate more than I have already whether the program might be a good fit for me.

Providence is a great town as far as small New England cities go! check out riffraff books while you’re there!

[exvat]

12 minutes ago, analog_e said:

Most of my impression of Brown is based on talking to people who went there for undergrad, my fiddle instructor whose brother and sister in law both work for Brown, and going thru interviews with folks. The overall impression I've gotten is that they just sort of let you take your approach, whether that's experimental or traditional, and don't really try to enforce a house style. That's the most important facet in choosing an MFA for me—I don't want to be wormed into writing the much maligned "MFA fiction" people speak of. Granted, this is all based on secondary or tertiary information and I have never been to Brown. I'm on a train to Providence right now because I figured I should go somewhere for spring break and why not tour the campus at least and engage in some tattoo tourism. I'm sure you're right that it's very cohort dependent but I'm not sure how I could prepare and investigate more than I have already whether the program might be a good fit for me.

Yaaassss tattoo tourism 😍 I got 2 distraction tattoos while waiting for decisions this cycle, and loooove them.

Enjoy your trip/ink, and best of luck!!

[doubleve]

4 hours ago, MegHe said:

Waitlisted at NYU!

congrats!!! so did i, for poetry! just wondering if you're confirming interest by responding to the email or emailing the program manager, or not responding at all? hoping it's okay to ask that, all my other schools (except michigan) are pending and i have no idea how to do this 😭

[MegHe]

11 minutes ago, doubleve said:

congrats!!! so did i, for poetry! just wondering if you're confirming interest by responding to the email or emailing the program manager, or not responding at all? hoping it's okay to ask that, all my other schools (except michigan) are pending and i have no idea how to do this 😭

Ok this is a great question and I second it - I replied back directly to the email, because initially I thought the program manager was just for the low-residency MFA in Paris, but on NYU's website he's just listed as the graduate program manager for the creative writing program.

So...I have no idea but I def want to make sure I confirm interest to the right party!

Edited Friday at 09:27 PM by MegHe

[exvat]

12 minutes ago, doubleve said:

congrats!!! so did i, for poetry! just wondering if you're confirming interest by responding to the email or emailing the program manager, or not responding at all? hoping it's okay to ask that, all my other schools (except michigan) are pending and i have no idea how to do this 😭

Congrats if I haven't already!!! My understanding is that the waitlist for NYU does get called up, so good luck! And def email them back if you're interested.

 

3 minutes ago, MegHe said:

Ok this is a great question and I second it - I replied back directly to the email, because initially I thought the program manager was just for the low-residency MFA in Paris, but on NYU's website he's just listed as the graduate program manager for the creative writing program.

So...I have no idea but I def want to make sure I confirm interest to the right party!

Yup, my acceptance email came from the grad program manager, so I just replied back directly, to let them know they're my top choice, some other stuff. I also cc'd Deborah Landau, since her email was given to us. But I'm sure a direct reply-to will get to the right peeps.

[MegHe]

8 minutes ago, exvat said:

But I'm sure a direct reply-to will get to the right peeps.

Haha my anxiety really needed to hear this, thank you. 

....I'll just CC the program manager in my next follow up

Can I ask, is NYU your top choice? I'm still waiting on some schools still and wasn't sure if it was a big faux pas to say "you're my top choice, please let me in" to more than one school if I later get waitlisted or even admitted somewhere else.

[doubleve]

this is super helpful, thank you both @MegHe @exvat !! i'm an international student so i assume no phone call will come my way, so i've opted to respond to the email and cc the program manager too... fingers crossed that sends the right message lol

[Clacla]

Does anyone have any info about Irvine fiction? I feel like somebody said they were "almost done" deciding like three weeks ago lol

[exvat]

Just now, MegHe said:

Can I ask, is NYU your top choice? I'm still waiting on some schools still and wasn't sure if it was a big faux pas to say "you're my top choice, please let me in" to more than one school if I later get waitlisted or even admitted somewhere else.

It is, and conveniently also my only affordable choice. The program is a better fit for me than Columbia, my other option. I really miss living in NYC, my bestie lives there, I have family and friends close by, et freakin cetera

[MegHe]

5 minutes ago, exvat said:

It is, and conveniently also my only affordable choice. The program is a better fit for me than Columbia, my other option. I really miss living in NYC, my bestie lives there, I have family and friends close by, et freakin cetera

Thanks for the info! Who knows - depending on how things turn out, I may reach out to see if you know any closets available for rent 😅 Good luck with funding!!! 

[GhostOfHermann]

It's getting to the point where I hate that it's Friday and the weekend is almost here.

[MegHe]

14 minutes ago, doubleve said:

this is super helpful, thank you both @MegHe @exvat !! i'm an international student so i assume no phone call will come my way, so i've opted to respond to the email and cc the program manager too... fingers crossed that sends the right message lol

Ok I'm out of reactions for the day but congrats on the waitlist and good luck!!! 

[exvat]

13 minutes ago, MegHe said:

Thanks for the info! Who knows - depending on how things turn out, I may reach out to see if you know any closets available for rent 😅 Good luck with funding!!! 

Welcome, and good luck to you too! I feel like Oprah, telling people to look under their keyboards for good luck 🤪

Yeah, I'm not looking forward to the ol' NYC housing hunt again. Total shit show usually, but it does reward patience, fortitude, and diligence. If you end up there, I'm happy to share my housing search experiences (pre-panini).

Edited Friday at 10:17 PM by exvat
I forgot fortitude 🦁🦁

[Hjanep]

21 minutes ago, Clacla said:

Does anyone have any info about Irvine fiction? I feel like somebody said they were "almost done" deciding like three weeks ago lol

@Scribe is our boots on the ground there. I think nothing really

[cooliejulie86]

Uh, so I got a weird automated email just now from UH's Student Housing (here's an excerpt):

Hey, #FutureCoog, 

Congratulations on your acceptance to the University of Houston, joining the legacy of the UNSTOPPABLE Coogs who came before you! While you plan your next four years, we encourage you to consider living on campus with Student Housing & Residential Life.  

I went here for undergrad and left 2023, but I did also apply for their Fiction MFA. But that's obviously not "four years". I'm assuming this is just a very odd, ill-timed false flag, because I haven't heard anything from UH otherwise, and the portal isn't showing anything new. Any thoughts?

Plot thickens: someone else just entered an acceptance for UH Fiction citing this same email...this is so bizarre.

Edited Friday at 10:31 PM by cooliejulie86

[exvat]

26 minutes ago, cooliejulie86 said:

Uh, so I got a weird automated email just now from UH's Student Housing (here's an excerpt):

Hey, #FutureCoog, 

Congratulations on your acceptance to the University of Houston, joining the legacy of the UNSTOPPABLE Coogs who came before you! While you plan your next four years, we encourage you to consider living on campus with Student Housing & Residential Life.  

I went here for undergrad and left 2023, but I did also apply for their Fiction MFA. But that's obviously not "four years". I'm assuming this is just a very odd, ill-timed false flag, because I haven't heard anything from UH otherwise, and the portal isn't showing anything new. Any thoughts?

Plot thickens: someone else just entered an acceptance for UH Fiction citing this same email...this is so bizarre.

My first broad hypothesis is that the accepted cohort email segment was sent to Housing's people, and they sent their welcome emails before checking that the MFA program had sent their own 😬 saying this as someone who sent mass emails for years. This is my worst nightmare come true as a sender 😂 

But also holy shit The #FutureCoog Cohort sounds potentially legendary 😂 "Yo, you read so-and-so's new book? This one HAS to win them the NBA. They'd be the last of the [fabled] FCC to win it..."

Edited Friday at 10:51 PM by exvat

[lizziebennett]

I just got the call from Brown- for fiction! 

[exvat]

3 minutes ago, gwenny said:

I just got the call from Brown- for fiction! 

Wow!! Congratulations!!! 🎇🎇🎇

[Hank Moody]

4 minutes ago, gwenny said:

I just got the call from Brown- for fiction! 

That's huge, congrats!

[pananoprodigy]

9 minutes ago, gwenny said:

I just got the call from Brown- for fiction! 

AMAZING!!! Congrats!!

[cooliejulie86]

19 minutes ago, exvat said:

My first broad hypothesis is that the accepted cohort email segment was sent to Housing's people, and they sent their welcome emails before checking that the MFA program had sent their own 😬 saying this as someone who sent mass emails for years. This is my worst nightmare come true as a sender 😂 

But also holy shit The #FutureCoog Cohort sounds potentially legendary 😂 "Yo, you read so-and-so's new book? This one HAS to win them the NBA. They'd be the last of the [fabled] FCC to win it..."

Hmmm so do you think this is reason enough to be cautiously optimistic at a forthcoming acceptance?

[analog_e]

I've never been more tense 😬 

[zaira]

20 minutes ago, gwenny said:

I just got the call from Brown- for fiction! 

AMAZING!!! Congrats! 

[seah0rse]

22 minutes ago, gwenny said:

I just got the call from Brown- for fiction! 

congrats!