2025 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[Lady Gladys]

33 minutes ago, gradschoolpspspsps said:

Oops replied to this before seeing that literally everyone else already had answered lol, they all probably know more than my brother, he doesn't know what's going on half the time!

I am actually loving our collective wisdom on transportation in Syracuse! I hope next year's applicants find this thread, because this is the kind of info that is NEVER on websites.

[Magnolia Electric Co]

Yeah this is truly incredible! Maybe there should be a second forum just for transportation in Syracuse. I didn't apply there myself, but this is encouraging me to make sure that any schools I do consider have walkable cities.

[Magnolia Electric Co]

Actually (sorry to reply to myself lol) if anyone has the inside scoop on the walkability of Urbana-Champaign, Bloomington, South Bend, or St. Louis, I would be all ears! I assume St. Louis is at least somewhat walkable because it's a proper city, but I'm not sure about the other three.

[Mystic_Sunshine]

I'm officially jumping ship from the forums since there is no reason for me to check in anymore! 

Congrats to all of those of you have received/accepted offers. I hope you have the very best time in your programs. ❤️

Thank you for all your support. And for those of you who didn't receive offers. It sucks and I feel it. And I hope you're okay and things work out in time. 

[snottlebie]

26 minutes ago, Magnolia Electric Co said:

Actually (sorry to reply to myself lol) if anyone has the inside scoop on the walkability of Urbana-Champaign, Bloomington, South Bend, or St. Louis, I would be all ears! I assume St. Louis is at least somewhat walkable because it's a proper city, but I'm not sure about the other three.

Take this with a grain of salt, as I’ve never lived in any of these places. However, I have done a lot of walkability research/visited some of these places. 
 

UIUC - smallish city so if you live close to campus it’s very easy to be in the center of things. The students all rave about the bus line - it’s free with a student ID (I believe… or you pay a mandatory fee you’d have to pay anyway) or $1 per ride without. Lots of buses, with lots of options - many students use the bus line and say it’s great. Good for biking. Have personally walked from campus to the bus station and from there you can Amtrak to Chicago. If you want to go elsewhere, outside of the city, you’d need a car. 
 

St Louis - certain neighborhoods are highly walkable and if you live near a Metrolink station your life will be easier. There’s also a bus system. This is probably the best purely walkable city on the list, but it’s also an actual city vs a city that’s grown around a university. Good bike community, though people apparently drive quite fast and the roads aren’t made with bikers in mind. Not as walkable as transit friendly places (as someone mentioned, Chicago, Nyc). It was at one point rated the 3rd most walkable city in the US and its own residents were in disbelief, so take that as you will. 
 

Bloomington - definitely hard to get here without a car. You can take a bus from the airport but the frequency is not always good. It’s small, so in that sense, it’s walkable and also bike friendly, but if you want to venture off campus, a car would be quite helpful. If you live downtown or near campus, it’s definitely easier to walk around than in other locations. There is a bus system but I don’t know how good it is. A car would be a good convenience here but people have managed without, though things like groceries can be difficult. [also not an expert on this one!]
 

South bend - I don’t have the data on this one

 

If you’re considering walkable places next year, Northwestern is pretty solid, as is JHU, depending where you live. Any NYC or Boston school, obviously (maybe this is all self evident). Hope this second hand account helps somewhat! 

[Magnolia Electric Co]

38 minutes ago, snottlebie said:

Take this with a grain of salt, as I’ve never lived in any of these places. However, I have done a lot of walkability research/visited some of these places. 

This is all so helpful - thank you so much!! I am not too concerned about leaving the cities themselves, but would definitely want to live somewhere with walkable access to green space and grocery stores, if possible. I might just be spoiled by living in Providence with grocery stores, several parks, and all of downtown within 2 miles...but as much as I appreciate buses, I would like to at least be able to walk to at least a fair number of things if I can. Maybe I'll try to Google maps some places.

[twelveyearoldrat]

is it a red flag if the current cohort member of the mfa (potentially fully funded, definitely my only option) is basically telling me to take any other funded offer i may have because they have loans out and have already heard the funding for my potential cohort is scarce? like damn i know it’s bad financially everywhere right now but is it so wrong that i just want to go to a school that someone doesn’t have to try and talk me out of going to? lmao just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on it okay thanks 🙂

[zaira]

2 hours ago, twelveyearoldrat said:

is it a red flag if the current cohort member of the mfa (potentially fully funded, definitely my only option) is basically telling me to take any other funded offer i may have because they have loans out and have already heard the funding for my potential cohort is scarce? like damn i know it’s bad financially everywhere right now but is it so wrong that i just want to go to a school that someone doesn’t have to try and talk me out of going to? lmao just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on it okay thanks 🙂

Which program? (If you don't mind saying, no pressure)

My view is you should never go into significant debt for an MFA. It's just not the type of degree that typically has financial payoff.

I'd talk to your main contact at the program and try to nail down exactly what the funding situation is. Ask them what the total funding package is (they should be able to tell you before you accept their offer), whether there are grants/fellowships, and whether funding is the same across all years or if you have to compete for funding again in your second year. 

I also don't know your life situation, but I will say for most people it makes better sense to apply again next season, rather than accepting a program you aren't totally sure about, that may not offer funding, or that current students are warning you away from. I know that's tough to hear because we all want to get into programs ASAP, but a bad MFA is far worse than having no MFA or having to wait another year to attend. 

[gradschoolpspspsps]

I love the walkability convo, I don't drive so that was like a huge part of where I applied. That and if it was a free application through Americorps. 

[essentialflowers]

random question: does anyone know anything about movement on FSU’s waitlist? Thanks!!

[gradschoolpspspsps]

Boise and SIU every day I wait for you.

[prufrock_]

15 hours ago, pananoprodigy said:

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

grats to boith of you!!!! Flagstaff (and sedona) are such cool places, i'm excited for yall!

[Lady Gladys]

13 hours ago, Magnolia Electric Co said:

Actually (sorry to reply to myself lol) if anyone has the inside scoop on the walkability of Urbana-Champaign, Bloomington, South Bend, or St. Louis, I would be all ears! I assume St. Louis is at least somewhat walkable because it's a proper city, but I'm not sure about the other three.

I can absolutely help with South Bend! They have a strong bus system and pretty good walkability near campus, but South Bend is pretty big, so it depends on where you live. There are two grocery stores near campus (a Martin's and a Trader Joe's.) Easy easy bus transport around South Bend and Mishawaka - super easy to get to the mall and shopping. If you like biking, it is also very bike friendly (even in winter). Lots of students on bikes, and town has a decent trail network.

[twelveyearoldrat]

5 hours ago, zaira said:

Which program? (If you don't mind saying, no pressure)

My view is you should never go into significant debt for an MFA. It's just not the type of degree that typically has financial payoff.

I'd talk to your main contact at the program and try to nail down exactly what the funding situation is. Ask them what the total funding package is (they should be able to tell you before you accept their offer), whether there are grants/fellowships, and whether funding is the same across all years or if you have to compete for funding again in your second year. 

I also don't know your life situation, but I will say for most people it makes better sense to apply again next season, rather than accepting a program you aren't totally sure about, that may not offer funding, or that current students are warning you away from. I know that's tough to hear because we all want to get into programs ASAP, but a bad MFA is far worse than having no MFA or having to wait another year to attend. 

it’s eastern wash. and i completely agree with you re loans. still waiting to hear about funding from the director. he didn’t tell me it was hopeless but was p much like we’re not sure how much money we’ll have this year with everything going on. thank you though i really appreciate your reply. 

[inkidacat]

would also love any information regarding university of arizona as well! thank yall for the very important information regarding Syracuse waitlists and just information in general. 

[squid05]

I need some advice please! I was accepted into a low-res program, and waiting on a full-res decision (top choice). I already had an extension on accepting the low-res offer, the final hard deadline is this Thursday. 

My top choice/full-res said they expected "to have some good news" for me 2 weeks ago. Radio silence since. I emailed them this morning. If they dont get back to me should I call? Or do I accept that they might not finalize decisions by Thursday? 

[zaira]

5 minutes ago, squid05 said:

I need some advice please! I was accepted into a low-res program, and waiting on a full-res decision (top choice). I already had an extension on accepting the low-res offer, the final hard deadline is this Thursday. 

My top choice/full-res said they expected "to have some good news" for me 2 weeks ago. Radio silence since. I emailed them this morning. If they dont get back to me should I call? Or do I accept that they might not finalize decisions by Thursday? 

Oof, tough spot. I'm not sure calling will do much tbh. If they haven't finalized decisions, then whoever you get on the phone with won't be able to give you an answer anyway. I think just wait to see if they respond to your email. It's only been a day and a lot of places are getting back from spring break, AWP, etc. If you get down to the wire tomorrow you can always try calling as a last resort. 

[gradschoolpspspsps]

I just reached out to my waitlisted schools to see if they had any updates and reaffirm my interest. Miami Ohio and Ole Miss both said no updates, and ASU said one person accepted and the other four are pending. UTK hasn't replied yet. 

[squid05]

15 minutes ago, zaira said:

Oof, tough spot. I'm not sure calling will do much tbh. If they haven't finalized decisions, then whoever you get on the phone with won't be able to give you an answer anyway. I think just wait to see if they respond to your email. It's only been a day and a lot of places are getting back from spring break, AWP, etc. If you get down to the wire tomorrow you can always try calling as a last resort. 

Ah, thank you for the reply. You are absolutely right. I just want them to acknowledge me! lol. But I can wait until tomorrow. 

[zaira]

25 minutes ago, gradschoolpspspsps said:

I just reached out to my waitlisted schools to see if they had any updates and reaffirm my interest. Miami Ohio and Ole Miss both said no updates, and ASU said one person accepted and the other four are pending. UTK hasn't replied yet. 

Out of curiosity, how did you phrase the update email? I'm always too nervous to ask for updates for whatever reason haha 

[cappuccino99]

Hey all,

First time posting. I've basically accepted that I will reapply next year with just one unfunded acceptance this cycle, but I still have one pending school (University of Houston). Anyone else waiting for a response? I saw a rejection on the spreadsheet, but I am not seeing any decision in my ApplyWeb portal. I kind of just want this year to be definitively over. 

Also, congratulations to those who were accepted and are going to attend an MFA program for Fall 2025!

[gradschoolpspspsps]

1 hour ago, zaira said:

Out of curiosity, how did you phrase the update email? I'm always too nervous to ask for updates for whatever reason haha 

Lol me and like four of my coworkers just spent three professional development lectures making sure we thought it sounded okay. Also, prefacing, I am new to all of this! It was really simple: 

Hi ___,

 

I just wanted to reach out and reiterate my continued interest in your program. I was wondering if there are any updates on the waitlist. I also want to affirm that if I get off the waitlist, I will most likely accept. If you would like any new information from me, please let me know. 

 

Thanks again, 

[Lady Gladys]

1 hour ago, gradschoolpspspsps said:

Lol me and like four of my coworkers just spent three professional development lectures making sure we thought it sounded okay.

This is so real. Love it!

[Magnolia Electric Co]

Not sure if there are any other UIUC poets here, but they just let me know the slots are all filled! I'd be curious to know if all original offers were accepted, or if they drew from the waitlist at all, since they didn't mention that in their email.

[glowingbrightly]

if anyone is waiting on boulder, i just got an email today indicating that they are still making decisions. not sure if ill even reply to the email since im already committed to irvine but they are asking me to clarify something about my application, which indicates either a waitlist or acceptance.