2025 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[Eloise2897]

8 minutes ago, inkidacat said:

Is anyone else here waitinglisted at Syracuse for fiction? I know that one person confirmed that they were attending, but does anyone else know of any other waitlist movement? 

I am! Someone on draft just said they are removing themselves from the waitlist. That's all I have seen in the past few weeks (other than the 1 confirmed attending), and I have been watching for movement like a hawk. 

[snottlebie]

Can't quite remember all details but if I'm remembering correctly, someone who got into Syracuse for fiction also got into JHU and Cornell (and more, as well as waitlisted for Michener; apologies if I'm combining people but I do know there was someone with multiple acceptances who got into Syracuse). So there would likely be movement. I think someone in here might have known this person (?), but if anyone has any intel on where people with multiple acceptances are landing, feel free to share if comfortable.

Or if anyone has intel on if any of the above schools/others have filled their cohorts. Might be too early, but it is basically April at this point.

[glowingbrightly]

@P i e r r o t comment on draft waitlist post saying irvine fiction all accepted

[LichLover]

Hi everyone. I hope we're holding up well.

Got off the waitlist at two programs today, and also declined my spot at another program (Miami U), so there should be waitlist movements. I know a few folks here and on the Draft group are waitlisted at Miami. Rooting for us all.

[Eloise2897]

33 minutes ago, LichLover said:

Hi everyone. I hope we're holding up well.

Got off the waitlist at two programs today, and also declined my spot at another program (Miami U), so there should be waitlist movements. I know a few folks here and on the Draft group are waitlisted at Miami. Rooting for us all.

Do you mind if I ask where you got off the waitlists? No pressure if you would rather not share!

[Tinky C. Clown]

lmao got an official acceptance from emerson just now after i've already told them no. no mention of the full scholarship they unofficially offered me and asked me to unofficially decide on before offering it for real. they're just such a scammy place imo

 

oh also i see that a unlv acceptance just went out so nobody count them out yet

Edited March 31 by Tinky C. Clown

[Hjanep]

1 hour ago, snottlebie said:

Can't quite remember all details but if I'm remembering correctly, someone who got into Syracuse for fiction also got into JHU and Cornell (and more, as well as waitlisted for Michener; apologies if I'm combining people but I do know there was someone with multiple acceptances who got into Syracuse). So there would likely be movement. I think someone in here might have known this person (?), but if anyone has any intel on where people with multiple acceptances are landing, feel free to share if comfortable.

Or if anyone has intel on if any of the above schools/others have filled their cohorts. Might be too early, but it is basically April at this point.

Yeah my workshop mate is that person. They’re visiting all schools and then deciding. I think Syracuse and JHU are top of the list. There’s another person admitted at both those programs who might be leaning JHU (this is thirdhand information) because of transit etc limitations but I don’t think they’ve done their Syracuse visit yet. Unfortunately might be closer to 4/15 before you see movement. Keep us posted!

[P i e r r o t]

1 hour ago, glowingbrightly said:

@P i e r r o t comment on draft waitlist post saying irvine fiction all accepted

Yeahhhhh. Cruel business, waitlists. Major bridesmaid-never-bride vibes. Getting the personal treatment, too, was so appreciated but does make it real bitch in the end.

[OctopusCactus]

23 hours ago, muffincreature said:

I extremely appreciated the advice people gave on my MFA choices! Here’s another question I have. I’ve been torn between PhD and MFA.

I’m not sure if anyone has debated between PhD and MFA and what you’ve decided considering your writing interests and career prospects. I feel like my heart is leaning toward the MFA but the PhD seems like such a good opportunity I shouldn’t miss. Would love to hear someone else’s thoughts on this. 

Could you see yourself pursuing any of the non-academic career pathways available to social science PhDs and MAs? There is some demand for social science PhDs in fields like U/X design, market research, and consulting, and those jobs can be lucrative (though they're also quite competitive).  Many PhD programs are not the best at helping students navigate the non-academic job market but there's increasing pressure on them to do better on this.

PhD programs have more structured resources to help students go on the job market than MFAs, but the social sciences academic job market is, like the creative writing academic job market, way oversupplied and competitive.  

Good luck with whatever route you choose, what great options to have!

[P i e r r o t]

27 minutes ago, Hjanep said:

Yeah my workshop mate is that person. They’re visiting all schools and then deciding. I think Syracuse and JHU are top of the list. There’s another person admitted at both those programs who might be leaning JHU (this is thirdhand information) because of transit etc limitations but I don’t think they’ve done their Syracuse visit yet. Unfortunately might be closer to 4/15 before you see movement. Keep us posted!

Congrats to them—and also wish they would cut Davis loose already, god damn!

Edited March 31 by P i e r r o t

[muffincreature]

23 hours ago, Lady Gladys said:

What would you like to teach? Also, I would consider how much of your career is ahead of you. If you are 50, then 7-8 years in a PhD program doesn't seem like a good payoff for 15 years of teaching, but if you are 30, I can see how it would make more sense.

Good question... I’ve been working with students on writing so I can see myself teaching that long-term, less sure about teaching social sciences. It’s just how likely will an MFA lead to teaching jobs that aren’t a super heavy load and low pay? 

Yeah age is a good consideration. I’m still young but 7-8 years plus more years of postdoc still seems daunting. 

[Hjanep]

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

Congrats to them—and also wish they would cut Davis loose already, god damn!

They’re visiting this week so fingers crossed the end is near 

[P i e r r o t]

34 minutes ago, Hjanep said:

They’re visiting this week so fingers crossed the end is near 

Oh, good to know, thanks! Glad I mentioned it.

[muffincreature]

1 hour ago, OctopusCactus said:

Could you see yourself pursuing any of the non-academic career pathways available to social science PhDs and MAs? There is some demand for social science PhDs in fields like U/X design, market research, and consulting, and those jobs can be lucrative (though they're also quite competitive).  Many PhD programs are not the best at helping students navigate the non-academic job market but there's increasing pressure on them to do better on this.

PhD programs have more structured resources to help students go on the job market than MFAs, but the social sciences academic job market is, like the creative writing academic job market, way oversupplied and competitive.  

Good luck with whatever route you choose, what great options to have!

Thanks! Planning non-academic careers after these degrees sounds like a smart thing to do. My work has been related to writing, editing and education so I feel more comfortable staying in these fields than the corporate jobs that typically follow social science degrees. But the pay is probably much worse?

I’m also thinking if a social science degree can lead to writing-focused jobs, like journalism, but I’ve been told it’s a dying field, and experience probably helps more than seven years of schooling? 

As you said, social science and creative writing academic job markets are both highly competitive. Is one slightly better than the other though?

[LichLover]

3 hours ago, Eloise2897 said:

Do you mind if I ask where you got off the waitlists? No pressure if you would rather not share!

Got off at South Carolina and WashU. 

[rapunzel]

3 hours ago, Hjanep said:

Yeah my workshop mate is that person. They’re visiting all schools and then deciding. I think Syracuse and JHU are top of the list. There’s another person admitted at both those programs who might be leaning JHU (this is thirdhand information) because of transit etc limitations but I don’t think they’ve done their Syracuse visit yet. Unfortunately might be closer to 4/15 before you see movement. Keep us posted!

lol i envy your insider knowledge 👀

[Magnolia Electric Co]

3 hours ago, Hjanep said:

Yeah my workshop mate is that person. They’re visiting all schools and then deciding. I think Syracuse and JHU are top of the list. There’s another person admitted at both those programs who might be leaning JHU (this is thirdhand information) because of transit etc limitations but I don’t think they’ve done their Syracuse visit yet. Unfortunately might be closer to 4/15 before you see movement. Keep us posted!

Is Syracuse a hard place to live without a car?

[Hjanep]

25 minutes ago, Magnolia Electric Co said:

Is Syracuse a hard place to live without a car?

Probably. I lived in Ithaca and felt like I needed a car. It seems like it would be even more necessary in Syracuse. And there’s no train or anything that goes there so to leave you effectively need to drive (or fly)

[Lady Gladys]

15 minutes ago, Magnolia Electric Co said:

Is Syracuse a hard place to live without a car?

I think it depends on how far out you want to go. There are Syracuse University shuttles on campus and in the neighborhoods around campus, and there are public bus routes that connect major shopping areas and downtown. They also have bike routes, taxis, Ubers, etc. There's no subway, but they do have a transportation hub for Greyhound and Amtrak to connect Syracuse to other major cities. They also have an airport.

[Hjanep]

Out of pure curiosity, I wish there was a board that showed how many spots each of these schools have and how many have been claimed. For example, it seems like Michigan fiction has had some recent movement but I wonder how long their waitlist is and how far through they’ve made it, etc. 

[Lady Gladys]

10 minutes ago, Hjanep said:

Probably. I lived in Ithaca and felt like I needed a car. It seems like it would be even more necessary in Syracuse. And there’s no train or anything that goes there so to leave you effectively need to drive (or fly)

Amtrak serves Syracuse. They have a line that connects Boston and New York City with Chicago that always stops at Syracuse. My kids in college take it all the time to get back and forth on breaks.

[Magnolia Electric Co]

Wow - so much collective knowledge about Syracuse! I guess I wouldn't mind not being able to leave Syracuse itself, but I'd want to be able to get around the city itself without a car.

[penitentwanderer]

 

4 hours ago, Hjanep said:

Yeah my workshop mate is that person. They’re visiting all schools and then deciding. I think Syracuse and JHU are top of the list. There’s another person admitted at both those programs who might be leaning JHU (this is thirdhand information) because of transit etc limitations but I don’t think they’ve done their Syracuse visit yet. Unfortunately might be closer to 4/15 before you see movement. Keep us posted!

3 hours ago, Hjanep said:

They’re visiting this week so fingers crossed the end is near 

Do you happen to know if they plan to cut any schools loose or are they waiting until they visit their last school (UC Davis?)? Just curious as they're already leaning towards 2 schools, do they intend to decline offers from schools they've already visited? Asking as an anxiety-ridden waitlister to one of their non-preferred schools (hopefully) 🙃 I realize that you're not them and can't answer for them, but appreciate you giving us the inside scoop! Not sure it's helping the nerves, but I guess it's good to know. Hopefully, they make their last visit and are able to make timely choices!

Also extending this general inquiry more broadly - people with multiple acceptances who AREN'T waiting on waitlists - what Qs are you still mulling over before you accept? I know someone else who has at least 2 acceptances and has declined at least 1 other offer, but is still thinking things through with those 2 schools - in their case they only just recently came off a waitlist. 

[Hjanep]

1 minute ago, penitentwanderer said:

 

Do you happen to know if they plan to cut any schools loose or are they waiting until they visit their last school (UC Davis?)? Just curious as they're already leaning towards 2 schools, do they intend to decline offers from schools they've already visited? Asking as an anxiety-ridden waitlister to one of their non-preferred schools (hopefully) 🙃 I realize that you're not them and can't answer for them, but appreciate you giving us the inside scoop! Not sure it's helping the nerves, but I guess it's good to know. Hopefully, they make their last visit and are able to make timely choices!

Also extending this general inquiry more broadly - people with multiple acceptances who AREN'T waiting on waitlists - what Qs are you still mulling over before you accept? I know someone else who has at least 2 acceptances and has declined at least 1 other offer, but is still thinking things through with those 2 schools - in their case they only just recently came off a waitlist. 

My understanding is they’re trying to make an informed decision after visiting all schools and so far has been like “wow it would be amazing to go here!” about every program during the visits. I think there are also some personal decisions around geography and with any decision like this there’s probably some overwhelm and different tradeoffs but I really don’t know much beyond that. 

[pananoprodigy]

I'm committing to NAU @everything bagel lover can't wait to get bagels with you in flag!