Slipstream Sally Posted December 1, 2014 Share Posted December 1, 2014 Hi! Is anyone applying to PhD Creative Writing programs for Fall 2015? I applied to two fiction PhD programs for 2014 (U of Cincinnati and Georgia State U) and was not accepted to either. Has anyone heard first-hand praise of a PhD program? Everyone I've spoken to currently in a program says "It's good if you want to teach, but I wouldn't recommend my school." Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaylara Posted December 20, 2014 Share Posted December 20, 2014 I'm applying to CW PhDs for poetry. I keep hearing good things about Western Michigan University. It's small, but rising in the ranks, as it were. Cincinnati, but you already know that one. University of Nebraska is good for poetry, but I don't know as much about fiction programs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spearmo Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Most graduate schools are a lot of teaching and theory. There's few programs that emphasize the workshop. I know people at Cinncy and they said it was a tough program, but a very fruitful experience. Some are less rigorous than others for sure. Others have a lot more funding and good opportunities to participate in other areas aside from teaching. Some will offer assistantships for working on research projects, editing their literary journals, etc. I've heard good things about Texas Tech. I'm applying to schools close to home this time around. Here's my list: University of North Texas Texas Tech University of Houston Oklahoma State University of Missouri - Columbia Pending application at Western Michigan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KThom Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 I applied to five programs (for poetry): USC Utah UIC Denver Mizzou I re-took the verbal and writing. I improved my verbal score significantly--slightly below average to slightly above. But my writing score remained the same--3.5. This sucks. Creative folks: should I re-send these scores? A 3.5 is competent, but definitely not a 4.5 or 5. Let me know your thoughts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angel_kaye13 Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 I'm not going for an MFA or anything of that sort, trying for a more strictly-English program. However, in my research of the best-fit schools for my own parameters, I DID come across several programs that specifically cited 5.0s or better on the Analytical Writing portion. Particularly in the MFA degree categories. THAT being said! You have what you have. You improved your scores, you probably have a prolific portfolio to share (most of the programs also asked to see 25+ pages of writing samples, displaying a variety of styles). I would still apply! We hear over and OVER again: there is not ONE part that is MOST important, it is comprehensive, how you portray yourself. You may have low scores there, but utilize your personal statement and portfolio to show otherwise. I'm not a genius at the grad app thing. But from my research and personal understanding, there is always a chance! Assess and present yourself well! After all. That is what we do best! ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KThom Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 I appreciate the encouragement. Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody_2ZZ Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 I applied to a handful of PhD in CW. I'm a poet, and I paid a lot of attention to who was on faculty at the various places. I'd also be very pleased to go to U of Cincinnati or Illinois State. I've heard good things about those schools' CW programs. In addition to poetry, I'm interested in the scholarship as well, so the PhD is a better fit for me than the MFA. It certainly seems like you have to excel in both areas to get into the better, more sought-after programs. Good luck, poets and fiction writers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juniperberry Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 I think I want to hang around here instead of the FB groups. I don't think the Analytical Writing section is super crucial to most programs (they're more interested in the Verbal score from what I gather -- unless they say otherwise), or at least, perhaps not enough to retake or resend this year. I'm coming into the PhD apps from an MFA (at Michigan), so perhaps my experience is limited. Writing sample still seems to trump everything. I'm applying to Houston UIC Denver USC UNLV (which I only recently realized kinda just looks like a glorified fellowship, if you're only going to have one person in each genre) I'm sending off about five apps to other types of programs (American Studies mostly) as well. Nervewracking! I've gotten into Houston before as an MFA candidate, so really hoping that either works for me or at least doesn't work against me. Best of luck, all!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agnes P Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Hi everyone... I'm not part of the FB group, so I'm glad we have this little corner where we can share news... I applied to six PhD programs (fiction): Houston, FSU, UGA, Georgia State, UI-Chicago, and UW-Milwaukee. Gulp. My coping strategy right now is to write as much as I can, so that if indeed I'm shut out this season, I'll at least have some pages to prop me up. It's hard to concentrate, but I'm determined not to fall off the planet if things don't go as I'd like. Best of luck to each of you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allplaideverything Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 I agree with cerena re: Analytical Writing scores. If an admissions committee digs your work, they're not going to change their mind because of something like that. I assume, at least. I only applied to one creative PhD, USC, along with a bunch of English programs. Best of luck to everybody! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KGB Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 I agree with cerena re: Analytical Writing scores. If an admissions committee digs your work, they're not going to change their mind because of something like that. I assume, at least. I only applied to one creative PhD, USC, along with a bunch of English programs. Best of luck to everybody! I'm the same as you! Coming out of an MFA now and applied to all critical PhDs except USC, which looks like a program where they encourage serious critical work in addition to the creative. My creative/critical pursuits are connected, but I was hesitant about applying to more traditional PhD CW programs because most seem similar to what I just did (workshops, then critical and creative thesis). And I'm also trying to be practical job-wise as I want to teach...so having the MFA + a critical PhD seems like a good combo (who knows...) Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arealunicorn Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 The results page is showing an acceptance from Texas Tech. I didn't apply there, but it does feel like a herald. Congrats to the accepted body! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enjay Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 This is a weird thing to jump into off the cuff (I only started searching for respond dates today out of curiosity/impatience), but I've received acceptance notices in Poetry from Illinois-Chicago and Georgia. Waiting on Denver and USC for creative, Princeton for critical, and UChicago for interdisciplinary. Agnes P 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agnes P Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 Congrats on UIC and UGA, Enjay! Fantastic news. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enjay Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 Thanks! I saw where both were on your list as well, have you heard anything yet? If not, I know that sometimes the genres come to decisions at separate times, so I would think you'd still be in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agnes P Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 Hi Enjay...sadly I've heard nothing yet from any of my schools. It's nerve-wracking, but so far I haven't toppled over into full-blown madness. We shall see what next week brings. Best wishes for the rest of your applications. Having choices is pretty exciting (unless of course one choice is a rock and the other is a hard place), and already you have two wonderful options. And thanks for your optimistic outlook regarding my own outcome––it helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enjay Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 When I was doing my MFA apps, it was a two-month deathmarch back and forth to the mailbox for rejection notices. I didn't even find out that I was accepted into my one-of-eight until April 18th, so I'm definitely sympathetic to your plight right now. Stay strong. arealunicorn and Agnes P 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agnes P Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 Thank you, Enjay. I wish I could buy you a beer right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chg Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Does anyone know if I should assume I'm rejected if I haven't yet been contacted by UIC's Creative Writing PhD program? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody_2ZZ Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 Does anyone know if I should assume I'm rejected if I haven't yet been contacted by UIC's Creative Writing PhD program? As they say, it's not over till it's over. If you haven't heard anything by now (though I know I'm responding late), then you might be on some internal waiting list. Hang in there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enjay Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 I've heard talk of some internal waitlist, but you may consider checking the status of your application online. Some people are getting notices in the mail right now telling them where they stand, but a lot of people seem to have figured it out just by logging in. Nervewracking though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agnes P Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 I was notified that I'm on UIC's waitlist a couple of weeks ago...so I'm not sure if this program has a secret internal one. No idea how many others are on it, or my position. However, I'll likely take myself off the list next week if all goes well at FSU's Open House. I'm fiction, btw. Enjay 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enjay Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 Congratulations on getting into FSU! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agnes P Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 Thanks Enjay! I got the email right before heading into my waiter job, and for the first the night in a long time, I didn't feel like I had iron chains on my ankles. Congratulations again to you, too. Looking forward to hearing where you'll end up when you're ready to post. Getting into both UIC and UGA is fantastic, but it probably doesn't make for an easy decision... Enjay 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enjay Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 (laughs) yeah I'm in food service too and I happened to get both of my acceptances at the beginning of my "weekend." Still floating by the time I got to work two days later, but perhaps only an inch above the ground The decision isn't easy at all. I've done research, consulted outside sources I trust, talked to the DGS for both briefly, spent an hour chatting with the poetry leads for both schools in the past week, and am no closer to getting it all straightened out. I'm extremely impressed with both, don't think that I can make a wrong choice at all, but the fact remains that I will have to make a choice and it may come down to peripheral factors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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