2025 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[scorchingmyfinalbraincell]

12 hours ago, hmm. said:

Is there any Syracuse poetry waitlist news

Wondering this as well-- it's unnervingly silent over there

[P i e r r o t]

12 minutes ago, scorchingmyfinalbraincell said:

Congratulations!!! That last minute call really does a 180 on the mental.

Good god, yes. So much so that, despite trying to will myself into some sort of feeling about this **excellent news** (relief, gratitude, excitement, pride, etc.), for now I'm registering nothing but exhaustion. I'll sleep it off, I'm sure, and the feels will shortly follow, but still......this process was brutal.

 

10 minutes ago, scorchingmyfinalbraincell said:

Wondering this as well-- it's unnervingly silent over there

Fingers crossed for you all!

[girlwiththegreenribbon]

hi everyone! i've been posting on here every now and then but, i'm feeling very discouraged right now. for reference, this is my first round in fiction and i applied to 5 schools. i got rejected from 3, radio silence from SIU so far (it's literally my top choice), and i'm on the waitlist at Ohio State (which I would love to go to and is my last chance). i'm an international student, which i feel is making things more complicated, and this is really my one chance at grad school. this feels like a yell into the void (and a silly wish said out loud that if you got accepted to Ohio State and don't wanna go, give me your spot) but everything feels really heavy right now. 

[zaira]

6 hours ago, P i e r r o t said:

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

Oh my goddd, yesssssss!!!! We might actually be magic 🕯️

I couldn't be happier for you. Seriously grinning over here! It's an incredible program. 

[zaira]

2 hours ago, girlwiththegreenribbon said:

hi everyone! i've been posting on here every now and then but, i'm feeling very discouraged right now. for reference, this is my first round in fiction and i applied to 5 schools. i got rejected from 3, radio silence from SIU so far (it's literally my top choice), and i'm on the waitlist at Ohio State (which I would love to go to and is my last chance). i'm an international student, which i feel is making things more complicated, and this is really my one chance at grad school. this feels like a yell into the void (and a silly wish said out loud that if you got accepted to Ohio State and don't wanna go, give me your spot) but everything feels really heavy right now. 

I'm sorry you're feeling down. This process really takes a toll, especially after months and months of waiting. If it's any consolation at all, getting waitlisted on your first round after only applying to five schools is a massive accomplishment. I know it doesn't mean much when you want more than anything to be in a program. Still, it's confirmation that your work is connecting with people. 

Rooting for you to get good news soon! 

[everything bagel lover]

10 hours 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! 

Congratulations!!! That’s amazing!! I agree with Zaria I think we collectively do actually have magical powers lol that’s so great I’m so happy for you!

[everything bagel lover]

Well, that's that I guess? I know not everyone is out of limbo, unfortunately, but I'm finally getting my head around being committed to my top choice program that I've daydreamed about for so long. It's crazy! It's incredible! I could cry just thinking about it! I feel so incredibly lucky and grateful and I'm so happy I got to be neurotic here with you guys. 

Those of you applying again next year, I wish you the best of luck! Those of you throwing in the towel for MFA apps (even if it's just for now, as I too took a couple years off between my first application cycle and this one), take it easy and keep writing. This shit is exhausting y'all. For those of y'all heading to an MFA, congratulations! 

To neurotic freaks in the future reading through all of the previous years cycles, hi! ❤️ Take a deep breath! Nothing that's meant for you will pass you by. I'm so grateful I didn't get into anywhere my first cycle, genuinely. I wouldn't have my partner, my dog, or the direction I currently do if I had gotten into my dream program last time. ❤️ Also, the time will pass! You will know eventually! In the meantime, lean on your support systems, irl or on here.

Thanks for everything guys ❤️ 

[decayingballads21]

anyone know if Ohio state has filled their spots ??

[P i e r r o t]

3 hours ago, everything bagel lover said:

Congratulations!!! That’s amazing!! I agree with Zaria I think we collectively do actually have magical powers lol that’s so great I’m so happy for you!

For real! I mean, should we all go in on a Witchery/Manifesting Service™?? imma need a serious side hustle to afford Davis rents on a graduate stipend, seems like.

[glowingbrightly]

14 hours ago, P i e r r o t said:

Good god, yes. So much so that, despite trying to will myself into some sort of feeling about this **excellent news** (relief, gratitude, excitement, pride, etc.), for now I'm registering nothing but exhaustion. I'll sleep it off, I'm sure, and the feels will shortly follow, but still......this process was brutal.

 

Fingers crossed for you all!

yayyy congrats!!! i know how long you’ve been waiting, it took me at least a week to calm down and may take you longer. davis sounds really lovely, i talked to someone else about the program—cute, quiet college town close to the bay. im no expert but it is one of the most bikeable cities in the country if you are into that! 

[girlwiththegreenribbon]

10 hours ago, girlwiththegreenribbon said:

hi everyone! i've been posting on here every now and then but, i'm feeling very discouraged right now. for reference, this is my first round in fiction and i applied to 5 schools. i got rejected from 3, radio silence from SIU so far (it's literally my top choice), and i'm on the waitlist at Ohio State (which I would love to go to and is my last chance). i'm an international student, which i feel is making things more complicated, and this is really my one chance at grad school. this feels like a yell into the void (and a silly wish said out loud that if you got accepted to Ohio State and don't wanna go, give me your spot) but everything feels really heavy right now. 

so, i got the email that i didn't make it off the waitlist at ohio state this morning. i've emailed SIU for an update and im remaining hopeful. 

it's been really hard dealing with the rejections because (and i apologize for getting a little too personal) it's really my one chance at an mfa and also being with my partner. im an international student who graduated in december and i've been back in my home country since then. it's been really hard being away from my partner of 2 years during such a hard time and what makes it harder is that my family is homophobic so i can't tell them about her. all of this lumped together along with the state of the US right now makes everything so much harder, especially as a queer person and an international student. 

i've got my fingers crossed for SIU and i'm asking for good vibes to be sent this way, only if you have a little extra. this is just another shout into the void really. 

[janetdamnit]

44 minutes ago, girlwiththegreenribbon said:

i've emailed SIU for an update and im remaining hopeful. 

I totally understand where you're coming from. I've been thinking about emailing the two remaining schools I'm on a wait-list on to see if all spots have been filled, but I didn't know if that was a good idea or not. Were you just short and sweet, asking for an update? 

[P i e r r o t]

1 hour ago, girlwiththegreenribbon said:

so, i got the email that i didn't make it off the waitlist at ohio state this morning. i've emailed SIU for an update and im remaining hopeful. 

it's been really hard dealing with the rejections because (and i apologize for getting a little too personal) it's really my one chance at an mfa and also being with my partner. im an international student who graduated in december and i've been back in my home country since then. it's been really hard being away from my partner of 2 years during such a hard time and what makes it harder is that my family is homophobic so i can't tell them about her. all of this lumped together along with the state of the US right now makes everything so much harder, especially as a queer person and an international student. 

i've got my fingers crossed for SIU and i'm asking for good vibes to be sent this way, only if you have a little extra. this is just another shout into the void really. 

So sorry about all of this. Please know we're all rooting for you!

I will just add, too, that this process is brutal enough on its own terms; personal complications, like yours, make it nearly unbearable. I know how you feel. I also have a serious mix of personal/financial/domestic complexities to my present situation, which have made basic art-making an exhausting and Herculean feat and have really heightened the stakes of these MFA decisions for me, this year and last. My first-round rejections were devastating on more than just a writerly level: everything was implicated. The thought of applying again was unthinkable, and I didn't write much for a few months. If you had told me then that, with time, I would somehow find the motivation to undergo all of this a second time, I genuinely would have called bullshit. Time does change you, though it's no fun to hear it—and believe it—from a place of anxiety or grief. The only option is finding the means to sustain a little longer. Easier said than done, I know. Really sorry you're dealing with so much.

In any case, you're not out of the running yet! Fingers crossed for SIU.

[pananoprodigy]

2 hours ago, girlwiththegreenribbon said:

so, i got the email that i didn't make it off the waitlist at ohio state this morning. i've emailed SIU for an update and im remaining hopeful. 

it's been really hard dealing with the rejections because (and i apologize for getting a little too personal) it's really my one chance at an mfa and also being with my partner. im an international student who graduated in december and i've been back in my home country since then. it's been really hard being away from my partner of 2 years during such a hard time and what makes it harder is that my family is homophobic so i can't tell them about her. all of this lumped together along with the state of the US right now makes everything so much harder, especially as a queer person and an international student. 

i've got my fingers crossed for SIU and i'm asking for good vibes to be sent this way, only if you have a little extra. this is just another shout into the void really. 

Good vibes your way✨ I'm so sorry, this is a lot to deal with and I hope you're able to get some good news soon ❤️

[janetdamnit]

Does anybody know anything about NC State? I haven't heard anything and I haven't gotten a response when I emailed to see if poetry was filled...Last one I'm waiting on :') Congrats to everyone who's gotten good news and for those of us still waiting or haven't gotten the news we'd hoped for, we persevere!!

[pananoprodigy]

Hey yall maybe someone has some advice/reassurance? So I decided to accept Arkansas's extremely last minute offer which they sent via email late afternoon on the 15th. I replied to the email accepting the offer that night a little before midnight. Didn't hear anything yesterday. This morning I sent a follow up email to confirm they had everything they needed (they had asked for a CV and transcripts) and asking if there was a student handbook I could have. That was a few hours ago and I still haven't heard anything. I need to tell NAU I'm rescinding my acceptance (which I'm super stressed about), but I'm hesitant to do it without some kind of confirmation from Arkansas. Is that silly? I don't want to be pushy and obvi it's usually not a big deal if an email goes unanswered for a couple of days, but I feel like it's weird to drop a last second acceptance that requires an immediate response and then not be available for questions or whatever. Idk what do you guys think? 

[prufrock_]

31 minutes ago, pananoprodigy said:

I'm hesitant to do it without some kind of confirmation from Arkansas

definitely not silly! speaking as someone who had their offer completely rescinded from rutgers-camden this round -- until a contract is signed, nothing is promised! Maybe ark changed, but last year when i got in off the waitlist they sent a TA contract to sign the day of the offer, and told me to complete a full application on their grad site. Again, maybe things changed between years though.

[everything bagel lover]

43 minutes ago, pananoprodigy said:

Hey yall maybe someone has some advice/reassurance? So I decided to accept Arkansas's extremely last minute offer which they sent via email late afternoon on the 15th. I replied to the email accepting the offer that night a little before midnight. Didn't hear anything yesterday. This morning I sent a follow up email to confirm they had everything they needed (they had asked for a CV and transcripts) and asking if there was a student handbook I could have. That was a few hours ago and I still haven't heard anything. I need to tell NAU I'm rescinding my acceptance (which I'm super stressed about), but I'm hesitant to do it without some kind of confirmation from Arkansas. Is that silly? I don't want to be pushy and obvi it's usually not a big deal if an email goes unanswered for a couple of days, but I feel like it's weird to drop a last second acceptance that requires an immediate response and then not be available for questions or whatever. Idk what do you guys think? 

I agree with Prufrock that it’s not silly, I think it’s definitely a good idea to have certainty before pulling out of anything else. I too waited until I had my acceptance of another offer confirmed before rescinding my NAU acceptance. I think it’s totally reasonable given the position you’re in. 

[Rilke fan]

Saw some people are waiting on SIU Carbondale. If it's helpful for data, they just sent me a rejection notification. Good luck to anyone still waiting on things! *Adding that it's for fiction

Edited April 17 by Rilke fan

[scorchingmyfinalbraincell]

2 hours ago, pananoprodigy said:

Hey yall maybe someone has some advice/reassurance? So I decided to accept Arkansas's extremely last minute offer which they sent via email late afternoon on the 15th. I replied to the email accepting the offer that night a little before midnight. Didn't hear anything yesterday. This morning I sent a follow up email to confirm they had everything they needed (they had asked for a CV and transcripts) and asking if there was a student handbook I could have. That was a few hours ago and I still haven't heard anything. I need to tell NAU I'm rescinding my acceptance (which I'm super stressed about), but I'm hesitant to do it without some kind of confirmation from Arkansas. Is that silly? I don't want to be pushy and obvi it's usually not a big deal if an email goes unanswered for a couple of days, but I feel like it's weird to drop a last second acceptance that requires an immediate response and then not be available for questions or whatever. Idk what do you guys think? 

Agreeing with everyone-- I'd wait/follow-up for concrete confirmation if only for peace of mind. Much better to know firmly the next stepping stone exists than to go out on faith and take the cold plunge. Congratulations on the offer btw! 

[beet_root]

On 4/17/2025 at 11:27 AM, janetdamnit said:

Does anybody know anything about NC State? I haven't heard anything and I haven't gotten a response when I emailed to see if poetry was filled...Last one I'm waiting on :') Congrats to everyone who's gotten good news and for those of us still waiting or haven't gotten the news we'd hoped for, we persevere!!

Idk how helpful this is, but I was accepted off the waitlist to their fiction cohort about two weeks ago, and the cohort was then finalized earlier this week. No idea about poetry tho 😕 wishing you the best!

[Nauna]

On 4/16/2025 at 9:38 AM, P i e r r o t said:

For real! I mean, should we all go in on a Witchery/Manifesting Service™?? imma need a serious side hustle to afford Davis rents on a graduate stipend, seems like.

Can I please hire y'all for manifesting NC State Poetry? It's my last pending wait list! 

[janetdamnit]

20 minutes ago, Nauna said:

Can I please hire y'all for manifesting NC State Poetry? It's my last pending wait list! 

I'll go in halfsies lol

[itsgivingliterary]

1 hour ago, Nauna said:

Can I please hire y'all for manifesting NC State Poetry? It's my last pending wait list! 

manifesting for you!!!!!!! and if anyone knows if the iowa fiction cohort is complete, let me know. otherwise, ill take some manifesting too lol

[grsssghoul]

Does anyone have any info about Montana's fiction decisions and when they'll be out?