I'm fiction. Its just so weird cause I know people have gotten mail from these schools... and I live in the city. so... it shouldn't take so long for the mail to reach me.... ugh. are you fiction?
I wonder if it was someone on the blog who turned down a VTech spot so that you got in. If it was Dolores Humbert, I'm praying it's because she accepted at ASU or somewhere other than Indiana!
I'm catching up! I've been away for TWO job interviews with two really awesome newspapers. Why these came up in late March (when I've been searching for well over a year) is a cruel cosmic joke. But I did them, just in case . . . you can't take anything for granted as an Int'l applicant.
I keep thinking about those swiffer sweeper commercials, when the broom/mop is dumped by the uncompromising housewife (it's always a housewife) and then that song kicks in, cause the broom/mop has fallen for the feather duster or whatever. Anyway, in tribute to Trilbe's awesomeness, I've rearranged the words: Who's that lady (Who's that lady) Classy Trilbeee (Who's that lady)
. . . . you know, I don't know why that sounded funnier in my head. I'm sorry, guys. Sometimes one's own lamery catches one off-guard.
MFAGUY! Congratulations, Professor MFAGuy for your glorious victory! Congratulations, Professor MFAGuy You'll be mentioned in history! (What can I say, I'm a fan of the musical) Seriously, tho, I'm happy for you. You've been going along on this blog with appreciably composure despite, what I can imagine, must have been an anxiety-ridden couple of months. Well, since I may be seeing you in the fall (though I still haven't actually committed to anything), let's compare notes off-blog: mangercratie (at) the gmail thingy.
Coreyann, Is the mail that people got a rejection? If it is, it could be a good news that you haven't gotten it. I could be a yes. I was told that they will be notifying at the end of the month. Although they notified a lot of people already. Nerve racking
i'm also waiting to hear back on all the NYC schools...crossed Brooklyn off the list b/c i thought the lady gave me a very definite "no" for everyone who hadn't been called, then i read about someone getting a waitlist e-mail yesterday? i wonder if that person had gotten a phone call though previously? i tried to check my online status and the page will not even open anymore.
Brooklyn is the only one out of New School, Columbia, and NYU that I know of that has sent out actual rejections--do you know of any rejections from the other schools? and why send out rejections in batches? especially if it's an online update?
NYU told me all decisions have been made but not sent out, and they're doing e-mail this year, and TNS told me no decision has been entered for my app yet...seems like we haven't heard any new acceptances from either of them in at least a week though, which burns...why are rejections always the last to be sent out?!! are they seriously waiting to send out more acceptances? seems unlikely :(
i do not think columbia is done notifying. also they will prob have a big waitlist, so don't give up yet! i have *heard* so take this with skepticism as you may, that calling ppl is discretionary and notifications will be sent out by mail on friday, so maybe look for something next week? i wouldn't be surprised if they call ppl next week, too, though.
I feel like I'm going to a middle school dance and 8th-grade cutie Mark S. hasn't returned my note with a box checked. Except instead of Mark S. it's Robert Pinsky. Why won't you dance with me? Is it my braces?
@hilary - you're lucky that you're young and have teeth to even worry about such luxuries as braces. I'm 89 and I put my teeth in a glass of water every night.
Also, sorry for driving everyone crazy with my BU monomania. I'm so happy to have gotten into Columbia, but BU is looking a lot more feasible for me for personal and financial reasons and I'd reeeeeeally like to hear from them. Really. That's all.
CONGRATS to all you acceptees out there! Seems like a lot of you have some very difficult decisions to make. Good luck to funding for those with crossed fingers and toes... And extra good luck to everyone waiting with bated breath on acceptances and waitlists!
@ McNeese waitlisters (fiction esp)- Any word? I've got nada at this point.
Woon-wow, I misread. I though you said 890, not a mere 89. I'm way older than you. Or as MFA guy says "older", although not working on a memoir quite yet.
@Trilbe--Have I apologized yet for cursing the weather for your visit? I wished for good weather, and we got rain. Obviously, my wish worked against us. I hope you're still having a ball. Ann Arbor's still great, even when it's raining. :)
@Megan-congrats on the wait-list at Brooklyn. I'm still waiting on them. Why I haven't received a rejection, or anything at all, when I live just a few stops away from the place is beyond me. It seems the closer you live to a program, the longer it takes them to notify you.
Please forgive any delay in response time; I will be out of the office until March 31.
If you are emailing to inquire about the status of your application to our MFA program, please note that all accepted and waitlisted applicants have been notified. All others should be receiving letters in the next few weeks.
@Megan -- So now I'm really curious to hear when you first heard about being waitlisted and what your email said. Your late notification seems contrary to Helen's words. Thanks for any info!
@Woon - You're the Amazing Aging Man! How do you do that? The Delorean? Have you come from the future? If so, do you know whether Bennington will ever like me? Aging 3 years in a day is no joke. You might want to get looked at by a doctor, man.
@hilary - Definitely fault your braces. Ugly Betty got her braces off last night, so Pinsky's all over that instead.
As far as I can tell (based upon my own experience and the comments from other people on this board), you can not check your University of Florida status online.
Once you log in, a message comes up telling you that their process is decentralized, blah, blah, and that you have to contact the department you applied to for more information.
Trying to post a youtube link, though it seems not to be possible?
Ah the irony...
A good friend of mine just called out of the blue, a filmmaker, Krystoff Przykucki, who got his MFA at UCLA. He made a short little film about student loan debt and the MFA (starring Kathy Bates) He said it was OK to share. So here it is...
In case you can't view link the film is called "The Ingrate."
In light of this, and the timing of the call it was easier to say no to CCA. I was in the process of declining CCA's "offer" where they said they could increase my Graduate Plus Loan (so I can borrow 40K a year, not 30K) That way I could live on $10,000 a year and be saddled with $100,000 a year when I graduate.
For several days now, while wishing for Columbia to call me with an acceptance, I keep getting the following in my head, to the tune of the bridge in "Always Something There to Remind Me":
I can't afford to love you From debt I'd never be free But you'll always be a part of me
threes - I have seen the same thing but not just with these schools. Since I'm obsessive about this blog maybe I should actually compile a study or something while I lurk!
Drella - I'm in Columbia purgatory... waiting to hear. I might crack and call.
@phillywriter - I'm rooting for you re. Indiana. I think one of our bloggers may turn down the IU offer. Can't say for sure though since I'm not that blogger. And no, I have no personal interest in the outcome. I did not apply to IU.
@Ian's fiancee Lucy - Are you the same woman who was also one of Ian's LoR recommenders? There was a poster here whose fiancee/girlfriend wrote one of his LoR, which I thought was simultaneously cool and hilarious.
Since IU won't tell me where I am on the waitlist, I have no idea what my chances are even if one or more people on this blog turn down their spots. It's really frustrating, because part of me is holding out incredible amounts of hope - and for all I know, I'm Number 10 on the list and have no real shot of getting accepted. (I don't even know if the list is that long - they won't tell me that either.) Ugh. But thanks for your well wishes!
@phillywriter - maybe there's no ranking. Maybe your chances depend on the profile of the offeree who declines his/her offer. I don't really know how these things work behind the scenes. I know that if I ran an MFA program, I'd probably look at the diversity of the entering class -- aesthetics, gender, race, religion, age, etc.
On the other hand, maybe they do rank and you're #1 on the list. Who knows?
Sister, we must have been cut from the same cloth. To a lot of people reading that list, you sound super intense. To me, you sound majestic, and I think we should be friends :) hahaha.
lol, no, that was not me! What would I say? "I highly recommend Ian for your graduate program because even though sometimes he snores, he does not hog the blankets and always puts the toilet seat down. He will drive the car around when it rains and push the grocery cart when we go shopping. Even though history bores him to tears, Ian puts up with my incessant nonsense about 16th century Russian revolutions and Assyrian legal writings. I bet he'd listen to all your stories, too, even if they were kinda dull. You should totally accept him."
Am I the only one here who thought upon seeing the "What's in Amy Tan's Closet?" subject line of an e-mail from Narrative today: "Gosh, someday I hope I'm a famous enough writer that someone cares about what's in my closet"?
I never thought that would be a marker of success, but I guess it is.
Adam - Thanks for the tip. I can now bump Southern Ill into the rejection pile. Nothin' like dropping hours of work and nearly a grand on silence...
weighswithwords - "We received a record number of applicants (nearly 700 for 30 openings across our fiction, poetry, and playwriting programs) this year. Given the large number of highly qualified candidates, it is no small accomplishment to have made it to the waitlist. Should any openings occur, we will begin contacting candidates on the waitlist around April 19."
They started their spring break today so I'm just going to take it easy for a bit and contact them in a few weeks. I just moved to Brooklyn from Chicago a few weeks ago. I love it here - I really want to stay. For all y'all visiting or moving to NYC, I just got a job at The Strand, come say hello and get a good book for cheap!
@ Megan - I used to work there! What floor are you on? Have you met Ben at the fiction desk yet? Make sure you befriend him - he is a lovely, lovely, wonderful man.
Received my rejection letter from Ohio State in the mail today. It only came about two months after first notifications of admission. That's not too bad a wait at all.
Welcome to Brooklyn! I love the Strand. I wish their annex on Fulton Street was still open. Book shopping and free Indie shows at the seaport equaled happy summer Fridays.
Coreyann - they are always accepting applications. Fill one out!
Lexie - I'll be on the first floor, in fiction. An old professor of mine worked there in the 90's and also said I should befriend Ben. He must be top-notch people. I start tomorrow, I'll have to seek him out.
I left messages asking about application status and notification at SFSU and University of Florida.
At PSU (Portland State Univ.) Someone going by Jim (I'm assuming James Bauer) answered the general English dept. # listed online and looked up my status for me, he said I had not been accepted, was quite nice and helpful and apologetic about it (I was pretty sure that was the case at this point anyway). He also said hard copy letters would be going out today. Hopefully that's true.
I called. I spoke with a very sweet young lady, who told me they haven't received responses from all readers yet. There is most definitely still hope.
She also asked if I was calling because I had deadlines for other offers. If you do, definitely call. Maybe there's some response fast-track they can put you on?
@ Ian's fiancee - Man, I wish I had had someone to help me organize my MFA application process. I am a poet trying to do a dozen sequential things here - not likely!
I apologize it took so long to send this, but I type each comment on my Remington No. 2 (if I'm not out of ink ribbons, haha), put it in the mail to my assistant, who faxes them to my grandson, who then posts them to the World Wide Web (I'm 92).
Glad to see another old-timer here. I agree about the age-brings-experience conversation. Feeling a storm approaching in your bones really does change the way you write (I write about storms).
My granddaughter talks to me about Justin Bieber and Hannah Montana, and I'm like: who??? I'll take the Boswell Sisters or Annette Hanshaw any day (try to put their phonographs into your Walkmans, haha).
FINALLY received Vanderbilt rejection, via email. That only took, oh, forever.
Still waiting on Columbia, NYU, Penn State, UVA, and Florida.
Side note - was just reading about how James Franco might be going to Yale to do a PhD in English after his Columbia MFA. Seriously? I love the guy, but after having gone through this whole process, I'm a little bitter that celebrities have their pick of pretty much any program they want. But I haven't as of yet read his whole story online, maybe the dude's a super brilliant writer/academic. Giving him the benefit of the doubt here.
MFAguy, congratulations! Such great news. No more freezing Marquette for you.
I hope that when I get old, I'm as cool as Woon. (What a whippersnapper!) Also, people will want to look in my closet at my collection of pastel-colored elastic-waisted pants and velcro shoes.
A lot of ppl have found his piece to be really well done but I have to confess that I did not feel the same way. I don't believe he's not talented or can't write but... there were obvious things that I felt pretty strongly about. I feel bad critiquing it because a> i'm not rocking published stuff on esquire and b> I don't want it to seem like I am just not a fan because he's a celebrity and it's all handed to him. But I def had a different opinion than a majority of our community members
Ole Miss only takes 3 to 4 fiction writers out of 140 applicants. From what I can gather, they have let their top people know. But I also know that two of their top people turned it down to go to Iowa. Now, whether they are going down a list or just waiting to send rejections, I'm unsure.
That's just me being hip to the Surge generation. Speaking of hips, mine's squeaky (I replaced it after my last fall, ROFL [except I wasn't laughing then! LOL]).
You know what I think is really weird about this process? I spent all this time (and money) trying to convince this handful of schools to like me and my writing. All of this effort to "sell" myself. And most of those schools weren't at all interested, but now the ones that are interested are telling me all the time how fabulous I am, and how fabulous their program is, and trying to "sell" themselves. And I want to be like, uhh... didn't you all hear the desperation in my SOP? You don't have to try and convince me to admire your program, I already admire it! This is all very weird. There are lots of things about this that are very weird.
@M. Swann - you're killing me, man! LOL! Next, you'll break out your World War I stories! LOL! And what the frick are you doing taking a valuable seat from a young twentysomething who has a whole future ahead of her?
That brings my tally to 14 official rejections, 2 waitlists, and 8 schools I haven't heard from yet (but 7 of those 8 schools have notified some acceptances already).
Looks like his story has already been discussed here.
No comments.
@ anyone interested in SFSU, USF, CCA, CalArts
I'm leaning towards reapplying or just going to Long Beach if I get an acceptance from them. I realized leaving SoCal will be harder than I thought, so it'll most likely be either or. Still haven't decided completely though :p.
I will most likely at least tell USF, CCA and CalArts that I'll be declining their offers by the end of next week, so spots wil open up in fiction if you were interested.
While we are waiting. I just saw that on TV _ Nora Ephron on writing: http:/ /video.usanetwork.com/features/character_approved/webisodes_3/nora-ephron-webisode/v1204520
If anyone knows The Avett Brothers's song "I and Love and You," know that I have had the following (altered) verse stuck in my head for about three months now:
Oh Brooklyn College, let me in Are you aware the state I'm in?
Yes, thanks Sutpen, very useful to actually have some concrete knowledge on the Ole Miss front. (Though I now feel the acute pangs of probable rejection. Ouch.)
I'm very glad you'll still hang out with those of us here who remain in purgatory.
Congrats again! Blacksburg is beautiful - I have several friends who went to VTech for undergrad (and one stayed for grad school too, in CompSci), and they all loved it there.
Drella - thats three times more than most schools. My turn to say -hang in there. Besides I think they're just doing the Fiction and Poetry lot now so I don't think there is anything to worry about. But I know how nerveracking this whole process is. I just hang out for hours, not saying anything, just reading what other people are writing. I'm not sure how many of the people blogging here can manage to be so witty, my grey cells are hiding out somewhere.
...I can't log onto my Brooklyn account for my daily anxiety check. What gives? Their whole informing their applicants process system is kinda bad. Not sure how much I want to go to SAIC if it's the only place I get into...Has anyone heard from American at all?
maybe the brooklyn adcom was getting annoyed b/c ppl kept calling and asking about status and they were finally like, oh, hey, maybe we should actually let people know if they got in or not instead of just letting them guess and take klonopins. and it is taking them 24 hours to update their online system with our rejections, thus making the site unavailable?
I might have been in a unique position because I applied for Indiana’s dual MA/MFA program in African American and African Diaspora Studies and Creative Writing. I was accepted to the AAADS half of the program, but put on the wait list for poetry, so I had a lot of questions to ask Upadhyay about funding and semester course-load.
But Upadhyay did want to know if I had any offers in hand and how likely I would attend Indiana if I were accepted. Koru of the Eight Acceptances gave me some advice on wording my email inquiry to him – that is, letting him know that I did have offers but was waiting on my decision because Indiana was my top choice school.
She wrote something similar to her waitlisted programs and moved into acceptance mode right quick.
Congrats to MFAGuy on VTech. Are we gonna be classmates? I wonder if Dolores Humbert gave up her VT spot for ASU. If so, you and Philly owe me a big one because I’ve been selling her hard on ASU. (Heh heh, just kidding. ASU is a great program, and everything I said was true, Do.) Let’s compare notes! Acupunk[nine]. Yahoo.
this isn't the first time i have run into problems with BC's website. I remember being blocked out a lot during the application process too. maybe they ARE updating the page with admissions news, or maybe their site is just bad...
Longtime lurker, occasional commenter. Thanks to all of you for your candid sharing of your experiences and anxieties through this exciting though often enervating process. The schools to which I was accepted but will not be attending have been notified, so some spots will be opening up soon.
Congratulations and best of luck to you all!
For the record (Seth, you're collecting this data, right?), my final tally for poetry:
Attending: Purdue (full-funding, TAship)
Accepted: Ole Miss (FF, TA) GCSU (FF, TA) Hunter (funding, some teaching) Montana (funding TBD) SFSU Maryland
I finally received a call back from Hollins today saying "You're not in, but you're also definitely not out."
I'm going to assume I'm out.
Also, just received an email from Portland State saying,"You're off the waiting list, you're in!"
And another email from The New School saying, "You're wait listed and might not be notified until mid-summer." Geez. That's kind of too far away, don't they realize?
Okay, so, if anyone has thoughts on Portland please please respond, but I'm thinking I'm going to turn them down because they were kind of a "safety school" for me.
I am flying out to NYC to look at both the New School and Sarah Lawrence. I continue to be on the fence about SLC--some days people say I absolutely have to be in NY because I will make a million more connections there, and other people say go for the money. Any thoughts on this would also be greatly appreciated.
Then I'm flying straight to Spokane to look at EWU...a seemingly less prestigious program but with also seemingly cool people and a nice little rep. Thoughts??
Thanks, peeps. :)
PS. Anyone want to get a drink in NYC sometime between April 8-11? :)
haha, i hate that now Brooklyn has me super excited just about finally getting my rejection.
@ john wilmes
yeah, i had to submit 2 online apps--the first one registered my payment, but didn't send out my LOR requests. everyone i talked to there has been super nice, but i really hope they didn't lose my app entirely. didn't that happen to someone who applied to hunter, and they got refunded b/c their app didn't even get read? that should be worthy of a pity admission plus refund. i would def. be happy with a pity admission at this point.
Yes, I hate the New School waitlist situation. Probably my top choice, but probably going to commit elsewhere if they're taking that long to get back... it'll sting real hard if they say YES to me in the dead of summer.
@ Lucas re: Ole Miss Nothing is for sure until you get your rejection. I just said I know that they have notified a few people of acceptances in Fiction. And that they accept 3-4 people.
That being said, congrats on ODU! I would wait until you get that final letter before you commit 100%, if you aren't 100% on board with Old Dominion.
Ian's fiancée Lucy here again! (maybe I should get my own account and call it that...? HM!)
Yes, he really does always put the seat down. Maybe he should have included that in his SoPs!
Regarding my super-intensity (lol, Jillian!) ... that's just how I get whenever I go into research mode! I also did all 20 of the applications -- geez, programs, why couldn't you make this more streamlined?! Different manuscript lengths, SoP lengths/formats, GRE codes, LoR coversheets, transcripts directly from school to the program, to the grad school, with the packet -- arrrggghhh I am SO glad to be done with it! And it is just awful that schools don't streamline this acceptance/rejection/waitlist process. Kudos to Brown for how they just ripped the curtain off all at once.
By the way, Ian spoke with a rather grumpy individual at NYU who said all notifications had been mailed. Also that he couldn't give Ian his application status over the phone.
Seriously, people? We're 3 weeks from final decisions here. You're asking people to make a decision that will have enormous impact on their lives, possibly involving a cross-country relocation... and you can't figure out how to send an email?
(Oh, and Woon is correct. I'd love to sit and listen to stories of the Great War! We can break out the typewriters and gramophones and go see a nickelodeon as we putter about in a horseless carriage)
@worthtwotomorrows: How do you know you got rejected by NYU? Did they actually tell you or are you kind of just assuming? I'm asking because I haven't heard from them at all.
I got a call from Hollins, and they said they are still deciding for the next couple weeks...she said first rounders and wait listers have been notified, but that is all...
Posted this on the new mailbag, but I just wanted to make sure you saw it.
@Rachel Hurn / Portland State applicants
Congrats on the acceptance! Just curious. Did you already know that you were on Portland's waitlist before you received the "you're in" email? I hadn't heard of PDX waitlisting anyone on the blogs, but maybe I missed it.
Yes, I had received a letter from Portland saying I was wait listed (this was about a week ago), and then I got the email that I was in. Have you not heard either way?
Yes, I had received a letter from Portland saying I was wait listed (this was about a week ago), and then I got the email that I was in. Have you not heard either way?
I'm two years too late but I have to tell you, I am today where you all were two years ago.
Your blog has given me hope! Just when I thought it would never take until the end of March to receive a reply (ASU, MFA Poetry), I see now that the end of March looks like a typical notification period.
I'm two years too late but I have to tell you, I am today where you all were two years ago.
Your blog has given me hope! Just when I thought it would never take until the end of March to receive a reply (ASU, MFA Poetry), I see now that the end of March looks like a typical notification period.
2,525 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 2401 – 2525 of 2525Coreyann
Same for me. I am loosing hope. Are you fiction or nonfiction?
@Drella:
I'm fiction. Its just so weird cause I know people have gotten mail from these schools... and I live in the city. so... it shouldn't take so long for the mail to reach me.... ugh. are you fiction?
@MFAguy
I wonder if it was someone on the blog who turned down a VTech spot so that you got in. If it was Dolores Humbert, I'm praying it's because she accepted at ASU or somewhere other than Indiana!
I'm catching up! I've been away for TWO job interviews with two really awesome newspapers. Why these came up in late March (when I've been searching for well over a year) is a cruel cosmic joke. But I did them, just in case . . . you can't take anything for granted as an Int'l applicant.
I keep thinking about those swiffer sweeper commercials, when the broom/mop is dumped by the uncompromising housewife (it's always a housewife) and then that song kicks in, cause the broom/mop has fallen for the feather duster or whatever. Anyway, in tribute to Trilbe's awesomeness, I've rearranged the words:
Who's that lady
(Who's that lady)
Classy Trilbeee
(Who's that lady)
. . . . you know, I don't know why that sounded funnier in my head. I'm sorry, guys. Sometimes one's own lamery catches one off-guard.
MFAGUY!
Congratulations, Professor MFAGuy
for your glorious victory!
Congratulations, Professor MFAGuy
You'll be mentioned in history!
(What can I say, I'm a fan of the musical)
Seriously, tho, I'm happy for you. You've been going along on this blog with appreciably composure despite, what I can imagine, must have been an anxiety-ridden couple of months.
Well, since I may be seeing you in the fall (though I still haven't actually committed to anything), let's compare notes off-blog:
mangercratie (at) the gmail thingy.
Coreyann,
Is the mail that people got a rejection? If it is, it could be a good news that you haven't gotten it. I could be a yes. I was told that they will be notifying at the end of the month. Although they notified a lot of people already.
Nerve racking
@ Drella & Coreyann
i'm also waiting to hear back on all the NYC schools...crossed Brooklyn off the list b/c i thought the lady gave me a very definite "no" for everyone who hadn't been called, then i read about someone getting a waitlist e-mail yesterday? i wonder if that person had gotten a phone call though previously? i tried to check my online status and the page will not even open anymore.
Brooklyn is the only one out of New School, Columbia, and NYU that I know of that has sent out actual rejections--do you know of any rejections from the other schools? and why send out rejections in batches? especially if it's an online update?
NYU told me all decisions have been made but not sent out, and they're doing e-mail this year, and TNS told me no decision has been entered for my app yet...seems like we haven't heard any new acceptances from either of them in at least a week though, which burns...why are rejections always the last to be sent out?!! are they seriously waiting to send out more acceptances? seems unlikely :(
i do not think columbia is done notifying. also they will prob have a big waitlist, so don't give up yet! i have *heard* so take this with skepticism as you may, that calling ppl is discretionary and notifications will be sent out by mail on friday, so maybe look for something next week? i wouldn't be surprised if they call ppl next week, too, though.
aaah i can't figure this out anymore
@Susan
Thanks so much for all the info. I admire your phone courage! I read at least one TNS rejection on this site- snail mail.
Emailed BU 3 days ago. No response. Concerned.
I feel like I'm going to a middle school dance and 8th-grade cutie Mark S. hasn't returned my note with a box checked. Except instead of Mark S. it's Robert Pinsky. Why won't you dance with me? Is it my braces?
@Susan
Thanks Susan! You helped to renew my hope a bit. Although it's hard to be hopeful when there is a dead silence, but giving up is harder.
@hilary - you're lucky that you're young and have teeth to even worry about such luxuries as braces. I'm 89 and I put my teeth in a glass of water every night.
Woon-you're older than I am!
Sud - how old are you, sonny? 72? You're just a kid! Let me give you some advice: Wait a few years until you're ready for an MFA.
Woon, you slay me.
Also, sorry for driving everyone crazy with my BU monomania. I'm so happy to have gotten into Columbia, but BU is looking a lot more feasible for me for personal and financial reasons and I'd reeeeeeally like to hear from them. Really. That's all.
CONGRATS to all you acceptees out there! Seems like a lot of you have some very difficult decisions to make. Good luck to funding for those with crossed fingers and toes... And extra good luck to everyone waiting with bated breath on acceptances and waitlists!
@ McNeese waitlisters (fiction esp)-
Any word? I've got nada at this point.
Woon-wow, I misread. I though you said 890, not a mere 89. I'm way older than you. Or as MFA guy says "older", although not working on a memoir quite yet.
@Trilbe--Have I apologized yet for cursing the weather for your visit? I wished for good weather, and we got rain. Obviously, my wish worked against us. I hope you're still having a ball. Ann Arbor's still great, even when it's raining. :)
@Megan-congrats on the wait-list at Brooklyn. I'm still waiting on them. Why I haven't received a rejection, or anything at all, when I live just a few stops away from the place is beyond me. It seems the closer you live to a program, the longer it takes them to notify you.
@Those waiting for Brooklyn
I emailed Helen Phillips and got this auto-reply:
Thank you for your email.
Please forgive any delay in response time; I will be out of the office until March 31.
If you are emailing to inquire about the status of your application to our MFA program, please note that all accepted and waitlisted applicants have been notified. All others should be receiving letters in the next few weeks.
@Megan -- So now I'm really curious to hear when you first heard about being waitlisted and what your email said. Your late notification seems contrary to Helen's words. Thanks for any info!
@Woon - You're the Amazing Aging Man! How do you do that? The Delorean? Have you come from the future? If so, do you know whether Bennington will ever like me?
Aging 3 years in a day is no joke. You might want to get looked at by a doctor, man.
@hilary - Definitely fault your braces. Ugly Betty got her braces off last night, so Pinsky's all over that instead.
@Rising Yellow Rose
As far as I can tell (based upon my own experience and the comments from other people on this board), you can not check your University of Florida status online.
Once you log in, a message comes up telling you that their process is decentralized, blah, blah, and that you have to contact the department you applied to for more information.
Trying to post a youtube link, though it seems not to be possible?
Ah the irony...
A good friend of mine just called out of the blue, a filmmaker, Krystoff Przykucki, who got his MFA at UCLA. He made a short little film about student loan debt and the MFA (starring Kathy Bates) He said it was OK to share. So here it is...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDs4hShU6UI&feature=related
In case you can't view link the film is called "The Ingrate."
In light of this, and the timing of the call it was easier to say no to CCA. I was in the process of declining CCA's "offer" where they said they could increase my Graduate Plus Loan (so I can borrow 40K a year, not 30K) That way I could live on $10,000 a year and be saddled with $100,000 a year when I graduate.
For several days now, while wishing for Columbia to call me with an acceptance, I keep getting the following in my head, to the tune of the bridge in "Always Something There to Remind Me":
I can't afford to love you
From debt I'd never be free
But you'll always be a part of me
Huh.
threes - I have seen the same thing but not just with these schools. Since I'm obsessive about this blog maybe I should actually compile a study or something while I lurk!
Drella - I'm in Columbia purgatory... waiting to hear. I might crack and call.
@phillywriter - I'm rooting for you re. Indiana. I think one of our bloggers may turn down the IU offer. Can't say for sure though since I'm not that blogger. And no, I have no personal interest in the outcome. I did not apply to IU.
Thanks, Rising Yellow Rose - I'm poetry, but I appreciate the update :)
Also, CONGRATULATIONS MFA GUY! And all the other waitlists/admits that have come in over the last few days. I haven't been as on top of the blog...
@Ratliff, I must find and destroy Ugly Betty. Yesterday.
Congratulations to everyone whose gotten in!
@Ian's fiancee Lucy - Are you the same woman who was also one of Ian's LoR recommenders? There was a poster here whose fiancee/girlfriend wrote one of his LoR, which I thought was simultaneously cool and hilarious.
@Woon
Since IU won't tell me where I am on the waitlist, I have no idea what my chances are even if one or more people on this blog turn down their spots. It's really frustrating, because part of me is holding out incredible amounts of hope - and for all I know, I'm Number 10 on the list and have no real shot of getting accepted. (I don't even know if the list is that long - they won't tell me that either.) Ugh. But thanks for your well wishes!
@phillywriter - maybe there's no ranking. Maybe your chances depend on the profile of the offeree who declines his/her offer. I don't really know how these things work behind the scenes. I know that if I ran an MFA program, I'd probably look at the diversity of the entering class -- aesthetics, gender, race, religion, age, etc.
On the other hand, maybe they do rank and you're #1 on the list. Who knows?
@Ian's fiance Lucy -
Sister, we must have been cut from the same cloth. To a lot of people reading that list, you sound super intense. To me, you sound majestic, and I think we should be friends :) hahaha.
Good luck to you and Ian :)
@Woon
lol, no, that was not me! What would I say? "I highly recommend Ian for your graduate program because even though sometimes he snores, he does not hog the blankets and always puts the toilet seat down. He will drive the car around when it rains and push the grocery cart when we go shopping. Even though history bores him to tears, Ian puts up with my incessant nonsense about 16th century Russian revolutions and Assyrian legal writings. I bet he'd listen to all your stories, too, even if they were kinda dull. You should totally accept him."
-Ian's fiancée
So, completely unrelated thought:
Am I the only one here who thought upon seeing the "What's in Amy Tan's Closet?" subject line of an e-mail from Narrative today: "Gosh, someday I hope I'm a famous enough writer that someone cares about what's in my closet"?
I never thought that would be a marker of success, but I guess it is.
@Ian's fiancee Lucy. Marry me instead?
Famous or not, nobody's getting in MY closet.
Congrats MFAguy!!!
UVA:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aH3Q_CZy968
Adam - Thanks for the tip. I can now bump Southern Ill into the rejection pile. Nothin' like dropping hours of work and nearly a grand on silence...
weighswithwords -
"We received a record number of applicants (nearly 700 for 30 openings across our fiction, poetry, and playwriting programs) this year. Given the large number of highly qualified candidates, it is no small accomplishment to have made it to the waitlist. Should any openings occur, we will begin contacting candidates on the waitlist around April 19."
They started their spring break today so I'm just going to take it easy for a bit and contact them in a few weeks.
I just moved to Brooklyn from Chicago a few weeks ago. I love it here - I really want to stay.
For all y'all visiting or moving to NYC, I just got a job at The Strand, come say hello and get a good book for cheap!
@Megan:
a job at the strand?! are they hiring. Love it there.
@ Megan - I used to work there! What floor are you on? Have you met Ben at the fiction desk yet? Make sure you befriend him - he is a lovely, lovely, wonderful man.
Received my rejection letter from Ohio State in the mail today. It only came about two months after first notifications of admission. That's not too bad a wait at all.
@Megan
Welcome to Brooklyn! I love the Strand. I wish their annex on Fulton Street was still open. Book shopping and free Indie shows at the seaport equaled happy summer Fridays.
Ian's Fiancee-wow, he always puts the seat down?
Johnny Maestro - RIP
I remember taking my date to the prom and listening to Johnny Maestro hits. Oh boy, the Fifties!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jl-o5LsYtKU&NR=1&feature=fvwp
Coreyann - they are always accepting applications. Fill one out!
Lexie - I'll be on the first floor, in fiction.
An old professor of mine worked there in the 90's and also said I should befriend Ben. He must be top-notch people. I start tomorrow, I'll have to seek him out.
@ Megan - he is! And if you really get to know him well, he'll fill you in on everything you need to know about the Strand.
I got antsy and started making some phone calls.
I left messages asking about application status and notification at SFSU and University of Florida.
At PSU (Portland State Univ.) Someone going by Jim (I'm assuming James Bauer) answered the general English dept. # listed online and looked up my status for me, he said I had not been accepted, was quite nice and helpful and apologetic about it (I was pretty sure that was the case at this point anyway). He also said hard copy letters would be going out today. Hopefully that's true.
Good luck to all!
For all you folks waiting on Bennington,
I called. I spoke with a very sweet young lady, who told me they haven't received responses from all readers yet. There is most definitely still hope.
She also asked if I was calling because I had deadlines for other offers. If you do, definitely call. Maybe there's some response fast-track they can put you on?
@ Ian's fiancee - Man, I wish I had had someone to help me organize my MFA application process. I am a poet trying to do a dozen sequential things here - not likely!
Woon,
I apologize it took so long to send this, but I type each comment on my Remington No. 2 (if I'm not out of ink ribbons, haha), put it in the mail to my assistant, who faxes them to my grandson, who then posts them to the World Wide Web (I'm 92).
Glad to see another old-timer here. I agree about the age-brings-experience conversation. Feeling a storm approaching in your bones really does change the way you write (I write about storms).
My granddaughter talks to me about Justin Bieber and Hannah Montana, and I'm like: who??? I'll take the Boswell Sisters or Annette Hanshaw any day (try to put their phonographs into your Walkmans, haha).
You know, just the other day I was going to post here that I thought it was amazing that there were no other megans, since it's such a common name.
**waves at Megan**
Congrats on your Brooklyn news!
FINALLY received Vanderbilt rejection, via email. That only took, oh, forever.
Still waiting on Columbia, NYU, Penn State, UVA, and Florida.
Side note - was just reading about how James Franco might be going to Yale to do a PhD in English after his Columbia MFA. Seriously? I love the guy, but after having gone through this whole process, I'm a little bitter that celebrities have their pick of pretty much any program they want. But I haven't as of yet read his whole story online, maybe the dude's a super brilliant writer/academic. Giving him the benefit of the doubt here.
@M. Swann - LOL! I should add that you gave your age away by your use of the very modern phrase "I'm like" but good try!
@M. Swann - your young age, that is. You're not 92, sonny!
MFAguy, congratulations! Such great news. No more freezing Marquette for you.
I hope that when I get old, I'm as cool as Woon. (What a whippersnapper!) Also, people will want to look in my closet at my collection of pastel-colored elastic-waisted pants and velcro shoes.
@Ratliff--thanks for the update...think I'll wait until tomorrow to call.
@ Sister Ray
A lot of ppl have found his piece to be really well done but I have to confess that I did not feel the same way.
I don't believe he's not talented or can't write but... there were obvious things that I felt pretty strongly about.
I feel bad critiquing it because a> i'm not rocking published stuff on esquire and b> I don't want it to seem like I am just not a fan because he's a celebrity and it's all handed to him. But I def had a different opinion than a majority of our community members
@ Fausto and @Kati
re: Ole Miss Rebels
Ole Miss only takes 3 to 4 fiction writers out of 140 applicants. From what I can gather, they have let their top people know. But I also know that two of their top people turned it down to go to Iowa. Now, whether they are going down a list or just waiting to send rejections, I'm unsure.
Woon,
That's just me being hip to the Surge generation. Speaking of hips, mine's squeaky (I replaced it after my last fall, ROFL [except I wasn't laughing then! LOL]).
Just got Vandy's rejection via email.
You know what I think is really weird about this process? I spent all this time (and money) trying to convince this handful of schools to like me and my writing. All of this effort to "sell" myself. And most of those schools weren't at all interested, but now the ones that are interested are telling me all the time how fabulous I am, and how fabulous their program is, and trying to "sell" themselves. And I want to be like, uhh... didn't you all hear the desperation in my SOP? You don't have to try and convince me to admire your program, I already admire it! This is all very weird. There are lots of things about this that are very weird.
@M. Swann - you're killing me, man! LOL! Next, you'll break out your World War I stories! LOL! And what the frick are you doing taking a valuable seat from a young twentysomething who has a whole future ahead of her?
Another Vandy reject here.
That brings my tally to 14 official rejections, 2 waitlists, and 8 schools I haven't heard from yet (but 7 of those 8 schools have notified some acceptances already).
Ouch.
Perpetua
Hang in there.
Are you in fiction?
Re: James Franco
Looks like his story has already been discussed here.
No comments.
@ anyone interested in SFSU, USF, CCA, CalArts
I'm leaning towards reapplying or just going to Long Beach if I get an acceptance from them. I realized leaving SoCal will be harder than I thought, so it'll most likely be either or. Still haven't decided completely though :p.
I will most likely at least tell USF, CCA and CalArts that I'll be declining their offers by the end of next week, so spots wil open up in fiction if you were interested.
Thanks, Sutpen!
Drella - I'm hanging, but only by a fingernail! My concentration is fiction. And yours?
@ MFAguy - big congrats!
I love hearing about everyone's acceptances, but I especially like it when long-time posters get good news. :)
While we are waiting.
I just saw that on TV _ Nora Ephron on writing: http:/
/video.usanetwork.com/features/character_approved/webisodes_3/nora-ephron-webisode/v1204520
@Woon and also @M.Swann,
You guys are totally cracking me up! Who'd have thought I'd be coming to the MFA Blog for my daily dose of stress-relieving humor?
Thanks guys. Seriously!
Woon, I totally need to meet you someday. Will you remember all us little people when you've got a million-dollar book deal?
@megan what good taste your parents have. nice to meet you.
@lexie I'll tell him you said hello if/when I meet him!
Woon,
In my day, we had to apply uphill to MFA programs BOTH WAYS. This is my 70th application cycle. You know what they say: 70th time's a charm.
(I think the pretty little things will be OK if an old man like me gets in this round.)
PS: Don't even get me started on the Great War, LMAO.
If anyone knows The Avett Brothers's song "I and Love and You," know that I have had the following (altered) verse stuck in my head for about three months now:
Oh Brooklyn College, let me in
Are you aware the state I'm in?
@Lauren - we'll meet at AWP someday. And you've probably got expectations of me that I'll never be able to meet.
Perpetua,
My concentration is nonfiction, and from what was posted on this blog, there are just 15 spots for NF in Columbia
Yes, thanks Sutpen, very useful to actually have some concrete knowledge on the Ole Miss front. (Though I now feel the acute pangs of probable rejection. Ouch.)
@ Woon
my ex wrote of an LoR for me
Thanks again everybody! I have accepted the offer so I will be heading to VTech in the fall! Sooo excited.
Cratty@ I will contact you soon.
Dolores@ Not sure if you gave up the spot or not. Either way all the best to you if you take IU, ASU or VT.
I hope things work out for the other posters here. Not that they are worth a lot, but I will pass up my unfunded offers at UNH and NC State.
I will still hang out here at the blog. This season has been fun (esp. Woon), informative (Seth et al.), and very supportive (everyone!).
Good luck to all yet to hear!
@MFAguy
I'm very glad you'll still hang out with those of us here who remain in purgatory.
Congrats again! Blacksburg is beautiful - I have several friends who went to VTech for undergrad (and one stayed for grad school too, in CompSci), and they all loved it there.
Drella - thats three times more than most schools. My turn to say -hang in there. Besides I think they're just doing the Fiction and Poetry lot now so I don't think there is anything to worry about. But I know how nerveracking this whole process is.
I just hang out for hours, not saying anything, just reading what other people are writing. I'm not sure how many of the people blogging here can manage to be so witty, my grey cells are hiding out somewhere.
The James Franco discussion made me remember this Hilary Duff news...
http://shelf-life.ew.com/2010/03/09/hilary-duff-to-write-a-ya-series/
@
Anyone else in at Brooklyn for poetry?
Maybe I should act and sing. That way, my books will be published faster.
@ Kevin
you have to act and sing and be really hot.
-Accepted-
Art Institute, Chicago
-Rejected-
Iowa
Oregon State
-Wait Listed-
The New School
-Waiting-
Colo State
Brooklyn
American
...I can't log onto my Brooklyn account for my daily anxiety check. What gives? Their whole informing their applicants process system is kinda bad. Not sure how much I want to go to SAIC if it's the only place I get into...Has anyone heard from American at all?
Lauren Conrad is a best-selling author. Since we're still on the topic of James Franco.
maybe the brooklyn adcom was getting annoyed b/c ppl kept calling and asking about status and they were finally like, oh, hey, maybe we should actually let people know if they got in or not instead of just letting them guess and take klonopins. and it is taking them 24 hours to update their online system with our rejections, thus making the site unavailable?
Hi, Inkli & PhillyWriter –
I might have been in a unique position because I applied for Indiana’s dual MA/MFA program in African American and African Diaspora Studies and Creative Writing. I was accepted to the AAADS half of the program, but put on the wait list for poetry, so I had a lot of questions to ask Upadhyay about funding and semester course-load.
But Upadhyay did want to know if I had any offers in hand and how likely I would attend Indiana if I were accepted. Koru of the Eight Acceptances gave me some advice on wording my email inquiry to him – that is, letting him know that I did have offers but was waiting on my decision because Indiana was my top choice school.
She wrote something similar to her waitlisted programs and moved into acceptance mode right quick.
Congrats to MFAGuy on VTech. Are we gonna be classmates? I wonder if Dolores Humbert gave up her VT spot for ASU. If so, you and Philly owe me a big one because I’ve been selling her hard on ASU. (Heh heh, just kidding. ASU is a great program, and everything I said was true, Do.) Let’s compare notes! Acupunk[nine]. Yahoo.
@Susan-- So that's what's going on. I thought they personally blocked me out of the site after realizing the number of times I check the thing:
"This one's checked HOW many times?"
"Enough to cause a server over-load, sir."
"Holy Brimstone! Shut'er out for good!That flaming nut."
this isn't the first time i have run into problems with BC's website. I remember being blocked out a lot during the application process too. maybe they ARE updating the page with admissions news, or maybe their site is just bad...
@Ian's fiancée Lucy
Let me officially offer my proposal of marriage. If Ian forgets one day and leaves that toilet seat up, you come to me.
Ian's fiancee Lucy is not interested in all you kids. She seeks mature men like M. Swann, he of the Great War.
Wait wait wait...so Ole Miss has notified? WOO-HOO! I'm taking my ODU offer and running with it! Look out beach, here I come!
*ahem* Can someone please confirm that I'm screwed at Ole Miss so I can officially accept? Or I suppose I could call.
It's 1:35 PM. Time for my siesta.
Longtime lurker, occasional commenter. Thanks to all of you for your candid sharing of your experiences and anxieties through this exciting though often enervating process. The schools to which I was accepted but will not be attending have been notified, so some spots will be opening up soon.
Congratulations and best of luck to you all!
For the record (Seth, you're collecting this data, right?), my final tally for poetry:
Attending:
Purdue (full-funding, TAship)
Accepted:
Ole Miss (FF, TA)
GCSU (FF, TA)
Hunter (funding, some teaching)
Montana (funding TBD)
SFSU
Maryland
Waitlist:
Oregon State
Rejected:
Michener
Michigan
NYU
Cornell
So...notifications continue...
I finally received a call back from Hollins today saying "You're not in, but you're also definitely not out."
I'm going to assume I'm out.
Also, just received an email from Portland State saying,"You're off the waiting list, you're in!"
And another email from The New School saying, "You're wait listed and might not be notified until mid-summer." Geez. That's kind of too far away, don't they realize?
Okay, so, if anyone has thoughts on Portland please please respond, but I'm thinking I'm going to turn them down because they were kind of a "safety school" for me.
I am flying out to NYC to look at both the New School and Sarah Lawrence. I continue to be on the fence about SLC--some days people say I absolutely have to be in NY because I will make a million more connections there, and other people say go for the money. Any thoughts on this would also be greatly appreciated.
Then I'm flying straight to Spokane to look at EWU...a seemingly less prestigious program but with also seemingly cool people and a nice little rep. Thoughts??
Thanks, peeps. :)
PS. Anyone want to get a drink in NYC sometime between April 8-11? :)
New mailbag, plus a bunch of links and questions and thoughts from me, just went up.
@ otkuda
haha, i hate that now Brooklyn has me super excited just about finally getting my rejection.
@ john wilmes
yeah, i had to submit 2 online apps--the first one registered my payment, but didn't send out my LOR requests. everyone i talked to there has been super nice, but i really hope they didn't lose my app entirely. didn't that happen to someone who applied to hunter, and they got refunded b/c their app didn't even get read? that should be worthy of a pity admission plus refund. i would def. be happy with a pity admission at this point.
@Sandra, are you headed to VT?
@ rachel hurn
Yes, I hate the New School waitlist situation. Probably my top choice, but probably going to commit elsewhere if they're taking that long to get back... it'll sting real hard if they say YES to me in the dead of summer.
Waitlisted at The New School in fiction, notified via snail mail today (I'm on the west coast)
@ Lucas
re: Ole Miss
Nothing is for sure until you get your rejection. I just said I know that they have notified a few people of acceptances in Fiction. And that they accept 3-4 people.
That being said, congrats on ODU! I would wait until you get that final letter before you commit 100%, if you aren't 100% on board with Old Dominion.
Ian's fiancée Lucy here again! (maybe I should get my own account and call it that...? HM!)
Yes, he really does always put the seat down. Maybe he should have included that in his SoPs!
Regarding my super-intensity (lol, Jillian!) ... that's just how I get whenever I go into research mode! I also did all 20 of the applications -- geez, programs, why couldn't you make this more streamlined?! Different manuscript lengths, SoP lengths/formats, GRE codes, LoR coversheets, transcripts directly from school to the program, to the grad school, with the packet -- arrrggghhh I am SO glad to be done with it! And it is just awful that schools don't streamline this acceptance/rejection/waitlist process. Kudos to Brown for how they just ripped the curtain off all at once.
By the way, Ian spoke with a rather grumpy individual at NYU who said all notifications had been mailed. Also that he couldn't give Ian his application status over the phone.
Seriously, people? We're 3 weeks from final decisions here. You're asking people to make a decision that will have enormous impact on their lives, possibly involving a cross-country relocation... and you can't figure out how to send an email?
(Oh, and Woon is correct. I'd love to sit and listen to stories of the Great War! We can break out the typewriters and gramophones and go see a nickelodeon as we putter about in a horseless carriage)
@Ian's fiancee Lucy - Ahem...wrong mailbag. Please keep up.
So, I have already resigned to the idea that I am not going to school in the fall (sad face) but I am going to reapply next year.
Does anyone know anything about the MFA at the University of Kansas in Lawrence? Has anyone applied? Been accepted? Considered it?
Any words of wisdom will be appreciated :) CHEERS!
@Jillian Lauren - Ahem, dear, try the new mailbag. You'll have better luck.
@worthtwotomorrows: How do you know you got rejected by NYU? Did they actually tell you or are you kind of just assuming? I'm asking because I haven't heard from them at all.
Curious if the waitlisters have heard from Hollins, or the rejection slips have been sent out?
I got a call from Hollins, and they said they are still deciding for the next couple weeks...she said first rounders and wait listers have been notified, but that is all...
Hope that helps!
Posted this on the new mailbag, but I just wanted to make sure you saw it.
@Rachel Hurn / Portland State applicants
Congrats on the acceptance! Just curious. Did you already know that you were on Portland's waitlist before you received the "you're in" email? I hadn't heard of PDX waitlisting anyone on the blogs, but maybe I missed it.
@ Jimmy James
Yes, I had received a letter from Portland saying I was wait listed (this was about a week ago), and then I got the email that I was in. Have you not heard either way?
@ Jimmy James
Yes, I had received a letter from Portland saying I was wait listed (this was about a week ago), and then I got the email that I was in. Have you not heard either way?
@Rachel Hurn
Hi! I saw that you were accepted to Portland! Congrats! Will you be going?
If you want to chat about Portlandy things, email me:
chelseabieker at gmail dot com
:)
www.onlineuniversalwork.com
NYU denied me. It sucks so bad. I have an MFA, but I did want to do one there.
@ Dee do you know exactly why you got rejected from ASU? I was considering applying there for next year! Any advices??
I'm two years too late but I have to tell you, I am today where you all were two years ago.
Your blog has given me hope! Just when I thought it would never take until the end of March to receive a reply (ASU, MFA Poetry), I see now that the end of March looks like a typical notification period.
If only it were atypical instead!
Here's to hope!
I'm two years too late but I have to tell you, I am today where you all were two years ago.
Your blog has given me hope! Just when I thought it would never take until the end of March to receive a reply (ASU, MFA Poetry), I see now that the end of March looks like a typical notification period.
If only it were atypical instead!
Here's to hope!
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