2025 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[prufrock_]

On 1/9/2025 at 1:20 AM, Catpaw said:

Did anyone who applied to UC Irvine opt to include the self-addressed postcard (aka, the postcard that they'll mail back to you as proof that they received your printed-out manuscript)? If so, have you gotten the postcard back yet?

EDIT: I'm not on Draft due to not having a Facebook, so not sure if this has gotten mentioned there or not...

no mentions on draft yet about that. I submited to uc irvine but didn't include a postcard.

[programedlove333]

2 hours ago, Mystic_Sunshine said:

Draft has posted the notification sheet. 

I can't believe someone got a poetry acceptance at UIUC on the 3rd! That is so early. Congrats to them. That's the only notification. 

I'm fiction though. So more waiting  I'm hoping that next week is the week. 

The waiting for the next 2 months is going to drive me insane lol. I have told myself that the earliest I will probably get any results is early Feb which feels like forever to go but then I remember that its already been a month since I submitted apps, so time will pass fast enough

[Mystic_Sunshine]

34 minutes ago, programedlove333 said:

The waiting for the next 2 months is going to drive me insane lol. I have told myself that the earliest I will probably get any results is early Feb which feels like forever to go but then I remember that its already been a month since I submitted apps, so time will pass fast enough

It's like fast and slow at the same time. (For me) the holidays were super quick. And I think the individual days go by fast but then like it's hard for it not to feel slow when every day I'm like oop let me check grad cafe and facebook. 

The waiting is driving me wacky too. For a lot of reasons. 

1. If I don't get it anywhere I need to figure out a plan lol. I'm in an MA program so that would change things. 

2. I really really really want to know where I'm moving. I've applied all over and like imaging life in Arizona vs Nashville is just so different and kind of feels impossible.  

Hopefully Feb will be the bulk for me.

I'm pretty sure the only responses possible for me to hear before then are OSU and UIUC

Edited Friday at 08:20 PM by Mystic_Sunshine

[programedlove333]

7 minutes ago, Mystic_Sunshine said:

It's like fast and slow at the same time. (For me) the holidays were super quick. And I think the individual days go by fast but then like it's hard for it not to feel slow when every day I'm like oop let me check grad cafe and facebook. 

The waiting is driving me wacky too. For a lot of reasons. 

1. If I don't get it anywhere I need to figure out a plan lol. I'm in an MA program so that would change things. 

2. I really really really want to know where I'm moving. I've applied all over and like imaging life in Arizona vs Nashville is just so different and kind of feels impossible.  

Hopefully Feb will be the bulk for me.

I'm pretty sure the only responses possible for me to hear before then are OSU and UIUC

Right, the potential logistics of it all is driving me crazy. I want to get a pet but then it is like, Oh well now i have to potentially move a pet across the country with me! or maybe not! And yeah, I applied to schools in various parts of the country and I don’t want to begin planning or thinking about moving because I don’t want to expect to get in and then don’t. I hope your MA studies provide a distraction for you in these coming months though! Also I literally had to delete facebook from my phone especially now that the results sheet is live 

[Mystic_Sunshine]

Just now, programedlove333 said:

Right, the potential logistics of it all is driving me crazy. I want to get a pet but then it is like, Oh well now i have to potentially move a pet across the country with me! or maybe not! And yeah, I applied to schools in various parts of the country and I don’t want to begin planning or thinking about moving because I don’t want to expect to get in and then don’t. I hope your MA studies provide a distraction for you in these coming months though! Also I literally had to delete facebook from my phone especially now that the results sheet is live 

I have four pets to move across the country  (or maybe not). So, I'm always an advocate for getting the pet. 

It's the same for me. My partner likes to look up zillow listings and stuff and I just can't. I don't want to get too attached to an idea. I mean I def have schools that are my top choices but I'm trying to keep myself neutral and equally excited about all places. 

I'm writing my thesis this semester. So, it's good because I get to do a lot of writing and kind of always have something to work on. 

Also...you're telling me checking the results sheet every thirty minutes even though I know it isn't going to change isn't healthy?

[programedlove333]

4 minutes ago, Mystic_Sunshine said:

I have four pets to move across the country  (or maybe not). So, I'm always an advocate for getting the pet. 

It's the same for me. My partner likes to look up zillow listings and stuff and I just can't. I don't want to get too attached to an idea. I mean I def have schools that are my top choices but I'm trying to keep myself neutral and equally excited about all places. 

I'm writing my thesis this semester. So, it's good because I get to do a lot of writing and kind of always have something to work on. 

Also...you're telling me checking the results sheet every thirty minutes even though I know it isn't going to change isn't healthy?

Yeah, I definitely think restraining yourself from getting too attached to the idea of one school/city is helpful. I applied to 7 schools and my top are NYU, syracuse, and UNCG, but really id be happy about getting admitted anywhere. What is your thesis about, if you don’t mind me asking?

Also, even if it isn’t healthy, i am right there beside you checking every 30 minutes. even seeing some results come in like the UIUC one comforts me because i am like: Ok. Results will eventually come if I just keep waiting a little bit longer.

 

[Mystic_Sunshine]

1 hour ago, programedlove333 said:

Yeah, I definitely think restraining yourself from getting too attached to the idea of one school/city is helpful. I applied to 7 schools and my top are NYU, syracuse, and UNCG, but really id be happy about getting admitted anywhere. What is your thesis about, if you don’t mind me asking?

Also, even if it isn’t healthy, i am right there beside you checking every 30 minutes. even seeing some results come in like the UIUC one comforts me because i am like: Ok. Results will eventually come if I just keep waiting a little bit longer.

 

I love NYC but didn't apply to NYU. I have four dogs so it doesn't make sense. But it was a dream school for me. 

Syracuse is also my top. Along with UVA, Minnesota, and Vanderbilt. 

I don't mind  My thesis is a mix of a critical essay and short stories. It's mainly centered around time politics. So, how different groups experience time differently based on gender, identity and sexuality. I'm leaning into motherhood and the domestic space with it as well. 

[Leeannitha]

6 hours ago, Mystic_Sunshine said:

It's like fast and slow at the same time. (For me) the holidays were super quick. And I think the individual days go by fast but then like it's hard for it not to feel slow when every day I'm like oop let me check grad cafe and facebook. 

The waiting is driving me wacky too. For a lot of reasons. 

1. If I don't get it anywhere I need to figure out a plan lol. I'm in an MA program so that would change things. 

2. I really really really want to know where I'm moving. I've applied all over and like imaging life in Arizona vs Nashville is just so different and kind of feels impossible.  

Hopefully Feb will be the bulk for me.

I'm pretty sure the only responses possible for me to hear before then are OSU and UIUC

I forget if you’ve mentioned this (so sorry) but did you apply to U of Arizona? I applied there 

 

[Allrich90]

This might be a little off-topic, but besides my MFA applications, I did a Fulbright application coming from Germany. I was interviewed and put on a waiting list. Anyone of you has experience with being on a waiting list? Like when to hear back, what are the chances to still get accepted. Would love to hear your experiences!

[Mystic_Sunshine]

14 hours ago, Leeannitha said:

I forget if you’ve mentioned this (so sorry) but did you apply to U of Arizona? I applied there 

 

yeah I did

[curfew]

The release of the Draft notification sheet has pumped up the jam! [of anxiousness]. If things take after last year, we should be seeing some action from Ohio State, Amherst, and a few others come next week.

It's also 1/11. My mother mentioned the psycho-spiritual intimations that might come from today. She recommended I wear all black the next day and be outside as often as possible. I took a Joy Williams novel with me to a park and, after sitting at a picnic table, saw a jet-black cat slip from behind a metal beam upholding a pavilion, and walk towards me.

Maybe it's a sign of something! maybe a cat's mom was told to dress in all black and be outside as often as possible. Whatever the case, I'm wishing some form of good energy for everyone here--

[backtooskewl]

Dearest amazing MFA applicants of gradcafe.

Me again, with some more questions.

So, TLDR - In October, as I was gaining steam on my grad app, I was furloughed from my day job AND got covid AND was in a bike accident. I am just now getting back to the application and here's what I've got left to do:
- Pick out schools, other than my most nearby top school, which someone convinced me is a good move.
- Write A CV
- Get two recc letters. The initial request emails have been sent out, but haven't even received responses back yet. I realize now I haven't given these professors I haven't seen for a dozen years much time.
- Revise my writing samples. The goodish news is having been a writer for so long means I have a ton of writing to pull from, it's just not formatted/edited into what a program that would only take literary fiction might take. Related question: Is putting a genre fiction sample in an app that only does or has a more lit fiction lean a big no no? I worked mainly in games and comics, so genre fiction influences just about everything I've written, and I honestly have a hard time telling what is or isn't lit fiction enough.

- Statement of purpose not started!

I very much want a fully funded/TA/not worry about money acceptance. Is submitting so much closer to the deadline going to hurt my chances significantly?

If I decide I need to delay applying when is the next time to apply to grad programs, and how does this sorta start/stop thing affect my applying in the future? What if I only get an offer from one and say no because of the odd timing of it all?|

Good news: Have a gig again, so there's time to finish things to some degree, as long as yours truly can stay focused.

[Mystic_Sunshine]

33 minutes ago, backtooskewl said:

Dearest amazing MFA applicants of gradcafe.

Me again, with some more questions.

So, TLDR - In October, as I was gaining steam on my grad app, I was furloughed from my day job AND got covid AND was in a bike accident. I am just now getting back to the application and here's what I've got left to do:
- Pick out schools, other than my most nearby top school, which someone convinced me is a good move.
- Write A CV
- Get two recc letters. The initial request emails have been sent out, but haven't even received responses back yet. I realize now I haven't given these professors I haven't seen for a dozen years much time.
- Revise my writing samples. The goodish news is having been a writer for so long means I have a ton of writing to pull from, it's just not formatted/edited into what a program that would only take literary fiction might take. Related question: Is putting a genre fiction sample in an app that only does or has a more lit fiction lean a big no no? I worked mainly in games and comics, so genre fiction influences just about everything I've written, and I honestly have a hard time telling what is or isn't lit fiction enough.

- Statement of purpose not started!

I very much want a fully funded/TA/not worry about money acceptance. Is submitting so much closer to the deadline going to hurt my chances significantly?

If I decide I need to delay applying when is the next time to apply to grad programs, and how does this sorta start/stop thing affect my applying in the future? What if I only get an offer from one and say no because of the odd timing of it all?|

Good news: Have a gig again, so there's time to finish things to some degree, as long as yours truly can stay focused.

I'm not an expert by any means so take all my answers with that in mind. 

1. Some programs are more open to genre fiction and some aren't. I'd try to research which ones are more open. Someone on draft claimed they got into Iowa with a story about Zombies. 

I read for a lit mag and honestly (to me) stories either work or they don't and peoples reaction to them usually has little to do with if they are straight literary fiction or not. That being said horror we publish a lot and fantasy almost never (but there has been some magical realism)

2. Submitting close to the deadline/at the deadline makes no impact on your application. They don't look at apps until after the deadline. You need to worry more about your letter writers and if they can get them in on time. 

3. No impact on applying again in the future. Schools have waitlists for a reason  they aren't hurt by people rejecting their offer. The only case that I think might (possibly) burn bridges is if you accept and then way after change your mind. but even then that happens a lot and people move on. It's totally okay to decline offers!!! And you should if you do 100% feel it's the right move. People all the time get offers and then reapply because of circumstances. 

 

 

[Leeannitha]

6 hours ago, Allrich90 said:

This might be a little off-topic, but besides my MFA applications, I did a Fulbright application coming from Germany. I was interviewed and put on a waiting list. Anyone of you has experience with being on a waiting list? Like when to hear back, what are the chances to still get accepted. Would love to hear your experiences!

Don’t have experience with this but wanted to say wow congrats!!!!!