2025 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[exvat]

Portrait of the Artist opened with a moo cow and ended with Dedalus becoming a Poet.

Just like me? 😂

Edited 15 hours ago by exvat
question mark

[Tinky C. Clown]

14 minutes ago, baguettemagique said:

Just heard back from Michigan. Rejected, but no biggie. Maybe it's a good sign that it took so long? My surname is near the beginning of the alphabet, too. Anyway, It's good to get the closure. Still have six more schools to hear from, including JHU, so we'll just have to see...

 

they all went out simultaneously

[baguettemagique]

Just now, Tinky C. Clown said:

they all went out simultaneously

Ah, good to know! Seems like others heard back earlier re: rejections, so just speculating. Especially now with JHU... 

[Cosmicinkwell]

Yeah, JHU is kind of frustrating me with these delayed rejections.

Hoping CSU won't string me along too much...

Edited 15 hours ago by Cosmicinkwell

[DisplayNamesAreTheWorst]

I don't have access to the FB draft... has anyone heard from Hollins yet? 

[prufrock_]

5 minutes ago, Cosmicinkwell said:

Yeah, JHU is kind of annoying me with these delayed rejections.

Hoping CSU won't string me along too much...

i also haven't picked up my JHU rejection yet. Which is kind of weird, since draft has 3 acceptances and 3 waitlists for fiction, so i don't think there is any room left for anything but a decline.

[brokenjewelrybox]

5 hours ago, Eloise2897 said:

I am kinda climbing the walls over here waiting to hear from Syracuse (fiction). I'm assuming I was not rejected, since it looks like all of those were sent out days ago. Could they actually be doing acceptances after rejections? Does that ever happen? Or should I be expecting a waitlist? And when 😭? Feels weird being so miserable about this since either an acceptance or a waitlist would count as good news...I just really, really want to know which one! Applying there was for sure my biggest reach. 

I'm so stressed out about Syracuse too!! Still haven't been rejected, but I feel like there's no way they sent out rejections before acceptances? Then again, there aren't any acceptances or waitlists on the spreadsheet. God I'm nervous. Lol. 

[Lady Gladys]

Opinions please. What are your thoughts on giving up a fully-funded opportunity to try again next year for a program you want more - first year applying. Reasons include a more prestigious program might open more doors opportunity-wise and could be considered a solid enough credential to teach at a prestigious university.

This is not my situation. I am trying to advise a friend (for real). I am not the friend.

[Tinky C. Clown]

6 minutes ago, Lady Gladys said:

Opinions please. What are your thoughts on giving up a fully-funded opportunity to try again next year for a program you want more - first year applying. Reasons include a more prestigious program might open more doors opportunity-wise and could be considered a solid enough credential to teach at a prestigious university.

This is not my situation. I am trying to advise a friend (for real). I am not the friend.

i’m tempted to do this but i would never. the big fancies are really hard to get into and most fully funded programs are comparable 

[Tuxedocat]

5 minutes ago, Lady Gladys said:

Opinions please. What are your thoughts on giving up a fully-funded opportunity to try again next year for a program you want more - first year applying. Reasons include a more prestigious program might open more doors opportunity-wise and could be considered a solid enough credential to teach at a prestigious university.

This is not my situation. I am trying to advise a friend (for real). I am not the friend.

I mean, it’s risky to give up an acceptance when the next round might yield nothing. But they should go to a school they’re passionate about. However, they should pick a school based on fit, not just prestige. I would suggest they go visit the school they were accepted at and see what they think. They can always try to reapply and transfer out of the program in a year if it’s not working for them. Prestige doesn’t guarantee jobs or publishing. 

[Hjanep]

14 minutes ago, Lady Gladys said:

Opinions please. What are your thoughts on giving up a fully-funded opportunity to try again next year for a program you want more - first year applying. Reasons include a more prestigious program might open more doors opportunity-wise and could be considered a solid enough credential to teach at a prestigious university.

This is not my situation. I am trying to advise a friend (for real). I am not the friend.

I got into NYU off the waitlist last year and decided to reapply this year (because not full funding, NYC is expensive, etc). So far I’m sitting on a handful of rejections but I will say the second round of apps was a lot easier. Obviously no guarantees but they shouldn’t go to a program they aren’t excited about imo

[stanleytucci]

Hi all! I've been lurking for a few weeks and thought it would be fun to join the... fun. So far I have 5 rs (Michener, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, Michigan), 1 waitlist (Minnesota), and 1 acceptance (half-line funding at Stony Brook—very thankful and the program seems great but I'm unsure if I want to pay at all for an MFA!).  I'm still waiting on 8 programs but my waitlists and acceptances came before the 5 rejections, so right now all the good news feels a little like a fluke.

I am trying to gain some perspective, I guess. Has anyone else who applied to/interviewed with Stony Brook heard anything?

 

 

[Tinky C. Clown]

3 minutes ago, stanleytucci said:

Hi all! I've been lurking for a few weeks and thought it would be fun to join the... fun. So far I have 5 rs (Michener, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, Michigan), 1 waitlist (Minnesota), and 1 acceptance (half-line funding at Stony Brook—very thankful and the program seems great but I'm unsure if I want to pay at all for an MFA!).  I'm still waiting on 8 programs but my waitlists and acceptances came before the 5 rejections, so right now all the good news feels a little like a fluke.

I am trying to gain some perspective, I guess. Has anyone else who applied to/interviewed with Stony Brook heard anything?

 

 

i interviewed but have heard nothing 

[frazzled]

I think if it's a fully funded opportunity, they should think hard before turning it down. Is it a livable city for the person in their situation? Are strong teaching opportunities attached? I agree with tuxedocat that chasing a more prestigious opportunity in the hopes of being more successful might be misguided because the work of writing and publishing will be the same wherever they go. Also, teaching opportunities at universities post MFA or Ph.D. in writing and literature are uniformly challenging and it takes hard work and luck. I've seen plenty of folks with prestigious degrees flail on the job market-- so a specific degree from a specific place is not something that guarantees "success."

[Ekpe]

4 hours ago, VOID DARLING said:

due to app fees

Hi, most of the big programs offer fee waivers and you could ask "smaller" ones just in case. I'm rooting for you this season, but just thought to put it out there that one can always ask for a waiver even if it's not explicit from the program or grad school website. I applied to a lot of schools and only paid for three. 

[Lady Gladys]

1 minute ago, frazzled said:

I think if it's a fully funded opportunity, they should think hard before turning it down. Is it a livable city for the person in their situation? Are strong teaching opportunities attached? I agree with tuxedocat that chasing a more prestigious opportunity in the hopes of being more successful might be misguided because the work of writing and publishing will be the same wherever they go. Also, teaching opportunities at universities post MFA or Ph.D. in writing and literature are uniformly challenging and it takes hard work and luck. I've seen plenty of folks with prestigious degrees flail on the job market-- so a specific degree from a specific place is not something that guarantees "success."

Thank you. I should have added that my friend also isn't particularly interested in any of the professors at the fully-funded opportunity. She is more interested in working with professors in other programs to push her own writing.

[pananoprodigy]

2 minutes ago, Lady Gladys said:

Thank you. I should have added that my friend also isn't particularly interested in any of the professors at the fully-funded opportunity. She is more interested in working with professors in other programs to push her own writing.

Agree with what others have said, so I'll just add: if this is based on your friend's thoughts on the professors' writing, I wouldn't let that sway them too hard. Sometimes writers whose work we love don't end up being teachers we vibe with, and vice versa. 

[Jane Wyman]

9 minutes ago, Lady Gladys said:

Thank you. I should have added that my friend also isn't particularly interested in any of the professors at the fully-funded opportunity. She is more interested in working with professors in other programs to push her own writing.

I'm currently trying to transfer out of a fully funded but not that prestigious program. My reasoning for saying yes was, what if I can't get into a really great school and am stuck banging my head against the wall for years? A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, etc. 

I really regret that "practical" decision. The drawbacks that I was worried about going in have only become more frustrating once the rose-colored glasses of "new situation" came off. That said, I agree that big-name talented writers aren't always the best teachers or mentors. They do, however, have connections that can be incredibly beneficial.

I echo the sentiment that your friend should visit and feel out the program in person. They should also try to talk to current students that *aren't* hand-picked for them, maybe through the thread in MFA Draft where students volunteer to be DM'd re: their current programs. Wishing them luck!

Edited 13 hours ago by Jane Wyman

[stanleytucci]

16 minutes ago, Tinky C. Clown said:

i interviewed but have heard nothing 

Hmm, I wonder if they're rolling out acceptances!

[Tinky C. Clown]

3 minutes ago, stanleytucci said:

Hmm, I wonder if they're rolling out acceptances!

i think i might get an unfunded acceptance

[Lady Gladys]

8 minutes ago, Jane Wyman said:

I'm currently trying to transfer out of a fully funded but not that prestigious program. My reasoning for saying yes was, what if I can't get into a really great school and am stuck banging my head against the wall for years? A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, etc. 

I really regret that "practical" decision. The drawbacks that I was worried about going in have only become more frustrating once the rose-colored glasses of "new situation" came off. That said, I agree that big-name talented writers aren't always the best teachers or mentors. They do, however, have connections that can be incredibly beneficial.

I echo the sentiment that your friend should visit and feel out the program in person. They should also try to talk to current students that *aren't* hand-picked for them, maybe through the thread in MFA Draft where students volunteer to be DM'd re: their current programs. Wishing them luck!

Thank you, Jane, for this perspective!

[rapunzel]

someone posted an iowa acceptance!

[momeraths]

9 minutes ago, rapunzel said:

someone posted an iowa acceptance!

Aw jeez, here we go

[everything bagel lover]

First Iowa writers workshop fiction acceptance in draft

sorry i was late and redundant lol congrats to Nicole the cat!!

Edited 12 hours ago by everything bagel lover
Edit to apologize and congrats lol

[frazzled]

59 minutes ago, Lady Gladys said:

Thank you. I should have added that my friend also isn't particularly interested in any of the professors at the fully-funded opportunity. She is more interested in working with professors in other programs to push her own writing.

yes-- I hear you, that's another consideration-- that's a tough one--but she may be pleasantly surprised at the mentorship/connection she might develop at the fully funded opportunity. I also think there's something to be said about going where someone recognizes you, sees your writing, and feels it's a good fit--it's good to be wanted!