2025 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[seah0rse]

1 minute ago, _redrabbit7 said:

Lol, same way I ask myself how people write compelling stories under 5k words. At 5k, I’m just beginning to say what I want to say. 
 

I think mine stem from influences. I read Coetzee a lot, and he’s only written about three or four short stories through his career, which are not particularly good as standalones. 

Most of my stories are under 1k 😅 I do get very tired, as a short story writer, of having to come up with a new idea every time I want to write. Sometimes I just want to spend 30 pages with one character by the sea or whatever. But I’ve really developed that brevity muscle (I hope), just as novelists develop endurance. Also, for my sanity during midterms, I’ve decided Brown is going to be silent until the 15th 😅 thanks for the update!

[rapunzel]

6 minutes ago, _redrabbit7 said:

Lol, same way I ask myself how people write compelling stories under 5k words. At 5k, I’m just beginning to say what I want to say. 
 

I think mine stem from influences. I read Coetzee a lot, and he’s only written about three or four short stories through his career, which are not particularly good as standalones. 

i think 5 to 5.5k is like, my upper limit. usually i'm sitting somewhere between 3.5k and 5.5k lol

but i think it also comes from the subject matter? usually when i'm working on a short story there's only one thing at the center of it, and i don't think i've ever written a short story with more than 4 characters total (usually 2-3)

[decayingballads21]

50 minutes ago, currahcane said:

Hi y'all. I've been waitlisted at my top two programs (UCSD and OSU) and received 1 hard r and two soft r's. (Though, in truth, the programs I've not heard from are ones I've had to take out of consideration anyway due to the politics in the area they are in.) I am wondering if anyone has experience with waitlists moving, I know OSU's is longggg (just based on the MFA draft.) but I haven't seen anyone else waitlisted at UCSD for nonfiction. Starting to feel slightly hopeless about it, but is there any chance I'll hear before April? Has anyone else been accepted off the waitlist at one of these schools? Thanks!

Hi! What genre are you? And do you mean Oregon state or Ohio? 

I don’t think there will be waitlist movement until after the first week of April. A lot of schools have spring breaks this week or next, and then AWP is end of March. My assumption is accepted students weekends will likely be early April- after that we should see movement! 

[currahcane]

Just now, decayingballads21 said:

Hi! What genre are you? And do you mean Oregon state or Ohio? 

I don’t think there will be waitlist movement until after the first week of April. A lot of schools have spring breaks this week or next, and then AWP is end of March. My assumption is accepted students weekends will likely be early April- after that we should see movement! 

Nonfiction! And Oregon State. Thank you!

[decayingballads21]

9 minutes ago, currahcane said:

Nonfiction! And Oregon State. Thank you!

I’m also waiting on them for cnf. Did you hear anything back from them yet about waitlist size?

[currahcane]

11 minutes ago, decayingballads21 said:

I’m also waiting on them for cnf. Did you hear anything back from them yet about waitlist size?

Nothing official yet. But based on the draft I don't see many waitlisted CNF applicants, but I do see a lot of waitlists from them in general. My email said there were only four nonfiction slots so I imagine it's pretty tight. Best of luck!

[Jitterbug98]

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  

[Tinky C. Clown]

5 minutes 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  

yes totally! I applied to a similar list last year and got nothing but this year I got a lot of good news (most top top schools rejected me but still) and I'm going to a good, funded competitive program. it takes a lot of stamina and hard work in that intervening year but i'm a big fan of second round app cycles because knowing the process is huge and having to work harder on your writing is also huge

[Tuxedocat]

1 hour ago, decayingballads21 said:

Hi! What genre are you? And do you mean Oregon state or Ohio? 

I don’t think there will be waitlist movement until after the first week of April. A lot of schools have spring breaks this week or next, and then AWP is end of March. My assumption is accepted students weekends will likely be early April- after that we should see movement! 

Regarding accepted student weekends, all of the ones from my schools have been mid-late March (except Bowling Green which was in Feb). Michigan and WashU is next week, and NYU has a couple dates across March and maybe early April from what I recall (been awhile since I looked at their dates). Obviously, schools that haven’t released decisions will probably have them later.

 

I also thought to mention this because I recall someone suggesting that WashU might not have released all results yet. Their welcome day invite for next week is for all the MFA students, and their grad student info sessions are tomorrow and next week. So I’d be surprised if they aren’t don’t releasing fiction acceptances yet. 

[zaira]

4 minutes 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  

It is absolutely possible to get in on a second round after all rejections. Fwiw, one of my instructors got into Iowa on her second try. I know plenty of people who have better luck on later rounds. And this year was especially tough from what I hear. More apps than usual, which makes it tougher for even really strong apps to stand out. 

I'd say choose the schools that really speak to you. If these competitive programs seem like they'd be a perfect fit, please, please apply again next year. You never know! 

[KennyK]

I got accepted into Emerson for fiction! Does anyone have any information on how their funding works? I was told that decisions for funding/fellowships are still pending!

 

Either way, I’m grateful it wasn’t a blanket rejection season for me.

[lizziebennett]

29 minutes ago, KennyK said:

I got accepted into Emerson for fiction! Does anyone have any information on how their funding works? I was told that decisions for funding/fellowships are still pending!

 

Either way, I’m grateful it wasn’t a blanket rejection season for me.

congrats!!!!

[Tinky C. Clown]

34 minutes ago, KennyK said:

I got accepted into Emerson for fiction! Does anyone have any information on how their funding works? I was told that decisions for funding/fellowships are still pending!

 

Either way, I’m grateful it wasn’t a blanket rejection season for me.

their funding is really bad. only a few scholarships – i just turned one down today 

[KennyK]

1 minute ago, Tinky C. Clown said:

their funding is really bad. only a few scholarships – i just turned one down today 

How much was your offer if you don’t mind me asking?

[Lady Gladys]

1 minute ago, Tinky C. Clown said:

their funding is really bad. only a few scholarships – i just turned one down today 

Have you committed yet, or just turning down programs that aren't in the running? I guess it makes sense to open up spots on waitlists if you know for sure.

[gordonandwafflesandmrblik]

3 hours ago, Tinky C. Clown said:

omg, higher tier rejection from iowa with handwritten note at the bottom

Wooooah congrats!!! What did they say?! Was it specific to your manuscript? That’s super cool, I would frame it

[Tinky C. Clown]

13 minutes ago, KennyK said:

How much was your offer if you don’t mind me asking?

it was just tuition covered, no stipend 

12 minutes ago, Lady Gladys said:

Have you committed yet, or just turning down programs that aren't in the running? I guess it makes sense to open up spots on waitlists if you know for sure.

just let go of the the unfunded safety schools, not committed yet

 

7 minutes ago, gordonandwafflesandmrblik said:

Wooooah congrats!!! What did they say?! Was it specific to your manuscript? That’s super cool, I would frame it

it said “I’m sorry we couldn’t offer you a place this year “

[Magnolia Electric Co]

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]

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.

[pananoprodigy]

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

[FFFRANK]

Has Oregon sent their Fiction waitlists yet?

[rapunzel]

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]

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]

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]

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!