Michigan Acceptees

[Wicked_Problem]

The Associated Press reports that the $50-million gift to the University of Michigan's MFA in creative writing "is believed to be by far the largest ever gift to such a program." Helen Zell is a graduate of the University of Michigan, where she earned her bachelor's in English; her donation, however, will support creative writing, specifically, and at the graduate level.

"What I've watched happen with the introduction of the Internet and media and blogging, I almost feel like this part of our education is under siege," Helen Zell told the AP. "The ability of fiction to develop creativity, to analyze the human psyche, help you understand people — its critical. It's as important as vitamins or anything else. To me, it's the core of the intellectual health of human beings."

Michigan offers its graduate creative writing students a "Zellowship," a post-graduate year of financial support (currently $22,000) to focus on writing without the burden of further class study or teaching. The $50-million gift is intended to underwrite that program in perpetuity.

[chaucerettescs]

Also, for anyone accepted to Michigan who enjoys writing, enter the graduate division of the Hopwood Awards. Enter ALL the creative writing contests UMich offers (there are many). I snagged a creative writing fellowship through the Hopwoods in my final semester as an undergrad which will mean I don't have to panic about loan payments/moving expenses this summer as I look for a job.

[intextrovert]

Also, for anyone accepted to Michigan who enjoys writing, enter the graduate division of the Hopwood Awards. Enter ALL the creative writing contests UMich offers (there are many). I snagged a creative writing fellowship through the Hopwoods in my final semester as an undergrad which will mean I don't have to panic about loan payments/moving expenses this summer as I look for a job.

Well, the Hopwood Graduate Awards pretty much always go to MFA students - which makes sense, since they're the ones that have been selected for their creative writing abilities (and if you think PhD admissions are bad, our MFA program gets over 1,000 applications for ~10-15 spots in each genre of poetry and prose!) and devote all of their time to it. The only exception I can think of is a PhD student here who also has an MFA from elsewhere and published a book of poetry the year he won. Not that you can't enter as a PhD student, but your shot at winning in the grad division is much longer - our MFAs are really good. They're pros!

(Congrats on your award though!)

[bluecheese]

Michigan (this year) accepted 20/1000... which is about the same as some PhD programs (10 out of 500).

 

But yeah, all MFA students specialize in creative writing -- which isn't to say that some PhD students don't specialize in it also.

[cougarstigers!]

yeah hopwoods! man -- those things sure did structure my time in ann arbor as an undergraduate!

what an incredibly generous program! and the hopwood room is so cozy!