2025 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[zaira]

Looks like another fiction acceptance went out for Boston yesterday (not on the Draft sheet but on the page itself). Wonder if they're finished calling folks or if they're gonna extend it into the weekend/early next week? 

[Tinky C. Clown]

12 hours ago, Hjanep said:

Yep I’m also 37, have an MBA and two little kids and am already on a second career. I think you’ll realize at some point where you want to focus your time. Life is long. This is my second round applying and it was easier in a lot of ways this time around. Knowing what to expect was really helpful and allowed me to be much more systematic with apps. 

big relate. last year i kept track of my apps in the notes app of my computer. this year i had a real spreadsheet where i linked websites, portals, statements for each. obviously has nothing to do with the quality of my writing but it made a huge difference 

[exvat]

1 hour ago, Tinky C. Clown said:

big relate. last year i kept track of my apps in the notes app of my computer. this year i had a real spreadsheet where i linked websites, portals, statements for each. obviously has nothing to do with the quality of my writing but it made a huge difference 

Spreadsheet with notes and such was clutch for me this cycle too. Made a big difference from my rather slapdash approach 7 years ago. (Getting my shit together personally helped too, but shout-out to Excel)

[nauseated]

My cycle is pretty much over - only waiting on Brown which I'm pretty sure is a soft rejection. But I just wanted to say I'm insanely grateful for this community. I applied in a bit of a panic. I was a few months out of undergrad, jobless, feeling like I was wasting time, and had built it up in my head that a masters degree from outside my country is the only option, for prestige and qualification reasons. I don't think I think that way anymore. I'm 23, and I'm nowhere near the writer I want to be, and I highly doubt I'm ready for an MFA either. I have a job working in academic administration, and it's nice and slow, even if I may not like it much anymore. All of this combined with the general hijinks around the Trump admin and some unis turning into cute little fascism cafes has really made me question whether the pinnacle of success lies in moving westwards. Don't think I would have thought of these things if it hadn't been for this place - so thank you all, for sharing your triumphs and hesitations - it has helped even if you didn't mean for it to. I've been rethinking some things. I've dipped my toes into sports writing for the past couple of years, so maybe I might look towards getting a journalism degree here at home. Keep writing nevertheless. Trying to not be too harsh on myself as someone who is fairly young and bound to make mistakes at this stage in her career - not sure while I'm sharing all this but it's a strange and tentative place to be in. But I think I'll be okay. As will you all

[glowingbrightly]

29 minutes ago, nauseated said:

My cycle is pretty much over - only waiting on Brown which I'm pretty sure is a soft rejection. But I just wanted to say I'm insanely grateful for this community. I applied in a bit of a panic. I was a few months out of undergrad, jobless, feeling like I was wasting time, and had built it up in my head that a masters degree from outside my country is the only option, for prestige and qualification reasons. I don't think I think that way anymore. I'm 23, and I'm nowhere near the writer I want to be, and I highly doubt I'm ready for an MFA either. I have a job working in academic administration, and it's nice and slow, even if I may not like it much anymore. All of this combined with the general hijinks around the Trump admin and some unis turning into cute little fascism cafes has really made me question whether the pinnacle of success lies in moving westwards. Don't think I would have thought of these things if it hadn't been for this place - so thank you all, for sharing your triumphs and hesitations - it has helped even if you didn't mean for it to. I've been rethinking some things. I've dipped my toes into sports writing for the past couple of years, so maybe I might look towards getting a journalism degree here at home. Keep writing nevertheless. Trying to not be too harsh on myself as someone who is fairly young and bound to make mistakes at this stage in her career - not sure while I'm sharing all this but it's a strange and tentative place to be in. But I think I'll be okay. As will you all

I see a lot of people talking about soft rejections lately, I think mainly because of how stressful the wait can be, and I just wanna encourage anyone who thinks like that to try to be a bit easier on themselves. I don’t think most schools operate that way and Brown in particular is definitely still up in the air. It may be dauntingly selective but we are still in this! 

[Chex]

On 3/10/2025 at 3:04 AM, curfew said:

woah i got into Iowa for poetry badaboom badabing

This just struck me now, and I don't think I gave it the appropriate amount of reaction. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!! 🎉 🎉 🎊🎊🥳🥳 Been following your journey and I'm so thrilled for you! Hoping Iowa turns out to be a wonderful place for you. 

Also wanted to give a shout out to @nauseated. That was a very thoughtful post, and I'm glad you have some decent alternative options this year. Whatever happens, please keep your fire burning, keep writing and hopefully someday some of us here will read your work. I wish you only the very, very best. ✨

Edited March 15 by Chex

[misssalem]

3 hours ago, glowingbrightly said:

I see a lot of people talking about soft rejections lately, I think mainly because of how stressful the wait can be, and I just wanna encourage anyone who thinks like that to try to be a bit easier on themselves. I don’t think most schools operate that way and Brown in particular is definitely still up in the air. It may be dauntingly selective but we are still in this! 

I needed this! Thank you!

[backtooskewl]

On 1/13/2025 at 6:04 AM, bibsy said:

oh, so cool to see someone else here with a background in games and comics! i also applied totally last minute this cycle and am letting the chips fall where they may. i have the samples i have, and if they're too genre-influenced for a program, welp, so be it. best of luck with the apps! it's 3 am and i'm actively procrastinating on my final two (houston and UC riverside)

Let's be friends! Send me a DM if you want to chat about it all!

[backtooskewl]

On 1/11/2025 at 11:11 PM, prufrock_ said:

I agree with everything Mystic_Sunshine said.

Most deadlines have just about passed, nearly all are in mid to late december. A small handful are still open, but that window is closing very quickly. I'd recommend delaying your apps until next round if possible; that's what i did when i was in a similar situation as yours three rounds ago.

Applications will open up around september 2025, for fall 2026 admission.

 

Ohmygoodness. September feels so far away. There's not programs that are taking students in sooner? This might be a dumb question. I have a hard time keeping track of grad school timing while I'm still running my life.

Also! So I was getting really close to having my materials ready to apply to the one school I knew I would apply for, however it was my two references that became the obstacle. Both of them were professors I haven't spoken to in about ten years. One replied and said they were too busy to write a recc for me at the start of the year, but were happy to supply one for the next application cycle. The other didn't respond at all. I had to hunt down her latest university contact as she had moved schools. Is this common? Should I try again with her or move on?

I guess the good news is this will give me time to research schools and early apply to a bunch of good ones.

Oh. One other question. Still a gradcafe newb. Now that app season is over, should I be talking about this on a new thread or?

Edited March 16 by backtooskewl
last question added

[prufrock_]

6 minutes ago, backtooskewl said:

Ohmygoodness. September feels so far away. There's not programs that are taking students in sooner? This might be a dumb question. I have a hard time keeping track of grad school timing while I'm still running my life.

Also! So I was getting really close to having my materials ready to apply to the one school I knew I would apply for, however it was my two references that became the obstacle. Both of them were professors I haven't spoken to in about ten years. One replied and said they were too busy to write a recc for me at the start of the year, but were happy to supply one for the next application cycle. The other didn't respond at all. I had to hunt down her latest university contact as she had moved schools. Is this common? Should I try again with her or move on?

I guess the good news is this will give me time to research schools and early apply to a bunch of good ones.

Oh. One other question. Still a gradcafe newb. Now that app season is over, should I be talking about this on a new thread or?

>There's not programs that are taking students in sooner?

none that i'm aware of! if you're looking at funded programs, then they only admit in the fall semester. Which means yeah, doing applications in sept-december, then waiting 4-5 months to hear back, then you'd start in fall. that said, i think 'non funded' part time programs are rolling applications, but i don't recommend those.

> One replied and said they were too busy to write a recc for me at the start of the year, but were happy to supply one for the next application cycle. The other didn't respond at all. I had to hunt down her latest university contact as she had moved schools. Is this common? Should I try again with her or move on?

Yeah, you'll want to give a few months notice when asking for a letter of recommendation. Most schools ask for three. I had good luck joining some legit writers workshops and asking the leader to write a rec to fill in that 3rd spot.

>Oh. One other question. Still a gradcafe newb. Now that app season is over, should I be talking about this on a new thread or?

App season isn't over quiet yet! Talking here's still good. We still have a whole month until the dust settles. (April 15th is the deadline for most people to say yes/no, so there's a lot of waitlist movement up until then).

 

 

[curfew]

5 hours ago, Chex said:

This just struck me now, and I don't think I gave it the appropriate amount of reaction. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!! 🎉 🎉 🎊🎊🥳🥳 Been following your journey and I'm so thrilled for you! Hoping Iowa turns out to be a wonderful place for you.

Oh man, @Chex.Thank you so very much for these warm words!!! That's so thoughtful of you to say! I went into this with an idea of getting into fiction programs and the only one which accepted me was a poetry program! I think it is something like fate; we will see. The administration in that state is doing some pretty necrotic things to their universities right now, especially with regards to funding... but for now we do what we can and appreciate what we have.

Rooting for the bestest of luck on your pending applications and life in general!!!! Likewise I am following your journey, lantern lit in the dark.

[backtooskewl]

Thank you @prufrock_!

So when is an appropriate time to hit up professors for recc letters again? and do you think the one who responded is a lost cause or that I should try them agian?

How did you find writers workshops in your city? I'm in Philly and haven't thought to look for some here. I was actually considering starting my own this year.

[Magnolia Electric Co]

I know none of us have actually been through an MFA before (in creative writing at least), but I was wondering if people have thoughts on how much teaching is too much teaching. Some of the programs I'm looking at have a 1/2 load, or even 2/2. I know many programs are just 1/1. Do folks think 1/2 would be too overwhelming to balance? And does it make a difference in workload if it's composition/rhetoric teaching vs. creative writing teaching?

[KennyK]

When a program accepts you and says funding is pending, how long does it usually take before they update you? Is that something I have to check in with them about?

[Mystic_Sunshine]

1 hour ago, Magnolia Electric Co said:

I know none of us have actually been through an MFA before (in creative writing at least), but I was wondering if people have thoughts on how much teaching is too much teaching. Some of the programs I'm looking at have a 1/2 load, or even 2/2. I know many programs are just 1/1. Do folks think 1/2 would be too overwhelming to balance? And does it make a difference in workload if it's composition/rhetoric teaching vs. creative writing teaching?

I'm in a funded MA program. So, I teach a 2/2. I've only ever taught rhet comp so I can't speak on your last question. 

1. I think a lot of the manageability depends on the support your program gives you. If they have resources available and your primary responsibility is to just use the curriculum given to you, it is really fine. I think if I would not have had support though I would have potentially found it overwhelming. 

2. Teaching eats as much time as you let it. So I schedule the time I dedicate to teaching. 

3. It also depends on class sizes. I have more students this semester and grading takes me a lot longer than it did last semester. 

4. Everything gets easier after you've done it once. 

I'd always give preference for a program (I think) that does 1/2 or 1/1 though just because writing time is valuable. I think more importantly, when your teaching starts is good to look at. I think not teaching in the first year or semester is extremely important because it gives you time to adjust. 

 

[glowingbrightly]

3 hours ago, Magnolia Electric Co said:

I know none of us have actually been through an MFA before (in creative writing at least), but I was wondering if people have thoughts on how much teaching is too much teaching. Some of the programs I'm looking at have a 1/2 load, or even 2/2. I know many programs are just 1/1. Do folks think 1/2 would be too overwhelming to balance? And does it make a difference in workload if it's composition/rhetoric teaching vs. creative writing teaching?

honestly anything but 1/1 for a creative writing mfa sounds like a scam unless you are looking for a program specifically focused on teaching. and from talking with people I know, teaching comp is more draining than teaching creative writing because it’s less engaging and takes more energy away from thinking about your own practice, though this ofc varies in terms of both institutional leeway and support

[OctopusCactus]

15 hours ago, backtooskewl said:

Also! So I was getting really close to having my materials ready to apply to the one school I knew I would apply for, however it was my two references that became the obstacle. Both of them were professors I haven't spoken to in about ten years. One replied and said they were too busy to write a recc for me at the start of the year, but were happy to supply one for the next application cycle. The other didn't respond at all. I had to hunt down her latest university contact as she had moved schools. Is this common? Should I try again with her or move on?
 

I would move on from the second professor.  If she didn't reply to your request for a reference that's very telling.  You do not want recommenders you'll have to chase down to submit their letters on time, over and over again with each program. I had a recommender like that and wrangling her was literally the most stressful part of my entire app cycle.  Looking back, I can see that though she was very enthusiastic about my writing there were signs from the beginning that she was quite disorganized and I regret not choosing a different recommender.

Additionally, having both references be from professors you haven't interacted with in ten years isn't ideal if there's any way you can avoid it.  Programs want to hear about the writer you are today.  Since you're already thinking about next cycle, try taking a writing workshop, going on a writer's retreat, or joining a writing group with the goal of getting a letter out of it.

[Mystic_Sunshine]

10 hours ago, glowingbrightly said:

honestly anything but 1/1 for a creative writing mfa sounds like a scam unless you are looking for a program specifically focused on teaching. and from talking with people I know, teaching comp is more draining than teaching creative writing because it’s less engaging and takes more energy away from thinking about your own practice, though this ofc varies in terms of both institutional leeway and support

I think it makes a difference too because of student engagement. My students have to take rhet comp. A lot of them aren't interested and don't like it. Whereas with creative writing it is usually not that way. 

So, part of the draining part is having to get students to engage. 

[Magnolia Electric Co]

@Mystic_Sunshine @glowingbrightly Thank you so much for the helpful responses! It makes sense that being a TA vs. "instructor of record" would make a huge difference. And that teaching creative writing would be less work, and more enjoyable work, than teaching comp.

From what I can tell, many of the most competitive programs do have a 0/0 teaching load the first year. But I think (correct me if I'm wrong!) Indiana and Illinois have a 1/1 teaching load in year 1 and 1/2 in year 2. It looks like U Mass Amherst has a 1/2 load all three years, and Syracuse has a 1/2 load in years 2 and 3. So it does seem like a fair number of popular programs ask for more than 1/1.

I know a lot of people are interested in these programs, so I wonder if they are happy with the teaching load, or if they don't consider it when applying. I didn't think about teaching load at all when I was applying, but now it feels very important. I'm curious if anyone else is in the same boat!

[KennyK]

What are the odds schools will be reaching out tomorrow on Saint Patrick’s day?

[glowingbrightly]

10 minutes ago, KennyK said:

What are the odds schools will be reaching out tomorrow on Saint Patrick’s day?

most schools reach out midweek tues-thurs anyway, but unless you are waiting to hear from notre dame i don’t think st patty’s day has much of an influence lol

[Southron]

Anyone heard anything from Pittsburgh since their update email at the end of February? They're the last program I'm waiting on.

Edited March 16 by Southron

[smallchange]

21 hours ago, backtooskewl said:

Ohmygoodness. September feels so far away. There's not programs that are taking students in sooner? This might be a dumb question. I have a hard time keeping track of grad school timing while I'm still running my life.

Also! So I was getting really close to having my materials ready to apply to the one school I knew I would apply for, however it was my two references that became the obstacle. Both of them were professors I haven't spoken to in about ten years. One replied and said they were too busy to write a recc for me at the start of the year, but were happy to supply one for the next application cycle. The other didn't respond at all. I had to hunt down her latest university contact as she had moved schools. Is this common? Should I try again with her or move on?

I guess the good news is this will give me time to research schools and early apply to a bunch of good ones.

Oh. One other question. Still a gradcafe newb. Now that app season is over, should I be talking about this on a new thread or?

There are a few UK programs with rolling deadlines through June. East Anglia I know for sure, and I’m not completely sure but I think it’s more common with schools there that the deadlines are pretty late. If it’s something you’re interested in definitely worth doing some research. These aren’t funded obviously and I think in the UK they mainly offer a masters, not MFA (usually one year). 

[backtooskewl]

7 hours ago, OctopusCactus said:

I would move on from the second professor.  If she didn't reply to your request for a reference that's very telling.  You do not want recommenders you'll have to chase down to submit their letters on time, over and over again with each program. I had a recommender like that and wrangling her was literally the most stressful part of my entire app cycle.  Looking back, I can see that though she was very enthusiastic about my writing there were signs from the beginning that she was quite disorganized and I regret not choosing a different recommender.

Additionally, having both references be from professors you haven't interacted with in ten years isn't ideal if there's any way you can avoid it.  Programs want to hear about the writer you are today.  Since you're already thinking about next cycle, try taking a writing workshop, going on a writer's retreat, or joining a writing group with the goal of getting a letter out of it.

Actually I was considering starting my own writing workshop group this year. Would it be kosher to do so and then get a ref from a regular attendee who's familiar with my work?

[Hjanep]

1 hour ago, backtooskewl said:

Actually I was considering starting my own writing workshop group this year. Would it be kosher to do so and then get a ref from a regular attendee who's familiar with my work?

I would just take a virtual Gotham course or something and ask that professor. I feel like a fellow workshop mate is more of a peer relationship