2025 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[essentialflowers]

It's strange knowing my life can change soon. I'm going about my days finishing my undergraduate thesis & working & organizing events for an internship, but beneath it all, I feel so unsettled. I'm writing some really cool stuff, though. 

[gradschoolpspspsps]

20 hours ago, girlwiththegreenribbon said:

i haven't heard back from SIU. should i just email them and ask for an update? i ask because i don't wanna seem impatient or anything.

Lol I'm gonna do it I'll tell you what I hear. I'm emailing them and Boise.

[citrus]

as the april 15 deadline approaches, how long should you be waiting after sending a letter/email of continued interest to send another one to a school you're waitlisted at?

[squid05]

22 minutes ago, citrus said:

as the april 15 deadline approaches, how long should you be waiting after sending a letter/email of continued interest to send another one to a school you're waitlisted at?

I'd say once a week at most! Maybe trying giving the department a call, too? It is a hail mary move but what do you have to lose? 

[itsgivingliterary]

any other Iowa waitlistees being ghosted by them lol? I sent two emails about being interested but didn't get a reply either time--not a huge deal, I assume they have a lot going on rn, but obviously doesn't feel great either

[snottlebie]

2 hours ago, itsgivingliterary said:

any other Iowa waitlistees being ghosted by them lol? I sent two emails about being interested but didn't get a reply either time--not a huge deal, I assume they have a lot going on rn, but obviously doesn't feel great either

yeah, same. I did hear that their grad coordinator person is extremely busy and ghosts the students themselves 👻. I wouldn't take it personally - some programs just do not respond to emails. Does anyone know if Iowa will actually send an email when all slots are full?

[Tuxedocat]

7 hours ago, itsgivingliterary said:

any other Iowa waitlistees being ghosted by them lol? I sent two emails about being interested but didn't get a reply either time--not a huge deal, I assume they have a lot going on rn, but obviously doesn't feel great either

 

4 hours ago, snottlebie said:

yeah, same. I did hear that their grad coordinator person is extremely busy and ghosts the students themselves 👻. I wouldn't take it personally - some programs just do not respond to emails. Does anyone know if Iowa will actually send an email when all slots are full?

I’m on the Iowa poetry waitlist. I was notified by a faculty member who has been responsive. I assumed the same would have been true for fiction but I suppose not.

From what I have heard from people, you will be notified if a spot opens up for you, and I hope they would let you know if everyone has accepted, but I have heard of people being on the waitlist until the summer in case any of the accepted students back out. 

[itsgivingliterary]

4 hours ago, snottlebie said:

yeah, same. I did hear that their grad coordinator person is extremely busy and ghosts the students themselves 👻. I wouldn't take it personally - some programs just do not respond to emails. Does anyone know if Iowa will actually send an email when all slots are full?

 

1 minute ago, Tuxedocat said:

 

I’m on the Iowa poetry waitlist. I was notified by a faculty member who has been responsive. I assumed the same would have been true for fiction but I suppose not.

From what I have heard from people, you will be notified if a spot opens up for you, and I hope they would let you know if everyone has accepted, but I have heard of people being on the waitlist until the summer in case any of the accepted students back out. 

thanks for the info! yeah I'm on for fiction. I wasn't super pressed about them not responding because I assumed they were busy, but y'know. It's still stressful, haha. Nothing we can do but wait, I guess!

[squid05]

Hi all, just venting. Pretty bummed out my top choice hasnt accepted or rejected me. Their updates have been scant. I dont know if I am next up for an offer or just waiting on a rejection. or if they have their cohort picked out and I am on a waitlist, but havent been told.

I know there's a ton of applicants but this late in the game I feel like whoever is still in the running should know some sort of general standing. IDK, I know Im not special but I do feel left in the dark which stinks. 

[penitentwanderer]

hey @Hjanep, do you have any updates on your friend? (if you're comfortable sharing) Any info you can share (whether it's just if they've narrowed things down or declined any offers or made a decision) would be helpful, as I think at least 4 schools' worth of waitlists are still pending! 

 

And sorry @squid05 - it's also been radio silence for me as well. Hoping they'll at least answer whether or not they'll inform us once the slots are filled, but losing faith on that. We've just got to tough it out 5 more days and then there should be (?) more clarity. 

[Hjanep]

2 hours ago, penitentwanderer said:

hey @Hjanep, do you have any updates on your friend? (if you're comfortable sharing) Any info you can share (whether it's just if they've narrowed things down or declined any offers or made a decision) would be helpful, as I think at least 4 schools' worth of waitlists are still pending! 

 

And sorry @squid05 - it's also been radio silence for me as well. Hoping they'll at least answer whether or not they'll inform us once the slots are filled, but losing faith on that. We've just got to tough it out 5 more days and then there should be (?) more clarity. 

Apparently they committed to JHU last night so hopefully movement soon

[inthesameboat]

For my Syracuse waitlisters, has anyone dared to ask for any more updates about the waitlist status/ how many people accepted/rejected the initial offer? I know 1 person accepted the initial offer as of 3ish weeks ago, and now it looks like someone has rejected their offer and chosen JHU. Any other intel?

[essentialflowers]

I reached out to the head of the department I'm waitlisted at twice since February, and it's been radio silent. I am so frustrated!!

[Eloise2897]

1 minute ago, inthesameboat said:

For my Syracuse waitlisters, has anyone dared to ask for any more updates about the waitlist status/ how many people accepted/rejected the initial offer? I know 1 person accepted the initial offer as of 3ish weeks ago, and now it looks like someone has rejected their offer and chosen JHU. Any other intel?

apparently 5/6 have accepted their offers so far!

[inthesameboat]

7 minutes ago, Eloise2897 said:

apparently 5/6 have accepted their offers so far!

Ah!! Any idea if these are all initial offers or are some waitlisters in there too?

[Eloise2897]

5 minutes ago, inthesameboat said:

Ah!! Any idea if these are all initial offers or are some waitlisters in there too?

no clue tbh

[Lady Gladys]

8 minutes ago, inthesameboat said:

Ah!! Any idea if these are all initial offers or are some waitlisters in there too?

Should be at least one waitlister. Could be more, but that is what I know. 

[muffincreature]

I’m sure someone has asked about this before, but is it typical for programs to notify waitlisted applicants after April 15? If I get off the waitlist but have already committed to another program can I still change my mind? And if I’m notified very close to April 15, how much time will I have to decide? 

[Hjanep]

2 hours ago, Lady Gladys said:

Should be at least one waitlister. Could be more, but that is what I know. 

Seconding this. Another person in at Syracuse and JHU accepted JHU a while back

[prufrock_]

23 minutes ago, muffincreature said:

I’m sure someone has asked about this before, but is it typical for programs to notify waitlisted applicants after April 15? If I get off the waitlist but have already committed to another program can I still change my mind? And if I’m notified very close to April 15, how much time will I have to decide? 

my one data point is that last year I got into arkansas from the waitlist on 4/18, so it definitely happens. I ended up turning it down after thinking for a few days, so someone else got that spot around 4/23ish. Ark didn't give me a specific deadline to accept or decline, but it's going to vary widely program to program.

Edited April 10 by prufrock_

[muffincreature]

2 minutes ago, prufrock_ said:

my one data point is that last year I got into arkansas from the waitlist on 4/18, so it definitely happens. I ended up turning it down after thinking for a few days, so someone else got that spot around 4/23ish. Ark didn't give me a specific deadline to accept or decline, but it's going to vary widely program to program.

Thanks! Did you commit to a program by April 15 and did you have to pay a deposit?

[prufrock_]

4 minutes ago, muffincreature said:

Thanks! Did you commit to a program by April 15 and did you have to pay a deposit?

No, i had no other funded offers. I would have had to pay the full app fee for ark, and then sign a contract if i accepted.

I don't have much insight into accepting an offer and then backing out. I know it's very frowned upon, and I would be hesitant to do it, but it's not unheard of or impossible.

[decayingballads21]

Is anyone else currently torn between two programs and has no idea how they’re going to choose in less than 5 days ?! (Any advice?!) 

That and my anxiety is convincing me that if I don’t decide soon they’re going to rescind their offers altogether. Feeling pressure to have decided already. 
 

I am so so grateful for having any options to consider in the first place and I know I do not take that privilege for granted, but it just is a difficult decision especially this year with so much more at stake currently 

 

[Tuxedocat]

50 minutes ago, decayingballads21 said:

Is anyone else currently torn between two programs and has no idea how they’re going to choose in less than 5 days ?! (Any advice?!) 

That and my anxiety is convincing me that if I don’t decide soon they’re going to rescind their offers altogether. Feeling pressure to have decided already. 
 

I am so so grateful for having any options to consider in the first place and I know I do not take that privilege for granted, but it just is a difficult decision especially this year with so much more at stake currently 

 

Have you talked to the students at both programs yet? And the faculty? I find those are the most helpful bits of intel. Maybe visit one or both programs if you have the means and time and haven’t already. Take as much time as you need to decide if you are torn. But you do only have 5 days (I, too, am feeling the pressure). I’m assuming based on your other posts you have done detailed comparisons of both programs (average price of rent vs your stipend, etc).

[decayingballads21]

24 minutes ago, Tuxedocat said:

Have you talked to the students at both programs yet? And the faculty? I find those are the most helpful bits of intel. Maybe visit one or both programs if you have the means and time and haven’t already. Take as much time as you need to decide if you are torn. But you do only have 5 days (I, too, am feeling the pressure). I’m assuming based on your other posts you have done detailed comparisons of both programs (average price of rent vs your stipend, etc).

I have talked to people at both programs and they’re lovely at both places. Faculty are great at both places as well, stipends are pretty equal. COL a bit higher in one place but not significant enough to be a worry. At one program, I’d have 3 years, get a lot of teaching experience but health insurance isn’t covered…  at another I have 2 years but a light teaching load and amazing healthcare. It’s like apples and oranges at this point