2025 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[gradschoolpspspsps]

7 minutes ago, zaira said:

If they know you're committing then everything is probably fine. The letter will come. Sometimes there's a delay between the program requesting the letter from the grad department and the letter showing up in the portal/inbox for you to formally sign. 

Thank you, that helps!

[everything bagel lover]

27 minutes ago, vilum said:

do schools usually send out an official email along the lines of "sorry - you didn't make it off the waitlist" or are we supposed to assume we're out after tomorrow?

In my experience, they do tend to do this! You should notified when the cohort is finalized or if you’re accepted off the waitlist. It can take some time after the deadline as well so you’re not out until you’re out!

[vilum]

5 minutes ago, everything bagel lover said:

In my experience, they do tend to do this! You should notified when the cohort is finalized or if you’re accepted off the waitlist. It can take some time after the deadline as well so you’re not out until you’re out!

thank you bagel, you bring me hope (of peace of mind, at least)! vanderbilt is a long shot - literally who are those three people who would turn it down? - and I couldn't attend nyu anyway without funding. so yeah, really upset about how it went down this year. but congrats to all of you that made it! super enthusiastic for you!

 

[essentialflowers]

Hey everyone!! Random question: Does this mean the department review committee accepted me?

 

Your application has been reviewed by your academic department and a recommendation has been made to the Graduate Admissions Office. The Graduate Admissions Office will complete the final review of your application and will post a final decision letter on this Status Page. Please continue monitoring your Application Status Page for updates. You will be notified by email when an update has been made to your application. 

 

[curfew]

11 hours ago, Tuxedocat said:

I have no idea why there is such a turnover. But it seems to mostly be in fiction, so I am unsure if it has to do with any university policies/cuts. I only know of one poet (aside from me) turning down their spot thus far, although there may have been others. That being said, I am a poet who just turned down my spot at Michigan moments ago. Wishing those on the waitlist good luck tomorrow! I will be accepting Iowa instead ❤️ 

CONGRATS TUXEDO!!!! Wow you're the belle of the ball!!! So so excited to see you in Iowa City this fall:))

[Hjanep]

19 minutes ago, essentialflowers said:

Hey everyone!! Random question: Does this mean the department review committee accepted me?

 

Your application has been reviewed by your academic department and a recommendation has been made to the Graduate Admissions Office. The Graduate Admissions Office will complete the final review of your application and will post a final decision letter on this Status Page. Please continue monitoring your Application Status Page for updates. You will be notified by email when an update has been made to your application. 

 

Not necessarily. I asked Montana about my app and they sent me that and the decision was rejected 

[everything bagel lover]

19 minutes ago, essentialflowers said:

Hey everyone!! Random question: Does this mean the department review committee accepted me?

 

Your application has been reviewed by your academic department and a recommendation has been made to the Graduate Admissions Office. The Graduate Admissions Office will complete the final review of your application and will post a final decision letter on this Status Page. Please continue monitoring your Application Status Page for updates. You will be notified by email when an update has been made to your application. 

 

Not to be a downer or pessimist, but it seems like a decision has been made, but no indication what decision. On the bright side, it means you should get clarity soon!

[essentialflowers]

13 minutes ago, Hjanep said:

Not necessarily. I asked Montana about my app and they sent me that and the decision was rejected 

 

11 minutes ago, everything bagel lover said:

Not to be a downer or pessimist, but it seems like a decision has been made, but no indication what decision. On the bright side, it means you should get clarity soon!

Thank you both for the clarification!!! I looked it up, and FSU has a two-part admissions process. My academic board will say yes or no, and if they say yes, the application moves up and is background-checked by the overall admissions board. So, I'm keeping my hopes in check, but others who received this notification from FSU have gotten accepted!!! I'm going crazy right now but thank you both for responding and giving input. 

[Tuxedocat]

12 minutes ago, curfew said:

CONGRATS TUXEDO!!!! Wow you're the belle of the ball!!! So so excited to see you in Iowa City this fall:))

Yay!! Thank you ❤️ I am still in disbelief. Iowa has been my dream for years and I can’t believe I actually did it! Went from no acceptances last year to 9 this year! Goes to show what persevering and reapplying can do. Wishing great news for those on waitlists today, and an amazing season next year to those reapplying🍀 

[vilum]

the email from vanderbilt's program director finally came, it was so sweet and personal. i had a little cry about it because i was so, so close. but really grateful at the same time. 

 

 

[carrruly]

Hi! Has anyone that applied to NC State been rejected yet? I did not get in anywhere and am clinging to the hope that the weird "second waitlist email" they sent out actually wasn't sent to everyone (even though at this point it looks like it was). 

[Nauna]

1 hour ago, carrruly said:

Hi! Has anyone that applied to NC State been rejected yet? I did not get in anywhere and am clinging to the hope that the weird "second waitlist email" they sent out actually wasn't sent to everyone (even though at this point it looks like it was). 

I can't speak to the rejection part, but I'll add that I am on the first waitlist for poetry & they emailed last week to see who was still interested. They said that the poetry cohort is not yet full, so I speculate that they're trying to see how many from the second waitlist may or may not be needed. I'll also add that I don't see any actual rejections on the spreadsheet so who knows. 

[carrruly]

4 minutes ago, Nauna said:

I can't speak to the rejection part, but I'll add that I am on the first waitlist for poetry & they emailed last week to see who was still interested. They said that the poetry cohort is not yet full, so I speculate that they're trying to see how many from the second waitlist may or may not be needed. I'll also add that I don't see any actual rejections on the spreadsheet so who knows. 

thanks for the insight! I agree, I see no rejections so far.

best of luck on getting off the waitlist!

[Nauna]

7 minutes ago, carrruly said:

thanks for the insight! I agree, I see no rejections so far.

best of luck on getting off the waitlist!

Thank you! ❤️ 

[LichLover]

Hi everyone. Decision day, how are we all feeling?

Saw someone fill on the Draft "decision" sheet that they committed to UTK. Would really, really love to connect with you, if you're here.

Signed, a fellow UTK committeeeeeeeee. 

Edited April 15 by LichLover

[pananoprodigy]

I just got an email that I got accepted off the waitlist at Arkansas 😵‍💫 I already accepted NAU and I'm feeling a little frazzled/overwhelmed. The stipend they offered is about the same or a wee bit more than what I got at NAU, but COL in Fayetteville is soooo much lower than Flagstaff. It's also a 4 year program vs NAU's 2. Idk just feeling major decision fatigue and needed to vent

Edited April 15 by pananoprodigy

[Mystic_Sunshine]

Does anyone know if you don't hear back from a waitlist today if that means that likely you didn't make it off?

I think for Ole Miss there was 2 spots left (and one of them has filled) and they both were given a deadline of today. So I know I wasn't super likely to get off the waitlist but I'm ready to just accept whatever outcome and prepare for another application cycle. 

[everything bagel lover]

50 minutes ago, pananoprodigy said:

I just got an email that I got accepted off the waitlist at Arkansas 😵‍💫 I already accepted NAU and I'm feeling a little frazzled/overwhelmed. The stipend they offered is about the same or a wee bit more than what I got at NAU, but COL in Fayetteville is soooo much lower than Flagstaff. It's also a 4 year program vs NAU's 2. Idk just feeling major decision fatigue and needed to vent

Congratulations! That is stressful and if you wanna chat about it, I’m here! Or if you need to process with friends/family/in solitude, definitely take that time! How long did they give you?

The decision fatigue and uprooting your whole life planning is exhausting, take care of yourself! And this goes for everyone!!

[itsgivingliterary]

1 minute ago, Mystic_Sunshine said:

Does anyone know if you don't hear back from a waitlist today if that means that likely you didn't make it off?

I think for Ole Miss there was 2 spots left (and one of them has filled) and they both were given a deadline of today. So I know I wasn't super likely to get off the waitlist but I'm ready to just accept whatever outcome and prepare for another application cycle. 

as far as I know (which isn't a lot), not necessarily. I think it depends on whether or not the waitlist is ranked. If so, they might be able to make a decision faster, but I think many programs choose who gets off the waitlist based on the cohort, and who they think would gel. It might take them time to make that decision. But I'm also a hopeful waitlistee lol so what do I know.

[gradschoolpspspsps]

8 minutes ago, Mystic_Sunshine said:

Does anyone know if you don't hear back from a waitlist today if that means that likely you didn't make it off?

I think for Ole Miss there was 2 spots left (and one of them has filled) and they both were given a deadline of today. So I know I wasn't super likely to get off the waitlist but I'm ready to just accept whatever outcome and prepare for another application cycle. 

Sorry to report our cohort is full at Ole Miss, we've all been introduced to each other already. 

[Mystic_Sunshine]

Just now, gradschoolpspspsps said:

Sorry to report our cohort is full at Ole Miss, we've all been introduced to each other already. 

Thank you for letting me know! I guess you and the last other person accepted yesterday/today. 

Not the news I wanted but it's okay  I feel good about having to reapply. And at least I did get waitlisted so not a total bust. And I'm happy now that I can just put this cycle to rest finally and plan my next year out. 

 

[prufrock_]

2 hours ago, pananoprodigy said:

I just got an email that I got accepted off the waitlist at Arkansas 😵‍💫 I already accepted NAU and I'm feeling a little frazzled/overwhelmed. The stipend they offered is about the same or a wee bit more than what I got at NAU, but COL in Fayetteville is soooo much lower than Flagstaff. It's also a 4 year program vs NAU's 2. Idk just feeling major decision fatigue and needed to vent

Congrats! definitely feel free to vent more. these are massive decisions and it gets overwhelming fast!

if it's any help, I got off Ark's waitlist last round, but declined. Teaching 2/2 for four years is A LOT... especially for their pay; yes Fayetteville has a lower COL than flag, but from my research last year the COL raised dramatically in fay over the last five years, but the stipened hasn't. i'm rather risk averse to any debt though.

Edited April 15 by prufrock_

[pananoprodigy]

2 hours ago, prufrock_ said:

Congrats! definitely feel free to vent more. these are massive decisions and it gets overwhelming fast!

if it's any help, I got off Ark's waitlist last round, but declined. Teaching 2/2 for four years is A LOT... especially for their pay; yes Fayetteville has a lower COL than flag, but from my research last year the COL raised dramatically in fay over the last five years, but the stipened hasn't. i'm rather risk averse to any debt though.

Tysm I appreciate hearing this! From what I'm seeing it looks like I could easily (?) find a 1 br in Fayetteville for under/around $1000, which is unheard of in Flag. 2/2 is definitely a lot, but I was looking at teaching 1 class + writing center time as well as an outside P/T job at NAU. So I really don't know. 😓 The story that would be my thesis is set in northern arizona so that feels like a huge draw but the money is really stressing me out. From what they've told me I'd be getting at Arkansas I could probably swing just living off the stipend. 

[P i e r r o t]

On 4/3/2025 at 11:17 AM, zaira said:

I am sending every little bit of my own witchy energy your way!!! I got u 🕯️🕯️🕯️

Well..............I got the call: I'm in at UC Davis! (@zaira **fist bump**)

Jesus Christ, this nearly killed me. Second cycle, dozens of rejections, waitlists fell through, seemed like maybe another bust—until now. To anyone in the dumps: wallow as much as you need, for fuck's sake, and by all means take a break from writing if it hurts (I did), but please don't give up. It's practically a cliché in this forum, at this point, but—it only takes one acceptance! 

 

I have a few Davis-specific details, for anyone lurking who just wants some fucking clarity already.

- The cohort of 8 (2 poets / 6 prose) is now full; I believe I was the first and only waitlist movement for prose (fiction/non-fiction). This year's cohort is prose-heavy because last year's was poetry-heavy.

- They may still admit a third poet this year (so 9 total), at the discretion of the department chair. Not sure if they just have extra money or what? It was mentioned in passing. Will be decided shortly, I believe.

- The Davis waitlist is unranked, officially, but apparently ranked internally—which makes sense, but is still hella annoying! If you're first on the waitlist (as I just learned that I was), sure would be nice to know! That said, funding is such that an out-of-state acceptance (I'm in PA) costs the school more than an in-stater, so this detail is also a factor in admissions decisions; whomever turned down their acceptance was also an out-of-stater, in other words.

(Also, I don't know shit about the area, so hit me up if you're a Davis, CA expert!)

[scorchingmyfinalbraincell]

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

Well..............I got the call: I'm in at UC Davis! (@zaira **fist bump**)

Jesus Christ, this nearly killed me. Second cycle, dozens of rejections, waitlists fell through, seemed like maybe another bust—until now. To anyone in the dumps: wallow as much as you need, for fuck's sake, and by all means take a break from writing if it hurts (I did), but please don't give up. It's practically a cliché in this forum, at this point, but—it only takes one acceptance! 

 

I have a few Davis-specific details, for anyone lurking who just wants some fucking clarity already.

- The cohort of 8 (2 poets / 6 prose) is now full; I believe I was the first and only waitlist movement for prose (fiction/non-fiction). This year's cohort is prose-heavy because last year's was poetry-heavy.

- They may still admit a third poet this year (so 9 total), at the discretion of the department chair. Not sure if they just have extra money or what? It was mentioned in passing. Will be decided shortly, I believe.

- The Davis waitlist is unranked, officially, but apparently ranked internally—which makes sense, but is still hella annoying! If you're first on the waitlist (as I just learned that I was), sure would be nice to know! That said, funding is such that an out-of-state acceptance (I'm in PA) costs the school more than an in-stater, so this detail is also a factor in admissions decisions; whomever turned down their acceptance was also an out-of-stater, in other words.

(Also, I don't know shit about the area, so hit me up if you're a Davis, CA expert!)

Congratulations!!! That last minute call really does a 180 on the mental. Here's to channeling that energy to planning for the fall! 

That's an interestin detail about in-state vs out-of-state; I'm now curious to know how many schools operate their waitlists similarly (probably a lot of the one's that don't officially let people know their position on the waitlist)