2026 Creative Writing MFA Applicants Forum

[Walter Hartwell White]

8 minutes ago, Mod lang said:

https://english.missouristate.edu/Graduate/graduate-assistantships.htm

It says March 1 for Fall assistantships

That is only applicable to the current English masters as they didn’t even make the program until recently for the MFA 

[ojo534]

NYU REJECTION HAS FINALLY HIT MY PORTAL 🙏 genuinely at this point i just want every school to put me out of my misery so i can plan for my future

[Musicsurfer]

Hey! I'm wondering if any knows from past years how likely it is to get off the waitlist at Columbia? What are even the odds for getting off a waitlist in general? And do you end up receiving any aid? I just got waitlisted for fiction and I don't really know how it works. 

[Jitterbug98]

13 minutes ago, Musicsurfer said:

Hey! I'm wondering if any knows from past years how likely it is to get off the waitlist at Columbia? What are even the odds for getting off a waitlist in general? And do you end up receiving any aid? I just got waitlisted for fiction and I don't really know how it works. 

I think it's pretty likely, a lot of people turn down Columbia due to the cost

[SocialKonstruct]

13 hours ago, Musicsurfer said:

Hey! I'm wondering if any knows from past years how likely it is to get off the waitlist at Columbia? What are even the odds for getting off a waitlist in general? And do you end up receiving any aid? I just got waitlisted for fiction and I don't really know how it works. 

I would definitely apply for financial aid via FAFSA if you are attending Columbia.

TBH, I would avoid Columbia if you can. For your own political safety. In fact if you are intent on attending that school it's ideal to await 4-5 more years.

[bioluminescent sloth]

Hey! Any UNLV poetry applicants still waiting to hear back? 

[potentialyeti]

2 hours ago, bioluminescent sloth said:

Hey! Any UNLV poetry applicants still waiting to hear back? 

Yep! That's me. Not a peep yet, and that's the last school I'm waiting on. 

[womaninthevoid]

21 hours ago, Mod lang said:

I think it may be too late for assistantships. I got accepted into Missouri-St. Louis but unfortunately it was a last minute application. They have a March 1 submission deadline and I panicked, needing one more safety school after getting several rejections. I even wrote an entirely new short story that I finished the last week of February, figuring that after the rejections that I needed some new material (my previous submission to the other programs had been the opening chapter of a novel). I took a chance and it worked! They loved the story and three weeks after my last minute submission I got accepted. However, as I was rushing things (I even had to email the director a corrected draft after the deadline because of typos, which he graciously accepted), I overlooked the assistantship application. The director told me that they had already made all the assistantship offers, but that if anyone declined, I was on the waitlist for any openings. 

I think I may have to wait out this year then, work and save $$ because even with a stipend it's very hard to make ends meet as a grad student. I'm also on the waitlist at McNeese and they told me something similar as St. Louis, that there was a possibility of letting me in without an assistantship if I don't get off the waitlist (it's a very small program). I wrote McNeese back and explained that it doesn't make sense to go into debt for an MFA program, and asked about my chances for next year since I'd been accepted this year already. Frankly, sinking money into a writing program makes zero sense from any financial returns perspective, given how little money even successful writers make. You'll have to take a second job most likely, anyway.

The lesson for me is to be more aware of what most programs are looking for: polished stories with a clear narrative arc - a self-contained beginning, middle, and end. My opening chapter was mostly setup introducing the characters, setting, and the situation. The plot was only in the opening stage and obviously there was no resolution - it was not a self-contained story.  Anyone can start a promising novel, but it demonstrates real craft to finish a complete story. So next year that's what my strategy will be.

 

Hi! First off—congratulations on your acceptances! I’m very sorry to hear about your lack of funding, I completely get the struggle, as my top choice also did not provide funding for me and I had to turn it down for that reason. 

I just wanted to note here, not specifically just to you, but for any future applicants or lurkers who may see your message: please don’t feel discouraged to submit a novel excerpt if you truly feel like it is your strongest work. While it is absolutely true that programs like to see narrative momentum/arc, I disagree that your writing sample should or needs to have a beginning middle and end or resolution. 

Of course I am not suggesting submitting an incomplete novel chapter or excerpt, and your excerpts should still be somewhat self-contained (as most novel chapters are). I submitted a prologue + chapter one, as I am largely a novel writer and do not have any short stories that can speak to my skills, and got into several programs. 

While my prologue and chapter one were certainly “complete”, they were largely unresolved. What I focused on was showcasing the voice/tone/writing style that I was striving for, as well as my line-by-line prose. I hope this maybe helps somebody!

And good luck to you, I hope funding comes through for you! 

[friendned]

Starting to see more UNCG poetry acceptances coming out. I had a second interview with them for fiction last Thursday - no idea what to think now 🙃. Does anyone know what might be happening with them? I imagine I would have to hear soon since the deadline is coming up in two weeks. 

I also got an e-mail yesterday from one of the schools I'm waitlisted at - no real update, just told me that they haven't forgotten about me and that they're thinking they'll end up going to the waitlist and that, if they do, there's a real possibility I get offered a spot. It's nice to hear from them, but all that e-mail did was needlessly get my hopes up lol. 

Sorry to info dump like this - I'm just beginning to feel like I'm at a breaking point!

[taliaj]

Okay, dumb question: if you're in contact with a school and enthusiastic about interest, could that increase your chances vs. another applicant who hadn't reached out? Meaning like, if it came down between the two for a spot, they might be more inclined to go with the one who had been in contact? I feel like that seems silly but I'm also overthinking. (Remember when I said I don't care if I get in? Lol)

[gafoo]

1 minute ago, taliaj said:

Okay, dumb question: if you're in contact with a school and enthusiastic about interest, could that increase your chances vs. another applicant who hadn't reached out? Meaning like, if it came down between the two for a spot, they might be more inclined to go with the one who had been in contact? I feel like that seems silly but I'm also overthinking. (Remember when I said I don't care if I get in? Lol)

It depends, but from what I've read, it seems that (infrequent, intentional) enthusiastic communication keeps the line warm and can't hurt. Some programs just do a strict ranked list and won't deviate from it; others are assembling a cohort to curate a specific vibe or get a diversity of perspectives. 

I think as it gets closer to April 15 (or beyond), a program knowing that someone is enthusiastic and interested might be slightly more likely to reach out to them than somebody who hasn't reached out to the program at all. Especially if they think you're likely to accept quickly instead of drawing out the decision. 

Lastly—if the WL program is your top school, it doesn't hurt to send an email saying something like "this program is my top choice, and I'd accept an offer immediately if one was made." 

[taliaj]

14 minutes ago, gafoo said:

It depends, but from what I've read, it seems that (infrequent, intentional) enthusiastic communication keeps the line warm and can't hurt. Some programs just do a strict ranked list and won't deviate from it; others are assembling a cohort to curate a specific vibe or get a diversity of perspectives. 

I think as it gets closer to April 15 (or beyond), a program knowing that someone is enthusiastic and interested might be slightly more likely to reach out to them than somebody who hasn't reached out to the program at all. Especially if they think you're likely to accept quickly instead of drawing out the decision. 

Lastly—if the WL program is your top school, it doesn't hurt to send an email saying something like "this program is my top choice, and I'd accept an offer immediately if one was made." 

That's what I figured. I had initially asked about fee waivers in an email, and the professor that returned my email said they were excited to answer any questions I had. I followed up with a few questions (just basics, about the vibe of the program and such) and when they replied they said, "I would love to answer any more questions if you have them!" and technically I do have more questions, but like you said, I don't want to be too much of a frequent emailer. 

Thanks for this! Sorry if that was a silly q.

[arghgradapps]

today feels slow.

[gafoo]

I hate feeling hope about Ohio State lmao. But looking at historical draft posts on Facebook and here, it does seem like there is usually a lot of waitlist movement at the school on/around April 15. Such a nice stipend in a low CoL town with faculty who I connect so deeply with. But overall this is feeling like a higher yield cycle for some reason... Agh! 

[arghgradapps]

9 minutes ago, gafoo said:

I hate feeling hope about Ohio State lmao. But looking at historical draft posts on Facebook and here, it does seem like there is usually a lot of waitlist movement at the school on/around April 15. Such a nice stipend in a low CoL town with faculty who I connect so deeply with. But overall this is feeling like a higher yield cycle for some reason... Agh! 

how do you find historical draft posts?

[gafoo]

5 minutes ago, arghgradapps said:

how do you find historical draft posts?

I requested to join the MFA Draft 2025 community at the same time as the '26 one and got let in! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Sorta interesting to look at the historical waitlist movement info but also a great way to drive yourself mad

[friendned]

18 minutes ago, arghgradapps said:

how do you find historical draft posts?

If you have access to the 2026 excel spreadsheet, there should be tabs at the bottom for the previous years!

[SocialKonstruct]

FInally called up UCI's English literature dept this morning and was grateful to speak with their desk representative to discover my ultimate rejection. Two schools of acceptance and one Ph.D. program left to go. UCI will send out formal emails probably over the next 1-4 days hopefully so I can collect the pdfs digitally for my own archives.

Edited April 1 by SocialKonstruct

[arghgradapps]

25 minutes ago, gafoo said:

I requested to join the MFA Draft 2025 community at the same time as the '26 one and got let in! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Sorta interesting to look at the historical waitlist movement info but also a great way to drive yourself mad

omg i wish i could see those posts

[thechain]

can anyone with access to previous draft spreadsheets see when nyu waitlist acceptances and movement started?

[arghgradapps]

 ...

Edited April 2 by arghgradapps

[Mod lang]

What's up with the MFA 26 Draft group? I applied for membership a month ago and they still haven't responded.

[bluecarpet]

Looks like there was at least one Iowa State acceptance today.

[TripleZeroStrip]

Anyone hear from JHU, LSU, or Arizona? Seems so slow compared to what i can find from previous years...

[pengiunsfriend]

for MFA in CN, would you chose Oregon State or University of Montana?? (same funding) I need help please!