2025 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[tomat0tomat0]

u of miami (fl) fiction interview via email in spreadsheet

[seah0rse]

9 minutes ago, popcornn said:

@ any mfa vets or anyone who might know more about this: wondering how you would compare the UMass Amherst mfa program with the Columbia mfa program for fiction (money aside for now), in terms of quality of education, faculty attention, workshop culture, and prestige? 

Hey popcorn! I don’t know much about Columbia but I do know that everyone I’ve met who has been thru UMass in recent years was very happy with their experience. The 3rd year was especially helpful to folks for focusing on their thesis, and that’s when the mentorship from faculty is the strongest. There’s a lot of support for the teaching component & opportunities to teach CW classes. The Valley has a vibrant literary scene & UMass students have opportunities to meet visiting writers / earn summer funds by working Juniper programs / the MFA students seem to regularly run reading series or work for lit mags. I’ve heard no complaints about workshop culture (I think size of cohort is actually a benefit, not detriment, in the workshop), the craft classes are interesting, and you can take electives to support your book project. I don’t really understand how we’re collectively measuring prestige but it has been a respected program & produced many successful / talented writers. They frequently invite alum back to teach workshops at Juniper or give readings, talks, etc. I’m happy to say more if you have specific questions.

[squid05]

Seeing one UNCG fiction acceptance in the draft chart. Any others out there? Getting nervous...

[gradschoolpspspsps]

1 hour ago, Mystic_Sunshine said:

I'm from the south so if you (or anyone else) wants to chat about it if you're considering those options I'd be happy too. 

Knoxville is not what I'd consider deep south. Mississippi most definitely is though lol. 

That would be great! I'm mostly curious about if the stipends would be livable for those areas, and if the campus and surrounding area would be walkable. I don't have a license, my best friend got in a pretty bad car accident when we were both learning and it sort of turned me off. I am a little nervous about moving somewhere not knowing much about public transport. 

[glowingbrightly]

51 minutes ago, popcornn said:

@ any mfa vets or anyone who might know more about this: wondering how you would compare the UMass Amherst mfa program with the Columbia mfa program for fiction (money aside for now), in terms of quality of education, faculty attention, workshop culture, and prestige? 

 

27 minutes ago, seah0rse said:

Hey popcorn! I don’t know much about Columbia but I do know that everyone I’ve met who has been thru UMass in recent years was very happy with their experience. The 3rd year was especially helpful to folks for focusing on their thesis, and that’s when the mentorship from faculty is the strongest. There’s a lot of support for the teaching component & opportunities to teach CW classes. The Valley has a vibrant literary scene & UMass students have opportunities to meet visiting writers / earn summer funds by working Juniper programs / the MFA students seem to regularly run reading series or work for lit mags. I’ve heard no complaints about workshop culture (I think size of cohort is actually a benefit, not detriment, in the workshop), the craft classes are interesting, and you can take electives to support your book project. I don’t really understand how we’re collectively measuring prestige but it has been a respected program & produced many successful / talented writers. They frequently invite alum back to teach workshops at Juniper or give readings, talks, etc. I’m happy to say more if you have specific questions.

I’ve been looking into Columbia for poetry despite the cost so can add some basics about fiction in contrast to amherst—quality of education is certainly high and prestige is there but cohorts are massive for fiction, workshop registration is competitive and uneven, and mentorship is largely nonexistent beyond independent study or pure chemistry. They have some great faculty and course offerings but workshop culture is going to be severely lacking compared to amherst. 

[GingerBB]

16 hours ago, honeytreasures said:

Omg this is so nice to share! Big big big congrats so exciting!!

Thank you so much, appreciate it! 🤗🤗

[writeordie]

3 hours ago, poet-hopeful said:

I got an email from Iowa for poetry yesterday :') it looks like they might still be calling!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I saw a post today that someone on draft got an email to schedule a call for poetry yesterday (you, maybe!), and foolishly got my hopes up for fiction calls somehow still being a thing, lol. <cringe at my hopeful doe eyes> THEN I saw via my USPS informed delivery emails that there's a letter coming today from Iowa...aaaaaand that's more or less game over, folks. Unless Brown decides to rain kittens this afternoon.

But I have ZERO right to complain. I'm in at NC State with full funding. Absolutely amazing. Just had that dream of Iowa, like so many others, for, um...the last 14 years? Yeahhhhhh. Anyway. Happy Friday everyone! May your faculty mentors be wise and warm, and may the unknowns become knowns soon, before we all perish in this insane limbo.

[GingerBB]

14 hours ago, gradschoolpspspsps said:

Hello all, when I tell you I am so glad I did not discover this website until this Monday, I have been obsessively checking this forum like all day every day since. I was a regular person casually wondering if I'd get an email back before this. Now I check my email two times an hour. I am a college and career counselor, and today my seniors waiting for their undergrad acceptances were telling me I was stressing them out!

But, you all seem very lovely so it's worth it. I am not on Facebook so I don't know how valuable any of this information is, but I applied to a truly absurd number of schools because I work for Americorps and I wanted to take advantage of the ones that were free. The one I saw people asking about is University of Mississippi; they reached out to me on Monday to tell me they were missing my third recommender and to please send it as soon as possible.

I very sincerely apologize for being the one guy holding that entire response time hostage, lol. I've been waitlisted at UTK, Miami University, and ASU. I hope any of that is helpful to someone! Also-

I went to BU for undergrad, and I just wanted to say your post made me smile so hard! It was taking cw classes taught by BU MFA students that really made me decide that I loved writing too much to pick a reasonable major. Every professor I had was amazing, taught me different things, and was just so fun to take a workshop with. Several of my recommenders are on the decision team this year, and if they thought you were good you must be amazing! Have so much fun with Leslie Epstein, man once told me I was talented but he was dismayed at the way I was using it lol. BU's program is great and Boston is a fantastic city. When you teach EN305 know you're inspiring the next wave of applicants. 

Aaaahhh this made me so happy, thank you so much! Teaching is honestly one of the things I’m looking most forward to — have zero experience in it BUT I know all too well the feeling of trying my best to write well and not having anyone to guide me on what “writing well” looks like for me, so I’m really keen to give back and maybe be that person for someone else! It was Leslie Epstein who called me, actually — he sounds wonderful! I wish you so much luck with your waitlists, hope you get whichever college is the best fit for you and do HMU if you’re in Boston 👊

[Hjanep]

Got my Iowa rejection with a handwritten “thanks for the strong application” so I guess I moved up a tier over last year. Am I in a toxic relationship with these programs? Maybe?

[vagueblue]

1 hour ago, popcornn said:

@ any mfa vets or anyone who might know more about this: wondering how you would compare the UMass Amherst mfa program with the Columbia mfa program for fiction (money aside for now), in terms of quality of education, faculty attention, workshop culture, and prestige? 

Can’t speak to UMass but I have friends who’ve gone through the Columbia program and it’s been life-changing for them. Fiction cohort is huge (60-70) whereas poetry is under 10, so the experience is very much what you make of it. There’s apparently a… cultural disparity between people who can afford the program and those on scholarship. Professors are top-notch; interdisciplinary study is encouraged and they have a translation track. Teaching isn’t built into the program but (I’ve been told) Columbia has a good reputation if you’re looking to teach after. Students can apply to TA in their second year; a friend of mine did that and then went on to adjunct. 

[chaes]

Hey all, been lurking on this channel for a while and decided to join the convo, mainly because Wyoming is on my mind 🤠 I saw two acceptances in Draft, one for fiction and one for nonfiction. And I saw the note that they were accepting 2 fiction and 3 nonfiction students. Anyone know if all acceptances were sent out yesterday?

I first applied to MFAs/MAs in 2021. I'm finishing my MA in Writing this semester and hoping to enroll in an MFA program this fall.

[GingerBB]

4 hours ago, poet-hopeful said:

I got an email from Iowa for poetry yesterday :') it looks like they might still be calling!

Congrats that’s hugeee!!!!!!! 😀😀😀

[saintjdog]

14 hours ago, abross said:

Hi everyone! I just discovered this thread. Has anyone heard anything from The New School's Creative Writing MFA? thanks in advance

also haven't heard anything yet -- but you're the only person I've come across who also applied to The New School! 

[GingerBB]

Just got a waitlist notification (Fiction) for Wyoming! So all acceptances are probably out. 

[everything bagel lover]

47 minutes ago, chaes said:

Hey all, been lurking on this channel for a while and decided to join the convo, mainly because Wyoming is on my mind 🤠 I saw two acceptances in Draft, one for fiction and one for nonfiction. And I saw the note that they were accepting 2 fiction and 3 nonfiction students. Anyone know if all acceptances were sent out yesterday?

I first applied to MFAs/MAs in 2021. I'm finishing my MA in Writing this semester and hoping to enroll in an MFA program this fall.

Welcome! I imagine all acceptances were sent out and the first Wyoming fiction waitlist just dropped on Draft. I’m also waiting on Wyoming and I haven’t heard anything personally!

congratulations @GingerBB!!! ❤️

Edited March 14 by everything bagel lover
Congrats!!

[Nauna]

Has anyone heard whisperings from Ole Miss Phase II yet?

[prufrock_]

4 minutes ago, GingerBB said:

Just got a waitlist notification (Fiction) for Wyoming! So all acceptances are probably out. 

I also just got waitlisted fiction Wyoming 🕯️fingers crossed for us!

[everything bagel lover]

4 minutes ago, prufrock_ said:

I also just got waitlisted fiction Wyoming 🕯️fingers crossed for us!

YAYAYAY omg congratulations! ❤️ I've got my fingers crossed for the both of yall!

[GingerBB]

8 minutes ago, everything bagel lover said:

YAYAYAY omg congratulations! ❤️ I've got my fingers crossed for the both of yall!

Thank you so much! 😄

[exvat]

Pumping out good vibes for all still in the game ✨🤞🙏

Also here to report how awkward it can feel to email with current MFAs questions about their program experiences, money stuff, etc. Did not anticipate this part!

[everything bagel lover]

2 minutes ago, exvat said:

Pumping out good vibes for all still in the game ✨🤞🙏

Also here to report how awkward it can feel to email with current MFAs questions about their program experiences, money stuff, etc. Did not anticipate this part!

It does feel awkward! Thankfully, everyone I've reached out to has been super chill and happy to answer questions! It feels weird to ask about money because of the social taboo but I think there's a sort of camaraderie and empathy both ways where everyone is just trying to gather information to make an informed choice. 

[OctopusCactus]

2 hours ago, vagueblue said:

Can’t speak to UMass but I have friends who’ve gone through the Columbia program and it’s been life-changing for them. Fiction cohort is huge (60-70) whereas poetry is under 10, so the experience is very much what you make of it. There’s apparently a… cultural disparity between people who can afford the program and those on scholarship. Professors are top-notch; interdisciplinary study is encouraged and they have a translation track. Teaching isn’t built into the program but (I’ve been told) Columbia has a good reputation if you’re looking to teach after. Students can apply to TA in their second year; a friend of mine did that and then went on to adjunct. 

Columbia has very strong pedagogy resources for anyone looking to teach, though teaching is not required as part of anyone's funding package.  There is a "writer as teacher" class every semester, an online teacher training course that yields a certificate which students can do at their own pace, and the Columbia Artists as Teachers program matches students with teaching opportunities with a variety of populations.  Beyond TAing, students can also get hired to teach in Columbia's summer creative writing programs for high school students.  

[Hjanep]

Checked portal and got my UCI R

[Scribe]

1 minute ago, Hjanep said:

Checked portal and got my UCI R

there should be a vomit emoji reaction. 

[paper copy]

Hi All! Longtime lurker, first-time poster here This is my second round of applications for fiction - last year I went 0a/2w/8r in the final year of my BA and really took my waitlists as encouragement to keep going. When this year’s cycle rolled around, I was a little burnt out from finishing school and starting my first “big kid” job, but still wanted to throw my hat in the ring for a couple of schools.

As it stands right now, I’m 1a/1w/1sr/2p - I’m not terribly hopeful about my waitlist since there seems to be quite a few of us on the list, and I’m not expecting to hear from my last two schools until early April. While I was initially super excited about my acceptance, I’ve started to be a little apprehensive about the program. For one, it’s nowhere near fully funded…my post-decision research also showed that the program has a cash cow reputation. I know that schools don’t just let anybody in, but it has me wondering if they actually think I’ll be a good fit for their program or they just wanted a warm body who would pay tuition. Anyone else wrestling with these uncertainties? Or have any advice?

Thanks to everyone for making this space safe for stressed aspiring writers ❤️ And congrats to everyone who’s gotten good news this week! Only one more month til Decision Day!!