Last day for a lot of regular applications......Any last minute questions, thoughts, concerns? Party plans?
In terms of applications, I love what Heather pulled off the UWMadison MFA Website:
"...So long as you've sent in all the requisite material, your file is almost certainly complete, and even in the highly unlikely event it isn't, rest assured that we will contact you if we need something from you. It might also help to know that our goal is to admit the 6 students we think will be the best fit for our program and that our decisions are based almost entirely on writing samples and not at all on minor matters such as how your letters of recommendation or transcripts reach us."
This was certainly the case with every school I applied to.....I had a run-in with sloooow recommendation writer.
20 comments:
UNH and UMass went out the door today. One more -- anyone else looking at the Univ of Southern Maine Stonecoast Low Res program?
I'm applying to UMass as well, and having nightmares about being rejected because a letter or application piece didn't arrive on time/with proper postmark. Had a real scare a few days ago when I found out one of the programs needed a form for rec. letters instead of online submission like I thought!
I can confirm that what UW Madison says is true! My entire application packet was lost between the post office and their office, and they contacted me and had me email in my writing sample. I learned my lesson - you definitely send this stuff registered mail.
On a happy note, they were the nicest people ever and made me want to go there even more.
That almost makes me feel better, as I have delivered multiple copies of a transcript to one school, which still claims the do not have it and the deadline was today.
Sean,
Although I am looking at full-residency programs myself, I have taken classes with Jeanne Marie Beaumont at the 92nd Street Y in NYC, who teaches at Stonecoast. She is wonderful and speaks very highly of the program. When I discussed with her the possibility of low-res, she told me that she felt in some ways students get more individual attention in low-res programs and are required to do more work.
Maine is also a wonderful place to write!
I just finished an undergrad section with Suzanne Strempek Shea who is on-board at Stonecoast. I don't like the idea of low-res, but if you ever have a chance to work with Ms. Shea, DO SO--she is absolutely, incomprehensibly, FANTASTIC.
Hey there applicants. I started a blog to keep track of MFA acceptances/rejections/waitlist notices-- sort of like last year's "Are we there yet?" site by Lindsey. If you hear any news from programs, let us all know!
http://writingmfa2008.blogspot.com/
I found some of the admission acceptance dates on various blogs. If you're interested to see when the earliest calls/letters came you can check it here:
http://tofindsleep.blogspot.com/2007/12/well-there-is-good-news.html
Good move, godfrey. Last year's version of your blog, found here, helped me work through a lot of the anxiety of waiting--though it added to the suspense, too! I'm sure you'll see your blog grow with comments over the next few months. If you haven't done so already, maybe mention it over at the PW.org message board, where lots of people check in to share the pain of waiting.
Good luck, everyone.
Thanks Godfrey. I wonder how many times I'll check that page over the next 60 days...
I think everyone has my completed apps so it's party time for me. Lots of parties, so I don't spend too much time imagining the form, content, or tone of rejection letters.
anyone know what the turnaround time for Umass amherst is?
Got my applications in to Arizona and Arizona State. Still have to get apps to Eastern Washington, Oregon State and Minnesota State, Mankato, but I think I'm 86'ing New Mexico. As an undergraduate busy with schoolwork, I found the New Mexico application to be a little too daunting. They sure now how to whittle their pool down.
Question for the group mind...because im an idiot.
I just looked at the Univ of S. Maine Stonecoast website and the Summer residency is at a time where i cant make it...my summer plans involve a lot of money, some teaching experience....etc. Anyone know if it's possible to be accepted and skip a residency, or defer until the winter?
Guidance would be wonderful!
I'm applying to 5 programs, and the last, Columbia College Chicago, is the only one that requires a resume (their words, not CV). This is in addition to a "self assessment essay." So, what exactly should I include? Work history even if not relevant to an MFA? References even if they will be receiving letters from those people?
Any advice?
Taryn -- I just included my work resume. I don't have anything particularly academic going on with it but I met their requirements and at least they'll see what I've been doing for the past few years.
When I ran across stuff like this I tried to stick with this philosophy: focus on the sample and the personal statement, then just try to meet the grad school requirements. Resume? Sure. Calculate GPA? Why not. I just made sure I wasn't going to be eliminated on a technicality.
Is anyone applying to the Lesley MFA program? It has such a late deadline (April 1) but if you send your application in earlier can you get a response before that date?
Here's a question that may be relevant to a lot of people. Having applied to a dozen programs, what should I do if I am notified of an acceptance by phone? They won't expect a confirmation right there on the spot right? How does that usually work?
pensive.
That's a great question. I'm moving it to a main post so it doesn't get lost. It's probably on everyone's mind.
Thanks!
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