2025 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[everything bagel lover]

Just now, Eloise2897 said:

I made my decision between my two acceptances based entirely on funding, honestly.

That's 1000% fair honestly, congratulations on committing!! Can I ask where you committed to?

[calliopian]

Hello! I'm super anxious about my applications so I thought I'd share. I ended up applying to four schools. A couple safety colleges, NYU, and The New School. I got into one safety and The New School so far. New School offered me a 40% scholarship and loans are covering the rest of it so I'm really grateful. It's my second choice so I'm glad to have already heard back.

NYU is taking their time as of right now, which is killing me. I've seen a good amount of people on here get their decisions already, whether it be waitlisted, accepted or denied. NYU is my top choice and it's where I wanna go, but if I don't get accepted then at least I know what I'm doing next.

Originally, I was going to apply to 5 schools with Columbia being the 5th. Didn't think it was worth it though and it was more for shits and giggles. Anyway, I'm hoping for a decision tomorrow! Fingers crossed.

[Eloise2897]

45 minutes ago, everything bagel lover said:

That's 1000% fair honestly, congratulations on committing!! Can I ask where you committed to?

Sorry, I think I worded my post in a confusing way--I haven't committed anywhere yet, just removed myself from the running at one school because the stipend was significantly lower. I'm still in the mix at Texas Tech but waiting to see where I land on these waitlists before I commit!

[Nauna]

9 hours ago, djk233 said:

Hi all, I've been accepted into University of Southern Mississippi's MA program and University of South Carolina's MFA and shortlisted at Pitt's MFA, all for fiction. Any idea how these programs rank in terms of prestige and job placement? I know that's not everything, but just trying to get a sense of it. I'd like to get a PhD eventually so thinking MA at USM would put me in a position to get the PhD there. But also might be valuable getting the masters somewhere else. (Pittsburgh's also home, so that's a plus.) Any thoughts?
 

I can't speak to those other programs, but I will say that you don't likely want to put too many eggs into the Pitt basket. Things are just so uncertain there & no one even knows if they will be accepting anyone at all. (I was shortlisted for Poetry there and I'm super bummed about the situation at Pitt.) 

When you mention job placement, I suppose it has a lot to do with what your long-term goals are beyond the PhD. Are you hoping to teach, get into editing, etc? I would align that with their curriculum and focus. From what I understand, there is a significant difference between the pathway from MA to PhD (more straightforward) vs MFA to PhD (more nuanced, often fewer programs to choose from).

[gradschoolpspspsps]

Guyssss, I just got a Pitt rejection. Are they making moves? 👀

[Nauna]

2 hours ago, gradschoolpspspsps said:

Guyssss, I just got a Pitt rejection. Are they making moves? 👀

I saw that pop up on the spreadsheet! I'm waaaaay overthinking it! As someone who was shortlisted, I can at least share that I haven't heard any new news today. 

[Magnolia Electric Co]

5 hours ago, Chex said:

Hi! Sorry for responding so late. I'm just going to copy and paste what a poetry vet who ultimately went to Cornell wrote about UIUC on the Draft 2 years ago: 

 

Wow - thank you so much for this incredibly helpful reply!! That is certainly a resounding plug for UIUC. But the student's experience goes back to one of my larger questions: if they experienced such great mentorship from UIUC, why go to Cornell, where it sounds like the mentorship wasn't as strong? Partly rhetorical - I know Cornell is extremely prestigious - but I always wonder why/whether/how/when prestige is more valuable than mentorship. I'd be curious whether that student still felt they made the right choice in the end.

Another thing that confuses me is the varying number of faculty per genre. For example, Illinois has 4 poets (though some are interdisciplinary), whereas I think Indiana, Notre Dame, and Wash U all only have 2 poets. It would make me a little nervous to go to a school with 2 poets because what if you don't find one or even both to be good mentors? I'm curious if others are factoring in the number of faculty in their genre.

About Indiana, I will say that from talking to current/former students, it seems like the $21k stipend is in most, if not all, cases supplemented by $4k+ fellowships, bringing it up to the $25k or so of other schools. And although you do technically teach quite a bit at Indiana, the first year I believe you are just TAing creative writing courses, vs. fully teaching composition courses at some other schools.

So many variables in this crazy process! I have learned so much about how to choose a school, but I still feel like there are so many unknowns. I am very thankful for the collective wisdom and generosity of this forum and always appreciate any "inside information" folks have to share!

[saara_is.me]

Just got my UF decision.  They didn’t accept me, so guess who’s going to England!

[LichLover]

Hi all. I've been reading forum messages for a couple of weeks and have admired the interactions on here.

Like others, I got my rejection from Pitts today so that technically wraps up the season for me. Still waiting to hear from Houston but I'll assume that's a soft R for now. 

Having said that, is anyone going to UTK (or did anyone get into UTK)?

Edited March 27 by LichLover

[glowingbrightly]

31 minutes ago, Magnolia Electric Co said:

Wow - thank you so much for this incredibly helpful reply!! That is certainly a resounding plug for UIUC. But the student's experience goes back to one of my larger questions: if they experienced such great mentorship from UIUC, why go to Cornell, where it sounds like the mentorship wasn't as strong? Partly rhetorical - I know Cornell is extremely prestigious - but I always wonder why/whether/how/when prestige is more valuable than mentorship. I'd be curious whether that student still felt they made the right choice in the end.

Another thing that confuses me is the varying number of faculty per genre. For example, Illinois has 4 poets (though some are interdisciplinary), whereas I think Indiana, Notre Dame, and Wash U all only have 2 poets. It would make me a little nervous to go to a school with 2 poets because what if you don't find one or even both to be good mentors? I'm curious if others are factoring in the number of faculty in their genre.

About Indiana, I will say that from talking to current/former students, it seems like the $21k stipend is in most, if not all, cases supplemented by $4k+ fellowships, bringing it up to the $25k or so of other schools. And although you do technically teach quite a bit at Indiana, the first year I believe you are just TAing creative writing courses, vs. fully teaching composition courses at some other schools.

So many variables in this crazy process! I have learned so much about how to choose a school, but I still feel like there are so many unknowns. I am very thankful for the collective wisdom and generosity of this forum and always appreciate any "inside information" folks have to share!

Yeah this made me regret not applying to UIUC but it also reminded me of how Columbia acted when they really wanted me. These programs are far from desperate but may act this way because they know we have better options and this is what they can provide above and beyond others. If you really trust it then yeah, why go to Cornell? I think the answer is obviously that the perception of prestige influences trust. 

And this all speaks to my choice to go to Irvine. The vibes are wonderful but I’ve also worried about what could happen in such a small cohort with only 2 faculty. However, I’d rather have 2 mentors whose work I love than a larger department with less mentorship or more poets whose work speaks to me less, which goes back to why I didn’t apply to UIUC in the first place. 

Edited March 27 by glowingbrightly

[snottlebie]

34 minutes ago, Magnolia Electric Co said:

Wow - thank you so much for this incredibly helpful reply!! That is certainly a resounding plug for UIUC. But the student's experience goes back to one of my larger questions: if they experienced such great mentorship from UIUC, why go to Cornell, where it sounds like the mentorship wasn't as strong? Partly rhetorical - I know Cornell is extremely prestigious - but I always wonder why/whether/how/when prestige is more valuable than mentorship. I'd be curious whether that student still felt they made the right choice in the end.

Another thing that confuses me is the varying number of faculty per genre. For example, Illinois has 4 poets (though some are interdisciplinary), whereas I think Indiana, Notre Dame, and Wash U all only have 2 poets. It would make me a little nervous to go to a school with 2 poets because what if you don't find one or even both to be good mentors? I'm curious if others are factoring in the number of faculty in their genre.

About Indiana, I will say that from talking to current/former students, it seems like the $21k stipend is in most, if not all, cases supplemented by $4k+ fellowships, bringing it up to the $25k or so of other schools. And although you do technically teach quite a bit at Indiana, the first year I believe you are just TAing creative writing courses, vs. fully teaching composition courses at some other schools.

So many variables in this crazy process! I have learned so much about how to choose a school, but I still feel like there are so many unknowns. I am very thankful for the collective wisdom and generosity of this forum and always appreciate any "inside information" folks have to share!

Hey, so Indiana’s current base stipend is $24K (not counting fees). UIUC’s is higher, I don’t have it right in front of me, but it’s a little more than $25k (taking into account fees), and goes up in Y2. And currently they have an option for you to teach more for more money, but it’s up to the student (if you do a 2:2 you can get ~30-31k I think). 
 

Teaching wise, it’s hard to know what’s better! Obviously Indiana’s first year creative writing assistantship is better than comp (also you’re assisting sections, not the main lecturer). And they’re both 1:1.
 

Y2-3 is where it gets tricky. At Indiana, you much teach comp all those semesters (at 1:2) with 1 course in your last semester being CW. At UIUC, it’s 1:2 in Y2, and 1:1 for Y3 (unless you opt in to 2:2). Similar thing with 1 semester getting at least 1 course of CW. Both offer at least 1 route for course release - working as the lit mag editor. At Indiana, this is a year long position and you get to not teach 1 course. At UIUC, this is a half year position and it’s good for 1 course release. So there is more to go around at UIUC (more opportunities for more students to be editor) and technically it’s a bit more bang for your buck in terms of course release. 
 

Current students have also said there are other options to avoid comp. You must teach it in the first semester but after that… there are options to teach outside of comp/rhet. They’re not guaranteed, but they’re there. At Indiana, the student I spoke with made it seem like there are no other alternatives outside the Indiana Review course release. So, it’s up to you to decide what is better! They’re pretty comparable but there are those small differences. Hope this helps. 

[Magnolia Electric Co]

1 hour ago, glowingbrightly said:

Yeah this made me regret not applying to UIUC but it also reminded me of how Columbia acted when they really wanted me. These programs are far from desperate but may act this way because they know we have better options and this is what they can provide above and beyond others. If you really trust it then yeah, why go to Cornell? I think the answer is obviously that the perception of prestige influences trust. 

Right - it's true that the student who went to Cornell didn't get to see if there was followthrough on the mentorship at UIUC. Though I have heard from other students that the mentorship is actually really strong there (as Chex said they've heard as well). I think with Columbia, there's the added layer of wanting students' money, and likely having many students regularly decline offers each year. Whereas with fully-funded programs, at least if they're really pushing hard for a candidate, it's because they believe in them, since presumably there are many other students who would love that fully-funded spot in a small cohort.

I also imagine there are advantages to going to a school like Cornell over UIUC. Maybe there isn't the same level of close mentorship, but maybe there are other sorts of connections or resources? Or name recognition for future agent or job placement considerations? Just conjecturing - I know nothing.

As a side note, it's interesting to see the difference in the way departments handle acceptances vs. waitlists. It makes complete sense, but folks who are accepted are recruited and put in touch with all kinds of people, whereas folks on the waitlist are given little information until it might be time to make a quick decision in April. We're out here digging through websites and scrounging for details instead of actually visiting campuses or talking with faculty or sitting in on classes etc. It makes perfect sense, of course, but it does make things more difficult!

[Magnolia Electric Co]

1 hour ago, snottlebie said:

Hey, so Indiana’s current base stipend is $24K (not counting fees). UIUC’s is higher, I don’t have it right in front of me, but it’s a little more than $25k (taking into account fees), and goes up in Y2. And currently they have an option for you to teach more for more money, but it’s up to the student (if you do a 2:2 you can get ~30-31k I think). 

Thank you for all of this helpful information! I didn't realize Indiana's stipend was that high since I think it still says $21k on the website. I also didn't realize year 3 was comp at Indiana - I thought it was all creative writing. And I did not know about the differences in course releases, either. You are so knowledgeable about these particular programs! Do you know people at those programs, or have you just been looking into them as an applicant yourself (if you feel comfortable sharing)? Either way I am jealous of your information-gathering skills!

[glowingbrightly]

1 hour ago, Magnolia Electric Co said:

Right - it's true that the student who went to Cornell didn't get to see if there was followthrough on the mentorship at UIUC. Though I have heard from other students that the mentorship is actually really strong there (as Chex said they've heard as well). I think with Columbia, there's the added layer of wanting students' money, and likely having many students regularly decline offers each year. Whereas with fully-funded programs, at least if they're really pushing hard for a candidate, it's because they believe in them, since presumably there are many other students who would love that fully-funded spot in a small cohort.

I also imagine there are advantages to going to a school like Cornell over UIUC. Maybe there isn't the same level of close mentorship, but maybe there are other sorts of connections or resources? Or name recognition for future agent or job placement considerations? Just conjecturing - I know nothing.

As a side note, it's interesting to see the difference in the way departments handle acceptances vs. waitlists. It makes complete sense, but folks who are accepted are recruited and put in touch with all kinds of people, whereas folks on the waitlist are given little information until it might be time to make a quick decision in April. We're out here digging through websites and scrounging for details instead of actually visiting campuses or talking with faculty or sitting in on classes etc. It makes perfect sense, of course, but it does make things more difficult!

Yeah these are all great questions. I think the biggest thing to keep in mind is that no amount of prestige or agents or publishers can write for you and isn’t it all about the writing end of day? Even if Cornell (or Michigan or Brown or Iowa) could get you a fellowship or agent or teaching appointment, it’s still about your work and your ability to sustain your practice over time. I’ve heard Brown grads say their program is too short and stuffy to get much done, even though it can result in better job opportunities. My primary mentor is a former Brown grad who told me that your first book can open more doors than any name on your degree. Think about who/what will help you best accomplish that. 

[muffincreature]

Hi guys, thanks for all your input. I’ve learned a lot from folks here. I’m looking for insights into my options: I’m accepted to University of New Mexico and University of Wyoming and waitlisted at Ohio State, WashU and Rutgers-Camden. I’d appreciate any comments on any of these programs, especially UNM and Wyoming. I’d also love to know how they are viewed in terms of their prestige, placement record, and faculty. Thanks!! 

Edited March 27 by muffincreature

[prufrock_]

28 minutes ago, muffincreature said:

Hi guys, thanks for all your input. I’ve learned a lot from folks here. I’m looking for insights into my options: I’m accepted to University of New Mexico and University of Wyoming and waitlisted at Ohio State, WashU and Rutgers-Camden. I’d appreciate any comments on any of these programs, especially UNM and Wyoming. I’d also love to know how they are viewed in terms of their prestige, placement record, and faculty. Thanks!! 

welcome! you can see me and everything bagel talking a bit ago about Wyoming and our general love for it; i don't know how much more I have to offer other than: it seems rad. I love the fact you can minor in various things and you can work with the radio station, which makes wyoming unique.  you can vibe in a tiny town with some really great faculty. it's windy up there though.

actually i'm waitlisted there so let me rephrase: RUN FROM WYOMING, DON'T GO! 

jk jk jk, it's great.

idk how much prestige factors into anything unless you're talking top 5 or 10 -- is there a difference between WashU and wyoming? mayyyybe. is there a difference between UNM and Wyoming? probably not. for placement that's def a good conversation to have with the directors or your point of contact but placement is more of a phd thing i think, the MFA isn't really a key to a job. i'm a big fan of following vibes. read the work of the faculty, do the new student visits, decide mountains vs desert, follow your heart more than your head (only if all things are equal with funding).

[everything bagel lover]

2 hours ago, muffincreature said:

Hi guys, thanks for all your input. I’ve learned a lot from folks here. I’m looking for insights into my options: I’m accepted to University of New Mexico and University of Wyoming and waitlisted at Ohio State, WashU and Rutgers-Camden. I’d appreciate any comments on any of these programs, especially UNM and Wyoming. I’d also love to know how they are viewed in terms of their prestige, placement record, and faculty. Thanks!! 

Hi! I went to UNM for my undergrad and took creative writing classes and some professors are amazing!!!! Daniel Mueller especially is such an incredible professor and mentor, I can’t speak highly enough of him. Some others… 👀 but I overall had a really positive experience in my creative writing undergrad classes. Dan is actually the reason that I’m applying for an MFA in the first place. ABQ has its pros and cons but the food is top notch and the sunsets are beautiful. I’m a little homesick for ABQ right now actually. 
 

As prufrock said, we were/are both excited by the program. Idk much else outside of that, but the program seems really warm, close knit, and supportive! 

Edit to add: It gets windy in NM too, it’s just a part of the desert. Horribly windy. It’s the only thing I don’t miss at all.  
Feel free to DM me if you wanna chat about UNM or ABQ!

Edited Friday at 02:16 AM by everything bagel lover
Details

[muffincreature]

3 hours ago, prufrock_ said:

welcome! you can see me and everything bagel talking a bit ago about Wyoming and our general love for it; i don't know how much more I have to offer other than: it seems rad. I love the fact you can minor in various things and you can work with the radio station, which makes wyoming unique.  you can vibe in a tiny town with some really great faculty. it's windy up there though.

actually i'm waitlisted there so let me rephrase: RUN FROM WYOMING, DON'T GO! 

jk jk jk, it's great.

idk how much prestige factors into anything unless you're talking top 5 or 10 -- is there a difference between WashU and wyoming? mayyyybe. is there a difference between UNM and Wyoming? probably not. for placement that's def a good conversation to have with the directors or your point of contact but placement is more of a phd thing i think, the MFA isn't really a key to a job. i'm a big fan of following vibes. read the work of the faculty, do the new student visits, decide mountains vs desert, follow your heart more than your head (only if all things are equal with funding).

Thanks for this! Good advice on how to pick programs. I’m having trouble finding the comments you and everything bagel made about Wyoming. Any other reasons you both love the program? And when you said great faculty, do you have anyone specific in mind?

I just saw you got into Rutgers-Camden? Congrats!!! 

Edited Friday at 03:28 AM by muffincreature

[muffincreature]

1 hour ago, everything bagel lover said:

Hi! I went to UNM for my undergrad and took creative writing classes and some professors are amazing!!!! Daniel Mueller especially is such an incredible professor and mentor, I can’t speak highly enough of him. Some others… 👀 but I overall had a really positive experience in my creative writing undergrad classes. Dan is actually the reason that I’m applying for an MFA in the first place. ABQ has its pros and cons but the food is top notch and the sunsets are beautiful. I’m a little homesick for ABQ right now actually. 
 

As prufrock said, we were/are both excited by the program. Idk much else outside of that, but the program seems really warm, close knit, and supportive! 

Edit to add: It gets windy in NM too, it’s just a part of the desert. Horribly windy. It’s the only thing I don’t miss at all.  
Feel free to DM me if you wanna chat about UNM or ABQ!

Great, I’ll DM you about UNM! When you said the program is warm and close knit are you referring to Wyoming? 

[everything bagel lover]

Just now, muffincreature said:

Great, I’ll DM you about UNM! When you said the program is warm and close knit are you referring to Wyoming? 

Yes, Wyoming seems that way! Of course I don’t have knowledge of either MFA from the interior, but that’s the vibe I got from Wyoming’s website and blurbs. I appreciate how much information they had and even though I’m not a fan of moving far north, it convinced me to give it a shot anyway!

[muffincreature]

10 minutes ago, everything bagel lover said:

Yes, Wyoming seems that way! Of course I don’t have knowledge of either MFA from the interior, but that’s the vibe I got from Wyoming’s website and blurbs. I appreciate how much information they had and even though I’m not a fan of moving far north, it convinced me to give it a shot anyway!

I agree! It felt like they really cared about the info they put out there 

[Magnolia Electric Co]

I wonder if faculty know how much we go off of vibes lol. I feel like the way they word things on websites and in their emails can make such a big difference in how we perceive a program.

[Nnenna14]

Hi folks. If you’re going for a campus visit in Brown, could we connect? Thank you. 🙏🏾 

[DanielNiver]

14 hours ago, muffincreature said:

Hi guys, thanks for all your input. I’ve learned a lot from folks here. I’m looking for insights into my options: I’m accepted to University of New Mexico and University of Wyoming and waitlisted at Ohio State, WashU and Rutgers-Camden. I’d appreciate any comments on any of these programs, especially UNM and Wyoming. I’d also love to know how they are viewed in terms of their prestige, placement record, and faculty. Thanks!! 

Can't speak to UNM but Wyoming MFA is awesome. Definitely close knit (the state helps with that lol) and the faculty is crazy supportive and talented. It's a great place to write as well, with all the openess and wildlife, an underrated aspect of the program.

[Scribe]

Anyone get rejected by UF based on LAST YEAR'S application?