2025 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[prufrock_]

7 minutes ago, Eloise2897 said:

I'd like to know people's thoughts on whether or not to take a chance on a new program. 

I got accepted at Texas Tech with almost full tuition remission (I think I would owe ~$1400 per semester) and a TA appointment with a $15,500 stipend. 

Pros: The funding is pretty nice compared to other programs, at least from what I’ve seen. Cost of living in Lubbock seems to be reasonable. The faculty have been incredibly kind, responsive, and seem excited to work with me. Three of them reached out separately to congratulate me and say what they liked about my work. Some of their writing interests also seem to align very well with my own. I know that TTU is a respected university and that they have an established English department, including an MA program that I’ve heard good things about. 

Cons: Obviously, it’s a new program, so it doesn’t have the associated prestige. And although it's much more than just a tech school, I do worry that it having 'Tech' in the name makes it seem like it's not an artsy school--will someone look at my resume someday and wonder why on earth I'd go there for an MFA? It’s also very, very far from home for me (I live in far northern Michigan), which makes the risk feel, well, riskier. 

So far, my only other acceptance is unfunded, so I won’t be taking that offer. I’m waitlisted at my top choice and still waiting on the rest. So there’s a lot of room for things to change. Maybe a super obvious decision will fall into my lap. But until then, I figured I might as well start contemplating my next moves rather than sit here going nuts with anxiety.
 

one of my favorite writers (Stephen Graham Jones) got his BA from there, so i've never though of it as a 'tech' school. i don't think an mfa from anywhere is a guarantee to anything, so i'm not worrying about prestige. Sure, JHU or an ivy will get you a second look down the road, but an MFA is an MFA. If you think you would enjoy your time there, and you would grow as a writer, and you wont incur massive debt in the process, then i think it's worth going.

[Mystic_Sunshine]

2 hours ago, everything bagel lover said:

YALL I GOT A TASHIP AT NAU LETS GOOOOO

2 hours ago, pananoprodigy said:

YESSSSSS LETS FUCKING GO!!! I just got mine too!!!!

Big congrats to you both!! 

[writeordie]

58 minutes ago, gardener0320 said:

Hi everyone! I don’t have a facebook— could someone let me know if Rutgers Newark has sent out their acceptances already for fiction? Thanks so much and good luck to all!

There were three fiction "interviews" for Rutgers Newark reported on the 22nd. Doesn't look like anyone gets just straight-up "accepted"? Dunno cuz I didn't apply there, but that's what I saw. Good luck!

[pananoprodigy]

1 hour ago, prufrock_ said:

one of my favorite writers (Stephen Graham Jones) got his BA from there, so i've never though of it as a 'tech' school. i don't think an mfa from anywhere is a guarantee to anything, so i'm not worrying about prestige. Sure, JHU or an ivy will get you a second look down the road, but an MFA is an MFA. If you think you would enjoy your time there, and you would grow as a writer, and you wont incur massive debt in the process, then i think it's worth going.

Totally agree with all this, and for what it’s worth @Eloise2897 I got my artsy fartsy BFA degree from an “Institute of Technology” and if anything all it’s done is make people think I’m smarter and more science brained than I actually am lol 

[decayingballads21]

1 hour ago, DakotaSt said:

Thank you! I sent 10 applications and have been accepted into Uni of Idaho, Oregon State and WVU so far. 

congrats! WVU seems like a really cool/great program! Where are you still waiting to hear from?

I also got into idaho and I’m on the waitlist at Oregon state (which is my dream) so we have some overlap it seems!

how are you feeling about those 3 schools and do you have a top choice right now? Idaho seems really great so far 😊

[DakotaSt]

1 minute ago, decayingballads21 said:

congrats! WVU seems like a really cool/great program! Where are you still waiting to hear from?

I also got into idaho and I’m on the waitlist at Oregon state (which is my dream) so we have some overlap it seems!

how are you feeling about those 3 schools and do you have a top choice right now? Idaho seems really great so far 😊

Thank you! Congrats to you too! I have heard really great things about Oregon State so fingers crossed the waitlist moves!! and I think I am leaning towards WVU! And yes Idaho's program seems so wonderful, all the faculty seem really kind!!

[decayingballads21]

6 minutes ago, DakotaSt said:

Thank you! Congrats to you too! I have heard really great things about Oregon State so fingers crossed the waitlist moves!! and I think I am leaning towards WVU! And yes Idaho's program seems so wonderful, all the faculty seem really kind!!

that’s great! It’s such a hard decision so I’m wishing you the best of luck! 💕 always happy to chat on here as you weigh your choices and weigh pros and cons,  as I’m deliberating some of the same cnf programs! 

[next_semester]

Hi everyone! I'm new here, but have read through everything to catch myself up 😅. I applied to a good chunk of MFA Fiction programs and received an acceptance from University of South Carolina and moved to Phase II for Mississippi! The other schools I've applied to I'm assuming will be rejections based on all the feedback in here, but I haven't seen any mentions about University of Miami (maybe I missed it). Does anyone know anything??

Congrats to all who have been receiving good news! 

[DJ Lambchop]

Anyone else not had a lick of good news this cycle? Like not even a rejection letter that says “please apply again…” I am fully preparing for 9/9 hard Rs. 

[seah0rse]

also hi - new to posting but have been lurking / cheering / miserable /anxious alongside all of you. joining the conversation now in anticipation of Brown decisions (next week?) - which has been my top/dream school since I decided to pursue the MFA a few years ago. at this point in the process I've exhausted my immediate support network 🫠 or they don't really understand the stakes/what it means to me. one of my mentors is on sabbatical this year & I'm trying not to overload them with emails. but I expect whatever news comes in March to hit pretty hard. I really appreciate that this forum exists & that we're not alone in what sometimes feels like a deeply unhealthy process 😅 

[exvat]

16 minutes ago, DJ Lambchop said:

Anyone else not had a lick of good news this cycle? Like not even a rejection letter that says “please apply again…” I am fully preparing for 9/9 hard Rs. 

Looking at straight rejections here for the second cycle, unless NYU/Columbia bears out.

[Nauna]

4 hours ago, sgrad said:

i cant get into my fb. does anyone know if there is any response for NC state for poetry yet?

I applied there too for poetry. ❤️ 

[ky figtree]

Hello! I’ve lurking for a hot minute so I’m writing to introduce myself ✨. Anyone know the deal with University of Minnesota/if I haven’t heard anything, should I assume it’s a no? I saw someone report a waitlist and I don’t have FB. (If someone wants to DM the spreadsheet I’d greatly appreciate it 🫶🏻)

[MegHe]

6 minutes ago, ky figtree said:

Hello! I’ve lurking for a hot minute so I’m writing to introduce myself ✨. Anyone know the deal with University of Minnesota/if I haven’t heard anything, should I assume it’s a no? I saw someone report a waitlist and I don’t have FB. (If someone wants to DM the spreadsheet I’d greatly appreciate it 🫶🏻)

Hey! It looks like folks started getting accepted January 28th from the University of Minnesota per the draft, and the waitlists went out February 7. Sorry to relay that info -- rooting for some good news for you! I think folks generally don't share the draft spreadsheet outside of FB because it's a moderated private group and folks haven't consented to sharing their personal info outside of that group. I hope that makes sense! 

[ky figtree]

1 minute ago, MegHe said:

Hey! It looks like folks started getting accepted January 28th from the University of Minnesota per the draft, and the waitlists went out February 7. Sorry to relay that info -- rooting for some good news for you! I think folks generally don't share the draft spreadsheet outside of FB because it's a moderated private group and folks haven't consented to sharing their personal info outside of that group. I hope that makes sense! 

Thank u for clarifying about the spreadsheet! And no worries about the news: it’s better some clarity than being left in the dark. I’ve gotten a waitlist from  Davis so I’m hoping for best!

[Cosmicinkwell]

2 hours ago, DJ Lambchop said:

Anyone else not had a lick of good news this cycle? Like not even a rejection letter that says “please apply again…” I am fully preparing for 9/9 hard Rs. 

Me me lol

[c0wgirlg]

4 hours ago, Eloise2897 said:

I'd like to know people's thoughts on whether or not to take a chance on a new program. 

I got accepted at Texas Tech with almost full tuition remission (I think I would owe ~$1400 per semester) and a TA appointment with a $15,500 stipend. 

Pros: The funding is pretty nice compared to other programs, at least from what I’ve seen. Cost of living in Lubbock seems to be reasonable. The faculty have been incredibly kind, responsive, and seem excited to work with me. Three of them reached out separately to congratulate me and say what they liked about my work. Some of their writing interests also seem to align very well with my own. I know that TTU is a respected university and that they have an established English department, including an MA program that I’ve heard good things about. 

Cons: Obviously, it’s a new program, so it doesn’t have the associated prestige. And although it's much more than just a tech school, I do worry that it having 'Tech' in the name makes it seem like it's not an artsy school--will someone look at my resume someday and wonder why on earth I'd go there for an MFA? It’s also very, very far from home for me (I live in far northern Michigan), which makes the risk feel, well, riskier. 

So far, my only other acceptance is unfunded, so I won’t be taking that offer. I’m waitlisted at my top choice and still waiting on the rest. So there’s a lot of room for things to change. Maybe a super obvious decision will fall into my lap. But until then, I figured I might as well start contemplating my next moves rather than sit here going nuts with anxiety.
 

 

Congrats on the acceptance!!!

I can't speak on the mfa program specifically, but as a student in Texas, Tech is known for their technical writing program (very different from an mfa of course) its more of an agriculture school than a "technical" institution. If I were in your shoes, the fact that it has another well known writing program would encourage me. The tuition rebate sounds really good, and yes Lubbock is very cheap. Their grad schools in general are well regarded.

The only other thing I would suggest you consider is the town itself. My dad went to law school at Tech and he says its was tolerable because he needed to be spending his time studying anyway. There isn't much to do there. Lubbock, unless you are a southwestern writer, may not spark much inspiration. The offer sounds really good, and is worth considering. Getting in on the ground floor may be worth it in the long run. I wouldn't worry about the "newness" of the program, I would consider if the town is a good fit for you. Congrats again!

[sgrad]

1 hour ago, Nauna said:

I applied there too for poetry. ❤️ 

omg good luck! ❤️

[rafikiman]

I think we can call Iowa done given that there weren't any new reported acceptances here nor in the Draft today. And now my brain can rest. 😌

[exvat]

39 minutes ago, rafikiman said:

I think we can call Iowa done given that there weren't any new reported acceptances here nor in the Draft today. And now my brain can rest. 😌

Last I heard, Sam Chang said she'd be calling ppl all week, but I'll let others confirm or refute that.

[pom3granate]

If I get an email saying they enjoyed reading my application and want to schedule a call, what should I take that as?

[kulfikat]

1 minute ago, pom3granate said:

If I get an email saying they enjoyed reading my application and want to schedule a call, what should I take that as?

If you're talking about Iowa, it's most likely an acceptance! They send rejections only through snail mail. 

[snottlebie]

3 minutes ago, pom3granate said:

If I get an email saying they enjoyed reading my application and want to schedule a call, what should I take that as?

No one rejects you by scheduling a call. Rule of thumb - if they want to speak with you, it’s an acceptance. 

[pom3granate]

7 minutes ago, kulfikat said:

If you're talking about Iowa, it's most likely an acceptance! They send rejections only through snail mail. 

It's not Iowa! But thank you

[pom3granate]

15 minutes ago, snottlebie said:

No one rejects you by scheduling a call. Rule of thumb - if they want to speak with you, it’s an acceptance. 

Thank you! I didn't want to get my hopes up.