2025 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[Eloise2897]

[to the tune of Wonderwall] Toooday is gonna be the day that I make it off the list at 'Cuse/ By now, these schools should somehow realize what they've gotta do/ I can't believe that Minnesota wouldn't want me in their cohort now...

 

(don't think I've ever felt this unhinged in my life)

[gradschoolpspspsps]

I think I'm good waiting to hear from the waitlists until April 15th, that makes sense. I just want to hear from the schools I still haven't heard from yet! I want to know what all my options are!

[squid05]

14 minutes ago, Eloise2897 said:

[to the tune of Wonderwall] Toooday is gonna be the day that I make it off the list at 'Cuse/ By now, these schools should somehow realize what they've gotta do/ I can't believe that Minnesota wouldn't want me in their cohort now...

 

(don't think I've ever felt this unhinged in my life)

SAME! Still waiting to hear something from UNCG at all 😭

[exvat]

Heading to AWP, will be at the big poetry events, the NYU meetup on Friday, etc. HMU if you wanna do a Grad Cafe coffee or boba something-or-other. Or just look for the guy meditating in the quiet room 😆 

[Magnolia Electric Co]

40 minutes ago, Eloise2897 said:

[to the tune of Wonderwall] Toooday is gonna be the day that I make it off the list at 'Cuse/ By now, these schools should somehow realize what they've gotta do/ I can't believe that Minnesota wouldn't want me in their cohort now...

 

(don't think I've ever felt this unhinged in my life)

@Eloise2897 I'm curious - what makes Minnesota your dream school? I really like them too!

[Eloise2897]

7 minutes ago, Magnolia Electric Co said:

@Eloise2897 I'm curious - what makes Minnesota your dream school? I really like them too!

The location is a big plus for me. It's a good balance between getting me into a city full of creative/networking opportunities while keeping me in the Upper Midwest (which is where I write about, and where all my loved ones are). The stipend is solid and the teaching load is ideal. I admire a lot of their graduates and faculty, and the program is well respected. I went to a Big 10 school for undergrad and loved how many resources and opportunities I had access to, so I'd love to return to that setting. And on top of all that I just feel a pull toward it, if that makes sense? 

[gradschoolpspspsps]

Every day I wake up at 6am EST and check the time in Idaho and go "okay, it's far too early for them to send anything now," and then check it periodically for the rest of the day wondering what they're up to two hours in the past. 

[Magnolia Electric Co]

38 minutes ago, Eloise2897 said:

The location is a big plus for me. It's a good balance between getting me into a city full of creative/networking opportunities while keeping me in the Upper Midwest (which is where I write about, and where all my loved ones are). The stipend is solid and the teaching load is ideal. I admire a lot of their graduates and faculty, and the program is well respected. I went to a Big 10 school for undergrad and loved how many resources and opportunities I had access to, so I'd love to return to that setting. And on top of all that I just feel a pull toward it, if that makes sense? 

That makes sense, that's a lot of good reasons! I also felt kind of cosmically drawn to Minnesota (though I didn't get in).

[saara_is.me]

Just got off the phone with someone at UF.  They said a decision date hasn’t been chosen yet but gave me an email of the person in charge to ask them.  Will email and keep yall updated.

[everything bagel lover]

What I keep telling myself is that I will know eventually. Like they (the schools) can't just not tell me anything ever again lol 

I remember at the beginning of notification season looking ahead at the calendar and feeling like March was a million years away and now it's nearly April. I have really appreciated y'all and this community and being on this journey together ❤️ 

[glowingbrightly]

2 hours ago, Eloise2897 said:

The location is a big plus for me. It's a good balance between getting me into a city full of creative/networking opportunities while keeping me in the Upper Midwest (which is where I write about, and where all my loved ones are). The stipend is solid and the teaching load is ideal. I admire a lot of their graduates and faculty, and the program is well respected. I went to a Big 10 school for undergrad and loved how many resources and opportunities I had access to, so I'd love to return to that setting. And on top of all that I just feel a pull toward it, if that makes sense? 

“the pull” should be the number 1 reason to commit to any program. also douglas kearney! 

[decayingballads21]

pros of a 2 year program?

[saara_is.me]

UF update: the guy emailed back.  He said that they sent the decisions to the office of admission and that they’re being held up there.  He said they’re trying to get them out as soon as possible.

[glowingbrightly]

1 hour ago, decayingballads21 said:

pros of a 2 year program?

I’d say all of the pros are going to be highly idiosyncratic—age, family, funding, goals, etc.—or related to prestige—Brown is 2 years, for example

[KennyK]

@everything bagel lover or @Tinky C. Clown are either of yall able to check fb draft to see if any sfsu fiction acceptances have been posted please? 🥺👉🏾👈🏾

[janetdamnit]

On 3/24/2025 at 5:30 PM, Hjanep said:

Ok finally got my Montana R. Now just waiting on my NYU soft R but after turning them down last year… even if something crazy happened and I got in again I probably wouldn’t go so I guess that’s it for me this season! Thanks for the camaraderie party people 

Are you fiction or poetry, if you don't mind me asking? I applied to Montana for poetry and haven't heard anything.

[Hjanep]

17 minutes ago, janetdamnit said:

Are you fiction or poetry, if you don't mind me asking? I applied to Montana for poetry and haven't heard anything.

Fiction. I also feel like these decisions are being made on a semi rolling basis. I emailed last week to see if there was an update and they said they had just posted a decision to my account but it takes 7-10 days to release 🤷🏼‍♀️

[glowingbrightly]

Northwestern/Litowitz Program student on draft just shared an hour ago that all outstanding acceptances for their program have been deferred until 2026. This was a privately funded top program that I also applied to and I am shocked. I don’t want to cause panic but if you have an attractive outstanding offer, this may be the time to accept instead of waiting for something better. I just hope this is the end of news like this not the beginning. 

[gradschoolpspspsps]

27 minutes ago, glowingbrightly said:

Northwestern/Litowitz Program student on draft just shared an hour ago that all outstanding acceptances for their program have been deferred until 2026. This was a privately funded top program that I also applied to and I am shocked. I don’t want to cause panic but if you have an attractive outstanding offer, this may be the time to accept instead of waiting for something better. I just hope this is the end of news like this not the beginning. 

That's insane. I also applied for them. Ugh, what a shitty year to be applying for these programs. I'm a college counselor in a low income area and I'm really worried about my undocumented students this year, even just compared to last year things are so much worse. These are kids that have been here since they were babies, and there's drastically less options than before. I can't imagine it's going to get better as things go on. Programs like these are nervous, they don't want to take any chances. 

[Tinky C. Clown]

2 hours ago, KennyK said:

@everything bagel lover or @Tinky C. Clown are either of yall able to check fb draft to see if any sfsu fiction acceptances have been posted please? 🥺👉🏾👈🏾

nothing yet 

[everything bagel lover]

2 hours ago, glowingbrightly said:

Northwestern/Litowitz Program student on draft just shared an hour ago that all outstanding acceptances for their program have been deferred until 2026. This was a privately funded top program that I also applied to and I am shocked. I don’t want to cause panic but if you have an attractive outstanding offer, this may be the time to accept instead of waiting for something better. I just hope this is the end of news like this not the beginning. 

Oh my god this put me on high alert. I've already been stressed about just sitting on my NAU offer while I wait for CSU to figure out funding, but this is pushing me to maybe just accept it. I'd hate to lose a great offer waiting for a second one to pan out, even if the second one is my top choice. I feel really guilty even just saying it, but I think I'm gonna be committing to NAU in light of this with one foot ready to pivot if my top choice pans out. What do y'all think?

I too hope that this doesn't become a trend as the season goes on, but this feels like very precarious times.

[glowingbrightly]

9 minutes ago, everything bagel lover said:

Oh my god this put me on high alert. I've already been stressed about just sitting on my NAU offer while I wait for CSU to figure out funding, but this is pushing me to maybe just accept it. I'd hate to lose a great offer waiting for a second one to pan out, even if the second one is my top choice. I feel really guilty even just saying it, but I think I'm gonna be committing to NAU in light of this with one foot ready to pivot if my top choice pans out. What do y'all think?

I too hope that this doesn't become a trend as the season goes on, but this feels like very precarious times.

Yeah, I’d take it if I were you. That’s a good offer so secure it and you won’t have much to lose in case you do need to pivot. I think everyone has to weigh it for themselves but it’s better to be safe than sorry in this climate.  

 

1 hour ago, gradschoolpspspsps said:

That's insane. I also applied for them. Ugh, what a shitty year to be applying for these programs. I'm a college counselor in a low income area and I'm really worried about my undocumented students this year, even just compared to last year things are so much worse. These are kids that have been here since they were babies, and there's drastically less options than before. I can't imagine it's going to get better as things go on. Programs like these are nervous, they don't want to take any chances. 

Moments like these remind us who the most vulnerable truly are among us and to be grateful for what we have. Wishing all the best for your students and their families ❤️

[snottlebie]

29 minutes ago, everything bagel lover said:

Oh my god this put me on high alert. I've already been stressed about just sitting on my NAU offer while I wait for CSU to figure out funding, but this is pushing me to maybe just accept it. I'd hate to lose a great offer waiting for a second one to pan out, even if the second one is my top choice. I feel really guilty even just saying it, but I think I'm gonna be committing to NAU in light of this with one foot ready to pivot if my top choice pans out. What do y'all think?

I too hope that this doesn't become a trend as the season goes on, but this feels like very precarious times.

Not saying to not take it - do what makes you feel most secure - but also that rushing to secure a spot in fear and giving up on waitlists is also not the best thing. (Nothing is the best thing - it's shitty all around.) Imagine if you were in that Northwestern cohort and basically half the group got their offers rescinded (IDK the numbers, but they only take 2/genre). Yes, it's good you're there, but do you want to be in a miniscule cohort? If community's an important thing, do you want to be at a place that had to cut a ton of people? We don't want this application season to be a wash and it may save you peace of mind to secure your spot, sure, but think hard about your decision.

If I was the one person to say yes at northwestern and then they deferred the other person in my genre, I'd be devastated too. Either way, it sucks.

[pananoprodigy]

2 hours ago, everything bagel lover said:

Oh my god this put me on high alert. I've already been stressed about just sitting on my NAU offer while I wait for CSU to figure out funding, but this is pushing me to maybe just accept it. I'd hate to lose a great offer waiting for a second one to pan out, even if the second one is my top choice. I feel really guilty even just saying it, but I think I'm gonna be committing to NAU in light of this with one foot ready to pivot if my top choice pans out. What do y'all think?

I too hope that this doesn't become a trend as the season goes on, but this feels like very precarious times.

Take this with sooo many grains of salt because I obviously know nothing, but I think if I were you, I would probs hang in there and wait for final word from CSU before you accept NAU. I haven't gotten any indication in any of my convos with people at NAU that our offers there are in danger of being revoked/deferred/whatever...Now, obviously, as we're seeing, anything can happen, but I feel pretty confident in the NAU offer's sticking power, at least for now. I would just hate for you to end up in the super awkward position of getting your dream CSU funding offer and having the excitement of it all marred by having to back out of an NAU offer you accepted. Of course that wouldn't be the worst thing ever, but I think esp since April 15th is still a wee bit aways, I would probably wait. 

edit: THAT BEING SAID, I feel firmly that at the end of the day we all have to put ourselves first in this process. These schools are a lot like companies, and I think it's so valid to treat them the way you'd treat potential employers during a job search -- i.e. you don't owe them anything. Obviously we don't wanna burn bridges but like also...see above re: don't owe them anything.

Edited 6 hours ago by pananoprodigy

[inthesameboat]

4 hours ago, glowingbrightly said:

Northwestern/Litowitz Program student on draft just shared an hour ago that all outstanding acceptances for their program have been deferred until 2026. This was a privately funded top program that I also applied to and I am shocked. I don’t want to cause panic but if you have an attractive outstanding offer, this may be the time to accept instead of waiting for something better. I just hope this is the end of news like this not the beginning. 

I saw something similar happening at UM Medical School. A student's offer was pulled out from under them before they could accept. Very scary.