2025 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[beet_root]

31 minutes ago, pananoprodigy said:

AMAZING!!! Congrats! I published a piece in BER last year (year before? idk) and the whole squad over there was so wonderful. I def didn't win the $1000 prize though - that's HUGE and I hope you're celebrating big tonight!

That’s awesome! It’s one of my favorite local journals for sure (I’m based in Minnesota).

tonight, I’ll be celebrating by making myself a top notch quesadilla 😋 

[Nauna]

I emailed the Pittsburgh faculty that had interviewed me in early February. Unfortunately they had no new updates & confirmed that all of their graduate admissions are still paused. Such a bummer!

[jinny-r]

I haven't heard anything from Ole Miss, and it's hard to stay optimistic. I'm seeing the waitlists and acceptance and I feel paranoid one ot two requirements did not reach them. It's my last one before I end this application cycle.

Congrats to those who've gotten their results though! ✨️⭐️

Edited Saturday at 04:55 AM by jinny-r

[Chex]

3 hours ago, jinny-r said:

I haven't heard anything from Ole Miss, and it's hard to stay optimistic. I'm seeing the waitlists and acceptance and I feel paranoid one ot two requirements did not reach them. It's my last one before I end this application cycle.

Congrats to those who've gotten their results though! ✨️⭐️

Right here with you, and I believe it's the same for @Mystic_Sunshine. I'm just confused; I thought that, if nothing else, the stage 2 application led to an automatic waitlist at least. But it's been 3 days since the first notifications went out and it's still crickets here. Makes me wonder what could have been so wrong with my application or if the original invitation had been sent in error. 

I'd like this process to be over. I need them to decide one way or the other so I can move forward. Tired and sad but keeping on. Now thinking of other ways to move on with my writing and year. 

[wizardcukfish]

5 hours ago, jinny-r said:

I haven't heard anything from Ole Miss, and it's hard to stay optimistic. I'm seeing the waitlists and acceptance and I feel paranoid one ot two requirements did not reach them. It's my last one before I end this application cycle.

Congrats to those who've gotten their results though! ✨️⭐️

They don't usually send out rejections until later.

[Chex]

1 hour ago, wizardcukfish said:

They don't usually send out rejections until later.

Wow. 

[wizardcukfish]

3 hours ago, Chex said:

Right here with you, and I believe it's the same for @Mystic_Sunshine. I'm just confused; I thought that, if nothing else, the stage 2 application led to an automatic waitlist at least. But it's been 3 days since the first notifications went out and it's still crickets here. Makes me wonder what could have been so wrong with my application or if the original invitation had been sent in error. 

I'd like this process to be over. I need them to decide one way or the other so I can move forward. Tired and sad but keeping on. Now thinking of other ways to move on with my writing and year. 

I don't think phase 2 applications lead to an automatic wait-list. Been applying to ole miss for 3 years now, mad it to phase 2 twice and been Waitlisted once, which is currently. 

I really pray that I have a chance though. In the spreadsheet on the draft group, I can't seem to find any acceptances for poetry just about 3 waitlist, me included. 

I'll appreciate if people who go offers in poetry can indicate, I think they should be about 4, I am really curious and wish to know if I even stand a chance because this is the only acceptance I have gotten so far, I only have one pending application. 

[penitentwanderer]

For anyone who is on the fence, or knows someone on the fence, deciding between Cornell and other schools (only for those who want to be nudged or who can't make up their mind, obviously you do you and do what's best for you!) -

If you need or want a reason to pick another option, trans fiction candidate here on the waitlist desperately hoping to stay in the safety of NY. Have acceptances to certain Midwest schools, but frightened of possible soon to come adult restrictions on healthcare access/other rescissions of rights. So if all else is equal, feel good about picking the other school! (But again, this is just for people torn between their options. If Cornell's your school, congrats, go to Cornell!)

(Also just sayin - Ithaca was rated in the top 6 US cities with the lowest sunlight hours 🙃)

Edited Saturday at 02:21 PM by penitentwanderer

[wizardcukfish]

On 3/20/2025 at 6:31 AM, tiramisu22 said:

@Ekpe poetry or fiction?

Heard anything from Ole Miss yet? 

[Chex]

36 minutes ago, wizardcukfish said:

I don't think phase 2 applications lead to an automatic wait-list. Been applying to ole miss for 3 years now, mad it to phase 2 twice and been Waitlisted once, which is currently. 

I really pray that I have a chance though. In the spreadsheet on the draft group, I can't seem to find any acceptances for poetry just about 3 waitlist, me included. 

I'll appreciate if people who go offers in poetry can indicate, I think they should be about 4, I am really curious and wish to know if I even stand a chance because this is the only acceptance I have gotten so far, I only have one pending application. 

Congratulations! Crossing my fingers that you get in this time.

Thank you for clarifying how Ole Miss phase 2 apps work. The previous times you got to phase 2, could you share around what time you heard back (month/date or timeline) with final decisions (R, I presume)?

Edited Saturday at 01:05 PM by Chex

[Tinky C. Clown]

1 hour ago, Chex said:

Congratulations! Crossing my fingers that you get in this time.

Thank you for clarifying how Ole Miss phase 2 apps work. The previous times you got to phase 2, could you share around what time you heard back (month/date or timeline) with final decisions (R, I presume)?

yeah, i’m pretty sure that the automatic waitlist thing was misinformation. there’s too many people who reported a phase 2 for that to be true in a 4-per-genre program 

 

im waitlisted there, but i’ve been connected with current students so i guess they’re expecting me to make it off

[c0wgirlg]

Does anybody know if in a typical year anyone gets off of the Writers' Workshop waitlist? I am trying not to have any hope atp, but I am curious.

[Mystic_Sunshine]

@Chex @jinny-r

Just wanted to say how sorry I am! I maybe (naively) was super optimistic about Mississippi. So I understand the  disappointment. 

I doubt there was anything wrong with our applications. They probably just had a ranked list and only sent out acceptances/waitlist to the top whatever out of that number. Which sucks.

Hoping for good things for the both of you (even if that isn't an MFA this year). 

[Chex]

4 minutes ago, Mystic_Sunshine said:

@Chex @jinny-r

Just wanted to say how sorry I am! I maybe (naively) was super optimistic about Mississippi. So I understand the  disappointment. 

I doubt there was anything wrong with our applications. They probably just had a ranked list and only sent out acceptances/waitlist to the top whatever out of that number. Which sucks.

Hoping for good things for the both of you (even if that isn't an MFA this year). 

Thank you. Hoping the same for you. ❤️

[zaira]

40 minutes ago, c0wgirlg said:

Does anybody know if in a typical year anyone gets off of the Writers' Workshop waitlist? I am trying not to have any hope atp, but I am curious.

It absolutely happens. Last year I believe someone got accepted off the playwriting waitlist in April. And anecdotally I know people who have turned down offers at Iowa for other programs. 

[glowingbrightly]

40 minutes ago, c0wgirlg said:

Does anybody know if in a typical year anyone gets off of the Writers' Workshop waitlist? I am trying not to have any hope atp, but I am curious.

For sure, it’s a big program so lots of waitlist movement but it’ll happen late cus most aren’t rejecting Iowa first thing. I know of at least a couple acceptances visiting this week that haven’t decided yet. 

[Nauna]

5 hours ago, Tinky C. Clown said:

yeah, i’m pretty sure that the automatic waitlist thing was misinformation. there’s too many people who reported a phase 2 for that to be true in a 4-per-genre program 

Yeah I was told that Phase II is more of a longlist than a shortlist--meaning that the longlist will still have Rs

[squid05]

Was expecting UNCG to drop decisions yesterday. Anticipation is nearly unbearable. 

[Ekpe]

8 hours ago, wizardcukfish said:

Heard anything from Ole Miss yet? 

Yea, I had a call with Melissa. She was nice but they're giving off the vibe that they want a complete cohort urgently. So she was asking what other options I was weighing etc. 

If it's any consolation to you lovely people on the waitlist, I am 90% sure I won't be taking up the offer even though it's my only MFA offer this season. 

[Southron]

16 hours ago, Nauna said:

I emailed the Pittsburgh faculty that had interviewed me in early February. Unfortunately they had no new updates & confirmed that all of their graduate admissions are still paused. Such a bummer!

I received the same answer when I emailed as well. At this point, I'm starting to wonder if they'll take anyone this year.

[Lady Gladys]

29 minutes ago, Ekpe said:

Yea, I had a call with Melissa. She was nice but they're giving off the vibe that they want a complete cohort urgently. So she was asking what other options I was weighing etc. 

If it's any consolation to you lovely people on the waitlist, I am 90% sure I won't be taking up the offer even though it's my only MFA offer this season. 

That's a hard decision, but one I admire and fully support. It has to be right for you.

[crossingmyfingers1212]

Does anyone have any insight on the UT Knoxville fiction waitlist... I've read in the past it's been long... and there are only 5 spots available. It's my only possibility left so if anyone has any insight at all I would be forever grateful

[Ekpe]

1 hour ago, Lady Gladys said:

That's a hard decision, but one I admire and fully support. It has to be right for you.

Thanks. It's really a hard decision, but I have a nice non-MFA offer somewhere so I might as well spend the next couple of years "getting a real degree lol" before I'm back to do this again. I'm also waitlisted at Michigan and very likely to remove myself from the waitlist there too. Michigan and the non-MFA, that's were the decision is toughest!

[rafikiman]

Anyone know when Iowa Summer program results typically come out?

[Dingdong99]

It's been real everybody! Bye!