Thursday, March 25, 2010

Mailbag, Thursday, March 25, 2010 - plus, gosh-darn-it, some actual content!

Hi Everyone,

The new content posting has been pretty quiet around here as I seem to be one of the only people updating the blog these days, what with Tom and Seth busy writing and all, and I have been distracted myself -- with writing, teaching, editing, etc. Never fear. I'll continue to throw up new mailbags, and though the blog tends to quiet down over the summer, there will be semi-regular new posts with relevant MFA related content, so be sure to check back, no matter your status heading into the fall.

For now I have a grab-bag of links for you, and some questions I want to throw out there, and a few thoughts.

The eminently sane Vince Gotera (whose personal statement advice has already proved helpful to many an MFA applicant) has advice about how to handle acceptances, rejections, and (maybe most importantly) waitlists. Sure, this is from 2006, but I think it still stands.

Gotera suggests that if you end up with rejections, you should try and figure out why. The new incarnation of ALC, known as Driftless House (and which seems to be ALC minus Seth) is offering a service to help you do just that. You give them ten pages of fiction, or five of poetry, plus your list of schools, plus $90, and in return you'll get "in-line notes and an evaluation letter." That's nine or eighteen bucks a page! Just sayin'. (I work for less than that, if you are interested...)

This brings me to some questions: If you didn't get accepted, will you be reapplying next year? And what, if anything, do you think you gained from going through the process this time around?

For what it's worth, I always tell my MFA application students and clients that they should think of an MFA as a five or six year process: one or two years to apply, two or three years in the program, and a year to adjust afterward. And that's a minimum, in my opinion.

Also for what it's worth: last year I worked with someone going through her fourth year of applications. She'd been waitlisted before, but never had any full offers. After polishing up her stories and statements she went at it again and was accepted, in fiction, at multiple top schools, including Hollins, Brooklyn, and UNCW [Updated - it was actually UNCG, my mistake.] I can't take much credit on that one -- she did so well because she didn't give up, and used the time in between applications to workshop, hone her craft, and improve her stories. By the time I met her she was already in good shape and just needed guidance on statements and some final developmental feedback. But it goes to show that tenacity pays, both for MFA applications and in your future writing lives. Sometimes the ones who make it are the ones who don't give up.

***end pep talk***

More links: many MFA programs have really terrible websites -- any applicant knows this. But how many have blogs? NMSU does, but I'm not sure of any others. Can we crowdsource this one? Post your links to official (or, I guess, unofficial) MFA blogs in the comments.

Current NMSU student Carrie Murphy also emailed me to let me know about her blog, Master of Fine Eats. "Thought this might be of interest to the MFA blog readers," she wrote, "many of whom are already (if not about to be) poor graduate students."

Last thought: one commentator was lamenting over what to tell your recommenders if you don't have the outcome you were looking for. I say (as a fairly prolific recommendation writer myself) just tell them straight. They won't hold it against you one little bit, and most will be happy to get an update, no matter the results. I sometimes don't hear anything from the people I write recs for -- and I always wish I did.

For all this post's focus on possible less-than-desirable results, the acceptance season is not yet over, and there are still more happy "yay, I've been accepted" comments to come. So don't give up the good fight yet, people!

2,268 comments:

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Kate said...

Hey Yinz:

I hope that any OSU prospectives had a blast at the party in Columbus last night! I'm on the waitlist but attended anyways because I live here. Tres fun.

Now onto business...can anyone give me any information on poetry WLs or acceptances at Minnesota that you may possibly end up turning down? I'm 2nd on the WL there, so since UMASS may not know about funding until after the fifteenth, I am trying to get these damn funding ducks in a row so that I can make an informed decision on the 15th.

If this may help anyone out: unless I receive funding offers I will be turning down unfunded poetry acceptances at UW Seattle and Columbia, as well as the weird NYU 1/2 funded WL position. I am going to cling to my OSU and Minn WL's, and the UIUC WL because gf is in there (I don't know my number there, but I don't think it's high).

This sucks, eh?

Hullabaloo said...

I haven't posted for a while, but just closing up shop here...

I've been rejected from 13 schools. Well, there are still 2 official rejections to come from UNLV and SDSU, but at this point I would be astounded to receive a positive response when my writing sample was otherwise met with universal rejection. I've accepted that it's over.

I'm ambivalent. I truly wouldn't want to attend a program that doesn't like my style of writing, but putting so much time into my sample and applications and spending over $1,000 on the process to receive nothing in return is also a kick in the teeth.

It's not that I'm upset that these schools didn't like my sample. It's subjective; whatever. I'm upset that attending school was something I wanted to do, and I've been denied that option.

Now what I wonder is this: Is there an MFA program that is right for me at all?

I'm thinking about matters of style. The stories in my sample were domestic, simple, realistic coming of age stories. None of my characters were killed or murderers. There was no sexual assault. No (physical) violence. There were some jokes. (I like jokes.) There was no magical realism.

When I compare my work to some of the work I've read of writers who have gotten into programs -- sometimes several programs -- I think one main difference is that their work is "heavier." Mine is more about everyday life. A large part of me thinks that this made a difference.

This is not to say that I feel stories about death, etc. are always contrived. I really don't mean to start any discussion at all. I'm only posting this because it's my anonymous point of view and I feel the need to send it out into the ether.

This is all only to say that: I'm recognizing that the themes and subject matter of the work I most like to produce don't seem to fit in with what's regarded to epitomize literary fiction. And where can I go from there?

threes said...

@ Sleitenberger

Great list! Where are you headed? Notre Dame? WMU? Waiting on Illinois?

Woon said...

@Hullaballoo - I'm not encouraging you or discouraging you from applying again, but I would like to point out something that people refuse to understand: you don't know how close you came to being accepted. The MFA app process seems very black-n-whitish -- acceptance/waitlist vs. rejection. There's a whole gray area of applicants whose writing samples were totally acceptable (and met with positive reaction) and who would have been offered an acceptance BUT FOR the fact that there just aren't enough seats for everyone!

So, chin up...

Woon said...

(cont.) Who knows about this wild process? If you had sent in a darker writing sample containing the repeated phrase "Oh, wicked sons of molted flesh," maybe you would've been accepted at Notre Dame, Illinois, UCSD, and Hunter. While a domestic story that contained the repeated phrase, "Oh Emily, come share this kumquat with me!" would've met with approval from Iowa, Johns Hopkins, Indiana, Wyoming, and UC Davis (MA). Who knows?

I send in one set of writing samples and I get into one set of schools. I send in another set of writing samples and I get into a different set of schools.

It's very bizarre.

I've got one writing sample that was praised and lauded by a writing instructor. But it was too deep, subtle, and nuanced to be appreciated by the speed reading MFA readers. (That's my theory anyway) So I shelved it in favor of something "more accessible."

That's the way it goes. I've made peace with the process.

kaybay said...

Anybody else not seeing Sleitenberger's comment? I'd kind of like to know info about Notre Dame, and I think LA swede would too :)

Hullabaloo - my recommendation would be to either (1) give your sample to friends or family or other writers and ask for their HONEST opinion about your piece. There's a website started by someone who used to come on here called the MFA Rejects Workshop, if you post your story there, I know you'll get some feedback. (2) Pay the $90 for Driftless House to review the first 10 pages of your manuscript. They'll take an extensive, detailed, objective look at it, I think.

It may be a matter subject matter (although, all of my stories ended in death, which I think weakened the sample, and I didn't get accepted outright anywhere), or it could be that you weren't ready. I really think that I wasn't ready, which stinks, but it's over and done, so it is what it is. I'm MUCH more confident in what I'm writing now and feel like I'll be even more confident with my sample. I've pretty much decided to spend the money on a manuscript review too, just to ensure that my sample doesn't look too unpolished.

If it really is a matter of what you are writing, then screw the MFA and write what you want to write. Honestly, you'll probably make WAAAAAY more money with what you're writing than any of us here with our death stories, haha. Seriously though, we'll be complaining over $1 coffee while you're flying to France with ten male models. Sooooo... Anyway, I know it sucks, but do what you want to do and only what you want to do, don't conform to anyone else's definition of art.

kaybay said...

manuscript review for next year, that is. Damn stream of conscious bloggin!

Woon said...

@kaybay - end your stories JUST BEFORE the death. It'll drive your readers wild (w/ anticipation). Hey, even Dickens did not view himself as too good for a cliffhanger. (though he did work in a serialized format, but still...)

Also, I'd be happy with my stories appearing in a lit journal with a readership of 47 readers. Yeah, I'm ambitious.

Woon said...

@Hullaballoo - re. coming of age stories. I don't know. I think coming of age stories are tricky in that there are so many of them and most don't ring true (to me, anyways). It's like stories with epiphanies. They seem so phoney. You've got to be really skilled to pull off a good coming of age story, otherwise I think they'll be easily dismissed.

Hullabaloo said...

Woon & kaybay -- thanks for the honest responses and suggestions. Believe me; I've considered that my sample plain wasn't good enough. That I chose the wrong subject matter is simply my most nagging thought.

Best of luck to everyone making their school decision, working on their sample for next year, or (like me) figuring out what the hell to do next.

Woon said...

All of my stories are about fiftysomethings who gripe about bingo losses. Or sixtysomethings with criminal mindsets but without the criminal skills and opportunities. Kinda like the Carrie Heffernan's father in the TV sitcom "King of Queens." He's played by Jerry Stiller. You know that he would lead a life of crime if he could, but he doesn't know how and the chance-of-a-lifetime criminal opportunity doesn't exactly fall on his lap, know what I mean?

Lauren said...

All of my stories are about fortysomething lesbians with one-eyed hamsters named Blindo.

Lauren said...

... Kidding ... !

Actually, that's my life, not a story I wrote. I totally have a one-eyed hamster named Blindo. He's super awesome.

Woon said...

And I'm Jerry Stiller.

Lauren said...

@ Woon --

That's totally how I've always pictured you.

Woon said...

@Lauren - I think we should lead a life of crime together. We'd be like Bonnie and Clyde...and Blindo.

koru said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lauren said...

@ Woon,

Yes, Blindo would totally make an awesome mascot.

However, I tend to think that writers make pretty terrible criminals. Like, we're too soft.

Brandy Colbert said...

@kaybay: thank you!! i did not expect to get an acceptance at all, seeing as we're coming into the home stretch. i still have not caught up on comments from this mailbag, but wondering if there is a possibility you could still get in off the mcneese or notre dame waitlists? crossing my fingers for you, but if you will be around next year there is a good chance i will be right here with ya. :)

Unknown said...

I finally made a decision and am now ready to post my list for Poetry:

University of Oregon ( Committed w/ TAship)
UNCW (Accepted w/ TAship)
UNCG (Accepted)
U of Arizona (Accepted)
UIB (Rejected)
UVA (Rejected)

I let UNCW know a while back, but I just informed UNCG and UA today so if any of you are on the waitlist, then something hopefully something will open up.

Congrats to everyone and good luck in the decision making processes.

WreckingLight said...

"Poem for Brown University"

Bizzippit. Zap zap zap!
Bizzippit! Zappity.

Nurghnughing.

Kabloomy*****~!

________________

Thanks. The above poem was part of my (alternative) Pulitzer Prize-winning collection, "BINARY" (only available electronically - you can order telepathically, or by using a compatible "green ticket" Blu-Ray version of "Avatar"). The final price for the book is based on a futuristic bartering model not invented yet.

________________

Woon said...

@WL - pure genius. I don't care what Iowa says. Pure genius.

Anonymous said...

Does anyone on here know anything at all about San Jose State University's MFA program?

LAswede said...

just getting on today...been fishing and drinking beer all day (well mostly just the beer part)...yeah kaybay...i don't see it either...i would ABSOLUTELY like to know what's going on with the irish at this point

burlaper said...

Happy Easter, all!

Because I have (essentially) heard from all of my schools and because I am beginning to turn down offers, I have decided to post my final tally in poetry.

Accepted:

Virginia Tech (w/ TA)
Bowling Green (w/ TA)
Old Dominion (w/ TA)
West Virginia (no funding yet)
Pacific (low-res, with small scholarship)


Waitlisted:

Ohio State
Hollins


Rejected:

Iowa
Cornell
Purdue
Wash U St. Louis
Illinois
Arkansas
Houston
Michigan
Southern Illinois (presumed)


I emailed both Pacific and Old Dominion tonight letting them know that I cannot accept their offers. I'm really sad to let them both go. I was looking forward to studying with the amazing poetry faculty at Pacific, and the funding at ODU was really hard to turn down. However, I hope that this opens up the opportunity for some happy news for some of you.

The final decision will be a tough one, especially with waitlists in tow. Such is life!

Good luck, all!

foe said...

@Woon

HAHAHAHAHAHAAA

Zoulou said...

@burlaper - whoa, congratulations on cleaning up there! :) I wish you luck, wherever you end up.

Oh, hey, and happy Easter everyone! BTW... any Texans on here? I was just curious if any of you all do the thing with smashing eggs filled with confetti on people's heads. I had a friend from college who did this, and he acted like it was all normal... Hope you all are doing something fun today! :)

Unknown said...

Happy Easter, Zoulou, and everyone else.

kaybay said...

Happy Easter, all!

Beedeecee, I will very likely be applying again next year. I still have FSU to hear from (God, I'm seriously hoping it's next week), but I know I'm pretty low on the Notre Dame wait list and I have no idea about McNeese, since I haven't heard from them since I was initially wait listed. So, let's just say I wouldn't put money on me getting an acceptance this year (it could happen, but it's very unlikely).

It's okay though, I've dealt with it. The only thing that bothers me is that I will have to endure one more year of my job and maybe even another year if I don't get an acceptance next year. I'm really feeling the 11% unemployment in FL (or whatever it is now) and have not gotten any calls back for the resumes I've put in. So, that sucks. And, yeah, so does my job :D

At least I know that some of the same people will be back on the board next year, so yay! I will be happy to see you next year if that's what ends up happening :)

amanda said...

@ zoulou: They're called "cascarones" and they're a Mexican tradition. I actually did a concrete poem using one and made it myself, rolled up a poem I'd printed on vellum in red ink inside. Messy but fun. Totally freaked out my professor, because he didn't want to be the one to break the egg to read the poem.

Julia said...

@ Julia

Congratulations on making your decision! I know you're going to have an amazing time at Oregon. What an adventure, too!

(Fiction) Julia

amanda said...

Julia, that's fantastic, congratulations! I have a half-finished email to you that I will send soon, but just wanted to say how happy I am for you, and you totally deserve it! :D

MommyJ said...

@Lauren, no hamsters for me but I had a one-eyed hairless rat named Diva (short for Lady Godiva) who died in January. Tofu, the eldest rat, has a cataract in one eye; Winter has one red eye and one black eye; Septa has red eyes and the coloration of a Siamese cat; Tempeh's eyes are normal. I, unfortunately, have pinkeye. Sigh.

@all, Happy Easter.

I need some advice. SUNY comes back from spring break Monday. I have to register for classes for my advanced certification program the 16th. I also have to tell the college where I adjunct that I won't be returning in the fall. When should I feel comfortable calling SUNY? They've had my writing samples since Feb. 28, and grad admissions sent the rest of the stuff over March 19.

I admit I am anxious to hear one way or another. But I really want to know what I am doing this fall.

Brandy Colbert said...

@kaybay:

well, fingers and toes crossed for you. i know everyone here is really rooting for you. but if it doesn't happen for you this year, i have a feeling you will have an amazing success story and several schools to choose from in the next round.

i hear you about the job situation. i hope things get better for you or that you can tough it out for another year. i feel as if application deadlines will be approaching again before we know it.

happy easter!

Woon said...

Boy, a guy forgets his wallet at home and suddenly, he has no friends.

jenpopa said...

Alright, just have to ask:

Is anyone giving up a spot at UW in Seattle for Fiction? Or have they given one up, or considering it?

Wait lists make me neurotic, and I'm just curious if there's anyone thinking about opening up a spot. Also, as a teen I've never had serious acne, an occasional pimple. For about two weeks now I've have a constellation of deep painful zits on my chin. I look like a poster-child for a Proactive infomercial. SO MUCH STRESS! Apparently puberty can hit at 28 year of age? Who knew?

Woon said...

@jenpopa - I don't mind puberty hitting me later in life as long as I grow 5 more inches. Also, how will you handle the stress of TA-ing, exams, and writing your thesis at an MFA program?

jenpopa said...

@woon

At the risk of revealing my OCD control issues I feel I am totally capable of juggling school, TA-ing, thesis etc... The difference for me is that's something within my control, right now I feel at the whim of these schools. Things feel totally up to chance or as if it's luck of the draw. In undergrad I managed a full load, internship at a university press, part time job and was general editor for the undergrad lit mag. It was busy, but I somehow managed to have a social life to boot. I know grad school is another animal, I feel like the rest is gravy after surviving the application process somehow. I know, maybe I'm full of shit, but I just feel totally helpless in this waiting process. I'm excellent in the crutch, the busier I am the better....it's just this feeling like I'm waiting for an anvil to fall from the sky at any moment.

I do find it interesting though, this damn acne! I know it has to be stress because it's the super deep painful kind.

Chelsea said...

@Julia

Congrats on your decision! Sounds like you had a pretty winning season [:

All the best!!

Laura said...

@ jenpopa,

I definitely relate to feeling really stressed about things that are out of your control. I hardly ever get stressed about things I can control -- and I tend to take on way too much at a time. I just don't panic about it. It's all in my hands -- I do the work when I need to, everything's fine.

But once something happens that's completely out of my control... it's awful! Waiting to hear from schools was TERRIBLE. Daily panic attacks, not being able to focus on anything, being a grump to the people around me, not sleeping... Oh and the stress acne too. So I was walking around every day sleep-deprived, grumpy, unmotivated, with concealer slathered all over my face...

(Yeah, definitely not thinking that I'll have to go through all this again for PhD applications in a few years. Noooope not thinking about it.)

I really hope that you get some peace of mind soon. This crazy waiting seems to stretch on forever but it ends eventually, and I hope it will end with good news for you!

WordShift said...

@Jason J

While I agree with you, visiting a campus IS very important I decided not to visit CCA until I knew the funding were possible. A 37K price tag, plus other fees, living expenses? Too rich for my blood, even after the 11K scholarship! The reality to attend CCA after two years: 80K in borrowed funds.

So if you are young (20's) and can take on the debt, or if you have an inheritance, or are older and can take out a second mortgage (if this is an option) it's perhaps doable.
I spoke with someone who went there and landed a young adult agent, and
have heard good things, but alas. it isn't meant to be.

@Georgie

The whole age thing 28 is young! I suspect the median age in programs Is 28. Some programs won't even consider you if you aren't 28+. But seriously, I'm over 40, mind you a very young version, but in filling out my apps, someone does see the birth date, and may say no because of it. In terms of cohorts I prefer a diverse pool, 21-65, male female, race, economics, gay, straight. married or not.

Seth Abramson said...

@Cielo (and @all)

Yes, I'm still accepting application lists. I've still got partial (incomplete) lists from around 200 posters here, so anyone who wants to post their full list is very much invited to do so!

Best to all,
S.

Nikolai said...

Hi everyone. I just got a nice letter in the mail from the Tin House Summer Writers Workshop telling me I've been accepted (!). So, no program acceptances, but a nifty (by all accounts) workshop acceptance. Anyone else going? If so, let's chat.

Best,
Danielle

Laura said...

Congratulations Danielle!

T.G. said...

Jennifer, Woon and others,
Please. If you choose not to agree with me about how many, many young students spend their free-time in grad school that's fine. That has certainly not been my experience or the norm for the many MFA students and grads I've come across or am friends with, even at the most competitive programs. A 21 yr old (or even a 25 yr old for that matter) who tells you that they don't spend a great deal of their time socializing/partying in grad school is not among the majority. Of course they do the required work! Some might be very fine writers! I'm not (and haven't) suggested otherwise. Duh.

Laura said...

re: age and partying and whatnot

I'm among the minority of non-partying 21-year-olds and I know that most people my age or thereabouts who I meet in grad school will probably like to party a bit. I'm really, really not into that -- I hate crowds and loud noises and commotion, and like to be in bed early, haha. Drinking to the point of getting drunk makes me feel terrible and sick, an experience I never want to repeat! But some of my closest friends are of the partying persuasion and we get along fine. They invite me to a night of drinking, I say no thanks but how about we get coffee in the afternoon.

So yeah, I agree with T.G. that a lot of people my age in grad school are likely to be into partying, but there will probably be some who aren't, and I think I'll get along fine with both. It seems to me like an MFA program brings together people who are all very different, but have the same passion in common so it's easy to find people to get along with, whether or not you have other things in common (age, what you do on Friday nights, etc.).

Chrissy Widmayer said...

I agree with Laura T and T.G. I'm of the younger crowd (I'll be a whopping 23 when I enroll), and I'm a fan of being social, but not having crazy parties/getting wasted. I never have been, and never will be. I'm more of a "hey, let's hang out!" type of gal, and although that does occasionally include beverages of the alcoholic variety, it never means "hey, let's get smashed together!"

I know a lot of people go to grad school for the social benefits, and although those are grand, I think a lot of youngins like me take this very seriously. I'm doing this for my writing and the benefit of a writing community. Though that includes making friends, I doubt I'll ever forget what my priorities are.

M.B. Wells said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
amanda said...

@ T.G.: I have many friends who have been through graduate programs in many different areas, including Law, Business, Engineering, English PhD's, MFA's, Social Work, and Journalism; I'm sure the same is true for most of the people on this blog. I think, first off, that there are usually very few students who are in grad school at 21 or 22, especially in creative fields, so it would be inaccurate to lump them into the "most" category.

Considering that the average age has been stated as 27 or 28 of those going through this process, if we're going to generalize, it should be based on that age. I did an MA in documentary work, and speaking only for myself and my cohort (10 people), we all probably went out once every 2-4 weeks. And going out usually consisted of dinner and drinks at our favorite Mexican restaurant. We were all spending far more time on our projects. Or we would meet at coffee shops to share a table and feel less alone while sifting through stacks of papers or staring for hours at our laptops.

Most people I know who've gone to grad school spent far more time socializing when they were working full-time jobs. I know I did. Do I think that I will socialize in grad school? Yes. Do I think the "bulk" of my time will be spent partying and drinking? Highly unlikely; how would I get any good poetry that way?

M.B. Wells said...

Re: age/partying discussion

I'm 24, and I left my hard-partying nights (the few I had) back at Vandy. While I'd rather just chill at home and have a glass of wine, I like to go out with friends every now and again, and I'm pretty sure that's how I'll be in Chicago. I think that, before and at the very beginning of the school year I'll check out the nightlife scene to see what I can see (I love to people-watch at night, anyway), there will be no "Party on, Wayne!" moments for me...except for my birthday and New Year's.

Woon said...

I think it's time for Seth to come out with a new ranking -- Top 50 Party-Hearty MFA Programs.

M.B. Wells said...

Forgot to put a "but" in my post. That fattening Easter food has made me sleepy.

Woon said...

I was a heavy partier in undergrad at Michigan. I was also very immature. And in a fraternity. Mostly, I blame my fraternity brothers.

In law school, I did not party at all. I mean, not even once. When I had friends visit me, they wanted to go to the hottest and most vibrant campus bar and I honestly didn't know where that was. I ended up driving them to a bar in a hotel and all we saw were dinosaurs. It was not a bar for college kids; rather, for adults going through mid-life crises.

T.G. said...

Amanda and Jennifer,

Okay! With this post I officially renounce my horribly misguided use of the word "bulk" when talking about young students and socializing in grad school.
However, I still stand by everything I said. Cheers.

T said...

I party balls. And I'm a damn good writer.

Brittany said...

Sutpen, you are good! I'm creepy and read your blog...I liked your post about the Gin. Great narrative!

Anonymous said...

Wow, I had no idea how fast the comments pile up on this blog.

Anyway, thanks to those who directly responded to my 60something query.

As for the altered states discussion: I hit my lifetime quota about ten years ago, so I'm retraining myselft to write sober. Fiction seems to be working. Haven't been able to crank out a single song since I quit, though. Boo-hoo...

Thanks again to all!

MFAguy said...

I've talked to a few people heading to Virginia Tech (mmm nice stipend for the beers) in the fall, any others out there been lurking send me an email:

clinfort [at] nmu [.] edu

Perpetua said...

Congrtulations to everyone whose heard good news, to people making decisions and to those who've made their decisions!

Alex said...

@Kate

Very much enjoyed meeting you at the party at OSU--nice to meet someone I've been e-stalking in person.

As promised, here's the information that I got today via email from Andrew Feld at UWashington regarding poetry funding:

"I wish things were running so late and close to the wire. We're still waiting to hear from various departments and people to know more about the funding options. We should know everything by the end of next week, and we will certainly notify you as soon as we know more."

One can only assume that he meant "weren't," not "were."

He also informed me that I am "very high" on the waitlist for a TAship.

So... I would say wait until Friday, and if you haven't heard anything from them by then, send something off to Andrew.

Best of luck to you! Still wishing I could make a cute dress like yours.

Alex

Alex said...

Oh, and here's my final list for Seth (in poetry):

Accepted:
George Mason (funding was still pending when I declined)
Johns Hopkins (funded, declined)
Ohio State (funded)
UWashington (funding still pending)

Rejected:
Michigan
Virginia

Jennifer said...

Woon--My friends in law school wanted to hang out in a swank hotel bar too, and I always thought it was weird.

Jennifer said...

@dannigirl--Congrats on Tin House. I applied there (and to Sewanee and Bread Loaf too) but haven't heard back yet. When did you send your application?

Danielle Wheeler said...

Not sure if I have posted my full list, and if I did, it was a long time ago and I changed it up a bit at the end:
for poetry:::

Iowa (accepted, going)
Umass Amherst (accepted)
Syracuse (accepted)
UNCW (accepted)
EMU (for MA; withdrew, but still somehow got accepted)
Michigan (haven't heard anything. assumed rejection)
Brown (Rejected)

Eli Lindert said...

Time for my weekly question again:

Anyone in fiction heard from Ole Miss yet?

Rosanna said...

Time for my weekly question too:

Anyone heard from UMSL as far as fiction goes? Anyone???

Looks like they've notified for poetry, but there doesn't seem to be any word on fiction. It's driving me CRAZY. They're pretty much my last school.

Jennifer said...

Eli Lindert-- You may be in for a long wait. They didn't reject me until July last year!

Katherine and Jesse said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Katherine and Jesse said...

Long time lurker, first time poster.

It sounds like peoples' plans are falling into place. My questions are:

I'm on the CNF waitlist at Minnesota. Anybody know whether anyone has accepted or, alternately, taken a pass on spots there?

And second, when am I going to get my rejection from UVA? What does it mean that I haven't heard yet? Why does that school do us like this???

Nikolai said...

@Jennifer -

I sent my app to Tin House around March 7th or 8th.

M. M. said...

Bread Loaf doesn't usually notify until mid-May.

Rosanna said...

@ Katherine

I just got my UVA rejection letter in the mail today.

Julia said...

Spot and funding opening up for fiction at NC State. Hope this helps out one of you lovely people. :)

Kevin said...

Katherine--

From the UVA website:

IMPORTANT NOTE: On March 29, 2010, we finalized admission decisions for our next class of MFAs. We have notified all writers accepted to our program by phone or e-mail, and have also notified those writers we currently have on a waiting list. If you have not heard from us yet, we regret to tell you that you were not among our final selections in a very large and competitive pool. Many of you have offers pending from other schools, and we post this text so you can move forward with those decisions. Thank you for applying, and please look for an official and personalized notification by mail in the next few days.

Julia said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Katherine and Jesse said...

@rosanna -- Thanks. That's about what I'm expecting.

@k -- Aha. Well, maybe they won't be springing for the postage. But at least I know!

Bryce Perica said...

Has anyone actually received a rejection from Hollins in CNF?

Kate said...

@Alex

You are a sweet treat! I was excited to meet you, too.

Thank you for offering this info from Andrew. They really need to change their website from "we love to fund everyone!" to "j/k. maybe. no wait, still j/k!" Also, I just heard from UMN that I'm 1st on the waitlist! So, just more of that good ol' waiting game.

PS: If you do end up coming here, I assure you that you will love it. I'm not even in the program, but all of the events like Mother Tongue and the readings on campus are stellar. Plus, Sam's parties are pretty cool, too! :)

Chrissy Widmayer said...

@Bryce -- from what I can gather, Hollins hasn't sent out their rejections yet. I applied in CNF and called them last week to ask what was up. They gave me the run around, saying that they've made their first round of offers, but that didn't necessarily mean rejection. I asked if they had notified people on the waitlist, and they said that only some of that information had gone out.

So, long story short, we know nothing. I've also heard through the grapevine that they're calling their accepted students to see where they're at in the decision process, which makes me think they're gearing up for a second round of offers...

That's all the info I got!

Bryce Perica said...

Thanks, Chrissy. That helps.

Karin Rosman said...

@Alex

Thanks for posting your information regarding UW funding. I'm still waiting to hear from them regarding my fiction application. Perhaps this is one of the reasons? Who knows but do appreciate your post.

Mickey Kenny said...

@ Alex

Have you visited UW yet? I also got accepted for poetry and am in Seattle right now about to meet with Pimone Triplett. It'd be great to share thoughts on the program, feel free to email me

mickeyperformancepoetry (at) gmail (dot) com

ps. I just spent about 4 days at CSU, and the program is nothing short of amazing. I really don't know how Washington, or any school, can achieve that same sense of community.

Mickey Kenny said...

full list for Seth... this has been posted in partial forms.

Poetry

Accepted:
U. of Washington
U. of Idaho
U. of Alaska Fairbanks
Colorado State University (funding pending)
Western Washington University (funded TA) -MA

Rejected:
U. Texas, Iowa, U. Victoria, Portland State, Montana, Oregon, and Wyoming

Thanks Seth! Your work has been indispensable!

Woon said...

@mickey - what are your thoughts on CSU?

Perpetua said...

Has anyone visited these programmes - BGSU, Univ of Colorado, New Orleans? What are your impressions?

Justin Olson said...

Um... so I've kinda disappeared from the whole rejection/accepting world for a while. I kind of wanted to focus on some writing and looking into opening a business.

Anyway, since I've lost track, does anyone have any info on Boston U, UNLV, or Eastern Washington?

I figure Eastern has finished notifying people. But I have no idea of the first two. Any info would be great!

Thanks,
Justin

ceruleanblue said...

I accepted at UF a week ago, yet I still run to check my mail everyday. This MFA season has made that a habit. Still, I'm waiting to hear back from some lit mags, so it's not totally crazy.

Re partying... I used to be a big drinker, etc. I quit in 2001. From talking to people currently in MFA programs, I definitely don't get the sense that it's a constant partying situation. In the end, though, I don't really care. I do what I do, other people do what they do. I like to go out to eat, big time. So long as I've got some friends who love food, I'm set. And I love to cook, too. So any UF people-- come over and I'll cook you something tasty. That sounds dirty...

@ Woon-- are you still on the UF waitlist? What's going on? I'm rooting for you.

Mickey Kenny said...

@woon

CSU is everything I want in a program. HOWEVER, I am a northwest kind of guy, and the lack of rain and water in general would be the only deterrent. I know this would be a lame reason.

A word of warning, they love to mix poetry and beer, which is my desire as well. I was invited to go out every night with the students and the director was usually with us. Everyone was down to earth and supportive. If you want to know more feel free to email me some specific questions and I'll try and help out. Also, it doesn't sound like they'll be going into the waitlist much, for anybody waiting to hear.

Brittany said...

Ooooh! Phillywriter, I hope you get Gancho's spot!! Congrats on U. of Washington, Gancho!

amanda said...

Alright guys, I did it: accepted Vandy's offer for this year. I had considered holding out to find out whether I was going to get in funded to one of the three-year programs (LSU or CU), but in the end, I decided I had already lost my heart to Nashville, and it was most important to be at a school that is excited about my work, where I feel truly supported.

I had the last of my points of contention dissolved this morning by a student when I found out the grad students are taking over an outreach program in inner-city schools (from undergrads) and are hoping to add in prison work next year. Also, they just started an online lit mag if anyone is interested: The Nashville Review. Opportunities with the journal and outreach have officially trumped my worry over only being in a program for two years. I am damned excited about this program and totally bowled over by the faculty and students.

For others, this means I will be turning down CU (already turned down U Washington and Memphis) and removing myself from waitlists at Syracuse, LSU, and VCU.

For Seth, my final list in poetry:

Accepted:
Colorado
Memphis
U Washington
Vanderbilt (waitlisted first, attending!!!)

Waitlisted:
Syracuse
LSU
VCU

Rejected:
Arkansas
Ole Miss
Cornell
Iowa
Minnesota
Montana
Michener
Wash U
Michigan

Never heard from, lost will to care:
UNC Greensboro

Adam Atkinson said...

@amanda, congrats!

(And thanks, if you were ahead of me on the LSU waitlist, for removing your name!)

Woon said...

I am conjugating verbs with my Spanish flash cards in preparation for the foreign language exam in September. It's for a waitlist school.

My preparation knows no bounds.

Leslie said...

fingers crossed for Phillywriter!

Perpetua said...

I have just been informed that there are 18 people ahead of me on the TA waitlist at Colorado! Wow! They plan to take about 15 people so what does it mean that there are 18 people ahead of me?

Offering me a small fellowship is not enough - its not even a carrot!

I am so frustrated, I don't want to sound ungrateful but funding is so important and it feels like everyday I lose a bit of my optimism. The only other school I have been accepted to has still to decide which of their applicants they plan to give funding to. The And the school I really want to go to has waitlisted me!

And will UNLV and FSU just give me an answer!

I feel tired.

Unknown said...

I am 99% ready to accept a spot in CNF at Memphis (this has been the longest, most torturous decision due entirely to the lack of funding I have received). Has anyone else accepted a spot at Memphis (in any genre)?

I'd love to touch base with other students before I enroll.

Thanks!

Unknown said...

Since it seems like everyone else is doing it, here is my final list in poetry:

McNeese (accepted, fully-funded)
NEOMFA (accepted, fully-funded)
Southern Connecticut (accepted, FF)
Columbia (accepted, kind of)

Rejected

Brooklyn
Hunter
University of Baltimore

Signed with McNeese...anyone else want to ask questions about it since I already went down for a few days and hung out, email me
benjaminpsutton (@) gmail (.) com

Tyler D said...

I still haven't heard from Ole Miss, FSU, or UF and it seems like a lot of people already have. I'm kinda shocked it took Vandy so long to reject me when they were just going to send out an e-mail in the first place.

I'm not downtrodden by any means, but I'd like to be able to close the book for this application season. I need all the rejection letters for my scrap booking seminar at the Student Center. I'm thinking glitter or rhinestones to pretty them up a bit. It may be more cathartic to burn holes in them with someone's cigarette though.

So many options, haha.

Andrea said...

I've been emailing with the director at Oregon State for weeks, and today she let me know I'm at the top of their waitlist. I might have a heart attack. If there are any prose people accepted to Oregon State, not attending but haven't let go of their spot yet, please do so ASAP! The universe will be so kind to you! I will send you my infamous double chocolate chip cookie cake once a month until the end of time!

Seriously though. Major karma points coming your way.

Much love to everyone who is also being driven insane by the waiting game!

amanda said...

Perpetua: WOW. That really sucks. My question about my position on the funding waitlist was never answered when I posited it to Marcia. Which is your other school that's still deciding on funding?

DigAPony: Good luck! It sounds like there's real potential. And I totally understand. I decided last week that I was going to send a cookie cake to the girl who decided not to go to Vandy. Now I just have to get her address...

@ Adam: Thanks man! I hope it works out for you. LSU seems like a truly amazing program. I never figured out what position I was on the waitlist, but hopefully it will help.

Andrew said...

@Montana waitlisters...FYI

I just declined a spot (unfunded) in fiction. I was admitted off the waitlist a week or so ago, but I can't go without funding, as much as I'd like to. Hope this helps somebody.

Les is More said...

@Rosanna

I received a rejection from UMSL last Friday. I'm in South St. Louis. I don't know when it was postmarked because I was out of town and then threw it away with the rest of my mail when I got back.

Maybe your not hearing is good news!

Andrea said...

Gracias, Amanda! And congrats again on Vanderbilt. In the one poetry class I've taken, my instructor went to Vanderbilt and just raved about it. Good luck!

Eleanor said...

@poets on the waitlist at Iowa:

I just turned down my spot at Iowa. Someone on the Iowa waitlist should receive an offer from them soon! I wish everyone the best of luck.

Kerry Headley said...

In case this helps anyone: I turned down my (unfunded) CNF spot at George Mason.

Woon said...

It's 1:50 PM. Time for my daily 4-mile run. Then lunch at El Pollo Loco. Do you peeps eat the skin? I don't want to, but El Pollo Loco's chicken skin is so dang crispy and tasty.

Also, why is everyone (and their grandmothers) getting an offer off the waitlist except me?

amanda said...

@ Woon: Age discrimination.

Woon said...

@amanda - Actually, I had this exact conversation with my LoR recommenders and my wife. We all agreed that I must be a somewhat controversial candidate. If I'm tied with another applicant, the MFA program would more likely go with a younger applicant, so they can nurture their budding talent. Why would they want to deal with an old guy like me?

They may put me on their waitlist as their token old guy. But will they budge and make me an offer?

Oy...

Unknown said...

For Seth, my list for fiction:

Brooklyn (attending)
NYU
Michener
Irvine
Brown
The New School
Hunter
Syracuse
Houston

congrats everyone!

Katherine and Jesse said...

@woon I eat the skin and I'm not getting in off the waitlist.

NYU's waitlist for fiction...I'm assuming that's about 800 people long, right?

la said...

@Eleanor

Where did you decide in favor of?

kaybay said...

DIGAPONY!! I so happy for you, CONGRATS!

I was aggravated and called FSU. I felt bad because she started answering my question before I had finished asking (not in a rude way, but I could tell she had been asked this question many times. Oops! Maybe if they notified people earlier, yeesh. STILL LOVE YOU, FSU, PICK ME!). She did say that they STILL have not finalized a wait list or rejection list, but she said she could not imagine people (wait listees and rejects) not being notified any later Friday.

I hate how far this process extends :(

kaybay said...

Oh, and good luck, Perpetua, that sounds awful :( hopefully FSU will spring forward with some positive news. I'm biting my nails for all of us waiting on them.

Kati-Jane said...

@amanda:

Not to be completely self-centered about this, but did you actually hear from Ole Miss? Or are you simply assuming rejection? Congrats about Vandy, they're near the top of my new application list (Just in case) for next year. :)

Alyssa said...

So far what have your waitlist notifications looked like?

Mine:
The New School- starts off like a rejection so I thought it was until I saw the word waitlist.

NYU- mass email that was really informative.

Notre Dame- seriously, like a hug. It made me feel like a super special princess. So nice.

Kati-Jane said...

Never mind, you're poetry, I'm slow. :)

Adam Atkinson said...

WHOAAAAA I JUST GOT INTO LSU FOR POETRY OFF THE WAITLIST! I can't tell you how excited I am!

My final tally is eight rejections and ONE fully-funded acceptance. All you need is the one, folks!

Brown (rejected)
Cornell (rejected)
Illinois (rejected)
Indiana (rejected)
Michigan (rejected)
Southern Illinois (rejected)
Syracuse (rejected)
Texas (rejected)

AND LSU (accepted w/funding!)

Anonymous said...

@Adam.....thank you for those words. I really needed to hear that at this point. This entire process has been stressful. So thank you.

You made me smile at just the right time...

LAswede said...

in the midst of grading 120 comp. papers and taking a break...saw all the good news and just wanted to tell everyone who heard good word today congratulations...hope the rest of us get some this week as well...cheers

kaybay said...

CONGRATS, ADAM!!! That's awesome! Now, Phillywriter, it's your turn to follow with some more good LSU news :D (c'mon LSU!)

Alyssa - are you fiction? If so, where are on the list? Do you have any acceptances yet? Not that I care or anything ;)

My list is kind of pitiful. It is as follows:

Official Rejections:

Alabama
Florida
UCF
Vanderbilt
Syracuse
Cornell
Iowa

Wait listed:

McNeese State
Notre Dame

No Word:

UNC Greensboro
Florida State

amanda said...

Yay for Adam!!!

And Kati-Jane, I am poetry, but I found out about my rejection by calling. It took a little bit to get a hold of someone, but they told me over the phone and were very nice about it. I'm sure you could give a call as well.

koru said...

@amanda, congrats on making a decision! :-) Vandy's an amazing programme, so I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time!

@ Presley Thomas, haven't officially heard from the Ole Miss department, but I'm assuming it's a NO. Add to that a very, very odd conversation I had with their main grad office in which it seems they lost my app, and I personally hold no hope for myself there. And worse yet, I think the grad folks were saying I'd not get a rejection letter since they had lost my app. ugh. Maybe they'll find it and reject me in a few years' time.

@ everyone still receiving good news, big congrats to y'all! :D

WreckingLight said...

Ole Miss need to be a little better at getting their notifications out (I know I was rejected by speaking with Gary Short in February, but have still not received anything official, despite the fact that their poetry application number was <100).

They also screwed me around a couple of years ago with GNEs, and, as much as I'd have liked to have studied there, and had enough faith in them to apply for a second time, I'm not terribly happy with the way they seem to do things, especially when they rejected me THREE TIMES in 2008 (two letters, spaced months apart, the latter arriving in August, and an e-mail).

Woon said...

@WreckingLight - be happy you didn't get a fourth rejection via text message.

WreckingLight said...

@Woon.

I figure they are waiting to carve it into the girl I end up marrying.

amanda said...

@ Wrecking Light: hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

AWP People: Anyone who's interested in meeting up at the conference, email me at mandasue at gmail dot com. I'm gonna put together an email list so we can get in touch with each other and pick a time/place.

MFAguy said...

kaybay, if you apply again in the fall what programs are you applying to?

Anonymous said...

Waitlisted @ Columbia. Thinking about telling them to keep me on the listk, JIC.

@everyone

Is it possible to send my deposit to a certain program (so they can at least save my spot) and later on inform them that I won't be able to attend after all because I got a better deal or can't afford their tuition? Awkward question, I know, but it's getting kinda scary at this point and I don't want to give up the MFA dream just yet.

kaybay said...

Wrecking Light, that's awful. This has NOTHING to do with your talent as a writer, but maybe the universe is telling you that it's not the right program for you. And hopefully they'll spare your future wife :D

MFA Guy - I actually posted that information in the 1300's of this mailbox :) I'm applying to NC State fo shizzle next year and I'm pretty interested in it. I have no freakin' clue why I didn't apply there this year. Oh well. You got accepted there, right? Are you going?

kaybay said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Stephanie said...

I didn't really research anything when I applied last fall. Now I'm just learning the schools in CA aren't really the best. Welp, the more you know.

Here is my list for fiction:

SFSU - rejected from MFA, accepted to MA, got some funding, GOING and reapplying for the MFA next year
USF- accepted, no funding
UCI - rejected :D

If anyone is waitlisted at USF, hopefully a spot will open up for you now. The faculty and staff that I spoke to were total sweethearts.

Andrea said...

I just turned down my unfunded spots at U Idaho and Minnesota State @ Mankato in fiction. I also turned down my funded spot at Northern Michigan's MA last week. I don't think anyone who posts here will benefit from my declining these offers, but perhaps there are some lurkers out there who will be getting good news soon!

It's down to Wichita State, Boise State, and Oregon State for me. I might die in the next ten days.

Time for a White Russian.

Rhizobium said...

@FSU frustration - While I've already decided on Penn State, an official notice would put closure on this whole process.

I also received a very nice rejection from Virginia today. The nicest one I've received so far.

AWP - I am so ready to go! I will probably be hanging around the Rose O'Neil Literary House table frequently. I highly recommend checking it out, as I think we're selling some pretty broadsides.

Despite all of the last minute stress, I hope everyone is enjoying the beginnings of spring. It'll be in the high 70s on the Eastern Shore tomorrow. Hooray!

Rhizobium said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
MFAguy said...

Kaybay, yup I applied to NC State. I turned down my place a couple weeks ago (top of w/list for funding) as I got my Vtech offer. I do like the program at NC State - so, yes, it's a good one to consider.

emily j said...

Hi guys, so I just discovered this community and I feel I need some advice. I am a Fiction applicant.

I applied to a bunch of places and got into Montana. They said it was unlikely that I would be offered a TA position. Then last week I got an e-mail from Arkansas, saying I had been placed on a short waitlist and that they would "hope to offer me admission in the next week or week and a half." Then today I got mail from Montana that made me think that hope was not over as far as funding. Can anyone tell me anything about either of these schools?

But more than just Arkansas vs. Montana, I am wondering if now is the right time to go. I am 21 and going straight out of undergrad. The thing is I don't have anything definitive lined up for next year, and the thought of moving home with my parents makes me shudder.

Sorry thanks for reading this ramble. I don't know what to do but it felt good to write it out.

Brittany said...

Emily,

I thought I'd chime in because our situations are sorta similar. I'm also in for fiction at Montana. The first time I was notified by MT (via email), they said "it appears unlikely that we will be able to offer you a teaching assistantship. (We have just five to award). If that changes, we’ll let you know right away." Then I got the mailed acceptance which implied that they will re-evaluate funding once we return the postcards saying whether or not we accept. So, at this point I think that there is some hope left, depending on who accepts/declines...

I'm also going straight out of undergrad. I honestly think that this is the best time for me to go, because I'm really motivated right now, and I have specific personal and career goals that make getting my MFA sooner rather than later the best option for me. I think you're the best judge of whether you, and your work, is ready (though being admitted indicates that your work definitely is!) but I wouldn't count yourself out for being young and going straight out of undergrad. Obviously don't force yourself if the only motivating factor is getting away from home--just think about your work, your career and personal goals, etc. Even though my MT offer is unfunded as of now, I think the program is a great fit for me, and I plan on applying at the Writing Center.

Adam Atkinson said...

Thanks for the congrats, everyone! I'm still a little emotional - I left undergrad with a sub-3.0 GPA and my tail between my legs, and I've been busting my ass ever since, so today is pretty sweet!

@AWP peeps: I'm the editor of Open Thread (www.openthread.org/publications.html), and I'll be at the table most of the time! Swing by and check us out!

Longfellow Winters said...

@Stephanie

Did they tell you in your acceptance email that you got funding or did you have to call the program at SFSU? I've been meaning to call them(and will tomorrow) but have been busy with some personal things.

Kate said...

@Anti- I am emailing UMASS with confusion about a funding offer, and I told them that if I do not receive any other offers that I will accept my posish there BUT will ultimately turn it down if a TA posish does not open up for me.

The Columbia contact I've been speaking with is going to call me tomorrow to try to convince me to come sans funding. It sounds so good, but is not fiscally responsible for me, so I will be turning that down unless some awesome alumni decides to offer a full scholarship for hipster lesbians from PA who write poems about birds.

Girlfriend is visiting USC right now and I'm kicking myself for not applying to CA schools. UMASS was my "yeah right" school and USC was hers. Go figs that we get into schools on the opposite side of the country! Here's hoping that UWashington offers me a TA posish so we can be happily in school together. Triple Ugh!

Good luck to all. After the 15th, hopefully this breaking out and stressing out will diminish, eh?

(I remember someone talking about breaking out...I am totally breaking out with stress now, too! Ugh!)

Mary said...

Is anyone accepted to Eastern Washington University in fiction planning on turning down their spot?

jenpopa said...

@Kate I am right there with you. Shall we start a campaign for Clearasil? I don't know how helpful this is, but in case anyone else has their second run of puberty I recommend the Burt's Bee's Blemish Stick. I am using it like 6 times a day and it is certainly helping and it lets me indulge my overzealous tendencies.

In a perfect world Kate, you will get that TAship as a poet at UW and I will finally get bumped off the fiction waitlist at UW. I'm wishing and hoping like crazy, because it would mean I could stay in Seattle! Huzzah!

alm08 said...

I'm not sure if my previous list was 100% complete, so for Seth's records:

Rejected:
U of Iowa
U of Michigan
U of Texas at Austin
JHU

Accepted:
NYU

Waitlisted:
University of Virginia

All for poetry.

denn1985 said...

For Seth's records, and my own memory, my final tally:

Rejected:
Brown
Irvine
Michener
Syracuse
Hunter
Iowa
UVA
UFL
Michigan
Stanford Stegner- classiest rejection EVERRRR!!-

WL:
Notre Dame
McNeese

Accepted:
Sarah Lawrence College
Emerson
Queens U. of Charlotte (low-res)
-I'm obsessed with Elizabeth Strout-

The admissions director at Queens said I might think about polishing for another year and going again for the fully funded programs.... any thoughts on this notion? SLC has always been a dream of mine, and anyway, I don't think I can put myself through this again, and neither can my checking account.
So, most likely, Sarah Lawrence it is. BRING ON THE DEBT!!!!! Any others out there?
(And Kaybay, we were on the same two wait lists. Yay!)

denn1985 said...

For Seth's records, and my own memory, my final tally:

Rejected:
Brown
Irvine
Michener
Syracuse
Hunter
Iowa
UVA
UFL
Michigan
Stanford Stegner- classiest rejection EVERRRR!!-

WL:
Notre Dame
McNeese

Accepted:
Sarah Lawrence College
Emerson
Queens U. of Charlotte (low-res)
-I'm obsessed with Elizabeth Strout-

The admissions director at Queens said I might think about polishing for another year and going again for the fully funded programs.... any thoughts on this notion? SLC has always been a dream of mine, and anyway, I don't think I can put myself through this again, and neither can my checking account.
So, most likely, Sarah Lawrence it is. BRING ON THE DEBT!!!!! Any others out there?
(And Kaybay, we were on the same two wait lists. Yay!)

nattyish said...

Hey everyone! Since I've been basically thinking about nothing but MFA Applications for the last few months, it seems inevitable that this would spill into my writing.

And so it has. I have a new short story about MFA rejection here, if anyone would like to check it out. I figure it's on-topic enough to post here.

Please feel free to write me with any comments or critiques! Thanks!

denn1985 said...

OOPS-
I completely forgot about BU, for Seth's records.
Presumed rejection.
i KNEW i forgot one!

T said...

Alright I've been hitting the Dewars all night but I'm sure my observations are spot on as they always are.

Re: Ole Miss. Those of you that are complaining have no idea how small this MFA program is. I know every one of the faculty personally, and frankly, they have better stuff to deal with than catering to every applicant that sends something their way. They take incredible care evaluating the work that is sent, and they jump on the best. To others, they simply do not have the time to be mechanic with all the paperwork. They don't have secretaries to help them out. They have kids and mortgages and classes.

Re: an MFA. I just got the reality check email. Not getting funding. So I've been trying to embrace the law school thing. I'm going to a top 35 school. I'll make a bunch of money. But something feels wrong about being so close to this. Like if I'd done one thing different, I'd be living a different life.
Maybe I'll see y'all on the flipside. But good luck with everyone following dreams. As for me, money will have to do. It's too bad future me would be able to pay for present me to get the MFA without funding.

Re: Montana. Those of you that asked about that should email either Deirdre or Prageeta. They can tell you what your "real" chances are for having funding. That's how I found out. Don't be afraid!

Congrats to everyone!

Stephanie said...

@ Longfellow

I received an email from the Financial Aid office titled "2010-2011 Financial Aid Award Offer." I think this is the one that was sent out to everyone, and it originally tricked me into thinking I had been admitted to the MFA program :/

amanda said...

nathaniel: I *loved* your story/letter. I tried to stop reading it midway as I am tired, and it is long, but I couldn't.

nattyish said...

@amanda

Thanks! It's meta - to the max!

Charlie Bast said...

‪@Mary‬

It's not official yet, which is why I'm being vague, but I'm looking to go in that direction.

Megan said...

Got my rejection from Columbia in the mail last Friday, and an extra-special Columbia rejection email yesterday... Still haven't heard from BU, but I'm presuming a rejection, unless an eleventh-hour decision to the contrary proves me wrong. I applied in fiction and was rejected across the board, so here's my final list:

BU - heard nothing, presumed rejected
UC Irvine - rejected via email
Wisconsin @ Madison - rejected via email
Michigan - notification letter lost in the mail, rejected over the phone
NYU - rejected via mail
Columbia - rejected via mail and email
Iowa - notification letter lost in the mail, rejected over the phone
Emerson - application wasn't processed (they were missing something from my file and never notified me...)

I'm still thinking of applying to USC's MPW June deadline -- anyone know anything about the program? I like the idea of working in multiple genres, because it's what I do. And I love LA. I may also apply to Northwestern (they have a late deadline as well) and I might reapply to slightly different list of schools in the fall, with a little more research so I know what I'm getting into. I might also apply in a genre I've written more in -- fiction is my favorite, but I write poetry as well (and I think I'm better at it...), and nonfiction... why is it that we have to have just one genre anyway? Thoughts?

It was a disappointing outcome, but I'm only 22, I applied from a foreign country, and I'm reevaluating if the MFA is really right for me anyway. I'm planning on taking the next year to write for myself, share work with other writers, work at a writing nonprofit for kids where I've worked in the past, take a workshop, and save some money from a real job after a year on the euro.

I'm beginning to think it's gonna be fun. Then I'll return to the MFA if it's the right thing, or we'll just see where this year of discovery takes me... It sucks to be rejected, but I think it may have been lucky in a way. In any case, I've got a year of writing ahead of me, and I'm excited for that alone.

koru said...

@Sutpen,

actually, i think i have every right to complain about folks that lose my application after i've spent the time, energy and money researching their program, applying, and getting excited over it. if they can't open one envelope and manage to remove all the contents and put them in one place ...

and it takes A HELLA LOT to actually get me annoyed. i'm not one given to complaining in general.

anyhoo ... it's a brand new day, and here's to more good news coming everyone's ways. :-) and more people making final decisions. someone wanna make mine for me? hehe!

DG said...

@sutpen
I sincerely wish you the best of luck, but I have several friends who are lawyers who might not agree with your belief that law school will ensure you make boatloads of money. I recommend reading bigdebtsmalllaw.wordpress.com and other linked blogs.

Laura said...

@ denn1985,

I'm also accepted to Sarah Lawrence and Emerson. I am still dealing with some last-minute waverings, but I'm probably going to go to Emerson. It will mean a lot less debt for me. I was wondering, what made you decide on Sarah Lawrence over Emerson?

Chrissy Friedlander said...

For Seth's research, in poetry:

Accepted:
Minnesota (fully funded)
New Hampshire (not funded)
West Virginia (not funded)

Waitlisted:
Purdue

Rejected:
Syracuse
Virginia
Michigan
Indiana
Virginia Tech
Wash U at St. Louis
UMass

No word as of yet:
Notre Dame
Penn State

I'm ecstatic to report that I have accepted Minnesota's offer. As an avid reader, I wanted to thank you all for all of your great advice, your support for your fellow applicants, and for just being awesome.

T said...

@ Koru
Yes I agree with your case. That totally sucks. I was referring to the other people.

@ DG
You're kind! But don't worry about me. I can smell money like a dog can smell fear.

Jen said...

Not sure it means anything tangible, but LSU has some applications in a holding pen. In an effort to expedite receipt of my impending rejections, I emailed LSU yesterday. I was told "the graduate committee has not completed making all of their final decisions."

Since I know some applicants received waitlist notifications a while back, and since LSU has so few spots, I can't imagine what they need a holding pen for - seems kind of crazy to me. Then again, I'm still waiting to get official rejections from four of the seven schools I applied to, which also seems crazy.

At this point, if I get in anywhere, I'm not sure I would even still want to go. I'm emotionally exhausted and am thinking the job market is less treacherous and unforgiving. Also, I don't have to pay anyone to apply for a job - so if I don't get it, there's no danger I'll feel like someone who just spent too much money on lotto tickets!

Sorry for the rant and congrats to everyone who has gotten the MFA opportunity they were hoping for.

Tyler D said...

I've never felt much in the way of strong feelings for comments on these things, but Sutpens is annoying me. I guess cause I'd be listed under those complainers. I'm not an idiot. I did research. I know the program is small, but I guess I just assumed being in the south and all they would have more courtesy toward applicants in sending rejection letters and so on.

Eleanor said...

@honeyless

I decided in favor of Columbia over Iowa. I'm really excited! =-)

Do you know which MFA program you are going to attend in the fall?

Kyle said...

@ Sutpen

I didn't apply to Ole Miss, and haven't been accepted or waitlisted yet anywhere. With all due respect, right now you sound like you're chewing on sour grapes.

LAswede said...

i applied to ole miss and just recently discovered that due to $$ issues, they're only taking a couple of people...well fuck me running. i wouldn't have applied if i'd known that ahead of time, which sux godzilla ballz...i think the biggest problem, and this is no jab at sutpen at all especially if he/she is correct about the detailed reading of apps by the faculty, is the app. deadline is february 1st, i believe. that gives them no time at all. although they seem to be jacking some people around, ole miss is cool and oxford is awesome, and with the passing of barry hannah, they definitely deserve a bit of a break this year.
now come thru for me notre dame!

koru said...

@LASwede, how'd you hear Ole Miss is only taking a couple?

Personally, I'm curious, given what WreckingLight said about being rejected in August, whether my Ole Miss rejection will come before or after I move to some other city for an MFA. :-)

Woon said...

I had a dream last night. I was a TA for a freshmen comp class. At the end of the class, I couldn't remember what I told my students re. grading, homework, exams, office hours, etc. So, in a panic, I picked out the student with the friendliest face and asked her to stay behind after class so that I could copy down the info from her notes. I wondered why I did not have this written down in advance in a syllabus or handout.

Lexie said...

Has anyone heard anything from Hunter College lately? I know, I'm like a broken record. I pestered them a ton a couple of weeks ago, and I was told I'd hear in "2-3 weeks". Well, we're on week 3. Do I call them again? I'm assuming rejection at this point. It would just be nice to get some closure.

This would be for poetry.

Lucas said...

I emailed the program director at Ole Miss and a fiction faculty member emailed me back with the nicest "sorry dude" ever. He even said nice things about my stuff and made me feel like I was close. And then I thanked him and told him it was all good cause I'm going somewhere else and the dude emailed me back like "figured you had other offers, best of luck." So nice.

On another note, I'm rolling out after I teach tonight to check out ODU! Gonna start tonight to cut down on the 12 hour drive. Very excited.

LAswede said...

@ koru
similarly to what lucas just posted...i emailed, i probably got the same standard, but polite, email as he received, and in it, i was informed of their situation. just shoot 'em an email if you want to know.

LAswede said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
koru said...

@LA Swede,

yeah, i should probably email them ... but the phone call i'd received from their main grad office was just so weird ... I've been dreading talking to anyone from there.

Woon said...

I thought Ole Miss was blessed with John Grisham's generous endowment. What happened to that?

Kevin said...

Has anyone been rejected by UNCG yet? Do they know it's April 6th?

LAswede said...

i understand...i suppose i was just anxious to hear something considering the date, ya know? this shit's going down much later than last year...some of us have jobs and a house and cars and a wife and a kid and gotsta find some shit out...i'm sure i'm not the only one in that boat...
i will add this too, koru; they did respond pretty quickly, so that was nice.

Lucas said...

re: being blessed by a generous endowment

...I got nothin.

LAswede said...

i don't know about grisham's endowment, but they certainly won't be blessed with my glorious endowment...oh jesus. i'm turning into woon!
just kidding mang!!!

Lucas said...

@LAswede

Damn. Thought I had that one to my self. Well played.

Rosanna said...

Anyone been rejected from CUNY Queens yet?

LAswede said...

touche

Unknown said...

Has anyone been rejected from Bennington yet?

Also - I know it's rolling but anyone hear anything recently from Lesley?

carina said...

has anyone been rejected from vcu?

Mr. Hemlock said...

@ Eleanor

I'd be interested to know some of your reasons for choosing Columbia over Iowa. Did Columbia offer you a full tuition wavier?

Justin Bendell said...

Hi everyone,

My endless wait has reached an end.

I committed to FIU this morning for CNF.

I also opened up a spot at UNCW and removed my name from waitlists at Wyoming and Iowa NWP. Hope all this helps someone.

It's been a pleasure sharing and suffering with you all. Best of luck with the rest of the process. And to those who didn't get accepted this time around, keep writing. Keep writing! And reapply next year.

Ciao,
Justin

Jamie said...

@Eleanor

I'm going to Columbia too, for fiction. Get in touch if you want:

crozetproject at gmail

Unknown said...

Hey Ole Miss emailers, who have you been emailing to hear rejections and/or news?

Coughka said...

Any guesses for the size of the Montana wait-list? All these guys turning down offers, and I'm still sitting on the thing. Show me love, Montana!

inkli__11 said...

M. Swann,

As painful as it is for me, I will likely be turning down an unfunded spot at Montana, although I am holding onto it for now with the hope that a TA-ship will open up. I bet many others are doing the same and a spot will open up for you closer to April 15.

phillywriter said...

@inkli__11

Are you still on the Indiana waitlist for fiction?

inkli__11 said...

yes, phillywriter. still waiting and hoping.... you too?

Coughka said...

Inkli,

Thanks for your candidness. Has Montana communicated the possibility of funding?

I assume coming off the wait-list I won't get funding. But my ego (and the part of me willing to take on debt) wants off.

My biggest concern about making it off a wait-list in a program with a funding caste system has to do with resentment:

-will I resent my cohorts who have the same education/opportunities for free?
-will I feel unappreciated, a "lesser" writer?
-will the caste system affect workshop critiques, instructor relationships, etc?

I'm curious how programs handle the messiness of a funding caste system. The thing about castes is they institutionalize inequalities and difference. There's an elephant in the workshop: we wanted some of you more than others, but we want you too, so long as you can pay. Obviously unfunded people attend programs among funded cohorts. I'm curious if unfunded people would rate their education's quality similarly to funded cohorts.

the duchess said...

Anyone giving up their NYU poetry spot?

Woon said...

@M. Swann - It would be something if our society is one big happy utopia. But alas! The blue chip college athlete gets a full scholarship while walk-ons are forced to pay their own way. Some pro athletes make millions while others only make thousands. Disparity in pay exists in every company. No one is similarly situated. When I visit the senior center every morning and see Joe O'Halloran, I resent his 6'9" frame, while he resents me for not having back problems.

inkli__11 said...

M. Swann,

Re: Montana

They've been pretty ambiguous about funding. I was told initially (about a month ago) that funding is unlikely but they will let me know if anything changes. Then, when I received my formal acceptance by post, there was a document included that advised admitted students without funding (particularly addressed to those who had received funded offers from other schools) to inquire after April 12th about the likelihood of a TA-ship opening up. So, basically I have no clue what the odds are of a TAship opening up for me and you can probably imagine why, as much as I feel like a jerk for clogging the waitlist and holding onto my spot, I am not quite ready to give it up yet. I'm tempted to contact the director again for more direct information about my chances at a TAship, but I don't want to pester her when the letter gave a specific date of April 12 or later, and she already told me she'd let me know if anything changes in terms of funding.

T said...

@ M.Swann
If it makes you feel better I'm giving up an unfunded spot at Montana too, because I won't be getting funding. So maybe you'll come off the waitlist!
As for the competition, I emailed a girl there currently and she said this:

There is no tension or competition between TA and non-TAs, thank goodness. That was one of my concerns coming here as well. There are a lot of us here without TAships (I think at least 50%), so you're in good company. This program isn't as well funded as its reputation would imply, but it is definitely, in so many other respects, terrifically awesome. There's a real sense of community here. The truth is, everyone is an awesome writer here - and some of the writers I admire the most don't have TA positions.

inkli__11 said...

Sutpen,

How do you know that you will not be receiving funding? Were you told that funding was "unlikely" or that you pretty much definitely weren't going to get it? Those two scenarios might seem synonymous, but to me "unlikely" still means maybe.

T said...

@ Inkli
I emailed one of the faculty to see where they were in TA'ships and she told me that they are waiting to hear back from the 5 people they offered, and then even if all 5 turn it down there are 5 more in front of me. So unlikely, I think, means not gonna happen. But as always its done individually, and you should find out your individual situation by emailing.

Re: Ole Miss
I'm sorry if I hurt anybody's MFA blog feelings. I'm not a spokesperson for the program. I just go to school here and see first hand this process. They'd love to take 10 people. They just don't have the money. And they'd love to have official, letter head, signed rejections for everybody out by April 1st, but it takes time for 3 people to do that for 100+ applicants. I think people have this idea that there's like an MFA admissions office at Ole Miss, in a nice building with people working 9-5 on these things. Anyway, If you call they will treat you like royalty, I can assure you.

I'm not eating "sour grapes." I was thrilled to death to even have a chance at this writing thing.

phillywriter said...

@inkli__11

Yes, I'm still waiting and hoping on Indiana too. (Or LSU. I'll take either one!)

inkli__11 said...

phillywriter,

congratulations on the lsu wait-list. which school do you think you would choose between lsu & indiana?

koru said...

@Sutpen,

the printer in my office at work spits out 15 pages a minute. It's pretty slow as far as printer/copiers go. In less than 7 minutes I could have those "thanks for playing" letters for 100 applicants printed out.

Rejection letters are just form letters. Some are better worded than others. But they're all just form letters. All rejected applicants get the same letter, with just the name changed. They neither come with hand-engraved silver platters nor do they come with novel-length comments on our manuscripts, so just send the effing rejection letters out ...

marissa. said...

Hi Guys,
Does anyone have thoughts/opinions on the UW (University of Washington) Fiction program? I'm trying to decide and I'd appreciate anyyyy input.
Thanks!
-M

BarryGrass said...

Bad news for Memphis CNF'ers: Rebecca Skloot said on Twitter today that she is moving to Chicago soon because her boyfriend landed a position at Northwestern.

Woon said...

@BarryGrass - via Twitter?!?!?!

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