2025 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[Tuxedocat]

4 minutes ago, KennyK said:

Has there been any posts on draft from SFSU?

Still nothing on draft! A lot of programs are behind this year so they might also be delayed. 

[Eloise2897]

1 hour ago, glowingbrightly said:

y’all need to step it up to tarot ✨

i asked the tarot if i'll get accepted off the 'cuse waitlist and drew the tower...twice. not sure how to feel about that.

[rapunzel]

13 minutes ago, Eloise2897 said:

i asked the tarot if i'll get accepted off the 'cuse waitlist and drew the tower...twice. not sure how to feel about that.

well... i'd say that you'll soon have escaped the chaos and torment of the waitlist game ?

though i guess that could go either way

[saintjdog]

i got waitlisted at one of my top choices, and accepted to a program i feel fine about. i feel like i read somewhere that if you get an acceptance, you can tell the waitlist and somehow use it as...leverage?? maybe?? i truly don't remember, does anyone know what i'm talking about LOL

[Hjanep]

2 minutes ago, saintjdog said:

i got waitlisted at one of my top choices, and accepted to a program i feel fine about. i feel like i read somewhere that if you get an acceptance, you can tell the waitlist and somehow use it as...leverage?? maybe?? i truly don't remember, does anyone know what i'm talking about LOL

I think this is true. Someone on draft said they were in regular communication with HZWP over their acceptances elsewhere while reiterating that Zell was their top choice and they wanted off the waitlist. I think it’s totally fair to reach out and say you got offered a spot somewhere else but waitlist program is still your top choice / do they have any updates on their end / thanks in advance / etc

[zaira]

2 minutes ago, saintjdog said:

i got waitlisted at one of my top choices, and accepted to a program i feel fine about. i feel like i read somewhere that if you get an acceptance, you can tell the waitlist and somehow use it as...leverage?? maybe?? i truly don't remember, does anyone know what i'm talking about LOL

You can't really use an offer as "leverage" but you can absolutely let your waitlisted program know your situation. It's never a bad idea to tell them if they're your top choice (supposing that's true). And it's also fine to say you have an offer but you're waiting to commit. It could move you up the list, though it could equally do nothing. Either way, honesty and expressing interest in the program is always good! 

[Eloise2897]

5 minutes ago, saintjdog said:

i got waitlisted at one of my top choices, and accepted to a program i feel fine about. i feel like i read somewhere that if you get an acceptance, you can tell the waitlist and somehow use it as...leverage?? maybe?? i truly don't remember, does anyone know what i'm talking about LOL

Yeah, following up to reaffirm your interest has been recommended by some of the MFA vets over on draft. I am happy to have 2 acceptances but am waitlisted at 2 top choices right now; I sent an email to one yesterday where I said I had two other offers right now but wanted to reaffirm my interest in the program, assure them that if given an offer I would accept, and on that note, to check in and see if there were any updates on the waitlist.

[saintjdog]

6 minutes ago, zaira said:

You can't really use an offer as "leverage" but you can absolutely let your waitlisted program know your situation. It's never a bad idea to tell them if they're your top choice (supposing that's true). And it's also fine to say you have an offer but you're waiting to commit. It could move you up the list, though it could equally do nothing. Either way, honesty and expressing interest in the program is always good! 

thank you this is super helpful!! yeah upon reading again "leverage" was absolutely not the right word to use lol

[zaira]

1 minute ago, saintjdog said:

thank you this is super helpful!! yeah upon reading again "leverage" was absolutely not the right word to use lol

Personally I prefer the phrase "give them an offer they can't refuse" 😂

[glowingbrightly]

a poem:

 

I wait around

my shit is brown

[exvat]

9 minutes ago, glowingbrightly said:

a poem:

 

I wait around

my shit is brown

Back In My Day™, this would have been a pay-to-pub "Grand Prize" "winning" "poem"—delivered in a beautifully bound edition, straight to your doorstep.

[squid05]

I keep saying one MFA director's name in my head (hoping for a response to an email) in the same way Kendrick Lamar says MUSTAAARRRRRDDDDDDD!

[Magnolia Electric Co]

This might be an odd time to ask this question, but maybe it will serve as a distraction from Brown (where I live, by the way, so maybe I can exercise some cosmic power over results). But I've been wondering: how did people choose which schools to apply to? From what I can tell, it seems like many people apply to the same 10 or so schools (Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, Brown, Michener, Vanderbilt, Hopkins, Cornell, UVA, Syracuse), and potentially others as well. What makes these schools so universally appealing? What factors do folks consider when deciding?

I'm curious because I came into this not knowing much about reputation, so I mainly looked at funding/teaching package and faculty (which do often align with reputation). But I was surprised to find such a consensus about where to apply, especially when it doesn't align with funding - for example, I would have thought Illinois would be even more popular given its funding and faculty, and until recently Syracuse's funding/teaching package was not very good. So I'm wondering what compels people to make their school lists, in case I end up doing this again next year. Sometimes I feel like I'm missing all this unspoken MFA knowledge!

[Mystic_Sunshine]

15 minutes ago, Magnolia Electric Co said:

This might be an odd time to ask this question, but maybe it will serve as a distraction from Brown (where I live, by the way, so maybe I can exercise some cosmic power over results). But I've been wondering: how did people choose which schools to apply to? From what I can tell, it seems like many people apply to the same 10 or so schools (Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, Brown, Michener, Vanderbilt, Hopkins, Cornell, UVA, Syracuse), and potentially others as well. What makes these schools so universally appealing? What factors do folks consider when deciding?

I'm curious because I came into this not knowing much about reputation, so I mainly looked at funding/teaching package and faculty (which do often align with reputation). But I was surprised to find such a consensus about where to apply, especially when it doesn't align with funding - for example, I would have thought Illinois would be even more popular given its funding and faculty, and until recently Syracuse's funding/teaching package was not very good. So I'm wondering what compels people to make their school lists, in case I end up doing this again next year. Sometimes I feel like I'm missing all this unspoken MFA knowledge!

For me I just prioritized the following things: 

1. Location

2. Stipend

3. Reputation 

4. Opportunities (lit mags mostly)  

[KennyK]

Has UC Riverside posted any more acceptances on draft? I remember there being one a couple of weeks ago.

[NicoleNW]

Sorry I’ve already asked about this, but was curious if anyone else was still waiting on Iowa? (I applied nonfiction)

[Magnolia Electric Co]

1 minute ago, NicoleNW said:

Sorry I’ve already asked about this, but was curious if anyone else was still waiting on Iowa? (I applied nonfiction)

I applied for poetry and have not heard anything yet, even though rejection letters were supposedly postmarked 3/7.

[glowingbrightly]

3 minutes ago, NicoleNW said:

Sorry I’ve already asked about this, but was curious if anyone else was still waiting on Iowa? (I applied nonfiction)

post on draft fb says not yet but very soon for nf

[nikolairostov]

19 minutes ago, Magnolia Electric Co said:

This might be an odd time to ask this question, but maybe it will serve as a distraction from Brown (where I live, by the way, so maybe I can exercise some cosmic power over results). But I've been wondering: how did people choose which schools to apply to? From what I can tell, it seems like many people apply to the same 10 or so schools (Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, Brown, Michener, Vanderbilt, Hopkins, Cornell, UVA, Syracuse), and potentially others as well. What makes these schools so universally appealing? What factors do folks consider when deciding?

I'm curious because I came into this not knowing much about reputation, so I mainly looked at funding/teaching package and faculty (which do often align with reputation). But I was surprised to find such a consensus about where to apply, especially when it doesn't align with funding - for example, I would have thought Illinois would be even more popular given its funding and faculty, and until recently Syracuse's funding/teaching package was not very good. So I'm wondering what compels people to make their school lists, in case I end up doing this again next year. Sometimes I feel like I'm missing all this unspoken MFA knowledge!

For me it was overall reputation + funding. I applied to six fully funded programs (Iowa, Brown, Cornell, Helen Zell, and Michener) plus NYU and Columbia, in the hopes that they’d give me funding and I could live in NYC and see as many plays and exhibits as I liked.

I considered applying to Syracuse but I’m not a big Saunders fan so decided it wasn’t worth the mediocre stipend. I also considered BU but felt that only one year in residence was a bit quick. Vanderbilt and UVA weren’t on my radar, but then I don’t want to move to the south.

[zaira]

28 minutes ago, Magnolia Electric Co said:

Sometimes I feel like I'm missing all this unspoken MFA knowledge!

I feel like the unspoken knowledge part is true, at least in my case. I settled on my list after chatting with people heavily involved in MFA-related stuff (professors, current students, alums). I assumed they'd know best so I didn't look closely into as many other programs. Knowing what I know now, I should have applied to a wider range of programs. There are so many incredible ones out there that don't get as much love as some of the traditionally top-ranked programs. So I'd recommend doing research, looking at places that feel like they'd be a good fit for the type of work you like to do and that make sense for your lifestyle (think funding, location, culture). The top programs are fantastic, but they're far from the only ones worth applying to! 

Edited March 18 by zaira

[Hjanep]

19 minutes ago, Magnolia Electric Co said:

This might be an odd time to ask this question, but maybe it will serve as a distraction from Brown (where I live, by the way, so maybe I can exercise some cosmic power over results). But I've been wondering: how did people choose which schools to apply to? From what I can tell, it seems like many people apply to the same 10 or so schools (Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, Brown, Michener, Vanderbilt, Hopkins, Cornell, UVA, Syracuse), and potentially others as well. What makes these schools so universally appealing? What factors do folks consider when deciding?

I'm curious because I came into this not knowing much about reputation, so I mainly looked at funding/teaching package and faculty (which do often align with reputation). But I was surprised to find such a consensus about where to apply, especially when it doesn't align with funding - for example, I would have thought Illinois would be even more popular given its funding and faculty, and until recently Syracuse's funding/teaching package was not very good. So I'm wondering what compels people to make their school lists, in case I end up doing this again next year. Sometimes I feel like I'm missing all this unspoken MFA knowledge!

Ok well my personal list contains most but not all of these 10. I based my list off a combination of Alma maters of authors I admire, funding (full), location, and interviews from the MFA writers podcast. I’m older, married, and not planning on relying on the stipend to exist 100% but am using it more as a vetting mechanism for stronger programs. So, Syracuse is appealing because of faculty, location (I used to live in Ithaca), length of program (3 years is preferable for me). 

[glowingbrightly]

33 minutes ago, Magnolia Electric Co said:

This might be an odd time to ask this question, but maybe it will serve as a distraction from Brown (where I live, by the way, so maybe I can exercise some cosmic power over results). But I've been wondering: how did people choose which schools to apply to? From what I can tell, it seems like many people apply to the same 10 or so schools (Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, Brown, Michener, Vanderbilt, Hopkins, Cornell, UVA, Syracuse), and potentially others as well. What makes these schools so universally appealing? What factors do folks consider when deciding?

I'm curious because I came into this not knowing much about reputation, so I mainly looked at funding/teaching package and faculty (which do often align with reputation). But I was surprised to find such a consensus about where to apply, especially when it doesn't align with funding - for example, I would have thought Illinois would be even more popular given its funding and faculty, and until recently Syracuse's funding/teaching package was not very good. So I'm wondering what compels people to make their school lists, in case I end up doing this again next year. Sometimes I feel like I'm missing all this unspoken MFA knowledge!

My answer may not apply to everyone, but after going through this process and receiving great feedback from UCI and Columbia—while being rejected from Syracuse, Amherst, UVA, Michigan, and Northwestern—I’ve realized that my poetry fits best in niche yet elite programs, which is a strange combination. Brown, for example, is a perfect fit for my poetics, regardless of its prestige.

Most of the programs I was rejected from lean more traditional, and there aren’t many that prioritize the kind of urgent, experimental practice I bring to the table. I took chances on other top programs, hoping my work might connect, but this process has also taught me a lot about myself and my writing. I understand now why fit matters so much—why people advise reading faculty work before applying.

Honestly, I think a lot of people pick the same schools because of rankings and name recognition, with location also a huge factor. Personally, I was working up to the deadline, since this is my first cycle, and had to limit how many Dec 15 deadlines I applied to. If I reapplied, I’d probably add WashU, Minnesota, Cornell, and Notre Dame while skipping Syracuse, Amherst, Northwestern, Michigan, and UVA.

[exvat]

32 minutes ago, Magnolia Electric Co said:

But I've been wondering: how did people choose which schools to apply to?

1. Location

2. "Prestige" (shorthand for many factors)

3. Affordability (highly subjective, variable)

Drake equation worked out in my favor here ✨🙏

[NicoleNW]

5 minutes ago, Magnolia Electric Co said:

I applied for poetry and have not heard anything yet, even though rejection letters were supposedly postmarked 3/7.

Thank you! (I was like am i the only one lol) maybe i live further away from others. I also know most people you posted about it had like a top tier rejection. So maybe it has to do with that?

[rapunzel]

56 minutes ago, Magnolia Electric Co said:

This might be an odd time to ask this question, but maybe it will serve as a distraction from Brown (where I live, by the way, so maybe I can exercise some cosmic power over results). But I've been wondering: how did people choose which schools to apply to? From what I can tell, it seems like many people apply to the same 10 or so schools (Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, Brown, Michener, Vanderbilt, Hopkins, Cornell, UVA, Syracuse), and potentially others as well. What makes these schools so universally appealing? What factors do folks consider when deciding?

i think funding is huge for a lot of people, and funding can compensate for a lack of well-known faculty / well-known alumni when it comes to reputation. i think uva and jhu are the best examples of this -- not to say that they aren't fantastic programs on their own, or that their faculty/students aren't spectacular, but more so that people are willing to apply to these even if they haven't really heard much about their faculty/alumni, because their great funding allows them to be super selective

some others, like syracuse, are fully a faculty thing. people love saunders enough to overlook the funding i guess? but in general, for programs in boston or new york, unless they're exceptionally well funded, the stipend is usually only enough to barely get you buy, and sometimes not even that (depending on your offer)

others are well-reputed because they're old. so if you take a program like iowa that's been around for a hundred years (and that too, was around before any other programs were around), it makes sense that tons of good writers emerge from that program because 1) for a while it was the only one, and afterwards its reputation drew well-known writers back as faculty, and 2) the fact that it's been around for so long and that its cohorts are relatively large means it's churned out a LOT of students, so naturally we would hear some percentage of them even if the majority aren't major literary superstars

Edited March 18 by rapunzel