Magnolia Electric Co Posted March 13 Posted March 13 Do people have strong feelings about 2-year vs. 3-year programs? I can see advantages to each: 2-year programs allow you to gain the degree more efficiently, but 3-year programs leave an extra year for things like thesis writing. Three years seems ideal from a writing standpoint, but so many amazing programs seem to only be two years. I feel like it sounds hard to relocate, then take courses, teach, and write a thesis all simultaneously in 2 years. Wondering if this is a major factor for anyone?
analog_e Posted March 13 Posted March 13 1 minute ago, Magnolia Electric Co said: Do people have strong feelings about 2-year vs. 3-year programs? I can see advantages to each: 2-year programs allow you to gain the degree more efficiently, but 3-year programs leave an extra year for things like thesis writing. Three years seems ideal from a writing standpoint, but so many amazing programs seem to only be two years. I feel like it sounds hard to relocate, then take courses, teach, and write a thesis all simultaneously in 2 years. Wondering if this is a major factor for anyone? as someone who lowkey wants to stay nestled within academia forever, the longer the better, but most of the programs I plan to apply to if I don't get into my one and only this time around are 2 years because location and funding are ultimately way more of a consideration. I need to stay reasonably close to Virginia, as in not venturing past Michigan or Rhode Island, the city needs to have fairly strong public transportation or be walkable, and I need to be able to afford life there. Prestige is the next factor, but that tends to be sorted out by the funding anyway. Then whether the program seems like a good fit for me as an artist. After all that, I can begin worrying about how long the program is. _redrabbit7 1
pananoprodigy Posted March 13 Posted March 13 (edited) 7 minutes ago, Magnolia Electric Co said: Do people have strong feelings about 2-year vs. 3-year programs? I can see advantages to each: 2-year programs allow you to gain the degree more efficiently, but 3-year programs leave an extra year for things like thesis writing. Three years seems ideal from a writing standpoint, but so many amazing programs seem to only be two years. I feel like it sounds hard to relocate, then take courses, teach, and write a thesis all simultaneously in 2 years. Wondering if this is a major factor for anyone? Three years was definitely a big preference for me. From past experience (mfa in screenwriting) I know that in a 2 year program, by the time you sort of get in the swing of things the program is wrapping up. edit: That's not to say that you can't accomplish a ton in two years, just that I think a third really gives you space to incorporate a lot of the lessons (life-wise and curriculum-wise) you acquired in the first two. Edited March 13 by pananoprodigy Lady Gladys 1
rapunzel Posted March 13 Posted March 13 38 minutes ago, Magnolia Electric Co said: Do people have strong feelings about 2-year vs. 3-year programs? I can see advantages to each: 2-year programs allow you to gain the degree more efficiently, but 3-year programs leave an extra year for things like thesis writing. Three years seems ideal from a writing standpoint, but so many amazing programs seem to only be two years. I feel like it sounds hard to relocate, then take courses, teach, and write a thesis all simultaneously in 2 years. Wondering if this is a major factor for anyone? three years is also especially important to me, because i want to focus on pedagogy! sometimes leadership roles scare me lol so i need all the help i can get
Tinky C. Clown Posted March 13 Posted March 13 yeah i'm also attracted to a longer program for all stated reasons, but i feel like i'm leaning towards my two year option because the location is a place i can see myself long term, whereas alabama is not. so i feel like i'm prioritizing a different type of long term good
Magnolia Electric Co Posted March 13 Posted March 13 Thank you for all the thoughtful responses! It seems like in a vacuum, three years would be preferable, but there are other factors than might be more important than length. That makes sense. I have been thinking a lot about program length because I am on a shortlist at a few different programs right now that (at least to me) all seem equally great, but one is two years and the others are three years. The 2-year program seems incredible, but when I picture picking a thesis advisor in year 1 and applying for my next job/move in year 2, it stresses me out a little! So I am just trying to find ways to distinguish between them in case I do end up getting an offer. I find it so hard to assess fit!
honeytreasures Posted March 13 Posted March 13 Hello! Does anyone have any insight into Brown, WashU St. Louis, and Boston for fiction? I'm assuming soft rejects for all of them, but just figured I'd ask! misssalem 1
Nauna Posted March 13 Posted March 13 5 hours ago, Jitterbug98 said: Is it common for someone to get into a top fully funded program on their second or third round after all rejections (no waitlists) at fully funded schools during their first round? I’m high on the waitlist for a TAship at one school which would functionally make it fully funded for me, so I guess that gives me a little validation that my application wasn’t terrible. But across the fully funded schools I applied to (Cornell, Rutgers, Syracuse, Boston, Iowa, michener, Michigan, Amherst) I got zilch, not even a higher tier rejection. It probably didn’t help that I only applied to the most competitive fully funded programs but if I reapply next year I’ll probably be limiting my applications to the northeast so it will likely be the same deal since the northeast fully funded programs tend to be very very competitive. I don’t want to waste a ton of money on a second round of applications if I’m just not a competitive applicant There are plenty of incredible writers out there who were not accepted in their first try. I just had someone tell me that Tobias Wolff didn't get in until his second attempt! Tobias Wolff! Jane Wyman, cooliejulie86 and exvat 2 1
crossingmyfingers1212 Posted March 13 Posted March 13 anyone have any idea when knoxville might send their decisions?
exvat Posted March 13 Posted March 13 28 minutes ago, Nauna said: There are plenty of incredible writers out there who were not accepted in their first try. I just had someone tell me that Tobias Wolff didn't get in until his second attempt! Tobias Wolff! My first cycle was straight rejections, and now I'm likely accepting a spot at NYU (not full funded atm, but that may change by mid-April 🤞). In fairness, I was not ready that first time. This time I knew what I wanted and went for the jugular.
strawberrymatcha Posted March 13 Posted March 13 so curious about what’s going on with brown, wonder if it’s related to all of the funding issues? Tuxedocat, honeytreasures and misssalem 3
Mia172 Posted March 13 Posted March 13 (edited) 6 hours ago, Jitterbug98 said: Is it common for someone to get into a top fully funded program on their second or third round after all rejections (no waitlists) at fully funded schools during their first round? I’m high on the waitlist for a TAship at one school which would functionally make it fully funded for me, so I guess that gives me a little validation that my application wasn’t terrible. But across the fully funded schools I applied to (Cornell, Rutgers, Syracuse, Boston, Iowa, michener, Michigan, Amherst) I got zilch, not even a higher tier rejection. It probably didn’t help that I only applied to the most competitive fully funded programs but if I reapply next year I’ll probably be limiting my applications to the northeast so it will likely be the same deal since the northeast fully funded programs tend to be very very competitive. I don’t want to waste a ton of money on a second round of applications if I’m just not a competitive applicant I think to determine if you are “competitive” or not, always have good readers to read your works and let them be real with you… don’t be afraid of criticism and rejections, do not have to take them personally but those constructive ones help you locate yourself, and I think self awareness helped me in writing a lot. And also in life. I want to encourage you to reapply, if not next year, the year after the next, whenever you feel ready. But also, an MFA isn’t a requirement for you to be a good writer. If you love this thing you will continue doing it no matter what. I’m also talking from a less experienced person’s perspective, but I think it wouldn’t hurt to take a step back and consider if you really want this life so bad that without it you cannot function. I don’t think committing to a writing life is really superior than other way of living (getting an office job, getting married and focusing on family, etc…) it is not even necessarily happier! But if you think you will not be happy without it, work hard and reach high and don’t stop pursuing it… I think I won’t be happy without it, that’s why I’m here Edited March 13 by Mia172 By “good readers” I kinda mean the people who are already in the game… professors, MFA students, established writers… and compare your writing to recent published ones in literary magazines everything bagel lover and seah0rse 2
Mia172 Posted March 13 Posted March 13 But fr, another silent day for me… how dare them…I’m losing my anger management skills.
honeytreasures Posted March 13 Posted March 13 8 minutes ago, Mia172 said: But fr, another silent day for me… how dare them…I’m losing my anger management skills. This is so real
rapunzel Posted March 13 Posted March 13 (edited) 28 minutes ago, Mia172 said: I think to determine if you are “competitive” or not, always have good readers to read your works and let them be real with you… don’t be afraid of criticism and rejections, do not have to take them personally but those constructive ones help you locate yourself, and I think self awareness helped me in writing a lot. And also in life. does anyone have any advice on finding "good readers" (professors / mfa students) willing to help you out, especially if you don't have too many connections from your undergrad? it seems wrong to cold email writers you like and just stick your stuff in their faces... Edited March 13 by rapunzel of course "good writing" is subjective and you can be a great writer who's not an mfa writer, but applications can be expensive lol so it's good to know if you're "ready" _redrabbit7 1
Mia172 Posted March 13 Posted March 13 2 minutes ago, rapunzel said: does anyone have any advice on finding "good readers" (professors / mfa students) willing to help you out, especially if you don't have too many connections from your undergrad? it seems wrong to cold email writers you like and just stick your stuff in their faces... This forum and the Facebook draft are good places to start to look for fellow writers who are willing to connect lol. I see some people are already doing this. There are online one-time workshops/writing classes with a small fee too. Some of them are really good and taught by somewhat high profile writers. And in general, to be surrounded by people who are literary-minded…find people whose work you think highly of in local writer groups. And talk to fellow audiences in readings or other literary events if you feel brave? Exchanging brief self-introductions would probably help you figure out how they are involved in writing. Good chances they are also committed writers or readers for years. _redrabbit7 1
zaira Posted March 13 Posted March 13 8 hours ago, honeytreasures said: Hello! Does anyone have any insight into Brown, WashU St. Louis, and Boston for fiction? I'm assuming soft rejects for all of them, but just figured I'd ask! I still don't know what's happening with Boston. I'm not assuming it's a soft rejection just yet because their process seems to work a little differently from other programs. They usually do a big rejection round, followed by scattered acceptances and waitlists, then a final rejection round. Based on last year's data some folks who made it to this final rejection round were told they were in the top 12% of the applicant pool. My theory? They're still deciding. I've seen two fiction acceptances from this past weekend but haven't heard of any waitlists. I'm just gonna hang tight and see. szymborskasy 1
honeytreasures Posted March 13 Posted March 13 1 hour ago, zaira said: I still don't know what's happening with Boston. I'm not assuming it's a soft rejection just yet because their process seems to work a little differently from other programs. They usually do a big rejection round, followed by scattered acceptances and waitlists, then a final rejection round. Based on last year's data some folks who made it to this final rejection round were told they were in the top 12% of the applicant pool. My theory? They're still deciding. I've seen two fiction acceptances from this past weekend but haven't heard of any waitlists. I'm just gonna hang tight and see. Thank you! That makes sense :)
_redrabbit7 Posted March 13 Posted March 13 18 hours ago, _redrabbit7 said: I’ve been living in Providence as an international student for nearly three years now and I think I like it here a bit. It’s suitable for a solitary creative life, if that’s something you’re interested in. It’s quiet and boring, nothing much happens outside the Brown-RISD area. There’s a bookstore in Downtown called Symposium; I go there often to get a supply of books. By the way, I asked my roommate this morning, a current grad in fiction at Brown, and he told me he didn’t think acceptances had been sent out yet. He hadn’t heard anything. He would ask a professor in class today. None of my two other friends in the fiction and poetry tracks had heard anything too. The only acceptance we’ve heard of so far might be an early notice or a hoax. Hey guys, my roommate asked a professor in class yesterday about whether acceptances had been sent out and they said no acceptances, waitlists, or rejections had been sent out by Brown University. They have another class today so he’s going to ask another professor. I’m redacting the names of these professors for his privacy. analog_e, misssalem, zaira and 5 others 8
Lady Gladys Posted March 13 Posted March 13 6 minutes ago, _redrabbit7 said: Hey guys, my roommate asked a professor in class yesterday about whether acceptances had been sent out and they said no acceptances, waitlists, or rejections had been sent out by Brown University. They have another class today so he’s going to ask another professor. I’m redacting the names of these professors for his privacy. I know I sound crazy, but just checking -- your professor understood this is for MFA Creative Writing in general? Wasn't just talking about one genre, either?
_redrabbit7 Posted March 13 Posted March 13 Just now, Lady Gladys said: I know I sound crazy, but just checking -- your professor understood this is for MFA Creative Writing in general? Wasn't just talking about one genre, either? I believe he meant generally. Lady Gladys 1
HalBear Posted March 13 Posted March 13 9 hours ago, crossingmyfingers1212 said: anyone have any idea when knoxville might send their decisions? It is my understanding that all acceptances have gone out. My portal still says "Awaiting Decision" though. So I think, Waitlists and rejections haven't been sent out. My little sister is in undergrad there, and spring break is next week. It is my hope that they will notify before thier spring break haha! I am hoping for a waitlist!!
tomat0tomat0 Posted March 13 Posted March 13 just got waitlisted at u of florida !! for fiction !! first (probably only!) non-rejection !! email says they accept 6 people in fiction per year and also waitlist 6. Hjanep, Ekpe, _redrabbit7 and 13 others 16
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