2025 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[KennyK]

14 minutes ago, Tinky C. Clown said:

they cover a small few people’s tuition – i got offered that until i turned it down. i don’t know if they’re still offering anyone full tuition but i sort of doubt it. i think it’s fine at this point to just email and ask if they’re still considering you for funding, but i wouldnt get my hopes up with emerson. don’t be afraid of reapplying next year – that’s what i had to do 

Is it a good sign if I received a phone call? Or do they call everyone? I seen past acceptances where people only received notifications that their applications had updated.

[Mystic_Sunshine]

1 hour ago, everything bagel lover said:

It feels so slow today! CSU is on spring break and then the deadline for whoever has the GTA offer will be the week after that (April 1st) and though I'm more calm about it now, I'm still holding on to hope that they'll turn it down and the committee will choose me (33% chance, but I have let them know several times they are my top choice lol) ❤️❤️❤️

Objectively, the stipend at CSU is less pay for more work than NAU and in a more expensive city, so I will be happy with whichever way the dice roll lol 

@Mystic_Sunshine I've got my fingers crossed for you! They probably are just taking their sweet time and testing everyone's sanity and patience lol or maybe moving through alphabetically, or maybe a printer caught fire in the English department and it's diverted everyone's attention away from notifying people.

I really appreciate your encouragement!

I think I'm down and out for this season but that is okay(not really I've sobbed a lot but it will be okay) It's hard for me because I'm not straight out of undergrad (I've had a career and a masters degree) so it's a little daunting to go through it all over again but I'm glad people like you (and some others) have shared your experience about reapplying.

 

 

[Tinky C. Clown]

7 minutes ago, KennyK said:

Is it a good sign if I received a phone call? Or do they call everyone? I seen past acceptances where people only received notifications that their applications had updated.

they call everyone i think. id just email them and ask about funding 

[exvat]

Welcome to Spring / Late March! Chiming in to say I'm happy with the results of my second application cycle, and incredibly grateful that I took time after the first season to live my life as a person and a writer before applying again. Made all the difference in readiness, focus, and discernment. I would have gotten so, so much less out of an MFA had I been accepted my first round. However much I was disappointed back then, now I'm grateful for those straight rejections.

[everything bagel lover]

23 minutes ago, Mystic_Sunshine said:

I really appreciate your encouragement!

I think I'm down and out for this season but that is okay(not really I've sobbed a lot but it will be okay) It's hard for me because I'm not straight out of undergrad (I've had a career and a masters degree) so it's a little daunting to go through it all over again but I'm glad people like you (and some others) have shared your experience about reapplying.

 

 

Of course! ❤️ and you're not out til you're out! 

I'm sorry, I hope you have a good support system irl to be with you during this time. Also congrats on finishing your MA this year! (right?) That's huge!!

[squid05]

What does the p stand for in the acceptances / waitlists / rejections / P? 

[prufrock_]

8 minutes ago, squid05 said:

What does the p stand for in the acceptances / waitlists / rejections / P? 

pending (no news)

[squid05]

2 minutes ago, prufrock_ said:

pending (no news)

Thank you! 

[honeytreasures]

3 hours ago, luckylike56 said:

does anyone know who to contact about waitlist at indiana? thanks!

Brando Skyhorse? If that’s who emailed you about the waitlist! Is it for fiction? I was also waitlisted there!

[honeytreasures]

Does anyone have insight into if people get accepted into Boston U after waitlists have gone out. I applied for fiction—it’s my top school so I’m getting a bit antsy haha and just want to know   

[Mystic_Sunshine]

2 hours ago, everything bagel lover said:

Of course! ❤️ and you're not out til you're out! 

I'm sorry, I hope you have a good support system irl to be with you during this time. Also congrats on finishing your MA this year! (right?) That's huge!!

At this point, I only have UNLV left to hear from and so I'm not holding out any hope. 

Thank you though! I'm very fortunate to have an amazing partner who has been very supportive throughout this process. And yeah! I defend my thesis in April so hopefully that goes well  and now I guess the world is my oyster so hopefully I can find something great until it's time to reapply again. 

 

[Scribe]

On 3/14/2025 at 10:06 PM, P i e r r o t said:

I feel you. I had the same confused feeling about reapplying last year at this time. My advice (others' may differ) would be to focus only on your writing for a while and don't think for a second about the MFAs until at least September. There's no need: you'll be able to assemble everything much faster the second time, in my experience, assuming you've got polished writing in the desk drawer. 

Also—and this is the more important point—you can do this at any time. I am 37 and have a Harvard PhD in another field and lived an entire life, it seemed, before ever applying to MFAs. You'll find this story actually isn't that uncommon. All you can do is what's right for you now. The future will work itself out—because you will do then what is right for you then. 

 

On 3/14/2025 at 10:17 PM, 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. 

I'm 50. I did 25 years as a construction worker, went to school at night and on weekends, I'm back and forth between coasts because I had to leave my family here while I pursued this thing. 
Life is short. 

On 3/14/2025 at 10:29 PM, P i e r r o t said:

I see the Irvine rejections are going out, so this may be too-little-too-late to be of any help, but a few details about the situation for anyone lurking who needs to know.

I talked to the program director on the phone today: extremely generous conversation, really grateful to hear from her, not least because most places don't reach out so intimately to waitlisters. 230ish applications, 5 fiction acceptances. 3 have accepted the offer, 2 have not yet and both have other offers. 

Not sure how long the waitlist is, but it is ranked. They used to accept 6 in fiction (website still says as much) but funding cuts mean 5 these days: she seemed genuinely upset about this. My impression is that they rarely pull from the waitlist, though obviously not impossible. Unfortunately it does seem nearly impossible, however, that multiples on the fiction waitlist will get off it this year, given the particulars. Would love to be wrong, of course.

Good vibes all around—will make the (inevitable?) letdown all the worse. Brutal!

I'm not reading it all; sorry this is so late - finals week.
Any news? I haven't seen her in a good week. The waitlist is short, really short. Really, really short. Yes, the other two have possibilities... maybe. I believe it's a waitlist situation mostly though. 

What is going on with Brown anyway? is that sorted yet?

As far as the possibilities and probabilities, yes, they rarely go to the waitlist but I know one person right now who was pulled from it and two who got in on their second cycle. So, what are your odds? maybe better than you think. who said you need multiples to come off?

[Hjanep]

3 minutes ago, Scribe said:

 

I'm 50. I did 25 years as a construction worker, went to school at night and on weekends, I'm back and forth between coasts because I had to leave my family here while I pursued this thing. 
Life is short. 

I'm not reading it all; sorry this is so late - finals week.
Any news? I haven't seen her in a good week. The waitlist is short, really short. Really, really short. Yes, the other two have possibilities... maybe. I believe it's a waitlist situation mostly though. 

What is going on with Brown anyway? is that sorted yet?

As far as the possibilities and probabilities, yes, they rarely go to the waitlist but I know one person right now who was pulled from it and two who got in on their second cycle. So, what are your odds? maybe better than you think. who said you need multiples to come off?

No word from brown beyond some waitlist notifications this morning. Based on last year, will probably be acceptances tomorrow and rejections on Monday 

[P i e r r o t]

28 minutes ago, Scribe said:

Any news? I haven't seen her in a good week. The waitlist is short, really short. Really, really short. Yes, the other two have possibilities... maybe. I believe it's a waitlist situation mostly though. 

As far as the possibilities and probabilities, yes, they rarely go to the waitlist but I know one person right now who was pulled from it and two who got in on their second cycle. So, what are your odds? maybe better than you think. who said you need multiples to come off?

Re: Irvine...

Oh man, if you have the inside scoop, prey tell: I happen to know I'm first in line and quietly going crazy over here. The waitlist game is the more brutal, IMO. I did let Michelle know today I would likely accept an offer quickly. This is my second cycle; definitely not doing this a third time.

Thanks for keeping us informed!

[glowingbrightly]

18 minutes ago, P i e r r o t said:

Re: Irvine...

Oh man, if you have the inside scoop, prey tell: I happen to know I'm first in line and quietly going crazy over here. The waitlist game is the more brutal, IMO. I did let Michelle know today I would likely accept an offer quickly. This is my second cycle; definitely not doing this a third time.

Thanks for keeping us informed!

hang in there y’all. multiple poets just got off waitlist there after over a month of waiting. Fiction went out much later but still before a lot of schools decided so you are all still in this!! honestly think it’s totally possible all 3 waitlisters could get off, and likely at least one does. and as far as expressing interest, I think you can just chill and trust irvine. I got a 2min call at 9:30am in mid feb and didn’t say a word to them for 5 weeks until getting the acceptance

[_redrabbit7]

I’ve been paralyzed all day, waiting for Brown. I just got out of bed to do the dishes. Now I’m going to make myself something really nice for dinner. Tomorrow shall be D-Day. 24 hrs more and we’ll all be put out of our sorrows and miseries. But until then, do not be discouraged, and do not be fearful. The acceptances and rejections have been finalized. I would that we all make it in, but some of us might have to wait until the next cycle. Whatever the outcome, be of good cheer, and never stop writing!

[Scribe]

1 hour ago, Hjanep said:

No word from brown beyond some waitlist notifications this morning. Based on last year, will probably be acceptances tomorrow and rejections on Monday 

It's taking them long enough.

[analog_e]

It turned into a surprisingly productive day for me. Skipped all of my classes, which was the right move, but I got some homework done, wrote about 1k words, played some excellent rounds of Overwatch with a friend, and am now in a practice room spending some much needed quality time with my violin. Just trying to envision what my year will be like without Brown, and it's not all that bad. I'll be able to dedicate so much time to being a musician and potentially even finish a novel, and it'll mean I won't have to leave the lovely community I've been very fortunate to be part of behind. Still, here's hoping for good news.

[honeytreasures]

Does anybody know VCU’s health insurance— cost/etc.! I don’t think it’s covered in the mfa package so just wanting to ask

[P i e r r o t]

1 hour ago, glowingbrightly said:

hang in there y’all. multiple poets just got off waitlist there after over a month of waiting. Fiction went out much later but still before a lot of schools decided so you are all still in this!! honestly think it’s totally possible all 3 waitlisters could get off, and likely at least one does. and as far as expressing interest, I think you can just chill and trust irvine. I got a 2min call at 9:30am in mid feb and didn’t say a word to them for 5 weeks until getting the acceptance

**walks slowly back from ledge** Yes yes yes yes yes, patience is a virtue or whatever.

Congrats on the acceptance! Thrilled for you!

 

[Nauna]

If there are any other Pittsburgh interviewees on here, I emailed the poetry faculty to see if they could provide any update or information. I'll post it here as soon as I hear back! ❤️ 

[kaleidoscopegurl]

I'm a little anxious but I have been able to accept what may or may not happen regarding Brown. The wait was actually well needed and good preparation for future writing related uncertainty. I am okay. 

[Hjanep]

I had this fantasy that today would be the day I would get rejected from all the programs I haven’t heard from (Brown, Montana, NYU) but now I’m thinking maybe it could happen tomorrow? I mean I would take an acceptance but if it’s going to be a no across the board I would like to know and be done with this year

[thelovelyunkown]

31 minutes ago, Hjanep said:

I had this fantasy that today would be the day I would get rejected from all the programs I haven’t heard from (Brown, Montana, NYU) but now I’m thinking maybe it could happen tomorrow? I mean I would take an acceptance but if it’s going to be a no across the board I would like to know and be done with this year

I really thought it was going to be today but I guess not. Maybe that means thereʻs still hope to be had.  

Edited Friday at 03:21 AM by thelovelyunkown

[_redrabbit7]

Just received a call. Someone I know got into Brown for fiction. The email was sent to them yesterday, at 9:32 p.m.

Edited Friday at 06:21 AM by _redrabbit7