Know Your Rights: Council of Graduate Schools Resolution

In his email to me, informing me of my acceptance at the University of Florida, Padget Powell sent the following link which I'd like to share with all of you here. There has been quite a bit of talk here and there about some programs pressuring applicants to accept an offer before hearing back from other programs. In light of such behavior, I present the "Resolution Regarding Graduate Scholars, Fellows, Trainees and Assistants" from the Council of Graduate Schools.

http://www.cgsnet.org/portals/0/pdf/CGSResolutionDec2008.pdf

Any school whose name appears on this list has pledged to allow their applicants adequate time to assess each of offers of financial aid and make an informed choice that they are comfortable with, sans the pressure. Naturally all MFA programs want decisions from their applicants as soon as possible because they want their top choice candidates, and because it will allow them to begin going through their waitlists, which may include students who have been accepted elsewhere but may still desire to go to their program. I don't post this to single any one particular program, I just think it is important for those of us who have applied to a number of schools to know what our rights are and what rules these schools should be abiding by.

Good luck to everyone as this excruciating period of uncertainty continues to unfold!

The Waiting Game

So you've spent the last couple weeks obsessively checking the mailbox, jumping whenever the phone rings, and awaiting the news that a program wants to take you in. Here are some tips to consider as you speak with faculty members, weigh your options, and make this decision that will shape your art, and your life, for the next two to three years.

• With all due respect to this blog and other online communities, try not to make too much of the web chatter. Each program is on its own time line. Trying to anticipate when you will receive offers, and attempting to draw conclusions from other people's offers, will only drive you stark raving mad. Does reading blog comments stress you out? Pick up a book instead.

• When you receive an offer, do your best to communicate your enthusiasm, and also your desire to take time making your decision. The person on the other end of the line knows that 99% of prospective MFAs apply to several programs. This person should want you to be happy in your program, whichever school that might be. Assure the faculty member that you will deliver your decision as soon as you know.

• As long as you have a faculty member on the phone, ask any questions you might have about the program. Ask for the contact information of some current students, if you haven't already done so. What are the alumni doing these days? Are there any cool, quirky, intangible features of the program that cannot be communicated on the website?

• Clarify any questions that you have about funding, housing, health insurance, and so forth. If the person you are speaking to doesn't have the answer, he or she ought to be able to put you in touch with someone who does.
  

So--now you've been accepted somewhere. Take a breath. Try not to feel any pressure. You will want to know all your options before making a decision. Nonetheless, you should have an idea of how you rank your programs. This way, if you are turned down by your #1 and #2 programs, but are accepted by your #3 program, you can greet them with a confident and enthusiastic yes.

With this in mind, try not to be evaluating programs in the heat of the moment. Take time now to revisit each program that you've applied to--its funding, its faculty, its degree plan, and its geographic location. If, in the flurry of application activity, you haven't had the chance to read the faculty's books, then go back and do your homework. You will likely be working with several of the faculty in your genre, so make sure that you are making your decisions based on more than just your personal favorite.

Remember, you are not committing to a program's ranking or reputation. You are committing to a community where you will be living and writing for two or three years. Don't let anyone rush you, but at the same time, have a clear idea of which programs are your top priorities. This way, the faculty gets the message that you are as excited about working with them as they are about working with you.

Finally, and most importantly, don't forget your own writing! Use these next couple months to get as much work done as possible. Once you've committed to a program, the rush of moving, settling in, teaching, and starting classes will demand much of your energy. Work on establishing the writing and reading habits that you hope to carry into your program. This way, you can hit the ground running in your new home.

Best of luck to all of you!

P.S. If anyone will be attending the AWP Conference in Chicago this week, stop by the Purdue MFA table and say hi! Chocolate will be served.

To visit or not to visit?

From the mailbag, Elizabeth asks:

Here's a question: Let's say the best scenario happens and I get into, oh, three
programs. Or even just two. How common is it for admitted students to visit a
program after being accepted? I'm in MN, so something like U of MN would be
really easy to visit, but I'm a little worried about the cost of visiting
someplace like UMass. I already spent a fortune on apps., but I wonder about
going to a school without seeing it. This is speculative, of course (I still
haven't heard a peep from any of my schools . . . I'll start chewing on the
walls soon) but I'd be interested to know what other people's opinions are on
the value/importance of campus visits

My response would be, yes, if at all possible, visit the program. I did this last year and, without a doubt, it affected my decision(s). Sure, there were plenty of other factors at stake that could be determined on paper (funding, cost of living, reputation), but seeing a place and meeting people in person really helped me know if I would fit into the program. (My answer was complicated.) So, I say, never understimate the power of your gut instincts.

But some of you would disagree. Discuss!