2025 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[snottlebie]

8 minutes ago, exvat said:

Not to falsely build any hope for you, but I do wonder if Vanderbilt and other Southern US schools will see higher decline rates from accepted applicants because of the increasingly draconian and anti-humanitarian sociopolitical climate there especially, never mind the country as a whole.

Michener fiction acceptance posted in draft - they wrote that there were over 900 applications for 4 spots. So, still quite a bit of applications for one of the worst (in terms of human rights) states. 

[vilum]

thank you guys for all the support! this is a truly wonderful community and congratulations to all those who made it to round two for ole miss! I am beyond happy - but don't want to get ahead of myself for now. I don't know what my placement is on my waitlist and i honestly could not imagine someone declining their acceptance to vanderbilt...

2 hours ago, zaira said:

Massive congrats!!! I didn't realize they were still sending out waitlists. Are you fiction? 

yes fiction! 

10 minutes ago, exvat said:

Not to falsely build any hope for you, but I do wonder if Vanderbilt and other Southern US schools will see higher decline rates from accepted applicants because of the increasingly draconian and anti-humanitarian sociopolitical climate there especially, never mind the country as a whole.

I come from Italy, so it will be somewhat an improvement for me lol

[programedlove333]

10 minutes ago, snottlebie said:

Michener fiction acceptance posted in draft - they wrote that there were over 900 applications for 4 spots. So, still quite a bit of applications for one of the worst (in terms of human rights) states. 

yep, as someone who has lived in texas all my life.. its as bad as people say (for the most part)

[prufrock_]

gang, we ddos'd ut austin to the ground. (Michener results are in portal... which is now down)

 

edit: it's back! (mine has no results so far.... hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm)

Edited Monday at 05:42 PM by prufrock_

[tomat0tomat0]

5 minutes ago, prufrock_ said:

gang, we ddos'd ut austin to the ground. (Michener results are in portal... which is now down)

mine lets me log in, but still says “in review” 🤨

[Mr. Scribblo]

well, this day has been pretty eventful--one good news and one bad news already.

 

47 minutes ago, Mr. Scribblo said:

hey guys, i can't find creative writing in the program dropdown for ole miss. it's the grad application, and i chose the fall intake, but it feels like i'm missing something--anyone know what to do?

also any suggestions guys? i'm still stuck.

[prufrock_]

2 minutes ago, tomat0tomat0 said:

mine lets me log in, but still says “in review” 🤨

ditto, but i'm near the bottom of the alphabet. with 900 apps, i'm assuming it'll just be a bit until it changes. not to be a doomer, but without a call or email otherwise, i don't particularly imagine this is anything but a decline for myself.

[KennyK]

Mine says denied. 9 pending applications left. Someone tell me there’s still hope im begging

[friendned]

3 minutes ago, KennyK said:

Mine says denied. 9 pending applications left. Someone tell me there’s still hope im begging

Same here. Denied from Michener, still got 9 to go. I'm just mentally prepared at this point to get a full sweep of rejections. Praying you get something!!

[Tinky C. Clown]

2 minutes ago, KennyK said:

Mine says denied. 9 pending applications left. Someone tell me there’s still hope im begging

there is still hope, and again, doing a second round of apps isn't bad and is actually beneficial for you as a writer

[vilum]

11 minutes ago, prufrock_ said:

ditto, but i'm near the bottom of the alphabet. with 900 apps, i'm assuming it'll just be a bit until it changes. not to be a doomer, but without a call or email otherwise, i don't particularly imagine this is anything but a decline for myself.

do you think they're going one by one updating the portals? or maybe they just single out the acceptances?

 

nvm I was denied lol

Edited Monday at 05:59 PM by vilum

[exvat]

I'm 0/0/4p atm and gotta say, with nothing else going for me in my life at age 39.8 aside from decent health (🙏🙏🙏), I feel pretty sure I'm gonna be fine if I don't get into an MFA this second cycle. Maybe I get a job and try to rebuild my life, maybe I join a monastery for a bit, maybe I just get a van and drop out of society with my kitto. I dunno. But I'll be fine, if bummed and directionless.

[zaira]

2 minutes ago, KennyK said:

Mine says denied. 9 pending applications left. Someone tell me there’s still hope im begging

Two official rejections here. Two more soft rejections incoming. Only six more chances for me and it's not looking great. All of my schools have something like a sub one-percent acceptance rate. Was it smart for me to only apply to these schools? Probably not, but it's not like I can go back now. 

There's still hope. A lot can change in the next two weeks. And if it doesn't there's no sense in getting ahead of that right now. Take it a day at a time

[tomat0tomat0]

for those who applied to both texas programs - is michener the one listed as "creative writing" or just "writing" ? i can't remember and it isn't clear on the portal . (still says "in review" but im not exactly hopeful...) 

[Mr. Scribblo]

1 minute ago, tomat0tomat0 said:

for those who applied to both texas programs - is michener the one listed as "creative writing" or just "writing" ? i can't remember and it isn't clear on the portal . (still says "in review" but im not exactly hopeful...) 

the one that says just 'writing'

[prufrock_]

15 minutes ago, vilum said:

do you think they're going one by one updating the portals? or maybe they just single out the acceptances?

no clue how their system works. i like to think that yeah they mark waitlists/acceptances and then rejections are automated, but who knows. UT austin seems to use a proprietary software.

 

11 minutes ago, tomat0tomat0 said:

for those who applied to both texas programs - is michener the one listed as "creative writing" or just "writing" ? i can't remember and it isn't clear on the portal . (still says "in review" but im not exactly hopeful...) 

The Michener Center application is labeled “Writing.”

(mines still in review)

edit: looking at last year, rejections did come in waves, two days apart. double edit: not just two days, but weeks! rejections will be coming in for a while, it seems.

Edited Monday at 06:10 PM by prufrock_

[tomat0tomat0]

20 minutes ago, prufrock_ said:

ditto, but i'm near the bottom of the alphabet. with 900 apps, i'm assuming it'll just be a bit until it changes. not to be a doomer, but without a call or email otherwise, i don't particularly imagine this is anything but a decline for myself.

makes sense abt the alphabet thing ; my surname is also quite low down (starts w P)

[Chex]

10 minutes ago, exvat said:

I'm 0/0/4p atm and gotta say, with nothing else going for me in my life at age 39.8 aside from decent health (🙏🙏🙏), I feel pretty sure I'm gonna be fine if I don't get into an MFA this second cycle. Maybe I get a job and try to rebuild my life, maybe I join a monastery for a bit, maybe I just get a van and drop out of society with my kitto. I dunno. But I'll be fine, if bummed and directionless.

Rooting for you to find your way and your place, no matter what. I know it's terrifying to feel untethered, especially when you're no longer fashionably young. But some of the best things come in their own time, and I sincerely hope the future unfolds beautifully for you. ✨

[Gander]

Sitting at 0A/0W/3 Soft/4R/12P now, with Michener Center out (although I applied to Screenwriting there, opposed to Fiction). It's not looking good, especially with what I believed to be my best fit in ASU as a Soft R, but I'm trying to keep my hopes up with the 12 remaining.

Congrats to all receiving As/Ws/successes!

[potentialyeti]

Staring at the UT portal, eyelid twitching as Draft results roll in. 5th year applying to Michener, still in review. (Poetry) Last year mine was stuck in "In Review" until mid-April and I had to email them for an update. Praying for a swifter axe this year at least.

Dumb question: If they call you and you don't answer, will they leave a message or follow up with an email?

[Chex]

1 minute ago, potentialyeti said:

If they call you and you don't answer, will they leave a message or follow up with an email?

Absolutely. One doesn't lose an acceptance just because they missed a phone call. Also, everyone who gets accepted eventually gets an email laying out the details. 

[DJ Lambchop]

Do you think schools coordinate about when they’re sending out decisions? It feels like things are pretty evenly parsed. 

[essentialflowers]

34 minutes ago, KennyK said:

Mine says denied. 9 pending applications left. Someone tell me there’s still hope im begging

There's still hope! I thought I wouldn't get accepted anywhere but I got waitlisted for FSU. You got this. 

[pananoprodigy]

36 minutes ago, KennyK said:

Mine says denied. 9 pending applications left. Someone tell me there’s still hope im begging

9 pending is so many!!! Don't get gloomy yet!

[misssalem]

Bunny, idk if you're on here but Congratulations on your Michener acceptance!!