2025 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[Jitterbug98]

6 minutes ago, zaira said:

Right. I don't know what to make of this. I guess it boils down to subjectivity. Really hoping we get something on the fiction side soon (though at this stage I'm expecting to get rejections across the board haha). 

Same, when I saw a note on the spreadsheet that BU got 630 applications for 8 spots (I'm assuming 8 spots each in fiction and poetry but not sure??) I was like there's no way I'm getting in there lol. But I guess you never know, we can still hope!!

Also, I made the mistake of looking back at my writing samples last night and felt like they were not as strong as I initially felt they were-- not a fun feeling. I especially regret including an excerpt from my novel-in-progress in many of my samples, because looking back at it I don't think the excerpt is polished enough or really represents what I want to be writing right now (which is why I may be putting that draft aside and starting something else). I think I should have just stuck with short stories. Oh well, there's always next year!

[zaira]

7 minutes ago, everything bagel lover said:

Y'all I just got a call from NAU, I'm accepted and 1st on the waitlist for funding!!!! (I'm on an insane killstreak so far all acceptances and simultaneously no guaranteed funding but I trust the process ❤️) 

You are absolutely killing it this season! Massive, massive congrats! 

[prufrock_]

11 minutes ago, everything bagel lover said:

Y'all I just got a call from NAU, I'm accepted and 1st on the waitlist for funding!!!! (I'm on an insane killstreak so far all acceptances and simultaneously no guaranteed funding but I trust the process ❤️) 

grats! 3 acceptances in a row is amazing. Any word on when Naropa might let you know about funding?

[AyvaM]

14 minutes ago, bibsy said:

anyone have any insight into uc irvine? looks like acceptance calls went out last week, and rejections appeared on the sheet two days ago (2/18) - but no new rejections were added yesterday. i haven't received an email to check my portal, and my app still only shows "submitted." i haven't seen anyone report a waitlist notif from uci, so i'm lightly hopeful that's a possibility without growing too attached to the thought!

I just asked about fiction. Will let you know what they say 🌻 [got in for poetry].

 

Ahh. Immediate update. They said just the poets for our initial meeting so fiction could still be being decided upon!!! Fingers crossed for you! They work fast so you'll hear back soon, I'm sure!

Edit: sorry, I assumed you were asking about fiction but realized late that you never said that! Poetry is done! Fiction is pending?

Edited February 20 by AyvaM

[HalBear]

16 minutes ago, everything bagel lover said:

Y'all I just got a call from NAU, I'm accepted and 1st on the waitlist for funding!!!! (I'm on an insane killstreak so far all acceptances and simultaneously no guaranteed funding but I trust the process ❤️) 

Everything bagel, I am so excited for you! You have been so positive in this chat and encouraging so I am glad to see good news coming your way

[bibsy]

4 minutes ago, AyvaM said:

I just asked about fiction. Will let you know what they say 🌻 [got in for poetry].

 

Ahh. Immediate update. They said just the poets for our initial meeting so fiction could still be being decided upon!!! Fingers crossed for you! They work fast so you'll hear back soon, I'm sure!

thank you so much! and HUGE congrats on your acceptance!! (i love your signature sunflower emoji, btw. so cute.)

i'll forge ahead with my tepid optimism, in that case! 

[everything bagel lover]

Oh my god thank you guys so much, this forum has been my life blood this past month and a half and I hope y'all get good news soon ❤️❤️❤️ 

11 minutes ago, prufrock_ said:

grats! 3 acceptances in a row is amazing. Any word on when Naropa might let you know about funding?

Thank you!!! The admissions counselor said March 1st would be when she hopes a decision will be made by

6 minutes ago, HalBear said:

Everything bagel, I am so excited for you! You have been so positive in this chat and encouraging so I am glad to see good news coming your way

tysm that's so sweet of you to say 😭 We're just all a bunch of freaks (non-derog) on a forum rooting for each other and writing  and screaming and I love it

Also @pananoprodigy I'd be stoked to be a lumberjack with you!

[Hjanep]

43 minutes ago, bibsy said:

anyone have any insight into uc irvine? looks like acceptance calls went out last week, and rejections appeared on the sheet two days ago (2/18) - but no new rejections were added yesterday. i haven't received an email to check my portal, and my app still only shows "submitted." i haven't seen anyone report a waitlist notif from uci, so i'm lightly hopeful that's a possibility without growing too attached to the thought!

Yes also asked someone there about this and they said they’re still deciding on fiction. 

[rhaenyra]

39 minutes ago, Jitterbug98 said:

Same, when I saw a note on the spreadsheet that BU got 630 applications for 8 spots (I'm assuming 8 spots each in fiction and poetry but not sure??) I was like there's no way I'm getting in there lol. But I guess you never know, we can still hope!!

Also, I made the mistake of looking back at my writing samples last night and felt like they were not as strong as I initially felt they were-- not a fun feeling. I especially regret including an excerpt from my novel-in-progress in many of my samples, because looking back at it I don't think the excerpt is polished enough or really represents what I want to be writing right now (which is why I may be putting that draft aside and starting something else). I think I should have just stuck with short stories. Oh well, there's always next year!

I feel you. I workshopped my writing sample with my local group with very little time before apps were due, and they unanimously said it would make more sense as a novel than as a short story. 💀 We live and we learn. But also, when you're the writer, you see your own pieces with very different eyes than everyone else. I would like to think that some imperfections are okay, since these are grad SCHOOL programs (and so we're all still learning). Maybe if a professor just vibes with what you're interested in and sees that you've made some good choices, that can be enough to make up for anything that isn't 100% polished.

[PsychPoet]

37 minutes ago, Jitterbug98 said:

Same, when I saw a note on the spreadsheet that BU got 630 applications for 8 spots (I'm assuming 8 spots each in fiction and poetry but not sure??) I was like there's no way I'm getting in there lol. But I guess you never know, we can still hope!!

Also, I made the mistake of looking back at my writing samples last night and felt like they were not as strong as I initially felt they were-- not a fun feeling. I especially regret including an excerpt from my novel-in-progress in many of my samples, because looking back at it I don't think the excerpt is polished enough or really represents what I want to be writing right now (which is why I may be putting that draft aside and starting something else). I think I should have just stuck with short stories. Oh well, there's always next year!

This is pure conjecture, but is fueled by the fact that I have deep knowledge of how BU works as an institution as I've both gone to school there  (PhD in a STEM field) and worked there. BU functions in almost every way as more of a corporation than a university. So, I feel like what's going on with the Feds regarding funding, grants, et al very likely put some real strain on the dept which may have caused some delays this year. 

I'm sure they're taking people, but they likely had some burden to speak about funding to the provost and president. 

So, I'm not at all surprised they're behind where they were last year. I'm waited with baited breath even though I estimate it's the program I have the least chance of getting into. 

How do you all feel about them being one of the rare one year programs. I consider it basically a wash. I love the idea of getting the credential next May, but also kind of like the idea of being immersed in this more than one year. The three year programs are less appealing to me than one or two years, though I did apply to at least one of those. 

[Jitterbug98]

2 minutes ago, PsychPoet said:

This is pure conjecture, but is fueled by the fact that I have deep knowledge of how BU works as an institution as I've both gone to school there  (PhD in a STEM field) and worked there. BU functions in almost every way as more of a corporation than a university. So, I feel like what's going on with the Feds regarding funding, grants, et al very likely put some real strain on the dept which may have caused some delays this year. 

I'm sure they're taking people, but they likely had some burden to speak about funding to the provost and president. 

So, I'm not at all surprised they're behind where they were last year. I'm waited with baited breath even though I estimate it's the program I have the least chance of getting into. 

How do you all feel about them being one of the rare one year programs. I consider it basically a wash. I love the idea of getting the credential next May, but also kind of like the idea of being immersed in this more than one year. The three year programs are less appealing to me than one or two years, though I did apply to at least one of those. 

Yeah I think 2 years is the ideal for me but I'm ok with 1-- especially since Boston is so expensive, I would end up less poor living there on a BU stipend for 1 year than if it was a longer program. I actually already live in Boston which is part of why the program is a top choice for me since I wouldn't have to move. But I already live basically paycheck to paycheck with a full-time salaried job, which raises some real concerns for me about doing it on an MFA stipend, particularly BU's, which isn't very large considering the cost of living. 

[exvat]

On 2/17/2025 at 1:32 PM, exvat said:

Reading Murakami and vaping a bowl in hopes that my cat will look up at me and oracularly speak my application decisions ✨

*cough*

[rapunzel]

1 hour ago, everything bagel lover said:

Y'all I just got a call from NAU, I'm accepted and 1st on the waitlist for funding!!!! (I'm on an insane killstreak so far all acceptances and simultaneously no guaranteed funding but I trust the process ❤️) 

congrats bagel! you're going to do great !!

[Catpaw]

13 minutes ago, PsychPoet said:

How do you all feel about them being one of the rare one year programs. I consider it basically a wash. I love the idea of getting the credential next May, but also kind of like the idea of being immersed in this more than one year. The three year programs are less appealing to me than one or two years, though I did apply to at least one of those. 

Aah I'm the opposite—three years is more appealing to me than two years! But I'm also less interested in the credential (or in teaching afterwards) than the experience itself, and getting to immerse myself for a couple years. BU being only one year is actually the main reason I didn't apply there.

[Nauna]

1 hour ago, zaira said:

I selfishly hope they're not tiered because that would mean my application is in much worse shape than I imagined haha. 

FWIW my name is very high alphabetically. And the vast majority of the names in the sheet are fictional characters (e.g. Laura Palmer, Dale Cooper, Mr. Milchick) so I wouldn't necessarily use those as a basis for data. Not sure what the hold up is on the rest of the JHU rejections. Could be anything from tiered to just a really slow notification system that handles it in batches. 

Wait, you mean Billie Eilish and Adam Driver won't be in anyone's MFA cohort? Damn. (Sorry, I couldn't resist) 

[Dingdong99]

@everything bagel lover is on a wicked killstreak. AC-130 Incoming take cover.

[Sumire11]

Would kill to go to the same MFA as cooper. Would finally find out what the hell happened at the end of The Return lol.

[PsychPoet]

18 hours ago, pananoprodigy said:

Appreciate you!!! Been rooting you on hardcore as well!

THANK YOU! 

[KennyK]

Fingers crossed today is another day filled with results! 🤞🏾 (It’s already 3pm EST) but hopeful I’ll hear something before the day is done!

[everything bagel lover]

4 minutes ago, KennyK said:

Fingers crossed today is another day filled with results! 🤞🏾 (It’s already 3pm EST) but hopeful I’ll hear something before the day is done!

Fingers crossed its good results!! A lot of non EST places call later as well and some places seem to reach out after office hours so the day is young yet!

[Cosmicinkwell]

Y'all I've been lurking for weeks but, for some reason was unable to figure out how to post but I figured it out! Currently at mostly rejections, some pending. Hoping for a Colorado State waitlist but it seems I'm not destined to attend a program this year. Nice to meet yall!

[decayingballads21]

32 minutes ago, Cosmicinkwell said:

Y'all I've been lurking for weeks but, for some reason was unable to figure out how to post but I figured it out! Currently at mostly rejections, some pending. Hoping for a Colorado State waitlist but it seems I'm not destined to attend a program this year. Nice to meet yall!

I’m also waiting on CSU. What genre are you? It seems that the trend is their notifs are very spread out. I’m waiting for cnf but haven’t heard anything 

[Cosmicinkwell]

13 minutes ago, decayingballads21 said:

I’m also waiting on CSU. What genre are you? It seems that the trend is their notifs are very spread out. I’m waiting for cnf but haven’t heard anything 

My genre-- fiction-- is done for acceptances (congrats Bagel!) but I'm praying for a waitlist anyway

[Clacla]

Hi! I’ve been lurking for the past couple days, just wanted to post to purge some of my anxiety. I haven’t heard back, either yes or no, from schools others seem to have (Syracuse, JHU, Irvine), and it’s driving me kind of insane. I know JHU is probably a no at this point, but I just want confirmation. I’m hoping no news is good news but I don’t really know what to think.

[pananoprodigy]

Ugh I'm disappointed that today's been so quiet, I really thought it was gonna be a rager