2026 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[Jitterbug98]

I got my first funded acceptance today…and am very excited but also immediately had a panic attack about having to seriously think about moving away from my partner for 2 years, and anxiety that I could be making a bad decision for my career/financial future. Can anyone relate? I feel very fortunate to have a funded option, but the weight of the decision still feels heavy and nerve wracking especially because my partner won’t be able to move with me 

[arghgradapps]

so. is that it for Ole Miss today lol? didn't hear anything. will assume rejections are tmr 😕 

Edited February 10 by arghgradapps

[girlwiththegreenribbon]

just saw a fiction acceptance for Oregon State go up on draft and immediately checked my portal which says...🥁🥁🥁 "Under Review" (still)

[gafoo]

Oh boy, first Montana result just hit the draft sheet... my top choice school🥲 

[Spicy Potato]

19 minutes ago, jka0124 said:

Just an FYI, COVID got me hospitalized. If it takes you a while to enter Draft or you have questions/updates to the spreadsheet and I don’t respond quickly, that is why. Stupid COVID. 😒

Hope you get better quickly! Also, I'm exited to attend the Disabled and D/deaf Writer's Caucus with you at AWP! ❤️ 

[impatientjoy]

1 hour ago, gafoo said:

Oh boy, first Montana result just hit the draft sheet... my top choice school🥲 

Does anyone know if they release acceptances for all the genres at the same time?

Jess, I hope you feel better soon!

[gm3]

I saw the first Temple hit the draft sheet... hoping I will hear tomorrow!! and nothing from Vandy yet (maybe a silent waitlist?) 

[catsaregood.pdf]

On 1/27/2026 at 6:53 AM, meanwhile said:

hi y'all, long time lurker but broke down and created an account bc the nerves are getting very real!! from what i've seen in this forum, many/most(?) of y'all seem to be fiction/non-fiction writers. was wondering if any other poets are here and if there seem to be, in general, a larger amount of applicants for those genres vs poetry? this year and other years too? i don't think my current anxiety levels could take joining the draft fb group, but i was wondering if (and i ask with all respect to the privacy of that space/understanding if this cannot be answered) it looks like an even-ish ratio of applicants from each genre? wishing everyone the best of luck ❤️ 

 

On 1/27/2026 at 6:54 AM, impatientjoy said:

I’m also a poet, & I’ve been wondering the same thing

Hii! I'm a poet~ I'm not applying this year as I don't feel ready to take on an MFA yet nor do I think my application materials are strong enough yet to take on an MFA app!!! I am thinking of applying in a year or two, in the mean time I want to focus on strengthening my craft and practice through fellowships/residencies/workshops if I can.. but mainly at home practice!!!

Recently, got into fiction writing/trying to get into fiction writing! My first fiction story just got accepted for publication as well so I'm quite excited to continue exploring fiction writing.

Primarily, coming from a poetry and non-fiction background but have been challenging myself to write fiction.

[womanonline]

I’m going to assume at this point that SAIC sent their interview requests and it’s just no one on Draft

[BowelMovement]

Just found out today that apparently we should also be expecting news from UMich this week too according to their website! I was watching the movie "A Poet" yesterday and someone's phone rang and even though it didn't sound anything like my ringtone I still frantically dug out my phone to make sure I don't miss a call from a future professor...What exciting and torturous times!

[strawberrymatcha]

5 minutes ago, BowelMovement said:

Just found out today that apparently we should also be expecting news from UMich this week too according to their website! I was watching the movie "A Poet" yesterday and someone's phone rang and even though it didn't sound anything like my ringtone I still frantically dug out my phone to make sure I don't miss a call from a future professor...What exciting and torturous times!

I feel that, I’ve been living on do not disturb lately to curb the anxiety🥲

it’s also interesting that UMich said the week of 2/11 instead of 2/9?

[slothgirl]

On 2/9/2026 at 2:50 PM, bones.bell said:

I applied to Pratt. I also had an interview a little over a week ago. Based off of what I can find from previous years, we should hear back any day now! Good luck!!

just got the call I got in!

[madsmadsmads]

Any guesses as to when we will hear from Hopkins and Cornell? I am so antsy lol. 

[BowelMovement]

16 minutes ago, strawberrymatcha said:

I feel that, I’ve been living on do not disturb lately to curb the anxiety🥲

it’s also interesting that UMich said the week of 2/11 instead of 2/9?

Yeah, wonder what that means, though I would assume it's just that they plan to make the decision on 2/11 but giving it a week so they have some wiggle room? Anyway good that it's coming out soon and that they seem to always release all decisions at once by email.

[BowelMovement]

36 minutes ago, madsmadsmads said:

Any guesses as to when we will hear from Hopkins and Cornell? I am so antsy lol. 

Right here with ya! But I don't know anything other than that they should be out anytime now according to the spreadsheet (hoping at least by this Friday?)

Edited February 11 by BowelMovement

[runlolarun]

59 minutes ago, BowelMovement said:

Yeah, wonder what that means, though I would assume it's just that they plan to make the decision on 2/11 but giving it a week so they have some wiggle room? Anyway good that it's coming out soon and that they seem to always release all decisions at once by email.

Is that a new addition to the site (about the 11th for UMich) or has that note been there awhile?

[BowelMovement]

9 minutes ago, runlolarun said:

Is that a new addition to the site (about the 11th for UMich) or has that note been there awhile?

I think it's new? Not sure. I researched the decision time frame for every school I applied to after submitting the applications but don't recall specifically noting down this week so it's probably new. I never noticed it before and only just learned about it from a comment on Reddit.

[impatientjoy]

Does anyone know if Montana or Oregon State alert different genres on different days?

[HalBear]

So I have lost most of my positivity haha. Honestly just feels better to assume all bad news and then I might be pleasantly surprised

[marsmentality]

16 minutes ago, BowelMovement said:

I think it's new? Not sure. I researched the decision time frame for every school I applied to after submitting the applications but don't recall specifically noting down this week so it's probably new. I never noticed it before and only just learned about it from a comment on Reddit.

It's been there! There are oddly two different pages that look very similar for UMich's admission requirements. It has said the week of 2/11 for a while. Hoping it means news today. I wish schools would be more upfront about their decision times! I'm at work trying not to refresh my email every five minutes...

[BowelMovement]

2 minutes ago, marsmentality said:

It's been there! There are oddly two different pages that look very similar for UMich's admission requirements. It has said the week of 2/11 for a while. Hoping it means news today. I wish schools would be more upfront about their decision times! I'm at work trying not to refresh my email every five minutes...

Yeah, most schools just say "by 4/1" like homie I know you know if you want me or not WHY DON'T YOU JUST TELL ME YOU COWARD!!!!

[molemola]

I am feeling antsy, too. There are some programs local to us that should be notifying soon... or should have notified by now. Staying local would make childcare so much easier (we're near the in-laws). Intellectually, I knew that was a gamble when I applied to the programs I did, but ultimately I knew my fiction might be kind of a hard sell, so I cast a wide net.

Anyway, I'm coping by imagining my favorite professors at each program giving impassioned speeches about why I should be accepted/on the waitlist. That's why it's taking so long. Yup.

[potentialyeti]

Does anyone know when to expect results from UNLV? I assume they'll have later results since they took applications until January 15th, which seems pretty late. 

[madsmadsmads]

Hi everyone! I am new here. Out of curiosity, what is everyone planning on doing next year if MFA does not pan out? I am currently teaching 8th-grade ELA in rural Florida. I try to look on the bright side, but to be honest, I hate it. This is my second year, and it's the only "big girl" job I have had since finishing undergrad. I am trying not to see MFA as my ticket out of Florida/public middle school (it's not just that of course, it's also a lifelong dream). I worked quite a bit with my poetry professors at my undergraduate institution on my application materials, and they made me feel really good about my manuscript/chances. They run a great, fully-funded MFA program, but unfortunately do not accept their own undergrads. As time goes on, I am getting increasingly anxious about worst-case plans. I am well aware that it's a bit of a lottery and that there are many great writers out there applying. I'm both convinced I won't get in anywhere and simultaneously feel like my head got a little too big and I put too many eggs in this basket. Just curious as to if others are feeling similarly and would love to hear what others' "backup plans" are! 

[Mystic_Sunshine]

19 minutes ago, madsmadsmads said:

Hi everyone! I am new here. Out of curiosity, what is everyone planning on doing next year if MFA does not pan out? I am currently teaching 8th-grade ELA in rural Florida. I try to look on the bright side, but to be honest, I hate it. This is my second year, and it's the only "big girl" job I have had since finishing undergrad. I am trying not to see MFA as my ticket out of Florida/public middle school (it's not just that of course, it's also a lifelong dream). I worked quite a bit with my poetry professors at my undergraduate institution on my application materials, and they made me feel really good about my manuscript/chances. They run a great, fully-funded MFA program, but unfortunately do not accept their own undergrads. As time goes on, I am getting increasingly anxious about worst-case plans. I am well aware that it's a bit of a lottery and that there are many great writers out there applying. I'm both convinced I won't get in anywhere and simultaneously feel like my head got a little too big and I put too many eggs in this basket. Just curious as to if others are feeling similarly and would love to hear what others' "backup plans" are! 

I was a middle school teacher, I got my MA and transitioned to higher ed