I got the big white envelope/fake out from Oregon today. Why do they send housing info at times like these? jeez. Glad I had the heads up about though, you guys saved me the emotional turmoil it would have otherwise caused. :)
Sorry, didn't mean to freak people out. Oregon called me this morning, 03/06. I'm still waiting on UVA and IUB. Good luck to everyone. This has been the hardest waiting game.
Congrats Julia! Everyone said UNCW was giving a March 5 deadline, and so I'm curious what you told them, given you didn't even find out about Oregon until today?
Threes, Hmmm... that's quite interesting. I guess that deadline was for other people, maybe some that were offered funding right away?
I got a call from them two weeks ago with no deadline. They told me that I wouldn't hear about funding for another two weeks when financial aid stuff came through. Maybe they were waiting till some people turned the funding down? Maybe they were pushier with some than with others? Not sure.
UO is giving me till April 15th though so at least a have some time. Thanks for the info about the other deadline.
UNCW's deadlines are only for those offered financial aid. They'd like to know within two weeks of the decision, but they have been allowing extensions. (I know this because I'm hoping for funding, was accepted, and was not asked to respond within a certain amt of time.)
Michigan rejection letter today. Oh Iowa, why are you dragging it out?
Congrats on all your acceptances, Julia! I'm totally biased, but I hope you really consider Arizona. (I got my undergrad there.) Have fun with your decision-making!
Received nice funding offer from UAF. Probably not going to land at UAF so for those waiting, please know some funding will likely loosen up in the (hopefully) very near future.
Should I just go to U of San Fran and take out like $30,000 in loans and say fuck it (thinking this way because of assumed rejection from Vtech, and no word from ASU)? IM SO CONFUSED!!!!!
OR
Should I apply for a third time this fall? UGHZ *annoyed*
Since Portland State has been coming up, I thought I would let you all know that I did my undergraduate work there. So if anyone has any questions, hit me up.
Hey guys! I got an e-mail on Thursday asking for an interview at Columbia for play writing! So excited. I don't know how many people they interview but if feels great to have come this far.
Julia-Please don't feel silly. I wasn't intending on bursting any bubbles. UNCW has recently been fairly open with their situation. I, too, was first told that they'd know within a couple of weeks and then saw someone posting a funding offer. I emailed Lavonne Adams and she was very kind and gave me forthright information on where I stood regarding funding. Perhaps you could drop her a line?
Of course I don't know what your personal situation is but personally, I would never take out that much debt for an mfa, especially with so many other programs offering full funding. If I were you, I would totally wait and try again next year. Third time's the charm?
Best of luck to you! That's a tough decision you've got to make.
@ happygonowhere Im a single mom and work my ass off as a chef at two jobs. Im already in school debt frm the JWU degree in culinary arts (25,000 for a fuckin' AS). I promised myself NEVER to pay for school again (I made good on that promise, received my BA at U of Miami, not a penny out of my pocket spent).
BUT NOW...
Grad school, I want to go sooooo bad. And Im getting older, and to be a professor I need to go all the way. I want to start as soon as I can. Im tired of working 80 hrs a week for pebbles. *sigh* Im rambling again.
Point is, Im not rich and it would not be wise at all to take out 30,000 in loans. Thank u for bringing me back to earth. If my writing isnt good enough for a full tuition waiver AND a stipend, then Im not where I need to be as a writer anyway. Ill take this extra year to work on my writing even harder! (just got really pumped up off of my own motivational speech : /)
Oh my goodness, thank you so much for letting me know - I am so, so excited! I love this board. I think this means I'll be at Alaska next year for sure.
Congratulations on Minnesota! That is really awesome, and super-competitive admissions. Thank you for offering to answer questions, too (wow, you're an Alaskan!) - I would love that, because I have never been there and I'm feeling more than a little daunted... I don't even own real shoes. Just flip-flops!!
Well, I think my main question is, what are the people like? And also, I guess, is winter really crazy? I mean, what's it like when it's dark so much?
Anyway, thanks again for letting me know. And again, good luck everybody!
i know you guys are all stressed out and worried over notifications, so if you want a little break, check out our new eating-in-grad-school blog, Master of Fine Eats, masteroffineeats.blogspot.com. It is run by two poets at New Mexico State (one of which is me). I'm also happy to answer questions about NMSU!
@Dee -- if I were you (and I'm clearly not), I'd go through the application cycle again. Work on your writing until you've got it nailed. Workshop via some community (e.g., Meetup writing groups, online writing groups, night class). I sincerely believe that many are venturing into the MFA gig when they're not ready. I'm not saying this is the case with you -- I don't know you, I haven't seen your writing. I'm speaking in generalities only.
I could give you a detailed testimonial about my own journey toward the MFA, but it would get long and I'll end up rambling and going off on a tangent at some point about The Sopranos or why I hate William Faulkner. And my god, I wish to spare this wonderful community of all that.
Dee, I also have to vote against it. Keep working and try again. You probably should find away to get out of working 80 hours a week, though. It has to be hard to concentrate on your writing with that much time spend on the grind.
@ Woon, Aaron Apps, and everyone else thanks for the advise. I think I was becoming a tad desperate. Yes working like this makes it extremely hard to read and write, and lately all my poems have so many culinary references (lol). So, another year it is. And hopefully, somehow, I can get out of this 80 hrs, 7 days a week working schedule (although chances look slim).
Dee, Have you tried taking part in a community poetry workshop. I know with your crazy schedule it must be hard but it's usually only once a week and sometimes, it can really be an incredible way to grow as a writer. You can also just try organizing one yourself for free through online blogs and just meet at a local coffeehouse.
@Dee -- I'm from California and I didn't even bother applying to all the schools here. I talked to one professor -- who shall remain nameless -- at a local school and he/she essentially said that because of the lack of funding, his/her school tends to attract rich kids. I don't know about you but the last thing I want to do is spend the next 2-3 years with a bunch of spoiled trust fund babies as my classmates. (That's not to say they're all like that, of course) I look forward to my time at an MFA program and I hope it's an educational and rewarding experience, not something that I'd look back on and regret.
also received my michigan rejection in the mail. thought it was gently worded:
"please know that our decision is meant to negate neither your talent nor your prospects--it is simply our collective judgement that others have first claim on our attention at present."
Does anyone here have any idea how many people are on the Iowa waitlist? I'm one of them, and I don't know how hopeful I should be. I am very grateful that I have some other rad choices.
Last year I applied to three schools and was rejected across the board. In retrospect, rejection was a catalyst for great things in my life. I've had experiences in this year that I wouldn't trade. I also learned a lot about the application process. I love the sense of the community on this board, by the way. It's been so helpful in stressful times, and happy times.
in at LSU, fiction! I got a couple freaky (i mean excitement-inducing but noncommittal (she said she had "good news" for me)) voicemails earlier this week that i tried to return with no success. Official email today. I'm delirious on cold medicine, so i will celebrate by putting things in imaginary internet shopping carts that i have no intention of buying.
hope next week brings ecstatic news to more peeps.
I just re-read my above post and it is semi-nonsensical. I went for a hike today, I'm a bit tired... you'll have to excuse me.
I would also say that you should try and workshop locally and online. Read. Read. Read. Also, applying to these schools is a big investment--try for as many as you can (and try for some funded schools that don't have a 2-4 percent acceptance rate). I mean, try and go all out next year if you're that serious about it. Start your applications in the summer even (not that you can apply that early, but you'll have more time to perfect everything).
I hope you make it in next year.
I also know that there are some MA programs that you could still apply to this year. There are enough people that go from an MA to an MFA that it isn't a bad idea if you're really feeling the pressure of your workload is holding you back. I know, for example, that UM-Duluth is still accepting application for funded positions (and they have a publishing centric MA with associations with Holy Cow! press and such).
@Dee - I read your post last night, but I'm not too great at giving people advice over the interwebs... BUT, based on your earlier post it is my (mostly uninformed) opinion that you write in a very distinctive style and so you might need to work harder at finding the right program fit than the average poet. You seemed to be putting the bulk of your hope onto Brown, because you felt that they were *the* experimental program that was going to *get* what you were doing and that would be able to accept your style and work with it. Unfortunately, Brown is a crazy hard admit in a crazy subjective field. Fortunately, though, despite Brown's reputation it is NOT the only program that nurtures and encourages avant garde poetics. In my humble invisible Internet opinion, you need to do some thorough research and look into other programs in addition to Brown. And I think you're going to need to apply to a larger pool of programs -- because you just can't predict where or when or which adcomm is going to connect with your sample. Also, I don't know what Seth charges to consult with you on constructing a list, but i'm sure it's more cost-effective than taking an annual gamble that an impossibly selective MFA program is going to choose you out of a field of hundreds. Just my $0.02!
About Iowa's vowels... Do y'alls know the Seamus Heaney poem "In Iowa"? It starts with In Iowa once ... There's a wonderful piece, somewheres, in which Heaney talks about constructing that line for its mouthfeel. In Iowa once makes your mouth move through large variety of different positions in a short period of time. It's a wonderful poem. And his comments about craft are almost as gorgeous.
Dee: As a poet who also has a quirky post-modern style let me just recommend some other funded schools (just off of the top of my head): Michigan, Minnesota, LSU, Iowa, UMass, Montana, Colorado State, University of Colorado, Boise State, Tulane, UC-San Diego, Notre Dame
@Dee: The oracles have spoken. If you've set your aim on academia, then going to the best possible/suitable funded program with a mentoring faculty helps. I hate to advise that, but historically speaking, MFA's hired for tenure-track jobs are from nice programs and they're also usually publishing machines.
Also, do you live in SF? I just moved back home to Denver from San Francisco. You'd need to take out a loan for rent, too. Around $12,000/year.
@Dee, if you do decide to try again next year, why not think about the creative dissertation phd programs? There's been previous discussion about some colleges not wanting to hire those without a doctorate unless they have a substantial book. I want to teach at the university level as well, so I'm thinking maybe the doctoral program is the way to go.
Just another thought for you.
Good luck.
I like food poems. One of mine is "Love Among The Zucchini," a sestina. :-)
I'm also in at LSU (for poetry). I haven't decided where I'm going yet (also in at Minnesota), but feel free to drop me an e-mail at aaronaapps [at] yahoo.com if you want to chat.
Anyone here considering deferring an acceptance until the following year?
I'm leaning towards that direction, but my gut is screaming at me to not give up on my other prospects (esp. since New School has been my dream school for so long. I've been at my undergrad working my ass off on a major I can't stand and honing my writing craft just so I could get accepted).
The comments and suggestions towards Dee's decision have really put things in perspective, though (one week of this entire blog is about as useful as months and months of research, IMO).
The temptation to max out a few credit cards still tempts me. Damn my youth.
It's better if I wait it out, I guess. Get a job, an apartment, work on my writing in my spare time, apply to better funded programs, get in (ya never know), and at least be greatful I pulled off one acceptance on my first try.
You guys are an inspiration. It's a shame some of your top choices never noticed this.
@everyone:
Imagine how the process would've been had blogs like this one and Drtiftless House not existed?
@ MommyJ: The only problem with that logic (in regards to the PhD) is that if you want to get into a almost any (decent) PhD program in CW you'll be competing with a lot of students in top MFA programs for those spots who not only got into top MFA programs, but who have also been working quite hard under great faculty for several years in order to improve their writing before applying for a PhD.
I second Trilbe's last post. Last year, I applied to 10 programs with only wait lists to my name at the end of app season. I'm confident part of the reason why I was rejected was b/c I was applying to the wrong programs. I suppose much of what I write could be labeled experimental or at least genre and form-bendy. In other words, I don't even entertain the thought of gracing journals like Glimmer Train but instead dream about Ninth Letter and The Fairy Tale Review. This year I applied to 12 programs with 4 of them, in my opinion, being very supportive of non-traditional work: Brown, SIUC, WUSTL, Arizona State. I applied to other programs as well b/c I wanted to follow the 12 plus rule and who really knows what's going to tickle the fancy of committee members. Needless to say, I wasn't surprised by my rejection from Indiana. It's a crazy competitive year, Dee. I'm only sitting on one definite acceptance with only 4 more schools to hear from, but it's from a fully funded program that I would love to attend and where I feel my aesthetic would be nurtured. All it takes is one. I can't help you much on the poetry end since I'm a fiction guy but one way of figuring out if a program MAY lean one way or the other (apart from reading faculty and student work) is to look at the contributor notes of journals and see where people received their MFA.
I see the logic and the practicality of waiting for a school with better funding. I lean towards deferring as well. However... I deferred back in 2006 and it is something which is in between regret and acceptance. I thought I would wait one year to save my spot at SAIC and then go off and be a writer but life kind of got in the way and my velocity shifted towards another life-changing career. It goes without saying that it is wise to wait for more money or wait just a year to make sure you're ready, etc... but your life could change in a year. Something could happen that makes it impossible for you to take advantage of your secured spot. I feel like there is a reason you got in this year. My thoughts aren't entirely formed on this but I just know that, in my case, I will likely have to take out loans to pay for school even though I know it is unwise to do so. But, I've already given up one chance at an MFA and I don't plan on doing it again. Just definitely think hard about the decision of putting your life off for another year.
Dee: I was just going to add that the list above is of schools I KNOW are friendly to experimental poets. You should check out the work of the faculty for yourself. It's always good to read more contemporary poetry. But, if you are looking to build a list (and you are an 'experimental' poet) I think that is a relatively good set of schools to start with.
Jason J: If you lament the decision so much, why don't you apply again--maybe you can't, but seriously, don't project your own problems onto other people.
There are practically no job prospects for MFA graduates from top schools (let alone lesser known schools). Going into massive amounts of debt for an art degree that is rather worthless is an absolutely horrible idea.
I figure if I don't get in anywhere this year, I should probably get cracking on cranking out better quality work, but I don't really know anyone who is into poetry that I can bounce my work off of.
How do I get started trying to find an online poetry workshop/group? Can someone point me in a direction please?
Also congratulations to everyone who has received good news!!
I appreciate your 2 cents. I haven't made my decision yet, but yeah, I've always wanted to live the writer's life in NYC. This may be my one and only chance.
@Aaron Apps
Though your comment was geared towards Jason, I just want to say you're the kick in the teeth I needed. Honesty hurts, but it makes one a better, more responsible person.
Re: avant-garde poetics
Are there any noteable programs that specialize (or at least nurture) avant garde/experimental fiction?
@Mila: Stanford Continuing Studies has Online workshops that seem great (run by past Stegner Fellows) and The Kenyon Review, I think, has some online workshops as well. You have to pay for both of these but they seem like they might be higher quality than your average online forum critique. You might also want to try for some of the summer programs at places like UMass and Iowa (or things like Breadloaf)... that might be fun.
Congrats to everyone thinking about moving up to Fairbanks for creative writing. A few of you mentioned a conversation outside the blog, which sounds great. I'm pressed for time right now, so I can't really go through the posts. BUT...
I've lived in Anchorage, AK my whole life, besides some college years, and have been up to Fairbanks a few times and could help discuss the city and environment. Just email me any questions
I read a lot of contemporary poetry (which is why I know where the writers are). I don't know as much about fiction. Maybe someone else can help? I know Brown/Alabama (but that really isn't much help is it).
The Mid-American Review runs online 9 wk workshops (around $350 I think which is half the price of a Stanford class). Check out the MAR site for details. I've done both MAR and Stanford and can recommend both. If you just want a pure workshop without reading assignments go for MAR.
And then there's Zoetrope.com (you'll def. have to pay your dues here and become a part of the community before you start getting consistent strong feedback, but it's an online community full of writers from all backgrounds and experience levels from just starting out to multiple book deals with a major publishing house. You'll get back what you put in.)
I'll second Franny's sentiments about MFAs not guaranteeing a job. There's a heated debate about PHD CWs and the job market on P&W now. Basically, it's going to come down to publications (and you better damn well have them in both book and journal form if you want to have a fighting chance) and perhaps how flexible/interdisciplinary you are in terms of teaching a breadth of classes. If you look at academic job postings a lot of places aren't just looking for writers but also for scholars.
@Mila, I'd be game - you could always start by joining Amanda's Ning group (MFA limbo) where some people (including me) are swapping portfolios. Email her at mandasue (at) gmail (dot) com.
I found your comment rude and slightly ignorant. I've been a regular commenter here and by now it should be known that I wouldn't be a part of this community unless I had applied again. Indeed, I have been accepted again and will begin this fall.
I apologize if my comment lacked clarity. If it's a wise decision to not go into debt for an MFA, it is equally wise to consider that within the year of deferment plans may be derailed. I fail to see why, when everyone else here is cautioning those who are considering deferment to save money, it is not helpful to look at it from the other side and the possible ramifications of deferring.
Additionally, how in your mind would it be possible for me to share my story of deferment without projecting my "problems" onto Anti-, etc? We are real people here with real stories, I chose to share a personal fact that may help those deciding.
Jason J, there was nothing wrong with your story and I for one found it very helpful even though the story wasn't written for me. Thank you for sharing and please don't feel like you were out of line in any way :)
“but your life could change in a year. Something could happen that makes it impossible for you to take advantage of your secured spot. I feel like there is a reason you got in this year.”
I see that as projecting your own situation onto someone else’s. It is a BAD idea to go into a poorly funded MFA program (let along a mediocre funded program that only gives tuition remission and no living stipend).
“My thoughts aren't entirely formed on this but I just know that, in my case, I will likely have to take out loans to pay for school even though I know it is unwise to do so. But, I've already given up one chance at an MFA and I don't plan on doing it again. Just definitely think hard about the decision of putting your life off for another year.”
I miss read this part. I’d definitely say that you shouldn’t do it either. I wasn’t trying to be offensive. I was trying to be a bit punchy. Hope there are no ill feelings.
I understand. Trust me, it would be impossible for me to project my situation (problem) because I actually "gave up" my spot knowingly - I didn't really see it as a problem when I made the decision. I was generalizing the experience there. "Something" could prevent you from taking advantage of your acceptance. I think it's a good idea generally to not bank on any future outcome. Taking on loans to pay for an art degree because you foolishly hope you will be making lots of money from your degree is a bad idea. Trusting that your life situation will remain the same and leave you open to begin grad school a full year from now (in my opinion) is also not the best idea. However, you just gotta make the decision that makes the most sense to you at the time and feels the most right.
No ill feelings at all brah. Good times. Everyone's happy. Everyone's ready for MARCH RADNESS to continue.
Blah, I've just had a sick-with-worry day because of the funding situation at the schools I've applied/been accepted to. Many of the schools I applied to fund some but not all of their students, and I haven't gotten funding yet. I'm hoping that one of the schools I've been accepted to will decide to give me funding, or I will get a better funded / more affordable offer from one of my other schools that haven't started notifying yet.
I am so tired of every day being this crazy jumble of worries and hopes. After getting accepted, I had a few glorious days when I was just happy that I got in, then the worries about money ruined it. Now I'm back to the panic attacks and constant questions in my head, "what if this, what if that?" What if I don't get enough money? What if I get some, but still have to find a job to cover living expenses? What if I can't find a job? What should I do? Should I go back to obsessively plotting backup plans?
This process is a 6-month-long panic attack, and I am really, really exhausted...
Way to go! When is your interview? I'm interviewing at New School next weekend...good luck and I hope you have a great time!
Oh hey also if you wanna talk about/panic about possible interview questions with me sometime this week, lemme know! I feel kind of at a loss as to how to prepare...
I'd love to get some advice on Portland. I've been there a bunch of times and have a pretty good handle on where to eat and drink and that sort of thing, but what I'm really curious about is living...
Are there neighborhoods that are significantly cheaper than others? Is it worth living on (or right near) campus? That sort of stuff.
If you'd rather talk "off-blog," as the phrase seems to be, email me at <>
Hello to all attending Boise State next year! I'm not attending, but I grew up here in Boise. It's a beautiful city! I can answer any and all questions about the surrounding area- rent prices, culture, great places to eat, hang out, and anything else you'd like to know. Also, to all attending University of Idaho: the campus is beautiful. A little out of the way, but really nestled nicely. A campus of rolling hills and ivy on New England-style buildings. I had cousins and friends who attended and loved it. Gets cold, but really beautiful. Anyone who wants information, feel free to contact me at scholarseeker[at]yahoo[dot]com (old high school email that I use for this stuff.) Anyway, congrats to everyone who has been accepted to Idaho's awesome schools!
I was feeling down, down, down. Two rejections in one day. Michigan form letter, and Iowa.
I know I'm in good company. The odds aren't good. I'm fiction. 1200+ applications with only 25 spots aren't very good odds. So congrats to those who got in, were wait listed or finalists!
I did check my status online at CCA California College of the Arts in San Francisco instead of waiting for the letter. I got accepted! I really like the school.
I'm curious to know what kind of financial help I'm offered, if any. It was my best shot considering it reflected more of who I am.
Good news: I can study all forms of writing: Poetry, Fiction, CNF, playwriting and studio art classes.
On the down side I would be commuting from L.A about 3X a month since I have an apartment here, and I'm a single mom. But at least it's not too far (400 miles)
I'm still waiting to hear from: Hunter, Hollins, Riverside and UCLA (Screenwriting) I may apply to the low res programs, Warren Wilson and Vermont.
Would it be a terrible idea to e-mail V-tech to check my status? I had an interview with 4 of the faculty, and the head of the department e-mailed me afterward to say that my app had risen to the top of the pile, I aced the interview, wonderfully talented, blah blah.
That was over a month ago now, and I know I've seen a few people here already notified of acceptances and waitlists by V-tech.
Would an e-mail saying, "So, what's up?" be unreasonable?
Along with about 1250 other people, I received my Iowa rejection today which makes 5 rejects this week. 8 more schools to go. I'm definitely preparing myself for round 2 of applications at this point. Also, thinking about the pieces I submitted, I'm starting to wonder if I wasn't one of the people that the committees read the story and said to themselves, "There are some delusional people out there. This guy is lucky to be even mildly employed."
@Courtney- I would have killed for a scribble saying I was a finalist for Iowa. Congratulations. I would take that as encouragement, not tragedy.
I don't think it would be unreasonable at all. If VTech sent you a GNE after your interview over a month ago, you deserve to know where you stand now. Definitely email them, or maybe even call. Just be friendly about it. I get the feeling that they are still working through applications. Someone was just accepted for poetry a couple days ago.
On a separate note: I am writing at 5:12am and am completely aware that few to no people will be blogging right now. However, I need to get some writing done--or at least try--and I'm having trouble forcing myself to do it. SO, I'm telling you all now that I am going to get some writing done. And when I have reached my word limit I will write you all again and tell you if I succeeded. I need someone to push me, lol, and if I have to push myself then I might as well have the added pressure of others knowing about my failures if I decide to procrastinate yet again. So here it goes. This is my attempt to discipline my dishelved and anxious brain.
Has anyone heard anything from Cornell yet? No more nails left to bite.
So far I've only heard from Brown and Colorado (both rejection), and after reading previous comments, am expecting a beautiful yet deadly letter from Michigan.
Congratulations to all of you who have received good news, and to those with rejections only - do not be discouraged. The process is grueling. It brings out everything we dislike about ourselves and lowers our self esteem, but at the end of the day it is only higher education.
Write or Die is a genius program. I just completed 2,500 words in less than 30 minutes. So I'm happy with that. I think I may have stumbled upon a nifty idea for a future story or collection in the process. Splendid! But now that I am warmed up, I need to do some ACTUAL writing. Short exercises, but they need to resemble an art form rather than a pile of miscellaneous words--so I'm going to hop to it. Cross your fingers that I finish quickly. I need to work up enough mojo to attack my next workshop piece today. Ahaaa.
Uh, dearest MFA lords: some good news would help that process. ;)
@Michelle J - Yay, you did it! :) That's great you got a new idea out of tonight, and I wish you luck with the next piece - and oooh, I hope you also catch some sleep somewhere in there. I don't know though - sometimes the super-late night/early morning writing is the best though, right?
Okay everyone - well I for one am turning in. Good luck everybody!
Good morning, everyone. i've got a completely unrelated to MFA app question, but this still seems like a good place to ask it. In between not getting into a program, I continue to send stuff out. I've been more and more using online submissions. My ocmputer has Word 07 (docx). I've been assuming that when mags say they accept Word or doc, that docx is ok, too. Is it possible that some are just tossing my stuff cuz they can't read it? Should I be backsaving to Word 2003? Am I just losing my mind? (I have gotten some feedback/one acceptance with it, so I know *some* journals can read it). But, still....
Just to clarify--I don't assume that if I'm turned down, it must be cuz they can't read it! (Just realized my post could've been read that way...) Far from it!
@ Leslie: I would backsave. If you save in a prior MSWord format they'll be able to open in for sure (also, if it says *.doc that isn't *.docx).
For example, my old ibook (not that old) can't open docx files without converting them in some alternate program (and then the formatting is substantially off). These journals get so many submissions they're unlikely to bother to do such a thing if they can't open a file. They'll pass over the submission and move on to the next one.
@Leslie, personally I'd back save to word '03. I have to convert my students' writing when they send it in docx, and while I will do that, I don't know that lit mags will.
@umirenic, Aaron Apps, MommyJ--thanks! I'll spend some time today backsaving everything. you've confirmed my suspicions(I should have thought about this oh, a year or two ago....)
I most definitely write a lot of my best work in the very late/wee early hours of the night/morning. And I got round 2 of my writing tasks out of the way, so now I just need to begin to tackle the big guy and I'll feel pretty good about taking a break. I'd take one now but I hate to break focus since it took me all night to find the will to write. A 20 minute Blog break can't hurt though, right? lol. Sleep tight! Good luck with your writing as well.
@Leslie
I'm pretty sure you've already arrived at the decision to backsave your word files, but I thought I'd mention that I always save my word docs as .rtf files. I've never shared a .rtf file with someone who wasn't able to open it--so it's a pretty safe avenue for any word docs that you could potentially want to share. :)
So has anyone received an IWW acceptance letter that hadn't gotten a call before? I remember people discussing this in previous posts--that in previous years people had heard via snail mail and hadn't been called...but i haven't seen any evidence of that this year. am i wrong?
also, its a beautiful day in boston today...so for those of you who are in new england, enjoy! i hope you all get a chance to do your writing in front of an open, sunny window.
@ Michelle J: Good point about the *.rtf option. Most journals do say “*.doc” but either would work. How have does rtf open up format wise for you? Some of my funnily formatted poems opened up funky in word perfect. I doubt it would matter with prose though.
@Michelle, hey I too do all my writing at night but lately I just totally stopped writing bcoz of the application process and now the prospect of getting rejected hasn't helped. But your post was encouraging I'll once more discipline myself to write..what did you end up writing??
@Michelle, thanks for the rtf comment, and also, just wanted to let you know, that you inspired me to GET TO WORK today, and I got a new story started. it's shite right now, but it's material I can work with. thanks for the good example!
Ha! You caught that:) From doom and gloom, to the little ray of sunshine, all in a matter of 30 minutes. So don't lose hope dearhearts.
One acceptance is good. And yes it would have been nice to get the golden ticket, but I'm not quite there yet. CCA is a good fit for me though: eclectic, left-of-center, not limited to genre, art school. But I know I won't be able to attend if I don't get a tuition waiver, so I'll wait for the letter.
"D'oh!" used to be my favorite expression. Now, it's "D'oy!" because "D'oh!" lands with a thud (the subtlety of Homer Simpson), while "D'oy!" is more springy, buoyant, as in D'oy-oy-yoy-oy-oy...(But you hear the "-oy-yoy-oy-oy..." only in your head.)
I use "D'oy!" in my everyday convo with people. If you don't mind the funny looks, "D'oy!" is a lot of fun.
recieved acceptance from Montana poetry today(on Sunday!) via email. funding unlikely. I most likely won't be taking this, so a spot will probably be opening up here, if anyone cares.
@Laura T: I am completely in the same sitch as you. I tried to apply only to schools that had an option of full funding, but some of them don't fully fund everyone. Those are the ones I've been accepted to and I didn't receive funding. It's a bitch of a situation and has pretty much dispelled all my happy glowy feelings. It's especially frustrating since I have experience TA'ing in another Master's program and that apparently didn't help me get a TAship. So I, too, am now wondering whether I need a Plan B...
re: formatting - I make a .pdf copy to send out or upload. I've never run into a lit mag that wouldn't allow this format, and it stops poems or lines from being re-formatted. It will show up *exactly* as you've saved it. If it's accepted, then I send the .doc which they can edit.
A .pdf is simple to make - either go to the file menu and click "export as .pdf" or click print and then there should be a button that says "save as .pdf" instead of printing.
Unfortunately, the poem is lineated all crazy on this web page. FYI, it should be three quatrains and a couplet.
If you like this poem, PLEASE check out the rest of District and Circle. It's one of my favorite books. The book also contains a poem called "Poet to Blacksmith", which is a translation from Irish of an old letter to a Blacksmith called Seamus. It's a wonderful poem about craft that humbles me every time I read it. I've googled this poem, too, but I don't think it's available on the web. I would type it here, but I don't want to be shady and give away someone else's poem.
With that said, the poem begins: "Seamus, make me a side-arm to take on the earth" -- and it ends: "And best thing of all, the ring of it, sweet as a bell." There's quite a bit of awesome poemness in between those two lines!
I don't use word perfect myself, but I've had colleagues send their work in .rtf using word perfect and the formatting does get a little screwy. In that case it might be a good idea to attach a .pdf file as well. I do that sometimes and most online applications specify .rtf, .pdf, or .doc anyway. Like Peaquah said, pdf format guarantees your file will look exactly the same as it did when you saved it.
@Nefretti, Leslie, etc.
I'm glad I was able to inspire you guys to write. I have been struggling hardcore since the MFA process began as well. Writers block has never been more of an issue for me than it is right now. I've literally dedicated days to trying to write and spent most of the time staring at the computer screen. I was really started to feel bad about myself, and I know a ton of folks on this blog are having the same issues. So while I was avoiding my writers block, I decided to start a blog about writers block and the MFA process. It's definitely a work in progress, but just attempting to compile a list of exercises to help break through the writing barrier and then finding inspirational quotes from well known writers helped out a lot. I was somehow able to motivate myself enough to sit down and work. So I've decided that I need to blog each day just to get preoccupied thoughts out of my head and make way for the real writing. I'll post the blog address when I've developed it a little more. It's more of a personal project but it worked for me so maybe it could work for other people too.
Nefretti, you asked what I wrote. A bunch of crap to start with. I downloaded Write or Die and gave myself 10 minutes to write 500 words.I spent the entire word limit ranting about how I can't write because MFA stuff has taken over my brain. Once I got that off of my chest I did 2 other exercises--300 words in 10 minutes--and ended up writing far more in less time. I tried to avoid editing and just let it flow. I struggle with that, so it was a beneficial exercise for me. Most of it was word vomit, but the last exercise had progressed into something with more purpose, and it ended up inspiring a new short story idea.
I'm also working on a collaborative writing thingy with a friend of mine. It's really experimental right now, but we sent each other 2 original "first lines" of a short story, and then wrote 1.5 pages continuing from the lines the other person sent. So when we were done we had each played a part in writing 4 different story fragments. We swapped the stories again and now I will have to continue writing 2 pages based on the first 1.5 pages he wrote, and vice versa. It sounds silly, but it really gets the creative juices flowing and forces you to think outside of the box. I'm excited about it--we have some crazy exercises planned. It will be interesting to see which collaborative pieces end successfully. Nonetheless, it got me in the mood to write, so it's a success in that sense already. I've definitely been lacking motivation and what not.
So, that was me rambling for a couple thousand characters. That's what happens when I don't sleep for 48 hours. Sorry about that. I'm not even sure if I made much sense, but oh well. I'm in better spirits than I've been in a LONG time. ...just watch, today will be the day I finally recieve word from a program, and it will RUIN my mood. Keeping my fingers crossed for the opposite.
Glad I was able to motivate some of you though. Keep it in mind when I start posting about my writers block again (which will probably be tomorrow night...)
I'm going to end this post because I've done enough ranting and blah blah-ing to last me the entire day. Good timing on the comments though guys...because I was just beginning to give up for the day. But now I won't! :)
*I am not even going to punish myself by proof reading this post, so I apologize for all the errors that most likely exist. *
@emma - you and I are the only ones I've heard of on this board or elsewhere who have been waitlisted in fiction at Iowa. So we know "very short waiting list" is longer than one person long at least.
If you scour the previous mailbags you'll find unsubstantiated rumors that in one recent year, there was no waiting list in fiction; that in another year, there was a waiting list of one person; and that at some point in the last few years, someone actually got in off the waiting list after a rather long amount of time. No idea how long it was specifically, since we all know the feeling of waiting to hear from a dream school is "constant panic." Coulda been six hours.
But I believe we'll know something in the week following April 15, if not before then... Feel free to email me at frodebart at the ol' gmail dot com if you want to talk more about how weird it feels.
I spoke with Cornell on Friday. They said that all their notifications went out a couple weeks back. The woman was nice enough to look up my file and let me know that I was rejected. So I'd say that if you haven't heard anything by now, your fate is similar to mine.
Any word from the Boise State or Arizona fiction programs yet? I'm itching!
random thought: do you guys think that these schools/admissions panels ever google our names, look us up on facebook to get an idea of who we are? What we're like? If we're a "match" with the program? hmmm.
I've been accepted into Brooklyn for poetry and they called asking me about my other offers so that they can use that information to negotiate funding with the university. I'm embarrassed to tell them that I haven't gotten any other offers yet (and probably won't!). At the same time, I probably wouldn't be able to really go if I didn't at least get some money off of the tuition. Does anyone have any advice on what to say to them/has anyone been in a similar situation?
For the records, I live in NY and only applied to the NY schools.
Did the poetry dept. tell you what kind of funding they might be offering? I've been accepted at BC in fiction, and the only funding I was told about was teaching comp classes.
I've heard that Irvine called people for fiction a while back. Does anyone know if it was the same for poetry, or do we have to wait for snail mail? (Trying to be optimistic here.)
If I were asked that question I'd just be vague and say that I applied to a handful of schools and I'm still waiting to hear back. You're really not obligated to tell anyone about your offers.
Isn't Brooklyn ridiculously affordable, however? Like $5,000 a semester or something.
Summer, No one's been called yet for poetry. I think it could be in the next two weeks or so, however. I tried calling the grad. administrator on Fri., but she kept putting me through to voicemail... We'll just have to wait.
Where on the CCA Web site did you look up your admission status? I checked my CCA Web Advisor account and it still says my application is "under review." Is that code for rejected? Boo for me. Congrats to you, however. =)
yes, i'm waiting too, but i live in new england and usually it takes about 4 days for mail to get from the midwest out to here...so maybe if you live on either coast or in the south it'll take an extra day?
so whats the news on Florida. Someone over at DH said they got a waitlist e-mail. Is that for poetry? Should I be assuming a rejection here and that I won't be a gator? :(
The status is under Admission Information, Admission status.
I'm in, according to the status, but since they haven't officially notified anyone, I think they're probably still making decisions. So I'd wait and see!
Nick--much congratulations on your choice. I read some of your stuff on your site a while back and I have to say, i'm not surprised things turned out so well for you.
And you've been a voice of consistent support to so many other fellow writers.
I wish you much success, and look forward to reading your future writings.
I spoke with someone from Florida a few days ago (GNP), and they said that they will be calling accepted and waitlisted students this upcoming week. I have no idea if they called all the students they are considering, so I wouldn't read too much into the GNP. Maybe they just found me suspect and wanted to check me out... Anyway, good luck!
@ Nick: Big congrats! I hope Ohio turns out well for you. (And I'm sure you've made several waitlisters very happy to come to your decision so timely.)
@Emma I wouldn't actually be too bummed :) I found a place and barring absolutely no funding, I will be attending in the Fall. It would be nice for Gator Nation to show me some love after all I've been through. Cheering them on during the Zook era and whatnot. But I am excited for you! I'm sure they didn't find you suspect but wanted to give you a heads-up so you wouldn't be TOO surprised when they call you this week.
Congrats to everyone and Nick McRae - I'm glad everything is turning out so well for you!
Just got a call from David Leavitt from U of Florida. Accepted for fiction (!!!).
Here's my situation, for those of you interested. Not sure what I'm going to do yet, but I know there are people who have overlap with me. There will definitely be some spots opening up:
Iowa-waitlist Hunter-unoffical acceptance Florida-accepted Montana-accepted Alabama-assumed rejection Sarah Lawrence Michener-rejection Irvine UNCG Virginia
I know Wandering Tree!!! I was all worried about last week, thinking it was going to be full of notifications, and NOTHING!! Unless today's UF notification (wahhhhh). Now, I pretty much know for sure that the remaining four schools left to notify on my list will ALL be notifying this next week, making me just a tad bit nervous. But Notre Dame, you promised!! Where are you?! Help a fellow Catholic out!!
WT--they are killing me! I have been jumping at my phone all weekend. I know there were some early acceptances (2 in fiction?) so that leaves three spots. I don't know why I assume everyone and her Mama reads this blog. It's perfectly reasonable to assume that the calls have been made to adjusted people who don't avoid social interaction to refresh their browsers over and over again.
But seriously, Notre Dame. Call me. I know all about the Sorrowful Mysteries. I'd like to get my hands on some of those Joyful or Glorious ones.
Courtney, me too! My boyfriend has decided to make it a funny, funny joke to say "it's Notre Dame calling" every time the phone rings. Ha. Ha. You bastard.
I didn't think about the fact that there are only three remaining spots and many applicants who do not post on this blog... hmmmm... I'm calling them tomorrow and I'll tell you what I hear :)
Also got the call today from David Leavitt. We should talk!! (?) Are you thinking about visiting or anything? OH GOD shoot me an email -- yesyescherries (at) gmail (dot) com
I don't mean to continue to drag this board down with my negativity, but I feel like shit. I just really don't want to have to apply again. The thought of gathering recommendations and money for application fees makes me shutter. And there's no guarantee that I'll get accepted anywhere after applying a second time. I know that I don't suck as a writer, but I just feel like the world is against me right now (I know it's not, I know, I know, but I feel that way). Blech. $1000 down the drain.
2,265 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 400 of 2265 Newer› Newest»Hey Julia,
Check out this link.
http://driftless-house.blogspot.com/2010/02/2010-cw-mamfaphd-application-responses.html?commentPage=4
Looks like Iowa, Ohio State, and Penn State have at least started their notification process though...
@Rose
Hey, thanks so much for the help. He's going to be bummed. Reading the comments, seems like a few people have heard from Pitt already too.
@Nathaniel - Iowa has mailed all rejections and acceptances. Waitlists, too. He should be receiving a letter any day.
@Julia/Nathaniel - Previous post meant for Julia, not Nathaniel. Sorry.
@Julia - Check Driftless House for updates on all programs.
I got the big white envelope/fake out from Oregon today. Why do they send housing info at times like these? jeez. Glad I had the heads up about though, you guys saved me the emotional turmoil it would have otherwise caused. :)
Got rejections (snail-mail) from both Michigan and Southern Illinois today.
Brings the tally to:
Alabama (rejection)
Illinois (wait-list)
Michigan (rejection)
Ohio State (wait-list)
Southern Illinois (rejection)
Wyoming (rejection)
Still no word from:
Arkansas (???)
Indiana (assumed rejection)
Purdue (???)
Virginia Tech (assumed rejection)
I'd say my chances are looking pretty pretty pretty grim...
I just got my rejection from Iowa, and I'm shocked, SHOCKED, about this turn of events.
Michigan snail mail rejection for this girl, today! But hey, it was a very pretty letter.
Hi All,
I've been checking this thing daily and I figured it was only courteous to post my news since I'm reading all of yours.
So far, I've only been receiving positive phone calls, which is amazing and surprising. Aren't things supposed to come by mail?
I have been Accepted to the following programs for Poetry.
University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW)
University of Arizona (UA)
University of Oregon (UO)
@Julia.
Wow, that's an impressive list! When did Oregon notify you, if you don't mind me asking?
if you post the oregon acceptance on driftless house people will start freaking out.
Everyone,
Sorry, didn't mean to freak people out. Oregon called me this morning, 03/06. I'm still waiting on UVA and IUB. Good luck to everyone. This has been the hardest waiting game.
Julia-
CoNgRaTuLaTiOnS!
Thanks Abbie, best of luck to you!
Congrats Julia! Everyone said UNCW was giving a March 5 deadline, and so I'm curious what you told them, given you didn't even find out about Oregon until today?
Julia--Major Congrats!
Threes, Hmmm... that's quite interesting. I guess that deadline was for other people, maybe some that were offered funding right away?
I got a call from them two weeks ago with no deadline. They told me that I wouldn't hear about funding for another two weeks when financial aid stuff came through. Maybe they were waiting till some people turned the funding down? Maybe they were pushier with some than with others? Not sure.
UO is giving me till April 15th though so at least a have some time. Thanks for the info about the other deadline.
UNCW's deadlines are only for those offered financial aid. They'd like to know within two weeks of the decision, but they have been allowing extensions. (I know this because I'm hoping for funding, was accepted, and was not asked to respond within a certain amt of time.)
Well I feel pretty silly. I guess if you are getting aid, they tell you right away. Thanks for clarifying Abbie. That'll help in the future.
Michigan rejection letter today. Oh Iowa, why are you dragging it out?
Congrats on all your acceptances, Julia! I'm totally biased, but I hope you really consider Arizona. (I got my undergrad there.) Have fun with your decision-making!
Received nice funding offer from UAF. Probably not going to land at UAF so for those waiting, please know some funding will likely loosen up in the (hopefully) very near future.
Should I just go to U of San Fran and take out like $30,000 in loans and say fuck it (thinking this way because of assumed rejection from Vtech, and no word from ASU)? IM SO CONFUSED!!!!!
OR
Should I apply for a third time this fall? UGHZ *annoyed*
Since Portland State has been coming up, I thought I would let you all know that I did my undergraduate work there. So if anyone has any questions, hit me up.
Hey guys! I got an e-mail on Thursday asking for an interview at Columbia for play writing! So excited. I don't know how many people they interview but if feels great to have come this far.
Dee-I feel your pain.
Julia-Please don't feel silly. I wasn't intending on bursting any bubbles. UNCW has recently been fairly open with their situation. I, too, was first told that they'd know within a couple of weeks and then saw someone posting a funding offer. I emailed Lavonne Adams and she was very kind and gave me forthright information on where I stood regarding funding. Perhaps you could drop her a line?
Dee,
Of course I don't know what your personal situation is but personally, I would never take out that much debt for an mfa, especially with so many other programs offering full funding. If I were you, I would totally wait and try again next year. Third time's the charm?
Best of luck to you! That's a tough decision you've got to make.
Yay @ rosephase!
@ happygonowhere
Im a single mom and work my ass off as a chef at two jobs. Im already in school debt frm the JWU degree in culinary arts (25,000 for a fuckin' AS). I promised myself NEVER to pay for school again (I made good on that promise, received my BA at U of Miami, not a penny out of my pocket spent).
BUT NOW...
Grad school, I want to go sooooo bad. And Im getting older, and to be a professor I need to go all the way. I want to start as soon as I can. Im tired of working 80 hrs a week for pebbles. *sigh* Im rambling again.
Point is, Im not rich and it would not be wise at all to take out 30,000 in loans. Thank u for bringing me back to earth. If my writing isnt good enough for a full tuition waiver AND a stipend, then Im not where I need to be as a writer anyway. Ill take this extra year to work on my writing even harder! (just got really pumped up off of my own motivational speech : /)
@Rose
Oh my goodness, thank you so much for letting me know - I am so, so excited! I love this board. I think this means I'll be at Alaska next year for sure.
Congratulations on Minnesota! That is really awesome, and super-competitive admissions. Thank you for offering to answer questions, too (wow, you're an Alaskan!) - I would love that, because I have never been there and I'm feeling more than a little daunted... I don't even own real shoes. Just flip-flops!!
Well, I think my main question is, what are the people like? And also, I guess, is winter really crazy? I mean, what's it like when it's dark so much?
Anyway, thanks again for letting me know. And again, good luck everybody!
i know you guys are all stressed out and worried over notifications, so if you want a little break, check out our new eating-in-grad-school blog, Master of Fine Eats, masteroffineeats.blogspot.com. It is run by two poets at New Mexico State (one of which is me). I'm also happy to answer questions about NMSU!
@Dee -- if I were you (and I'm clearly not), I'd go through the application cycle again. Work on your writing until you've got it nailed. Workshop via some community (e.g., Meetup writing groups, online writing groups, night class). I sincerely believe that many are venturing into the MFA gig when they're not ready. I'm not saying this is the case with you -- I don't know you, I haven't seen your writing. I'm speaking in generalities only.
I could give you a detailed testimonial about my own journey toward the MFA, but it would get long and I'll end up rambling and going off on a tangent at some point about The Sopranos or why I hate William Faulkner. And my god, I wish to spare this wonderful community of all that.
@Zoulou -- if you need insights on any program, just find current students and email them your questions. That's basically my M.O.
Dee, I also have to vote against it. Keep working and try again. You probably should find away to get out of working 80 hours a week, though. It has to be hard to concentrate on your writing with that much time spend on the grind.
Best,
Aaron
@ Woon, Aaron Apps, and everyone else thanks for the advise. I think I was becoming a tad desperate. Yes working like this makes it extremely hard to read and write, and lately all my poems have so many culinary references (lol). So, another year it is. And hopefully, somehow, I can get out of this 80 hrs, 7 days a week working schedule (although chances look slim).
@Dee - I just wanted to say good luck, whatever you decide!
Dee, Have you tried taking part in a community poetry workshop. I know with your crazy schedule it must be hard but it's usually only once a week and sometimes, it can really be an incredible way to grow as a writer. You can also just try organizing one yourself for free through online blogs and just meet at a local coffeehouse.
@Dee -- I'm from California and I didn't even bother applying to all the schools here. I talked to one professor -- who shall remain nameless -- at a local school and he/she essentially said that because of the lack of funding, his/her school tends to attract rich kids. I don't know about you but the last thing I want to do is spend the next 2-3 years with a bunch of spoiled trust fund babies as my classmates. (That's not to say they're all like that, of course) I look forward to my time at an MFA program and I hope it's an educational and rewarding experience, not something that I'd look back on and regret.
Again, I speak in generalities.
I just got a very short rejection from Iowa. Meh. At least I have Lan Samantha Chang's autograph (do the doodles count as an autograph?).
Zoulou, you should e-mail me and we'll talk!
hansenma at onid dot orst dot edu
also received my michigan rejection in the mail. thought it was gently worded:
"please know that our decision is meant to negate neither your talent nor your prospects--it is simply our collective judgement that others have first claim on our attention at present."
PS: That offer goes out to anyone who has questions about Alaska!
I've always been impressed with the fact that Iowa is a four-letter word containing three vowels.
Does anyone here have any idea how many people are on the Iowa waitlist? I'm one of them, and I don't know how hopeful I should be. I am very grateful that I have some other rad choices.
Last year I applied to three schools and was rejected across the board. In retrospect, rejection was a catalyst for great things in my life. I've had experiences in this year that I wouldn't trade. I also learned a lot about the application process. I love the sense of the community on this board, by the way. It's been so helpful in stressful times, and happy times.
My name contains all vowels : - )
in at LSU, fiction! I got a couple freaky (i mean excitement-inducing but noncommittal (she said she had "good news" for me)) voicemails earlier this week that i tried to return with no success. Official email today. I'm delirious on cold medicine, so i will celebrate by putting things in imaginary internet shopping carts that i have no intention of buying.
hope next week brings ecstatic news to more peeps.
I just re-read my above post and it is semi-nonsensical. I went for a hike today, I'm a bit tired... you'll have to excuse me.
I would also say that you should try and workshop locally and online. Read. Read. Read. Also, applying to these schools is a big investment--try for as many as you can (and try for some funded schools that don't have a 2-4 percent acceptance rate). I mean, try and go all out next year if you're that serious about it. Start your applications in the summer even (not that you can apply that early, but you'll have more time to perfect everything).
I hope you make it in next year.
I also know that there are some MA programs that you could still apply to this year. There are enough people that go from an MA to an MFA that it isn't a bad idea if you're really feeling the pressure of your workload is holding you back. I know, for example, that UM-Duluth is still accepting application for funded positions (and they have a publishing centric MA with associations with Holy Cow! press and such).
Best,
Aaron
Well, with enough length and consonants, anyone can brag about their name containing all vowels. Economy counts.
It's hard to beat "Iowa."
@Dee - I read your post last night, but I'm not too great at giving people advice over the interwebs... BUT, based on your earlier post it is my (mostly uninformed) opinion that you write in a very distinctive style and so you might need to work harder at finding the right program fit than the average poet. You seemed to be putting the bulk of your hope onto Brown, because you felt that they were *the* experimental program that was going to *get* what you were doing and that would be able to accept your style and work with it. Unfortunately, Brown is a crazy hard admit in a crazy subjective field. Fortunately, though, despite Brown's reputation it is NOT the only program that nurtures and encourages avant garde poetics. In my humble invisible Internet opinion, you need to do some thorough research and look into other programs in addition to Brown. And I think you're going to need to apply to a larger pool of programs -- because you just can't predict where or when or which adcomm is going to connect with your sample. Also, I don't know what Seth charges to consult with you on constructing a list, but i'm sure it's more cost-effective than taking an annual gamble that an impossibly selective MFA program is going to choose you out of a field of hundreds. Just my $0.02!
@Rose - thank you, will do! :)
@Wee Meathead - congratulations! That is awesome... and so is your way of celebrating, thanks for reminding me, that is a great idea.
Dude, Wee Meathead. You are living my dream! Bama AND LSU? Damn you for your awesomeness!
And congrats. :).
About Iowa's vowels... Do y'alls know the Seamus Heaney poem "In Iowa"? It starts with In Iowa once ... There's a wonderful piece, somewheres, in which Heaney talks about constructing that line for its mouthfeel. In Iowa once makes your mouth move through large variety of different positions in a short period of time. It's a wonderful poem. And his comments about craft are almost as gorgeous.
Good poet Trilbe...
Dee: As a poet who also has a quirky post-modern style let me just recommend some other funded schools (just off of the top of my head):
Michigan, Minnesota, LSU, Iowa, UMass, Montana, Colorado State, University of Colorado, Boise State, Tulane, UC-San Diego, Notre Dame
@Dee: The oracles have spoken. If you've set your aim on academia, then going to the best possible/suitable funded program with a mentoring faculty helps. I hate to advise that, but historically speaking, MFA's hired for tenure-track jobs are from nice programs and they're also usually publishing machines.
Also, do you live in SF? I just moved back home to Denver from San Francisco. You'd need to take out a loan for rent, too. Around $12,000/year.
Good luck to you, Dee!!
@Dee, if you do decide to try again next year, why not think about the creative dissertation phd programs? There's been previous discussion about some colleges
not wanting to hire those without a doctorate unless they have a substantial book. I want to teach at the university level as well, so I'm thinking maybe the doctoral program is the way to go.
Just another thought for you.
Good luck.
I like food poems. One of mine is "Love Among The Zucchini," a sestina. :-)
@ Wee Meathead: Congrats!
I'm also in at LSU (for poetry). I haven't decided where I'm going yet (also in at Minnesota), but feel free to drop me an e-mail at aaronaapps [at] yahoo.com if you want to chat.
Best,
Aaron
Anyone here considering deferring an acceptance until the following year?
I'm leaning towards that direction, but my gut is screaming at me to not give up on my other prospects (esp. since New School has been my dream school for so long. I've been at my undergrad working my ass off on a major I can't stand and honing my writing craft just so I could get accepted).
The comments and suggestions towards Dee's decision have really put things in perspective, though (one week of this entire blog is about as useful as months and months of research, IMO).
The temptation to max out a few credit cards still tempts me.
Damn my youth.
It's better if I wait it out, I guess. Get a job, an apartment, work on my writing in my spare time, apply to better funded programs, get in (ya never know), and at least be greatful I pulled off one acceptance on my first try.
You guys are an inspiration. It's a shame some of your top choices never noticed this.
@everyone:
Imagine how the process would've been had blogs like this one and Drtiftless House not existed?
@ Emma
I just noticed your post. Are you fiction or poetry? I wasn't even aware that there was a waitlist...
@ MommyJ: The only problem with that logic (in regards to the PhD) is that if you want to get into a almost any (decent) PhD program in CW you'll be competing with a lot of students in top MFA programs for those spots who not only got into top MFA programs, but who have also been working quite hard under great faculty for several years in order to improve their writing before applying for a PhD.
Best, Aaron
Dee,
I second Trilbe's last post. Last year, I applied to 10 programs with only wait lists to my name at the end of app season. I'm confident part of the reason why I was rejected was b/c I was applying to the wrong programs. I suppose much of what I write could be labeled experimental or at least genre and form-bendy. In other words, I don't even entertain the thought of gracing journals like Glimmer Train but instead dream about Ninth Letter and The Fairy Tale Review. This year I applied to 12 programs with 4 of them, in my opinion, being very supportive of non-traditional work: Brown, SIUC, WUSTL, Arizona State. I applied to other programs as well b/c I wanted to follow the 12 plus rule and who really knows what's going to tickle the fancy of committee members. Needless to say, I wasn't surprised by my rejection from Indiana. It's a crazy competitive year, Dee. I'm only sitting on one definite acceptance with only 4 more schools to hear from, but it's from a fully funded program that I would love to attend and where I feel my aesthetic would be nurtured. All it takes is one. I can't help you much on the poetry end since I'm a fiction guy but one way of figuring out if a program MAY lean one way or the other (apart from reading faculty and student work) is to look at the contributor notes of journals and see where people received their MFA.
this blog is internet crack. hopefully, by april 15th the addiction will come to a halt, cold turkey.
re: Anti-'s and Dee's sentiments.
I see the logic and the practicality of waiting for a school with better funding. I lean towards deferring as well. However... I deferred back in 2006 and it is something which is in between regret and acceptance. I thought I would wait one year to save my spot at SAIC and then go off and be a writer but life kind of got in the way and my velocity shifted towards another life-changing career. It goes without saying that it is wise to wait for more money or wait just a year to make sure you're ready, etc... but your life could change in a year. Something could happen that makes it impossible for you to take advantage of your secured spot. I feel like there is a reason you got in this year. My thoughts aren't entirely formed on this but I just know that, in my case, I will likely have to take out loans to pay for school even though I know it is unwise to do so. But, I've already given up one chance at an MFA and I don't plan on doing it again. Just definitely think hard about the decision of putting your life off for another year.
That's my 2 cents.
WanderingTree: that's good advice.
Dee: I was just going to add that the list above is of schools I KNOW are friendly to experimental poets. You should check out the work of the faculty for yourself. It's always good to read more contemporary poetry. But, if you are looking to build a list (and you are an 'experimental' poet) I think that is a relatively good set of schools to start with.
A recap of my apps (all CNF):
UC Riverside (accepted, 2/12/10)
University of New Mexico (denied, 3/4/10)
Portland State (awaiting reply)
It sounds like some fiction folks at PSU have already received replies, but perhaps CNF is still up for grabs.
Jeez, I wish I had received as much advice as Dee's gotten here when I went hunting for my first car.
Jason J: If you lament the decision so much, why don't you apply again--maybe you can't, but seriously, don't project your own problems onto other people.
There are practically no job prospects for MFA graduates from top schools (let alone lesser known schools). Going into massive amounts of debt for an art degree that is rather worthless is an absolutely horrible idea.
Hey guys,
I figure if I don't get in anywhere this year, I should probably get cracking on cranking out better quality work, but I don't really know anyone who is into poetry that I can bounce my work off of.
How do I get started trying to find an online poetry workshop/group? Can someone point me in a direction please?
Also congratulations to everyone who has received good news!!
@JasonJ
I appreciate your 2 cents. I haven't made my decision yet, but yeah, I've always wanted to live the writer's life in NYC. This may be my one and only chance.
@Aaron Apps
Though your comment was geared towards Jason, I just want to say you're the kick in the teeth I needed. Honesty hurts, but it makes one a better, more responsible person.
Re: avant-garde poetics
Are there any noteable programs that specialize (or at least nurture) avant garde/experimental fiction?
@Mila: Stanford Continuing Studies has Online workshops that seem great (run by past Stegner Fellows) and The Kenyon Review, I think, has some online workshops as well. You have to pay for both of these but they seem like they might be higher quality than your average online forum critique. You might also want to try for some of the summer programs at places like UMass and Iowa (or things like Breadloaf)... that might be fun.
UAF peoples!!
Congrats to everyone thinking about moving up to Fairbanks for creative writing. A few of you mentioned a conversation outside the blog, which sounds great. I'm pressed for time right now, so I can't really go through the posts. BUT...
I've lived in Anchorage, AK my whole life, besides some college years, and have been up to Fairbanks a few times and could help discuss the city and environment. Just email me any questions
mickeyperformancepoetry(at)gmail(dot)com
Anti-
I read a lot of contemporary poetry (which is why I know where the writers are). I don't know as much about fiction. Maybe someone else can help? I know Brown/Alabama (but that really isn't much help is it).
Anti-
Here is a link that might help:
http://creative-writing-mfa-handbook.blogspot.com/2006/04/experimental-programs.html
Anti-,
Fiction programs that I believe are open to non-traditional work:
Brown, Alabama (as already noted), Wash U. St. Louis, Southern Illinois, Notre Dame, Arizona State and maybe Illinois and Syracuse
Tragedy: Received my Iowa rejection in the mail today.
Double Tragedy: Below Lan Samantha Chang's loopy signature is scrawled You were a finalist.
My Iowa dream has died and left a ghost.
@ Courtney
Holy crap - your post made my heart skip.
Congrats/Condolences?
Mila,
The Mid-American Review runs online 9 wk workshops (around $350 I think which is half the price of a Stanford class). Check out the MAR site for details. I've done both MAR and Stanford and can recommend both. If you just want a pure workshop without reading assignments go for MAR.
And then there's Zoetrope.com (you'll def. have to pay your dues here and become a part of the community before you start getting consistent strong feedback, but it's an online community full of writers from all backgrounds and experience levels from just starting out to multiple book deals with a major publishing house. You'll get back what you put in.)
I'll second Franny's sentiments about MFAs not guaranteeing a job. There's a heated debate about PHD CWs and the job market on P&W now. Basically, it's going to come down to publications (and you better damn well have them in both book and journal form if you want to have a fighting chance) and perhaps how flexible/interdisciplinary you are in terms of teaching a breadth of classes. If you look at academic job postings a lot of places aren't just looking for writers but also for scholars.
@ Courtney: Hey, it is a positive note from Iowa! Congrats! Nothing wrong with that. Best of luck!
Wow Courtney! Hey, maybe getting accepted into Notre Dame tomorrow will help ease your pain :D
@Courtney, oyyyyy.
@Mila, I'd be game - you could always start by joining Amanda's Ning group (MFA limbo) where some people (including me) are swapping portfolios. Email her at mandasue (at) gmail (dot) com.
@Aaron Apps
I found your comment rude and slightly ignorant. I've been a regular commenter here and by now it should be known that I wouldn't be a part of this community unless I had applied again. Indeed, I have been accepted again and will begin this fall.
I apologize if my comment lacked clarity. If it's a wise decision to not go into debt for an MFA, it is equally wise to consider that within the year of deferment plans may be derailed. I fail to see why, when everyone else here is cautioning those who are considering deferment to save money, it is not helpful to look at it from the other side and the possible ramifications of deferring.
Additionally, how in your mind would it be possible for me to share my story of deferment without projecting my "problems" onto Anti-, etc? We are real people here with real stories, I chose to share a personal fact that may help those deciding.
Jason J, there was nothing wrong with your story and I for one found it very helpful even though the story wasn't written for me. Thank you for sharing and please don't feel like you were out of line in any way :)
“but your life could change in a year. Something could happen that makes it impossible for you to take advantage of your secured spot. I feel like there is a reason you got in this year.”
I see that as projecting your own situation onto someone else’s. It is a BAD idea to go into a poorly funded MFA program (let along a mediocre funded program that only gives tuition remission and no living stipend).
“My thoughts aren't entirely formed on this but I just know that, in my case, I will likely have to take out loans to pay for school even though I know it is unwise to do so. But, I've already given up one chance at an MFA and I don't plan on doing it again. Just definitely think hard about the decision of putting your life off for another year.”
I miss read this part. I’d definitely say that you shouldn’t do it either. I wasn’t trying to be offensive. I was trying to be a bit punchy. Hope there are no ill feelings.
Best,
Aaron
@Aaron Apps
Thanks for the link. I'm reading the comments right now.
@WanderingTree
Appreciate the list. I'll def. look into these programs in the future.
@Jason J
I again appreciate sharing your story with the community. I wish you the best of luck in your chosen MFA program.
@Aaron Apps
I understand. Trust me, it would be impossible for me to project my situation (problem) because I actually "gave up" my spot knowingly - I didn't really see it as a problem when I made the decision. I was generalizing the experience there. "Something" could prevent you from taking advantage of your acceptance. I think it's a good idea generally to not bank on any future outcome. Taking on loans to pay for an art degree because you foolishly hope you will be making lots of money from your degree is a bad idea. Trusting that your life situation will remain the same and leave you open to begin grad school a full year from now (in my opinion) is also not the best idea. However, you just gotta make the decision that makes the most sense to you at the time and feels the most right.
No ill feelings at all brah. Good times. Everyone's happy. Everyone's ready for MARCH RADNESS to continue.
You guys notice the Michigan letters weren't actually signed, but digital reproductions?
Blah, I've just had a sick-with-worry day because of the funding situation at the schools I've applied/been accepted to. Many of the schools I applied to fund some but not all of their students, and I haven't gotten funding yet. I'm hoping that one of the schools I've been accepted to will decide to give me funding, or I will get a better funded / more affordable offer from one of my other schools that haven't started notifying yet.
I am so tired of every day being this crazy jumble of worries and hopes. After getting accepted, I had a few glorious days when I was just happy that I got in, then the worries about money ruined it. Now I'm back to the panic attacks and constant questions in my head, "what if this, what if that?" What if I don't get enough money? What if I get some, but still have to find a job to cover living expenses? What if I can't find a job? What should I do? Should I go back to obsessively plotting backup plans?
This process is a 6-month-long panic attack, and I am really, really exhausted...
@rosephase-
Way to go! When is your interview? I'm interviewing at New School next weekend...good luck and I hope you have a great time!
Oh hey also if you wanna talk about/panic about possible interview questions with me sometime this week, lemme know! I feel kind of at a loss as to how to prepare...
@madeline stevens
I'd love to get some advice on Portland. I've been there a bunch of times and have a pretty good handle on where to eat and drink and that sort of thing, but what I'm really curious about is living...
Are there neighborhoods that are significantly cheaper than others? Is it worth living on (or right near) campus? That sort of stuff.
If you'd rather talk "off-blog," as the phrase seems to be, email me at <>
Any information would be appreciated. Thanks.
@madeline again
that email was danielmollet[at]gmail[dot]com
don't know why it didn't work last time
Add my Brown and Michigan rejections to the steaming (crap) pile of rejections.
@MFAguy
Thought Eileen Pollack's signature looked Xeroxed!
By the way, wanted to thank Jason J and the duchess for their playlists the previous mailbag. You guys rock!
@Frogs
No prob Frogs
@umirenic
I'm in fiction. The Iowa letter said that there is a "small waitlist." I'm not sure how small, or where I am on it. Congrats on your poetry waitlist!
@Gabrielle
I just interviewed at New School. I had to do it early and I won't be there for the weekend thing. e-mail I'll tell you all about it!
rosephase(at) yahoo
Hello to all attending Boise State next year! I'm not attending, but I grew up here in Boise. It's a beautiful city! I can answer any and all questions about the surrounding area- rent prices, culture, great places to eat, hang out, and anything else you'd like to know. Also, to all attending University of Idaho: the campus is beautiful. A little out of the way, but really nestled nicely. A campus of rolling hills and ivy on New England-style buildings. I had cousins and friends who attended and loved it. Gets cold, but really beautiful. Anyone who wants information, feel free to contact me at scholarseeker[at]yahoo[dot]com (old high school email that I use for this stuff.) Anyway, congrats to everyone who has been accepted to Idaho's awesome schools!
Also, don't know why my 'name' is ElChe. Maybe I set that some time back. I would prefer to use 'Boise,Idaho' haha.
Ok. Sorry. Sometimes when it comes to technology...
I was feeling down, down, down. Two rejections in one day. Michigan form letter, and Iowa.
I know I'm in good company. The odds aren't good. I'm fiction. 1200+ applications with only 25 spots aren't very good odds. So congrats to those who got in, were wait listed or finalists!
I did check my status online at CCA California College of the Arts in San Francisco instead of waiting for the letter. I got accepted! I really like the school.
I'm curious to know what kind of financial help I'm offered, if any. It was my best shot considering it reflected more of who I am.
Good news: I can study all forms of writing: Poetry, Fiction, CNF, playwriting and studio art classes.
On the down side I would be commuting from L.A about 3X a month since I have an apartment here, and I'm a single mom. But at least it's not too far (400 miles)
I'm still waiting to hear from: Hunter, Hollins, Riverside and UCLA (Screenwriting) I may apply to the low res programs, Warren Wilson and Vermont.
Would it be a terrible idea to e-mail V-tech to check my status? I had an interview with 4 of the faculty, and the head of the department e-mailed me afterward to say that my app had risen to the top of the pile, I aced the interview, wonderfully talented, blah blah.
That was over a month ago now, and I know I've seen a few people here already notified of acceptances and waitlists by V-tech.
Would an e-mail saying, "So, what's up?" be unreasonable?
Along with about 1250 other people, I received my Iowa rejection today which makes 5 rejects this week. 8 more schools to go. I'm definitely preparing myself for round 2 of applications at this point. Also, thinking about the pieces I submitted, I'm starting to wonder if I wasn't one of the people that the committees read the story and said to themselves, "There are some delusional people out there. This guy is lucky to be even mildly employed."
@Courtney- I would have killed for a scribble saying I was a finalist for Iowa. Congratulations. I would take that as encouragement, not tragedy.
@Eli Lindert
I don't think it would be unreasonable at all. If VTech sent you a GNE after your interview over a month ago, you deserve to know where you stand now. Definitely email them, or maybe even call. Just be friendly about it. I get the feeling that they are still working through applications. Someone was just accepted for poetry a couple days ago.
On a separate note: I am writing at 5:12am and am completely aware that few to no people will be blogging right now. However, I need to get some writing done--or at least try--and I'm having trouble forcing myself to do it. SO, I'm telling you all now that I am going to get some writing done. And when I have reached my word limit I will write you all again and tell you if I succeeded. I need someone to push me, lol, and if I have to push myself then I might as well have the added pressure of others knowing about my failures if I decide to procrastinate yet again. So here it goes. This is my attempt to discipline my dishelved and anxious brain.
That's my rant. Sorry you had to sit through it.
Oh, and apparently I'm going by "Michelle J" now. I was just "Michelle" before, but somehow that changed. Mysterious. Just an FYI.
@Wordshift - I love that you had to delete your first post to make way for good news!! How great is that? Congratulations! :)
@Michelle J - me too! Okay, well I'M here, and I'll be looking for that post. All right, now I'm gonna get back to Microsoft Word...
Subscribing!
It's late in the game to be asking but...what does GNE stand for??
KT,
GNE = Good News Email
Thank you Wandering Tree, Aaron Apps, and hilary for the workshop info!!
Hi all,
Has anyone heard anything from Cornell yet? No more nails left to bite.
So far I've only heard from Brown and Colorado (both rejection), and after reading previous comments, am expecting a beautiful yet deadly letter from Michigan.
Congratulations to all of you who have received good news, and to those with rejections only - do not be discouraged. The process is grueling. It brings out everything we dislike about ourselves and lowers our self esteem, but at the end of the day it is only higher education.
@Zoulou and anyone who's reading
Write or Die is a genius program. I just completed 2,500 words in less than 30 minutes. So I'm happy with that. I think I may have stumbled upon a nifty idea for a future story or collection in the process. Splendid! But now that I am warmed up, I need to do some ACTUAL writing. Short exercises, but they need to resemble an art form rather than a pile of miscellaneous words--so I'm going to hop to it. Cross your fingers that I finish quickly. I need to work up enough mojo to attack my next workshop piece today. Ahaaa.
Uh, dearest MFA lords: some good news would help that process. ;)
Correction - by Colorado I mean UC at Boulder.
@Michelle J - Yay, you did it! :) That's great you got a new idea out of tonight, and I wish you luck with the next piece - and oooh, I hope you also catch some sleep somewhere in there. I don't know though - sometimes the super-late night/early morning writing is the best though, right?
Okay everyone - well I for one am turning in. Good luck everybody!
@Yarduni: Cornell has already notified some student (so, unless some in the initial batch turn down their spots, it isn't looking good).
Best,
Aaron
Good morning, everyone. i've got a completely unrelated to MFA app question, but this still seems like a good place to ask it. In between not getting into a program, I continue to send stuff out. I've been more and more using online submissions. My ocmputer has Word 07 (docx). I've been assuming that when mags say they accept Word or doc, that docx is ok, too. Is it possible that some are just tossing my stuff cuz they can't read it? Should I be backsaving to Word 2003? Am I just losing my mind? (I have gotten some feedback/one acceptance with it, so I know *some* journals can read it). But, still....
Thanks for any words of wisdom, or pity.....ha.
Just to clarify--I don't assume that if I'm turned down, it must be cuz they can't read it! (Just realized my post could've been read that way...) Far from it!
@ leslie
I would save it as a .doc, because I'm pretty sure the new version of Word is not backwards compatible.
@ Leslie: I would backsave. If you save in a prior MSWord format they'll be able to open in for sure (also, if it says *.doc that isn't *.docx).
For example, my old ibook (not that old) can't open docx files without converting them in some alternate program (and then the formatting is substantially off). These journals get so many submissions they're unlikely to bother to do such a thing if they can't open a file. They'll pass over the submission and move on to the next one.
Better to be safe than sorry, I'd say.
@Leslie, personally I'd back save to word '03. I have to convert my students' writing when they send it in docx, and while I will do that, I don't know that lit mags will.
@umirenic, Aaron Apps, MommyJ--thanks! I'll spend some time today backsaving everything. you've confirmed my suspicions(I should have thought about this oh, a year or two ago....)
@Zoulou
I most definitely write a lot of my best work in the very late/wee early hours of the night/morning. And I got round 2 of my writing tasks out of the way, so now I just need to begin to tackle the big guy and I'll feel pretty good about taking a break. I'd take one now but I hate to break focus since it took me all night to find the will to write. A 20 minute Blog break can't hurt though, right? lol. Sleep tight! Good luck with your writing as well.
@Leslie
I'm pretty sure you've already arrived at the decision to backsave your word files, but I thought I'd mention that I always save my word docs as .rtf files. I've never shared a .rtf file with someone who wasn't able to open it--so it's a pretty safe avenue for any word docs that you could potentially want to share. :)
@Trilbe: I'd love to read the Heaney poem you mention/where can I find it?
So has anyone received an IWW acceptance letter that hadn't gotten a call before? I remember people discussing this in previous posts--that in previous years people had heard via snail mail and hadn't been called...but i haven't seen any evidence of that this year. am i wrong?
also, its a beautiful day in boston today...so for those of you who are in new england, enjoy! i hope you all get a chance to do your writing in front of an open, sunny window.
@ Michelle J: Good point about the *.rtf option. Most journals do say “*.doc” but either would work. How have does rtf open up format wise for you? Some of my funnily formatted poems opened up funky in word perfect. I doubt it would matter with prose though.
@Michelle, hey I too do all my writing at night but lately I just totally stopped writing bcoz of the application process and now the prospect of getting rejected hasn't helped. But your post was encouraging I'll once more discipline myself to write..what did you end up writing??
@Michelle, thanks for the rtf comment, and also, just wanted to let you know, that you inspired me to GET TO WORK today, and I got a new story started. it's shite right now, but it's material I can work with. thanks for the good example!
@Zoulou
Ha! You caught that:) From doom and gloom, to the little ray of sunshine, all in a matter of 30 minutes. So don't lose hope dearhearts.
One acceptance is good. And yes it would have been nice to get the golden ticket, but I'm not quite there yet. CCA is a good fit for me though: eclectic, left-of-center, not limited to genre, art school. But I know I won't be able to attend if I don't get a tuition waiver, so I'll wait for the letter.
I know it's probably too early to ask this...but for those of you who have already been accepted somewhere...
Have you made any unofficial decisions as to where you're going?
Or are you leaning towards a particular program?
Just interested (and excited) to see where people might be heading in the Fall.
subscribing
D'oh!!! I didn't press the button to subscribe. Subscribing again!
"D'oh!" used to be my favorite expression. Now, it's "D'oy!" because "D'oh!" lands with a thud (the subtlety of Homer Simpson), while "D'oy!" is more springy, buoyant, as in D'oy-oy-yoy-oy-oy...(But you hear the "-oy-yoy-oy-oy..." only in your head.)
I use "D'oy!" in my everyday convo with people. If you don't mind the funny looks, "D'oy!" is a lot of fun.
^^^ Example of my flash fiction ^^^
I am not fiction, sir.
recieved acceptance from Montana poetry today(on Sunday!) via email.
funding unlikely. I most likely won't be taking this, so a spot will probably be opening up here, if anyone cares.
@umlrenic -- I was referring to my last post. You intervened while I was typing and got in between.
: P I know : )
Dammit, Jim!
@Laura T: I am completely in the same sitch as you. I tried to apply only to schools that had an option of full funding, but some of them don't fully fund everyone. Those are the ones I've been accepted to and I didn't receive funding. It's a bitch of a situation and has pretty much dispelled all my happy glowy feelings. It's especially frustrating since I have experience TA'ing in another Master's program and that apparently didn't help me get a TAship. So I, too, am now wondering whether I need a Plan B...
re: formatting - I make a .pdf copy to send out or upload. I've never run into a lit mag that wouldn't allow this format, and it stops poems or lines from being re-formatted. It will show up *exactly* as you've saved it. If it's accepted, then I send the .doc which they can edit.
never got on the doh kick, but strangely, since i'm not in the least british, i seem to say bollocks a fair amount...weird
A .pdf is simple to make - either go to the file menu and click "export as .pdf" or click print and then there should be a button that says "save as .pdf" instead of printing.
@Nadiya - Here's a link to "In Iowa". It is cited in a Washington Post piece by Robert Pinsky:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/27/AR2006072701180_pf.html
Unfortunately, the poem is lineated all crazy on this web page. FYI, it should be three quatrains and a couplet.
If you like this poem, PLEASE check out the rest of District and Circle. It's one of my favorite books. The book also contains a poem called "Poet to Blacksmith", which is a translation from Irish of an old letter to a Blacksmith called Seamus. It's a wonderful poem about craft that humbles me every time I read it. I've googled this poem, too, but I don't think it's available on the web. I would type it here, but I don't want to be shady and give away someone else's poem.
With that said, the poem begins: "Seamus, make me a side-arm to take on the earth" -- and it ends: "And best thing of all, the ring of it, sweet as a bell." There's quite a bit of awesome poemness in between those two lines!
Hello all.
In case this hasn't been posted yet: UNCG told me they would be notifying on the 15th of March.
Also, has anyone else been accepted to Maryland for fiction?
Ok guys, this is serious business:
I've added GNE to the Urban Dictionary so get your put over there and give my definition (currently #2) a thumbs up.
I guess I should say "our" definition since I did not coin this term!
also it looks like I typed "put" instead of "butt."
@ Aaron Apps:
I don't use word perfect myself, but I've had colleagues send their work in .rtf using word perfect and the formatting does get a little screwy. In that case it might be a good idea to attach a .pdf file as well. I do that sometimes and most online applications specify .rtf, .pdf, or .doc anyway. Like Peaquah said, pdf format guarantees your file will look exactly the same as it did when you saved it.
@Nefretti, Leslie, etc.
I'm glad I was able to inspire you guys to write. I have been struggling hardcore since the MFA process began as well. Writers block has never been more of an issue for me than it is right now. I've literally dedicated days to trying to write and spent most of the time staring at the computer screen. I was really started to feel bad about myself, and I know a ton of folks on this blog are having the same issues. So while I was avoiding my writers block, I decided to start a blog about writers block and the MFA process. It's definitely a work in progress, but just attempting to compile a list of exercises to help break through the writing barrier and then finding inspirational quotes from well known writers helped out a lot. I was somehow able to motivate myself enough to sit down and work. So I've decided that I need to blog each day just to get preoccupied thoughts out of my head and make way for the real writing. I'll post the blog address when I've developed it a little more. It's more of a personal project but it worked for me so maybe it could work for other people too.
Nefretti, you asked what I wrote. A bunch of crap to start with. I downloaded Write or Die and gave myself 10 minutes to write 500 words.I spent the entire word limit ranting about how I can't write because MFA stuff has taken over my brain. Once I got that off of my chest I did 2 other exercises--300 words in 10 minutes--and ended up writing far more in less time. I tried to avoid editing and just let it flow. I struggle with that, so it was a beneficial exercise for me. Most of it was word vomit, but the last exercise had progressed into something with more purpose, and it ended up inspiring a new short story idea.
I'm also working on a collaborative writing thingy with a friend of mine. It's really experimental right now, but we sent each other 2 original "first lines" of a short story, and then wrote 1.5 pages continuing from the lines the other person sent. So when we were done we had each played a part in writing 4 different story fragments. We swapped the stories again and now I will have to continue writing 2 pages based on the first 1.5 pages he wrote, and vice versa. It sounds silly, but it really gets the creative juices flowing and forces you to think outside of the box. I'm excited about it--we have some crazy exercises planned. It will be interesting to see which collaborative pieces end successfully. Nonetheless, it got me in the mood to write, so it's a success in that sense already. I've definitely been lacking motivation and what not.
So, that was me rambling for a couple thousand characters. That's what happens when I don't sleep for 48 hours. Sorry about that. I'm not even sure if I made much sense, but oh well. I'm in better spirits than I've been in a LONG time. ...just watch, today will be the day I finally recieve word from a program, and it will RUIN my mood. Keeping my fingers crossed for the opposite.
Glad I was able to motivate some of you though. Keep it in mind when I start posting about my writers block again (which will probably be tomorrow night...)
I'm going to end this post because I've done enough ranting and blah blah-ing to last me the entire day. Good timing on the comments though guys...because I was just beginning to give up for the day. But now I won't! :)
*I am not even going to punish myself by proof reading this post, so I apologize for all the errors that most likely exist. *
@emma - you and I are the only ones I've heard of on this board or elsewhere who have been waitlisted in fiction at Iowa. So we know "very short waiting list" is longer than one person long at least.
If you scour the previous mailbags you'll find unsubstantiated rumors that in one recent year, there was no waiting list in fiction; that in another year, there was a waiting list of one person; and that at some point in the last few years, someone actually got in off the waiting list after a rather long amount of time. No idea how long it was specifically, since we all know the feeling of waiting to hear from a dream school is "constant panic." Coulda been six hours.
But I believe we'll know something in the week following April 15, if not before then... Feel free to email me at frodebart at the ol' gmail dot com if you want to talk more about how weird it feels.
@ Yarduni
I spoke with Cornell on Friday. They said that all their notifications went out a couple weeks back. The woman was nice enough to look up my file and let me know that I was rejected. So I'd say that if you haven't heard anything by now, your fate is similar to mine.
Any word from the Boise State or Arizona fiction programs yet? I'm itching!
Hi guys,
Got a phone call yesterday from the NEOMFA program. I'm in! :)
Unfortunately, they have very little funding and so I'm on a funding waitlist.
But still :)
(Seth, I'm fiction.)
random thought: do you guys think that these schools/admissions panels ever google our names, look us up on facebook to get an idea of who we are? What we're like? If we're a "match" with the program?
hmmm.
@Nadia - I sure hope not!
I've been accepted into Brooklyn for poetry and they called asking me about my other offers so that they can use that information to negotiate funding with the university. I'm embarrassed to tell them that I haven't gotten any other offers yet (and probably won't!). At the same time, I probably wouldn't be able to really go if I didn't at least get some money off of the tuition. Does anyone have any advice on what to say to them/has anyone been in a similar situation?
For the records, I live in NY and only applied to the NY schools.
Thanks!
Hi Christian,
Did the poetry dept. tell you what kind of funding they might be offering? I've been accepted at BC in fiction, and the only funding I was told about was teaching comp classes.
I've heard that Irvine called people for fiction a while back. Does anyone know if it was the same for poetry, or do we have to wait for snail mail? (Trying to be optimistic here.)
Christian,
If I were asked that question I'd just be vague and say that I applied to a handful of schools and I'm still waiting to hear back. You're really not obligated to tell anyone about your offers.
Isn't Brooklyn ridiculously affordable, however? Like $5,000 a semester or something.
Summer,
No one's been called yet for poetry. I think it could be in the next two weeks or so, however. I tried calling the grad. administrator on Fri., but she kept putting me through to voicemail... We'll just have to wait.
@Wordshift
Where on the CCA Web site did you look up your admission status? I checked my CCA Web Advisor account and it still says my application is "under review." Is that code for rejected? Boo for me. Congrats to you, however. =)
Hello all,
Just letting everyone know I've accepted a position in poetry at Ohio State's MFA program.
I just let go of spots at Ole Miss and North Texas. Waitlisters at those programs be on the lookout.
Thank so much to everyone for encouraging me through all this. Much love for you here.
All best,
NM
fave quote of the week goes to wee meathead...
"i will celebrate by putting things in imaginary internet shopping carts that i have no intention of buying."
that, my dear, is brilliant writing.
Thanks Morgan - now I can expect the inevitable to arrive less soon!
@ xavier
Brooklyn is around $2800 a semester for in state students and around $5k for out of state.
No one has heard a peep about fiction at Ole Miss, right?
Is anyone else still waiting on the final word from Iowa? I returned home after a few days away expecting a letter, but so far - nothing.
@ Peaquah
yes, i'm waiting too, but i live in new england and usually it takes about 4 days for mail to get from the midwest out to here...so maybe if you live on either coast or in the south it'll take an extra day?
i'm expecting mine to arrive tomorrow.
so whats the news on Florida. Someone over at DH said they got a waitlist e-mail. Is that for poetry? Should I be assuming a rejection here and that I won't be a gator? :(
@ em yeu anh - I live in Montana, which is surprisingly close to Iowa. Maybe the Pony Express that's bringing it got waylaid by outlaws.
@Xavier
The status is under Admission Information, Admission status.
I'm in, according to the status, but since they haven't officially notified anyone, I think they're probably still making decisions. So I'd wait and see!
Nick--much congratulations on your choice. I read some of your stuff on your site a while back and I have to say, i'm not surprised things turned out so well for you.
And you've been a voice of consistent support to so many other fellow writers.
I wish you much success, and look forward to reading your future writings.
@sahaider
I spoke with someone from Florida a few days ago (GNP), and they said that they will be calling accepted and waitlisted students this upcoming week. I have no idea if they called all the students they are considering, so I wouldn't read too much into the GNP. Maybe they just found me suspect and wanted to check me out... Anyway, good luck!
I'm fiction, by the way.
@ peaquah: I'm still waiting for my Iowa letter to reach me here in Cali.
@ Nick: Big congrats! I hope Ohio turns out well for you. (And I'm sure you've made several waitlisters very happy to come to your decision so timely.)
Congratulations Nick McRae!!!! May the rest of your March be peaceful and anxiety-free!
And get writing now! you'll have to have alot of stuff ready for when you start in the fall!
Does Ole Miss even have a waitlist?
Congrats Nick--hope you enjoy the program!
@Emma I wouldn't actually be too bummed :) I found a place and barring absolutely no funding, I will be attending in the Fall. It would be nice for Gator Nation to show me some love after all I've been through. Cheering them on during the Zook era and whatnot. But I am excited for you! I'm sure they didn't find you suspect but wanted to give you a heads-up so you wouldn't be TOO surprised when they call you this week.
Congrats to everyone and Nick McRae - I'm glad everything is turning out so well for you!
subscribing!
@Trilbe, you're a gem. Thanks for that. I loved "a wiper's strong absolving slumps and flits" and I just had to read it aloud. Thank you.
Just got a call from David Leavitt from U of Florida. Accepted for fiction (!!!).
Here's my situation, for those of you interested. Not sure what I'm going to do yet, but I know there are people who have overlap with me. There will definitely be some spots opening up:
Iowa-waitlist
Hunter-unoffical acceptance
Florida-accepted
Montana-accepted
Alabama-assumed rejection
Sarah Lawrence
Michener-rejection
Irvine
UNCG
Virginia
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
*ahem*
I mean, congratulations Emma :)
FML. I got the worst haircut today too :(
@Emma congratulations! That is very exciting. You must be overjoyed with all the success you are experiencing in this process. I'm happy for you :)
Congrats Emma! I'm in awe of all your choices!
Kaybay, stick it out gurl. Sorry about the haircut :(
Dude, I looked like Sandra Dee, haha...
well, I take that back, I looked like Sandra Dee with a mullet :D
EVEN BETTER
@Christian Was Julie Agoos the one who asked you about other offers you've received or was it a worker from financial aid?
Nick McRae,
Congrats on being the first to make a final decision!
Oh Florida... I'm glad you liked Emma, but I'm sad you didn't like me. Ah well. Congrats, Emma! The program looks wonderfully open-minded. :).
Oh, and my poet friend who refuses to frequent this board got a GMU waitlist in poetry by email today.
And congrats to Nick for making the OSU decision! I hope it works out splendidly for you!
What's going on with Notre Dame? I thought they were supposed to notify this weekend.
I know Wandering Tree!!! I was all worried about last week, thinking it was going to be full of notifications, and NOTHING!! Unless today's UF notification (wahhhhh). Now, I pretty much know for sure that the remaining four schools left to notify on my list will ALL be notifying this next week, making me just a tad bit nervous. But Notre Dame, you promised!! Where are you?! Help a fellow Catholic out!!
WT--they are killing me! I have been jumping at my phone all weekend. I know there were some early acceptances (2 in fiction?) so that leaves three spots. I don't know why I assume everyone and her Mama reads this blog. It's perfectly reasonable to assume that the calls have been made to adjusted people who don't avoid social interaction to refresh their browsers over and over again.
But seriously, Notre Dame. Call me. I know all about the Sorrowful Mysteries. I'd like to get my hands on some of those Joyful or Glorious ones.
Courtney, me too! My boyfriend has decided to make it a funny, funny joke to say "it's Notre Dame calling" every time the phone rings. Ha. Ha. You bastard.
I didn't think about the fact that there are only three remaining spots and many applicants who do not post on this blog... hmmmm... I'm calling them tomorrow and I'll tell you what I hear :)
@Emma
Also got the call today from David Leavitt. We should talk!! (?) Are you thinking about visiting or anything? OH GOD shoot me an email -- yesyescherries (at) gmail (dot) com
Oh Jesus. Congrats all who got accepted today :*(
I don't mean to continue to drag this board down with my negativity, but I feel like shit. I just really don't want to have to apply again. The thought of gathering recommendations and money for application fees makes me shutter. And there's no guarantee that I'll get accepted anywhere after applying a second time. I know that I don't suck as a writer, but I just feel like the world is against me right now (I know it's not, I know, I know, but I feel that way). Blech. $1000 down the drain.
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