@frankish: A guy from my undergrad went to Houston and got a Stegner afterwards. They seem to have pretty stellar post-MFA placement, if that's something you're interested in.
I just spoke with Janine in the graduate office and she said the meeting was bumped to 12:30. She also said that phonecalls will be made today for those awarded assistantships and other calls will be made in the next few days.
Has anyone heard anything from the fiction department at Boise State or Arizona? I still haven't heard a peep from any of my middle-tier schools (SDSU, Colorado State, Boise State, Arizona, UNH).
Thanks for the UNH updates. I just emailed Arizona to find out when they're making decisions on nonfiction. Hopefully I will also get the scoop on fiction.
Also, I know information on a MFA Blog post from 2007-2008 said that UNH offered assistantships to about 50% of admits. But I know they've had financial troubles lately, like every other state school. Does anyone have a more recent sense of what their funding sitch is like? Seth doesn't have any data posted on it.
I used to work as a reader at The New Yorker, and I second everything Arna said about submitting to magazines. I'd also add a few other things:
1. Make sure your pages are numbered. It is a bummer to be writing a report for an editor about a story you love, a report in which you want to mention the great writing or plot twist on page whatever, only to discover there are no page numbers. This is a small thing that makes you seem professional, and makes it easier for an unpaid reader to put themselves out there for your story. 2. Really don't send multiple submissions to the same magazine if they tell you not to. I know it's easy to think, "They get hundreds of submissions a month. They won't remember that I sent them one last week." I read hundreds of submissions a week, but I still recognized multiple submissions. It just isn't worth it, as it turns the readers off to you before they've even read your new story. 3. If you've previously received a nice, personal rejection letter from a magazine, mention this in your cover letter when you submit a new story to that magazine. Something simple, like, "I was encouraged by your kind personal note on my last story, X, and am hoping you will enjoy this new story, Y." It gets a reader's attention.
Congrats to everyone who has gotten good news lately!
Are you contemplating Virginia over Iowa if you get accepted to UVA? Just curious. (I have my official rejection from Iowa now, so it's not that I'm stalking your Iowa spot from a waitlist.)
re: Virginia - No. I chickened out on calling them because their website is pretty explicit about when they will notify. All the departments seem to have caller ID. Ha.
@phillywriter-- I'm too paranoid about who reads this blog to say if I would go to one place over another-- call me neurotic! (I am).
I am talking about UVA, and I know they said they would notify at the end of the month... I'm just dying to know. I'm being impatient and unreasonable, and I should probably be thinking about other things. Like taxes.
According to DH they seem a little confused about their own timeline - they've notified anywhere from March 10th to April 1st - that's a huge window. It's also significantly later than most schools.
Don't get me wrong - I would be floored and humbled to get in - but I honestly don't think I'm going to wait until April 1st to commit to Michigan. I'm ready to get my head in the post-application game. Anyone else feeling this way?
I am a new "poster" on the blog. You guys are hilarious. I love the transparency here. Thank you. I applied (poetry) to Bennington, Warren Wilson, VCFA, Pacific, UCR, Chapman ... and have not heard a peep. Has anyone heard from any of the low-res schools? I would love to know the stats on how many are accepted in each genre, how many apply, etc. Good luck to everyone!
@ emma - I go back and forth between being wildly paranoid and thinking that no one knows about this blog besides us. *sigh* - wouldn't it be awful, though, if a committee member read this and then thought, "oh, so she doesn't really want to go to Virginia?"
I too appreciate that Laurie Lynn spent valuable time to address concerns of MFA applicants, whether or not they were Oregon applicants.
Those of us who were accepted into a program might believe that what we wrote in our SOPs was adequate. Some of us may even believe we've uncovered the secret. In my delusional moments, I've come to this very conclusion myself. Like: no one can write a better SOP than me.
However, no one really knows whether our SOP was sufficient. We were accepted (or rejected) based primarily on our writing sample. (Laurie Lynn herself mentioned that it makes up 95% of the decision-making process.) It may be that we were accepted despite really crappy SOPs. Or, we may have written the most brilliant SOP in the history of mankind but was still met with a rejection.
I used to interview people for jobs at my firm. One guy we hired believed that we hired him because he had a particular expertise we were seeking. He also believed he did a great job during the interview. The fact is: we just needed a warm body to fill that seat. And quickly. He happened to be at the right place at the right time. He got lucky. He answered the phone when we called. Life is like that.
Same with the SOP or even the writing sample. We won't really know what goes on in the head of AdCom people as they go through our files. They may like our writing sample for a good reason (or a silly reason or a bad reason). Last month, I read Best American Short Stories 2002. I really liked Melissa Hardy's "The Heifer" because it was about a woman and her beloved cow. I didn't like (and didn't finish) Jim Shepard's "Love and Hydrogen" because it had depictions of gay sex and some uninteresting sci-fi element. Yes, stupid reasons for liking (disliking) stories. (No, I'm not homophobic. I don't particularly like sexual passages in literature, unless it's Penthouse Forum. Ahem.)
Same goes for our background. MFA programs can't (and won't) fill an entire class full of women or White males from Harvard or gay Chinese men or Kurt Vonnegut worshippers from Oklahoma. It just would not make for an interesting class.
(You see? Once I go on a rant, I can't stop myself.)
I really want to hear from Arizona State. It's really the only place I'm waiting on to make my final decision. I can't wait to get to the other side. Last year this time, I was beginning the waiting list game--which is worse and more torturous than the not-yet-notified game because it involves more plausible craigslisting and obsession.
In other news--my husband got his long-awaited promotion yesterday...just in time for us to be planning a big cross-country move. The plot thickens...
@Ali I saw your comment and thought I had written something in a daze (we have the same name). I don't know much about low-res programs but welcome to posting here!
@Nathaniel -- re. inaccessible faculty works. LOL! For many many faculty members, I simply could not find their works anywhere -- except through Amazon! My local libraries don't stock their novels and/or short story collections. But James Patterson and Clive Cussler...oy vei...
Has anyone heard a peep from NC State about when they plan to notify? Their notifications from previous years have been all over the place-- some in February, some in April.
Dorianne Laux is one of my heroes. :) I'd love to work with her.
@ nathaniel and woon - as I mentioned before, I found alumni works to be both more plentiful and more helpful than faculty works. We don't know what kind of writers the faculty are looking for necessarily based on their own writing. But when you see stories from Iowa or Virginia students over and over again in Best New American Voices, lit journals, and new collections - it's pretty easy to get a feel for the kind of work the faculty at a particular school is looking for. My .02 cents.
I made my boyfriend call them and they said they'll notify "in the next week or two." Guess they're behind on things.
@Ali,
I heard from VCFA at the beginning of February...their process is rolling, so you could probably make a guess on your status depending on when you submitted your materials. Bennington and Warren Wilson tend to notify later; you can check all that here:
And as for low-res acceptance stats, I'm not sure where you might find one broken down by genre, but there are some statistics that Seth compiled here that you might be interested in:
@ dYlj: I created a forum/online group last month which you're welcome to join. Just send me an email at mandasue at gmail dot com. There are about 50 of us from this board there and lots of discussions about our lists, decisions, portfolios, and many other topics. It also allows us to send messages directly to each other and post videos, music, and even blog posts.
Jumping in a bit late on the swell SOP discussion but I thought I’d share my completely unscientific personal anecdote.
Like others and for the reasons they mentioned, I was hesitant to cite specific profs, plus in my case, it would have been disingenuous - for the last few years I’ve had a crazy job that didn’t let me read (really my fault, obviously, but easier to blame on work); I’m so behind on the “classics” it’s embarrassing, let alone having time to investigate the current fiction of profs at 15 different schools.
So last year, I didn’t tailor my SOP much and got a bunch of rejections and the last spot on the Notre Dame w.list. This year, I modified my SOP more and the two schools where I thought I actually did a good job – where what I wrote felt honest, not BS catering to the school – were the two schools to which I was accepted.
Probably a coincidence - as Laurie said the sample is 95% of it, and I do think changes in my sample (that's a whole other post) not my SOP account for most of the difference between this year and last. Still, was my sample up there in the running for a bunch of schools (nice to think but highly unlikely) only my untailored SOP did me in? Did I actually identify two programs whose mentality matched my own, thus increasing my odds of acceptance from the get-go? Who knows.
I didn’t mention specific profs, or at least their work. I got a sense from the schools’ websites that they endorsed not a specific style but an outlook on writing, and tried to convey that I shared their mentality (which I did). This also sort of achieves the 2 birds w 1 stone thing, shows your approach to writing and that you've researched why you'd fit there.
Anyway not that I’m a shining success story or that the SOP is that important but I share everyone’s struggles w/ this and I think you can find a middle road between not specifically tailoring and sucking up to a prof.
i will be sure to let you know if i hear anything from indiana. i'm really crossing my fingers for a spot, too. hopefully we'll both get in and be classmates this fall.
@ miss private eye: no worries. AWP is (on the greater level) the Associated Writing Programs organization, but (on the smaller level) I'm referring to the AWP annual conference which is happening in Denver one month from now! Lots of readings, panels, drinking at hotel bars... It's my first year to go and I'm really excited about it.
I'm still new to this posting thing. Does anyone know much about the California and Arizona schools? I'm not really worried or anything, just curious. Do they usually notify later? Also, anyone heard anything from Portland State? Again, just curious. I'm in poetry. Just wanted to say that this blog is great. Such a great community of people, really. When I found the blog about a month ago, I was surprised to see how kind everyone is to each other.
@peaquah -- my secret dream is to create my own literary press. Sort of like Glimmer Train but more hip. Actually, it's not my dream. But I think it would be fun.
Checking out the AWP link... are some of you members? It's not something I'm familiar with, but I am always on the lookout for communities of writers...
Go to driftless-house.blogspot.com. The response times for all MFA programs are listed there. Also the DH comments are useful for up-to-the-minute info on acceptances, rejections, and waitlists.
Re: Arizona. Both UA and ASU have notified for poetry but not for fiction or nonfiction.
@ woon - love that, would definitely submit my work to "Glimmer Train but more hip." I'd like to publish story collections or first novels. I don't know that it trumps other goals, though.
@Miss private eye Association of Writers and Writing Programs. Specifically their annual conference, which is a huge deal for literary magazines and MFA programs and editors.
@amanda I'll be there! I'm actually giving a fiction reading for Bat City Review. I'd love to meet up with you or anybody else on here that's going. I won't know a soul there.
@Danielle Wheeler and @Klairkwilty I can give you guys Iowa City housing advice if you want. Danielle, I'm in for fiction at the IWW and also did my undergrad there. I'll just give you guys a few notes about the housing stuff here, but you can email me all about if you want (abhemenway at gmail.com) Notes: 1. IC apartments costs so ridiculously much because all the undergrads are trying to live near campus, on the near side of the river. They also cost so much because most of the rental properties are owned and (not) maintained by really, really horrible slumlord companies. The worst one of these is called "APARTMENTS DOWNTOWN". When I was in college they involved my mom in a protracted legal battle over damages incurred when someone tried to break into my vacated department after I'd already turned in my key. You have to deal with them a little bit, just because they own so much of everything, but exercise extreme prejudice. 2. Don't live anywhere near the football stadium, which is the neighborhoods around Melrose st. on the far side of the river. Iowa Football tailgating is some of the wildest in the country. Over 100,000 people infest the neighborhood around the stadium for blocks and blocks and blocks in every direction. Your place and live will get severely messed up. 3. Make sure the place has good heating. This is a big deal up there. Less obviously, make sure it has good AC. The summer is brutal. 4. Don't be afraid to live in Coralville. There's no separation between Iowa City and Coralville, and it takes about ten minutes to drive to the workshop from anywhere in Cville. It's also much cheaper and much quieter. Obviously, it's more attractive to live on the near side of the river, close to downtown, but you have to go so far out before the rents become reasonable and the student ghettos stop, it is usually not worth it. 5. Most people in Iowa City sign their leases for the next year in January or early February, so, you know, start looking now.
@little poet who could "Sketchy online zines" is admittedly a little hard to define. Basically anywhere that if I as an editor click on it to see your work, I am going to take seriously. Some major flags are places that are very disorganized or that publish their own editors.
@ink and beans I don't think there's a magic length. If your story is 24 pages, it better be really good, is all I'm saying.
@brad smith I'm sending it to you first chance I get.
Oh, yes. Thank you, haha. I've been reading the comments there, but kinda forgot to look at the response notifications in green and blue because I just enjoy seeing what people say. I'll check the notifications.
Another question for everyone who is going to make a move for a program: what kind of mental preparation are you doing for such a move? Who is going really far away from "home?"
I'll keep you posted about the New York situation. I'm currently focused on the mountain of coursework I have to finish for my degree, but, hopefully, I can provide you or anyone remotely interested an answer by mid-April or early May. I'd rather be cautious about it than jump into something so rashly (though the arty youngster in me is like an anxious kid waiting to open his Christmas presents).
nightlyfix at gmail dot com for any NYC-ers and/or potential TNS-ers who wanna keep in touch.
How many people does TNS accept for fiction anyway?
**
Still waiting to hear from the CUNY schools I've applied to (Hunter and Brooklyn are pretty much off my list, but City College notifies people a bit late in March. I'm not crazy about Queens College, but I applied there regardless).
And I still haven't received my Iowa rejection (I put my folks' place down as my permanent adddress. I can't bare to see my dad's face from happy to sad as he opens the rejection).
I emailed Syracuse last night asking whether a final decision had been made on my application, and received a response today saying "Decisions are expected to be made no later than the end of April."
@Boise About preparing for a move... I'm probably relocating to Fairbanks, AK from Seattle, WA and I am scared stiff! I've been talking to people from Alaska (including folks from on here - very helpful!) and I checked out a massive stack of "about Alaska" library books. This way, I at least feel like I sort of know what I'm getting myself into. Also, my preparations will include a big fat coat.
You're thinking about a move to New Mexico, right? Exciting!
I completely understand your paranoia about posting your preferences. Once you make a final decision, though, I'd love to know why you made your choice - especially since I may be doing this whole process over again next year!
David Leavitt from Florida sent me an email. I'm on the waitlist.
I wasn't really expecting anything from Florida so this is quite a surprise. In fact, I crossed them off a long time ago because I assumed they were done.
@Andrew -- I did my undergrad in Kalamazoo (at Kalamazoo College, not Western). Shoot me an email if you want info about the city cjwid87(at)hotmail(dot)com.
Has anyone heard a no from Brooklyn in fiction yet? I know the yeses have been trickling in but it's my last shot at sanity to just hear a no, particularly after I just received a GNL telling me how pleased they were to inform me...that my application was under review.
I'm afraid UNH's funding is in the pooper. Deep in the pooper. I'd estimate the program as somewhere between 10% and 25% fully-funded, a ranking something like 80th nationally. Think Washington and Pittsburgh and you'll be in the ballpark, though Pittsburgh's ~30% funding level is definitely higher than New Hampshire's.
Like the NFL Draft. Every candidate submits their writing sample into a clearinghouse. Then, each FULLY-FUNDING school makes picks round-by-round. Each applicant can be picked three times, just to give applicants a choice.
I hadn't heard anything from NC State until just a few minutes ago. The dean of graduate studies seems to have posted a frigid rejection letter for me at the bottom of the online application (http://www.ncsu.edu/grad/applygrad.htm). I'm in fiction.
That's what I get for checking these online apps 100 times a day: a very abrupt response to my curiosity!
Heard from the Nebraska CW PhD program. Notifications were mailed yesterday, and my status page says "review complete." However, the speakeasy has some people who said their status was changed a few days ago, and other who received emails with acceptances. Not sure what this all means, but I guess it's news.
I am finishing up my 5th year at Western Michigan right now with a double major in Film and Creative Writing. That said, I've got a decent amount of info about all of our Creative Writing genres, plus screenwriting from the COM department if it's something you have an interest in.
What kind of info are you looking for? Let me know and I'll fill you in on all the happy details. Also, if you are at the point where housing is a concern, you will DEFINITELY want to talk to myself or Chrissy before making any decisions. Let me know what kind of environment you'd like and I can point you in the right direction. There are too many options to attack that one blind.
I'll be in workshop until 9:30 tonight, so if I don't get back with you about info tonight, I will address your questions in the morning. Are you planning on attending WMU or just thinking ahead? Good luck either way! I didn't apply, regretfully, but when it came down to it I just really want a change of scenery. Which means bye bye Michigan.
They said "the end of April?" It takes balls to say that, Syracuse! Another example of MFA programs denying the reality of this blog and what its community represents. We know Syracuse emailed rejections. We also know acceptances went out.
I'd love to email Syracuse and say these things, but in the (unlikely) chance I'm on an unofficial wait-list, the move would be perilous.
I JUST GOT SO EXCITED FOR AWP. Who else is comin'?
I have an author friend who's on a couple of panels (Seth Harwood) and he's sure to bring the fun. I am now giddy thinking about dragging you people to my favorite bar and giving you the royal Denver treatment. The weather should be nice to us, too.
That's awesome! You excited about Portland? It's such a cool city. I love it there. Which four schools are you still waiting on?
@Zoulou
Yes, New Mexico sounds great! Albuquerque topped our (my girlfriend and I) list of cities to explore.
Fairbanks, Alaska sounds amazing, too. I've never been, but I have in my mind some picture of this 6-month dim, but very alive (and exotic), metropolis surrounded by tundra. This is, of course, probably completely wrong. :)
Your condolences made me smile. Thanks for being kind!
Once I signed in to the NC State system, I scrolled to the very bottom where it said "Decision Status: Available beginning 3/9/2010 -- Your application decision is now available online."
@Arna: I second Amanda's question. When is the Bat City reading (scanning that schedule can be tedious)? We'll be in the audience to support our blog friend, of course.
Congrats to the recent successes!! The waiting is almost over, but the decision-making is only beginning.
Thanks! Right now, I'm just thinking, just trying to get some perspective on the city/school. How are the workshops you've taken (I'm fiction)? Any favorite profs? What's Kalamazoo like--safe, friendly, fun, clean, cheap? Any recs on cool neighborhoods (with affordable housing)?
I will definitely post what I decide to do. This is my second year applying. I applied to just 3 programs last year, got rejected across the board. But there is still a lot of time for you this year, and a lot can happen in these weeks-- so don't jump to conclusions. I'm rooting for you all the way!
By the way, there are two Emmas on this board, and we have both in posting recently. Mindblowing, I know.
Just got a thick 8X12 envelope in the mail from University of Oregon, so I got really excited. Then I opened it up only to find a thank-you-for-applying note followed by a we-are-still-making-final-decisions-on-applications, and then I find out that the majority of the packet is about housing around the campus... is this a good sign?
My NC State page doesn't show an admission status either. Hmm. Although, I applied for poetry, so maybe they're just blazing through fiction writers first.
@jkrueger - I bet it's a good sign! Oregon gets a bazillion applicants, and fat 8x12 packets have got to be expensive to mail... I don't think they'd send them to everybody. I mean, they've had time to review all the applications by now, right?
Sorry Jason J :( I didn't get one either. Maybe tomorrow? I hope so!
I was accepted to Bowling Green today for poetry! I got a call and a follow-up email. Very exciting!
I think this week is going to be a busy one for lots of programs. It sounds like that could be both in the form of acceptances and people moving up off the waitlist - a big thumbs up to those of you who feel able to make early decisions. I know that the waitlisters appreciate it, and I envy your ability to bite the bullet about what you want. Personally, I am terrible at making decisions. Gulp.
For the Oregoners: my housing envelope mailed out on 2/25 with $1.26 postage stamped to it and arrived on 2/27.
A number of people have reported the envelope, so whether or not it's a good sign is unanswerable. My guess? The envelope came from the Office of Admissions and NOT the Creative Writing department; the OOA mailed them if you marked an interest in Oregon housing. I bet you didn't mark the box is all.
I second what M. Swann said about the Oregon envelope. I haven't gotten it, but would not be living on campus if accepted so I did not check the box saying I wanted housing info.
It's a little crazy considering the costs in money, time, and energy resources Oregon spends to mail a housing guide filled with United Colors of Benetton models to hundreds of people who WON'T be attending.
But who am I to tell Oregon how to spend its endowment frivolously?
I don't want to shoot down anyone's dreams, but I've been accepted to UO for poetry and I still haven't received this elusive housing envelope that you are all talking about.
This isn't to say that you aren't accepted or might not be in the future, but I wouldn't read into the mail that you might be getting from the graduate school or UO itself. Hope this was helpful. Best of luck.
Man, Minnesota really makes you work for your rejection. It's like Liz Lemon shouting, "Do the worm! Be a crab! Now fight the worm!" Or something.
@ Andrew and anyone else interested in WMU -
Kalamazoo is great. Cheap living, lots of arts all around, fairly safe. Cons: Disproportionate amount of homeless (state hospital closed down 20 years ago, lot of people on the streets), terrible drivers, cold Michigan winters.
But Western has a nice campus (not as lovely as say, Michigan, but nice), and the cost of living is very low. I used to rent a two bedroom, with hardwood floors, all utilities included, for $550/mo. And that was all to myself, so needless to say, you can find a smaller place or a roommate and pay less.
And it's pretty liberal. Most of the Republicans live in Portage. (Most.) Also, there's a deal where all the kids who go to public schools in Kalamazoo proper get to go to college in-state for free - It's called the Kalamazoo Promise. So not only are most people liberal, but also pretty keen on education (and did I say arts? Lots of arts stuff going on.)
Notable faculty: Richard Katrovas, (sometimes) Stuart Dybek (not sure if he's still around), and this year's National Book Award nominee Bonnie Jo Campbell lives in the county and is involved in a lot of local stuff. There are some great poets from some of the other local schools (Diane Seuss-Brakeman from Kalamazoo College, for one), but I don't know the poetry situation at WMU as well as the fiction. (Where I did my undergrad. Can't say enough good things about the English department there, really.)
Okay, this is too long now...be happy to answer more questions, though.
@Courtney---Nonfiction Courtney to Fiction Courtney
I have a funny story for you. I met my boyfriend for coffee this afternoon and wanted to tell him in person that I got accepted at USF (he plans on moving wherever I go, once he completes his MBA). The conversation went like this:
Before I even got to tell him, he said, "Congrats on USF, San Fran, that's awesome!" "Crap. How do you know? I didn't tell anyone yet." "Oh, I slept with someone in admissions at USF." "Seriously? Wait, seriously how do you know?" "I'm 'up on' the blog. You posted it." "Ohhhh man, I wanted to tell you in person." "Well...apparently there are a whole bunch of other schools you didn't tell me about. Let's talk about those..."
So I guess he's crossed over to the dark side and is obsessively checking the blog for updates, but I'm pretty sure he hasn't caught on to the fact that there are two Courtneys posting.
Any Michigan poetry acceptees thinking about giving up their spot for some warmer climate so I can spend a couple long dark winters brooding over poems?
Also, anyone hear about poetry Re: Irvine?
Congrats to all you folks you just got acceptances. It's a great feeling!
A former Brooklynite here. Loved almost every moment (the only reason I say "almost" every moment is that sometimes it's a bitch to get into/back from Manhattan). I lived with 3 others on the Williamsburg/Green Point border (weighswithwords already knows how much I miss the place) and the rent was very affordable. Bedford Ave is pretty much the best place ever on the weekends when it's warm. You're convinced you're back in the 1960s, with all sorts of crazy people dancing in the street, delivering anarchical speeches, reading Sartre in the middle of the road...
Housing is even more reasonable in Bushwick and Bed-Stuy, or above 125th on the UWS. Admittedly, those areas can be pretty shady (obvious crack addicts hassling you for money, &c.) but I used to ride my bike back from parties at 3 am and never had a problem--and I'm a 20-something chick.
I moved to TriBeCa afterwards but found it to be sorely lacking in 'general chillness.' Downtown is cool... you occasionally see Deniro or Leonardo DiCaprio wandering around, but you can feel right away that Manhattan is a money-driven, philistine culture.
Don't you wish that all the schools had a consistent way of notifying?! I'm so tired of having my heart in my stomach every time the phone rings and the mail comes and I get an email!!
I just want them all to have one medium and maybe day when they just tell everyone what the deal is, clearly I'm living in an unrealistic dream world. But the way it stands now, it makes it a long and painful process for us with lots of loose ends and room for interpretation.
Ohhhh yes. He was like, "Soo I thought we had discussed location already. And, not to hammer it home, but Iowa is ruled out and I think that was the only midwest school? Right????" HUGE panic face. It was the high point of my day :)
to those who just received notifications from minnesota: was your status available via "application tracker" or via the applyyourself website you used to apply initially?
i bet i'll receive mine any moment now. minnesota is my #1 choice.
Wow. Congrats to all the admits so far. I've been trying to take a bit of a break from the blog so I can get some writing done (I have to turn a chapter in for workshop next week).
@ Elissa:
Yay, another Columbia College admit! I'm in fiction, too. :)
I got into Montana for poetry, found out a couple days ago. It was by email, from the director of the program, saying I am one of their top candidates!
So far, got in there, and rejected by UT Austin. Only left to hear from Houston and Warren Wilson,
@B.L. Covey I still have to hear from St. Mary's as well. Best believe I'll dart straight to this blog within minutes of hearing anything! So glad to see someone else waiting for them.
@Woon, If her name is really Cher, I'm sure you're the first person to ever say something like that to her! *end snark*
LOL I know a girl named Rihanna and all I wanna do is sing Umbrella and it's really hard no to do it because I like to be the person that never says anything. It reminds me of "Why should I change? He's the one who sucks" from Office Space.
Has anybody who was accepted to USF, gotten an email or anything with more information?
I confess I was sort of an idiot on the phone. I couldn't think of anything to say except "ok" and "thanks." I probably sounded like I didn't care, but my uninterested voice is actually my excited voice. My uninterested voice is actually pretty lively. Obviously there is a screw loose here.
Also, I checked my online stuff the other day (again, still for USF) and noticed that one of my recommendations (out of two) wasn't turned in. I thought, well, it's too late now. The next day I got the acceptance call.
@Yellow Lux -- Just wanted to say, thanks for giving the props to Di Seuss. She was my poetry prof when I was at K College, and she's incredible. I had Bonnie Jo as a prof, too! All this talk about Kalamazoo is making me miss it.
He was popular when I was in undergrad (I graduated in 2008 if that tells you anything); he's known for a song called "Grace Kelly," and is still kind of a hit with the younger crowd. I only began to get the questions and shit when he became popular.
I don't want to disappoint anyone. I just want to help and to reduce anxiety. So I should say that the Oregon housing package does not mean anything one way or another -- they send it out every year to more or less everyone, and every year it traumatizes tons of people and costs them money for no reason... it's one of the more tone-deaf admissions policies nationally. Easily in the top 10. And every year they do it. I am sorry to be breaking this news but to be clear it doesn't mean anything bad, it's just that it doesn't mean anything. Continued best of luck to everyone waiting--
My first SoP sucked dead rats through a straw. I violated many of the rules, as I was not aware of them. I'll keep my delusions tha I would have succeed had I known a bit more about what was needed ... by reading this blog, among other sources. I got some gentle hints from my references for my PhD application, and have learned a bit between last October and now, so I am hopeful (again).
The other thing I changes was, in addition to being able to add 8 poems to my creative sample, at the bottom of each page for published poems, I noted the name of the journal and either the date it appeared or is forthcoming. This provides evidence that I am publishing on a fairly regular basis.
And I still gave my original Plan B.
@Kaybay, I've really enjoyed your presence here and I totally understand backing off a bit. I will miss your comments here.
I'm pretty excited! I've visited Portland a few years ago and it made my list of cities I'd like to run away too. I need some time away from New York. Craig Lesley called me and told me that he really liked my submission, so that made things pretty awesome as well. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to chat with the director of the program tomorrow.
I've actually gotten pretty lucky with my rejections coming quickly... half of my schools (Wyoming, Syracuse, SIUC, Montana, UNCW, Brown, & Iowa) have already rejected me. I appreciate the relative promptness of these schools.
Right now what is left for me is: hoping for funding from Texas State (I should know in about 2 weeks), and waiting on results from UNLV, Florida Atlantic, Kansas, and GCSU (assuming they haven't notified fiction), and waiting for my presumed rejections from Penn State and Virginia Tech.
I'm excited to think that April is just a few weeks away! Despite how drawn out this process is, I really can't believe how late it already is. We're survived this far...
@Frankish, Good luck with Houston! They have some hella good funding.
Anyone else didn't get their Iowa rejection letter yet? And, does the ISIS status ever change? I think I'm going to go out and celebrate receiving the rejection letter, if I ever do. lol. I'd be too happy I finally got the letter to feel sadness for not getting in. I'm actually looking forward to that day. =)
As of this afternoon, my UNH status has changed to "Waiting for Final Grad Review." So they must have made some decisions today. But it's still mighty quiet...
Have any Iowa rejects checked their Isis status? Has it changed? I'm too chicken to check.
@Bobo
The advice is much appreciated. I was considering getting a shitty studio in Jersey City or Union City (NJ), since that's what a friend did a few years ago (this friend works and spends most her time in NYC, but JC rent is a bit cheaper, and she can live by herself sans roommate).
But the Brooklyn route is tempting. If I can officially reside in the area for the Fall semester (and hopefully a few months before in the summer), I can probably pull off a few in-state grants and fin. aid help just in time for the spring and remaining semesters (and even WAY cheaper tuition if I get into any CUNYs)...
...so yeah, the roommating in BKLYN is enticing, and prob. a better "investment" as an artist in the scheme of things.
@EVERYONE, especially people who applied to other Florida schools: I've asked this before. Nobody says anything. WHY THE HELL DIDN'T YOU APPLY TO FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY? I understand that is low on the ratings and the funding isn't enough to live on in such an expensive place. But in theory there is funding for everyone including 9k a year and 80% tuition remission (though I have no idea if they have a class of 6 or 60). Are you not aware of the program? Are you not interested in it? Why? Is there some big bad secret about the school that I'm not privy to? Did the sparse website scare you away? WHAT IS IT?
@Anti: yeah definitely, and you won't have to worry about commuting in from NJ. I'm not even sure it's that much of a price difference. I know people who pay $500/mo in non-Williamsburg BK. Also keep in mind that a lot of the apts in BK are lofts and therefore much roomier and more spacious than your average apt in JC.
It's a new program (albeit with great faculty), so I'd imagine that its youth has something to do with the lack of chatter on the blogs. To be honest, I am only aware of the school because I'm an alum. I live in Fort Lauderdale, so it was my "local" choice.
Just declined a fully-funded (GTA) fiction place at CSU and feel a little sick and horrible about it, actually. Whoever gets the spot and funding will only be too lucky; the faculty there are incredibly generous and kind and FT looks gorgeous. And will most-likely be declining Texas State this week as well (as soon as I confirm whether ZZ Packer is a visiting writer or full-time faculty member; she's the main draw for me and word is she's only visiting). So look out for those opening spots! Happy to know that they will most likely go to one of you nice mfablog folks! =)
Currently looking at acceptances from VT and Indiana and a hopeful WL at UIUC. Hoping to hear from ASU, Arizona and UNLV soon. Hoping, furthermore, to make a decision by the 22nd. I don't know why the 22nd, exactly, but it looks like a nice number for a deadline and I'm going to hit it.
Cratty, you are a rockstar. Expect more of my freakout emails in the coming days. Apologizing in advance.
Jasmine, if you don't mind, can you drop me an email? I'd love to hear some more of your thoughts on IU's program. Thanks! nairakuz[at]gmail[.]com
Congrats to all the recent acceptances and WLers, and a sincere 'keep your heads up' to those still waiting!
Dolores Humbert, I was under the impression that ZZ Packer was full time faculty, but I'm not sure. That may be incorrect since I haven't seen her listed as leading any classes in the fall.
Hey, everyone. I've been staying away from this blog because it triggers my cigarette cravings. (I'm down to 3 smokes a day from 20 ... Hopefully I'll be off smokes by the end of this month!)
But I just wanted to pop in and say congrats to all the newly accepted. And a special shout out to WT for Notre Dame.
As far as cover letters go, I've learned not to read them unless I liked the story. They wind up wasting my time. I know some other readers who are like that as well, so it's best to be brief and professional when writing your own cover letters. You don't want them to backfire.
The only reason I didn't apply to FAU is because I live in the area and really wanted to move away. I've taken classes there and a workshop with Ayse Papatya Bucak and only have good things to say.
As it's turning out, I might be stuck here another year so I should have gone ahead and at least applied. Oh well!
Yeah, that's what I assumed too. the faculty page is misleading, I think. Her wikipedia page says she's only visiting and I know, it's wikipedia, but I suspect it's true. I'm hoping she's still around, though it's looking increasingly unlikely. TSU is on spring break, but here's hoping they check their emails. Will keep you posted!
Good for you for setting a deadline and making the hard decisions! It seems like you'll end up somewhere great. Indiana and VT are both amazing programs.
When did CSU notify you of the GTA, and was it via phone, snail mail, or email? I know a lot of us are awaiting news on that front.
@Ashley Brooke - I went to FSU for undergrad and I'm eager to get out of Florida. I confess I didn't do much research on Florida schools for MFA programs, so I knew nothing about FAU's program. (I think I know more about Virginia's program than I do about my alma mater's at this point.)
Thanks Dolores, let me know! Wikipedia and fall courses lead me to believe that Dagoberto Gilb is also not there anymore either... This is okay with me because I know that they have amazing visiting writers coming through all the time and I hear nothing but good things Tom Grimes and company.
Thanks everybody who has answered my FAU question, especially Melissa for the Papatya Bucak info. :)
Thanks so much! I actually heard about the GTA the day they called me with my acceptance (a couple weeks back). Though, tbh, they made it pretty clear that my offer was the only one they had made so far and that funding for other prospective students had yet to be determined. Now, though, that the GTA has opened up, I'm sure one of the already admitted folks should be hearing VERY soon about the teaching package! Good luck!
The program isn't that new. It switched to MFA in 2004-2005, I believe. No idea how many people are in the program, but I have a couple friends in it, so I'll ask around.
Cecil, Thanks for letting us know about Texas State. I didn't know about Gilb's health issues, either. I googled it and it appears it was a "minor stroke" and it said he was expected back. Hopefully that is the case and he is doing well...
Thanks, Jimmy James! I'm glad to hear some things about the program.
Thanks. Seems like it's just fiction on the up and up tonight and I'm in poetry. Dorianne Laux is basically my everything. I don't mind telling her that, either. haha...
Enjoy the acceptance! Hope the funding comes through.
2,265 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 801 – 1000 of 2265 Newer› Newest»@koru Oh good! I am not the only one who checks my online status 50 times a day! ;)
@frankish: A guy from my undergrad went to Houston and got a Stegner afterwards. They seem to have pretty stellar post-MFA placement, if that's something you're interested in.
Does anyone know when NYU will be sending out its decisions??
@ UNH
I just spoke with Janine in the graduate office and she said the meeting was bumped to 12:30. She also said that phonecalls will be made today for those awarded assistantships and other calls will be made in the next few days.
My fingernails are getting short!
@Andrew
Thanks for the update! Though I fear your information will have my stomach doing flip flops alllll damn day :P haha
@Andrew
You're awesome! Thanks for the updates
ok tuesday. what do you have for me???
Sarah Lawrence?
NS/Brooklyn closure?
...Columbia?
Has anyone heard anything from the fiction department at Boise State or Arizona? I still haven't heard a peep from any of my middle-tier schools (SDSU, Colorado State, Boise State, Arizona, UNH).
Good luck to all!
@Andrew
Thanks for calling! You rock!
@ Andrew Sottile
Thanks for the UNH updates. I just emailed Arizona to find out when they're making decisions on nonfiction. Hopefully I will also get the scoop on fiction.
Also, I know information on a MFA Blog post from 2007-2008 said that UNH offered assistantships to about 50% of admits. But I know they've had financial troubles lately, like every other state school. Does anyone have a more recent sense of what their funding sitch is like? Seth doesn't have any data posted on it.
@Dry Leaves -- please let us know what Arizona says about nonfiction because I'm dying to know!! Thanks for contacting them!
@Nathaniel
My friend was accepted to UNH last year...and unfortunately received little/no funding. I know he's paying out of his pocket to be there right now.
Bummer :[
@Arna
I used to work as a reader at The New Yorker, and I second everything Arna said about submitting to magazines. I'd also add a few other things:
1. Make sure your pages are numbered. It is a bummer to be writing a report for an editor about a story you love, a report in which you want to mention the great writing or plot twist on page whatever, only to discover there are no page numbers. This is a small thing that makes you seem professional, and makes it easier for an unpaid reader to put themselves out there for your story.
2. Really don't send multiple submissions to the same magazine if they tell you not to. I know it's easy to think, "They get hundreds of submissions a month. They won't remember that I sent them one last week." I read hundreds of submissions a week, but I still recognized multiple submissions. It just isn't worth it, as it turns the readers off to you before they've even read your new story.
3. If you've previously received a nice, personal rejection letter from a magazine, mention this in your cover letter when you submit a new story to that magazine. Something simple, like, "I was encouraged by your kind personal note on my last story, X, and am hoping you will enjoy this new story, Y." It gets a reader's attention.
Congrats to everyone who has gotten good news lately!
Virginia is for lovers, and I'm ready to be romanced. Come on phone!
@Emma
Unfortunately, historically it looks like Virginia is one of last to notify, so it could be WEEKS before we hear anything. I hope I'm wrong.
@Emma, I also just realized there are other schools in Virginia besides UVA, so maybe you weren't even talking about that one!
@Emma
Are you contemplating Virginia over Iowa if you get accepted to UVA? Just curious. (I have my official rejection from Iowa now, so it's not that I'm stalking your Iowa spot from a waitlist.)
re: Virginia - has anybody been in touch with Charlottesville about their timeline?
re: Virginia - No. I chickened out on calling them because their website is pretty explicit about when they will notify. All the departments seem to have caller ID. Ha.
@phillywriter-- I'm too paranoid about who reads this blog to say if I would go to one place over another-- call me neurotic! (I am).
I am talking about UVA, and I know they said they would notify at the end of the month... I'm just dying to know. I'm being impatient and unreasonable, and I should probably be thinking about other things. Like taxes.
According to DH they seem a little confused about their own timeline - they've notified anywhere from March 10th to April 1st - that's a huge window. It's also significantly later than most schools.
Don't get me wrong - I would be floored and humbled to get in - but I honestly don't think I'm going to wait until April 1st to commit to Michigan. I'm ready to get my head in the post-application game. Anyone else feeling this way?
I am a new "poster" on the blog. You guys are hilarious. I love the transparency here. Thank you. I applied (poetry) to Bennington, Warren Wilson, VCFA, Pacific, UCR, Chapman ... and have not heard a peep. Has anyone heard from any of the low-res schools? I would love to know the stats on how many are accepted in each genre, how many apply, etc. Good luck to everyone!
@ emma - I go back and forth between being wildly paranoid and thinking that no one knows about this blog besides us. *sigh* - wouldn't it be awful, though, if a committee member read this and then thought, "oh, so she doesn't really want to go to Virginia?"
I do! But I love the other schools, too.
@Tim Noble
I remember you emailing Syracuse to see what was up with some of us not receiving rejection emails. Have you heard anything back?
Anyone else waiting to hear from Syracuse? I understand a tardy rejection letter, but a tardy rejection email?
re. SOP and Laurie Lynn.
I too appreciate that Laurie Lynn spent valuable time to address concerns of MFA applicants, whether or not they were Oregon applicants.
Those of us who were accepted into a program might believe that what we wrote in our SOPs was adequate. Some of us may even believe we've uncovered the secret. In my delusional moments, I've come to this very conclusion myself. Like: no one can write a better SOP than me.
However, no one really knows whether our SOP was sufficient. We were accepted (or rejected) based primarily on our writing sample. (Laurie Lynn herself mentioned that it makes up 95% of the decision-making process.) It may be that we were accepted despite really crappy SOPs. Or, we may have written the most brilliant SOP in the history of mankind but was still met with a rejection.
I used to interview people for jobs at my firm. One guy we hired believed that we hired him because he had a particular expertise we were seeking. He also believed he did a great job during the interview. The fact is: we just needed a warm body to fill that seat. And quickly. He happened to be at the right place at the right time. He got lucky. He answered the phone when we called. Life is like that.
Same with the SOP or even the writing sample. We won't really know what goes on in the head of AdCom people as they go through our files. They may like our writing sample for a good reason (or a silly reason or a bad reason). Last month, I read Best American Short Stories 2002. I really liked Melissa Hardy's "The Heifer" because it was about a woman and her beloved cow. I didn't like (and didn't finish) Jim Shepard's "Love and Hydrogen" because it had depictions of gay sex and some uninteresting sci-fi element. Yes, stupid reasons for liking (disliking) stories. (No, I'm not homophobic. I don't particularly like sexual passages in literature, unless it's Penthouse Forum. Ahem.)
Same goes for our background. MFA programs can't (and won't) fill an entire class full of women or White males from Harvard or gay Chinese men or Kurt Vonnegut worshippers from Oklahoma. It just would not make for an interesting class.
(You see? Once I go on a rant, I can't stop myself.)
I really want to hear from Arizona State. It's really the only place I'm waiting on to make my final decision. I can't wait to get to the other side. Last year this time, I was beginning the waiting list game--which is worse and more torturous than the not-yet-notified game because it involves more plausible craigslisting and obsession.
In other news--my husband got his long-awaited promotion yesterday...just in time for us to be planning a big cross-country move. The plot thickens...
-Fiction Courtney
@Ali I saw your comment and thought I had written something in a daze (we have the same name). I don't know much about low-res programs but welcome to posting here!
@Nathaniel -- re. inaccessible faculty works. LOL! For many many faculty members, I simply could not find their works anywhere -- except through Amazon! My local libraries don't stock their novels and/or short story collections. But James Patterson and Clive Cussler...oy vei...
Has anyone heard a peep from NC State about when they plan to notify? Their notifications from previous years have been all over the place-- some in February, some in April.
Dorianne Laux is one of my heroes. :) I'd love to work with her.
The Hobo Bobo:
Did you go to Binghamton? Because I sure did.
@ nathaniel and woon - as I mentioned before, I found alumni works to be both more plentiful and more helpful than faculty works. We don't know what kind of writers the faculty are looking for necessarily based on their own writing. But when you see stories from Iowa or Virginia students over and over again in Best New American Voices, lit journals, and new collections - it's pretty easy to get a feel for the kind of work the faculty at a particular school is looking for. My .02 cents.
@Everyone waiting on NYU,
I made my boyfriend call them and they said they'll notify "in the next week or two." Guess they're behind on things.
@Ali,
I heard from VCFA at the beginning of February...their process is rolling, so you could probably make a guess on your status depending on when you submitted your materials. Bennington and Warren Wilson tend to notify later; you can check all that here:
http://driftless-house.blogspot.com/2010/02/2010-cw-mamfaphd-application-responses.html
And as for low-res acceptance stats, I'm not sure where you might find one broken down by genre, but there are some statistics that Seth compiled here that you might be interested in:
http://sethabramson.blogspot.com/2010/01/2010-mfa-rankings-selectivity-low-res.html
'best new voices' was discontinued a few months back. it was a sad day. i loved that series.
@ dYlj: I created a forum/online group last month which you're welcome to join. Just send me an email at mandasue at gmail dot com. There are about 50 of us from this board there and lots of discussions about our lists, decisions, portfolios, and many other topics. It also allows us to send messages directly to each other and post videos, music, and even blog posts.
@ cecil peoples - I hadn't heard that it had been discontinued - that's so sad. It was one of my favorite anthologies each year.
AWP: Who's going? Can we get an MFA blog contingent there? Meet for drinks?
To all - anyone know when Vanderbilt will be notifying?
Jumping in a bit late on the swell SOP discussion but I thought I’d share my completely unscientific personal anecdote.
Like others and for the reasons they mentioned, I was hesitant to cite specific profs, plus in my case, it would have been disingenuous - for the last few years I’ve had a crazy job that didn’t let me read (really my fault, obviously, but easier to blame on work); I’m so behind on the “classics” it’s embarrassing, let alone having time to investigate the current fiction of profs at 15 different schools.
So last year, I didn’t tailor my SOP much and got a bunch of rejections and the last spot on the Notre Dame w.list. This year, I modified my SOP more and the two schools where I thought I actually did a good job – where what I wrote felt honest, not BS catering to the school – were the two schools to which I was accepted.
Probably a coincidence - as Laurie said the sample is 95% of it, and I do think changes in my sample (that's a whole other post) not my SOP account for most of the difference between this year and last. Still, was my sample up there in the running for a bunch of schools (nice to think but highly unlikely) only my untailored SOP did me in? Did I actually identify two programs whose mentality matched my own, thus increasing my odds of acceptance from the get-go? Who knows.
I didn’t mention specific profs, or at least their work. I got a sense from the schools’ websites that they endorsed not a specific style but an outlook on writing, and tried to convey that I shared their mentality (which I did). This also sort of achieves the 2 birds w 1 stone thing, shows your approach to writing and that you've researched why you'd fit there.
Anyway not that I’m a shining success story or that the SOP is that important but I share everyone’s struggles w/ this and I think you can find a middle road between not specifically tailoring and sucking up to a prof.
peaquah,
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/feb/07/entertainment/la-ca-endurability7-2010feb07
phillywriter,
i will be sure to let you know if i hear anything from indiana. i'm really crossing my fingers for a spot, too. hopefully we'll both get in and be classmates this fall.
@ Smiling Raindrops
Thank you for the site reference. It is chock full of great information.
I have decided to distract myself with taxes for now...until the mail arrives.
@ Frankish --
so jealous of your Houston GNE! Amazing! I would do anything to hear from them right now...
@amanda
stupid question: AWP is?
@cecil peoples, re. Dani Shapiro article --
Funny passages:
"So many crappy novels get published. Why not mine?"
"They tweet and blog and make Facebook friends in the time they used to spend writing."
LOL!
@miss private eye - re. AWP:
http://www.awpwriter.org/conference/
@ miss private eye: no worries. AWP is (on the greater level) the Associated Writing Programs organization, but (on the smaller level) I'm referring to the AWP annual conference which is happening in Denver one month from now! Lots of readings, panels, drinking at hotel bars... It's my first year to go and I'm really excited about it.
@ cecil - thanks. That article is enough to make anyone want to start their own literary press to catch the underdogs before they disappear.
I'm still new to this posting thing. Does anyone know much about the California and Arizona schools? I'm not really worried or anything, just curious. Do they usually notify later? Also, anyone heard anything from Portland State? Again, just curious. I'm in poetry. Just wanted to say that this blog is great. Such a great community of people, really. When I found the blog about a month ago, I was surprised to see how kind everyone is to each other.
@peaquah -- my secret dream is to create my own literary press. Sort of like Glimmer Train but more hip. Actually, it's not my dream. But I think it would be fun.
@woon and amanda
merci beaucoup
Checking out the AWP link... are some of you members? It's not something I'm familiar with, but I am always on the lookout for communities of writers...
@ Boise,Idaho
Go to driftless-house.blogspot.com. The response times for all MFA programs are listed there. Also the DH comments are useful for up-to-the-minute info on acceptances, rejections, and waitlists.
Re: Arizona. Both UA and ASU have notified for poetry but not for fiction or nonfiction.
@ woon - love that, would definitely submit my work to "Glimmer Train but more hip." I'd like to publish story collections or first novels. I don't know that it trumps other goals, though.
@Miss private eye Association of Writers and Writing Programs. Specifically their annual conference, which is a huge deal for literary magazines and MFA programs and editors.
@amanda I'll be there! I'm actually giving a fiction reading for Bat City Review. I'd love to meet up with you or anybody else on here that's going. I won't know a soul there.
@Danielle Wheeler and @Klairkwilty I can give you guys Iowa City housing advice if you want. Danielle, I'm in for fiction at the IWW and also did my undergrad there. I'll just give you guys a few notes about the housing stuff here, but you can email me all about if you want (abhemenway at gmail.com)
Notes:
1. IC apartments costs so ridiculously much because all the undergrads are trying to live near campus, on the near side of the river. They also cost so much because most of the rental properties are owned and (not) maintained by really, really horrible slumlord companies. The worst one of these is called "APARTMENTS DOWNTOWN". When I was in college they involved my mom in a protracted legal battle over damages incurred when someone tried to break into my vacated department after I'd already turned in my key. You have to deal with them a little bit, just because they own so much of everything, but exercise extreme prejudice.
2. Don't live anywhere near the football stadium, which is the neighborhoods around Melrose st. on the far side of the river. Iowa Football tailgating is some of the wildest in the country. Over 100,000 people infest the neighborhood around the stadium for blocks and blocks and blocks in every direction. Your place and live will get severely messed up.
3. Make sure the place has good heating. This is a big deal up there. Less obviously, make sure it has good AC. The summer is brutal.
4. Don't be afraid to live in Coralville. There's no separation between Iowa City and Coralville, and it takes about ten minutes to drive to the workshop from anywhere in Cville. It's also much cheaper and much quieter. Obviously, it's more attractive to live on the near side of the river, close to downtown, but you have to go so far out before the rents become reasonable and the student ghettos stop, it is usually not worth it.
5. Most people in Iowa City sign their leases for the next year in January or early February, so, you know, start looking now.
@little poet who could
"Sketchy online zines" is admittedly a little hard to define. Basically anywhere that if I as an editor click on it to see your work, I am going to take seriously. Some major flags are places that are very disorganized or that publish their own editors.
@ink and beans I don't think there's a magic length. If your story is 24 pages, it better be really good, is all I'm saying.
@brad smith I'm sending it to you first chance I get.
@ arna: Let's do it! When is the Bat City reading? I need to start putting together my schedule. And Franny will be there also. Yay!
@Dry Leaves
Oh, yes. Thank you, haha. I've been reading the comments there, but kinda forgot to look at the response notifications in green and blue because I just enjoy seeing what people say. I'll check the notifications.
Another question for everyone who is going to make a move for a program: what kind of mental preparation are you doing for such a move? Who is going really far away from "home?"
Thanks, Arna! It does seem like 'apartments downtown' owns half the city. I'm glad I know who to avoid!
@weights
I'll keep you posted about the New York situation. I'm currently focused on the mountain of coursework I have to finish for my degree, but, hopefully, I can provide you or anyone remotely interested an answer by mid-April or early May. I'd rather be cautious about it than jump into something so rashly (though the arty youngster in me is like an anxious kid waiting to open his Christmas presents).
nightlyfix at gmail dot com for any NYC-ers and/or potential TNS-ers who wanna keep in touch.
How many people does TNS accept for fiction anyway?
**
Still waiting to hear from the CUNY schools I've applied to (Hunter and Brooklyn are pretty much off my list, but City College notifies people a bit late in March. I'm not crazy about Queens College, but I applied there regardless).
And I still haven't received my Iowa rejection (I put my folks' place down as my permanent adddress. I can't bare to see my dad's face from happy to sad as he opens the rejection).
@M.Swann
I emailed Syracuse last night asking whether a final decision had been made on my application, and received a response today saying "Decisions are expected to be made no later than the end of April."
Oy vey.
@Boise
About preparing for a move... I'm probably relocating to Fairbanks, AK from Seattle, WA and I am scared stiff! I've been talking to people from Alaska (including folks from on here - very helpful!) and I checked out a massive stack of "about Alaska" library books. This way, I at least feel like I sort of know what I'm getting myself into. Also, my preparations will include a big fat coat.
You're thinking about a move to New Mexico, right? Exciting!
@Emma
Me too!
@Emma
I completely understand your paranoia about posting your preferences. Once you make a final decision, though, I'd love to know why you made your choice - especially since I may be doing this whole process over again next year!
David Leavitt from Florida sent me an email. I'm on the waitlist.
I wasn't really expecting anything from Florida so this is quite a surprise. In fact, I crossed them off a long time ago because I assumed they were done.
Well, I have only one school left to hear from.
@ woon - congrats on the Florida waitlist!
@Wow, congratulations! :)
Anybody in at Western Michigan? Anybody know anything about Kalamazoo?
Congratulations! That's awesome, Woon!
(Just got the urge to call you Wooners. In an affectionate way. Like, way to go, Wooners!)
@Andrew -- I did my undergrad in Kalamazoo (at Kalamazoo College, not Western). Shoot me an email if you want info about the city cjwid87(at)hotmail(dot)com.
Has anyone heard a no from Brooklyn in fiction yet? I know the yeses have been trickling in but it's my last shot at sanity to just hear a no, particularly after I just received a GNL telling me how pleased they were to inform me...that my application was under review.
Thanks, Chrissy, will do.
@nathaniel
I'm afraid UNH's funding is in the pooper. Deep in the pooper. I'd estimate the program as somewhere between 10% and 25% fully-funded, a ranking something like 80th nationally. Think Washington and Pittsburgh and you'll be in the ballpark, though Pittsburgh's ~30% funding level is definitely higher than New Hampshire's.
S.
@Seth
I knew it had decreased, but that's pretty bad. Well, now I can modulate my expectations accordingly.
Thanks for info!
@whoever came up with the MFA Draft idea -
I love it!
Like the NFL Draft. Every candidate submits their writing sample into a clearinghouse. Then, each FULLY-FUNDING school makes picks round-by-round. Each applicant can be picked three times, just to give applicants a choice.
@laura
I hadn't heard anything from NC State until just a few minutes ago. The dean of graduate studies seems to have posted a frigid rejection letter for me at the bottom of the online application (http://www.ncsu.edu/grad/applygrad.htm). I'm in fiction.
That's what I get for checking these online apps 100 times a day: a very abrupt response to my curiosity!
Oh well. It's only my first rejection.
Hi Guys,
May as well chime in here. Got the acceptance call from Portland last week.
Rejected by Iowa, New Mexico, and Brown.
Still waiting on four schools.
Heard from the Nebraska CW PhD program. Notifications were mailed yesterday, and my status page says "review complete." However, the speakeasy has some people who said their status was changed a few days ago, and other who received emails with acceptances. Not sure what this all means, but I guess it's news.
@peaquah, Courtney, Zoulou -- thank you!
I'm going to spill the news to my dogs now.
@Andrew
I am finishing up my 5th year at Western Michigan right now with a double major in Film and Creative Writing. That said, I've got a decent amount of info about all of our Creative Writing genres, plus screenwriting from the COM department if it's something you have an interest in.
What kind of info are you looking for? Let me know and I'll fill you in on all the happy details. Also, if you are at the point where housing is a concern, you will DEFINITELY want to talk to myself or Chrissy before making any decisions. Let me know what kind of environment you'd like and I can point you in the right direction. There are too many options to attack that one blind.
I'll be in workshop until 9:30 tonight, so if I don't get back with you about info tonight, I will address your questions in the morning. Are you planning on attending WMU or just thinking ahead? Good luck either way! I didn't apply, regretfully, but when it came down to it I just really want a change of scenery. Which means bye bye Michigan.
@ Hollins people
I too am desperately waiting! I'd love to try out the East coast for a few years, and the program just seems so cool.
I'm also holding out hope for Boise State and Colorado State. Argh.
@ frankish
So glad to hear that you've gotten some (tentative) good news! I hope it works out for you.
Hey Jimmy, my condolences.
On which screen did you find the rejection? I can't see a link on mine.
@Julian
They said "the end of April?" It takes balls to say that, Syracuse! Another example of MFA programs denying the reality of this blog and what its community represents. We know Syracuse emailed rejections. We also know acceptances went out.
I'd love to email Syracuse and say these things, but in the (unlikely) chance I'm on an unofficial wait-list, the move would be perilous.
@amanda/Arna:
I JUST GOT SO EXCITED FOR AWP. Who else is comin'?
I have an author friend who's on a couple of panels (Seth Harwood) and he's sure to bring the fun. I am now giddy thinking about dragging you people to my favorite bar and giving you the royal Denver treatment. The weather should be nice to us, too.
Yesssssssssssssssss.
@MikejGrey
That's awesome! You excited about Portland? It's such a cool city. I love it there. Which four schools are you still waiting on?
@Zoulou
Yes, New Mexico sounds great! Albuquerque topped our (my girlfriend and I) list of cities to explore.
Fairbanks, Alaska sounds amazing, too. I've never been, but I have in my mind some picture of this 6-month dim, but very alive (and exotic), metropolis surrounded by tundra. This is, of course, probably completely wrong. :)
@MFAguy
Your condolences made me smile. Thanks for being kind!
Once I signed in to the NC State system, I scrolled to the very bottom where it said "Decision Status: Available beginning 3/9/2010 -- Your application decision is now available online."
Hey thanks again Jimmy,
Hope it works out for you elsewhere!
Mine still has nothing. Hoping now for some good news!
@Arna: I second Amanda's question. When is the Bat City reading (scanning that schedule can be tedious)? We'll be in the audience to support our blog friend, of course.
Congrats to the recent successes!! The waiting is almost over, but the decision-making is only beginning.
@Michelle J
Thanks! Right now, I'm just thinking, just trying to get some perspective on the city/school. How are the workshops you've taken (I'm fiction)? Any favorite profs? What's Kalamazoo like--safe, friendly, fun, clean, cheap? Any recs on cool neighborhoods (with affordable housing)?
Guess UNH was just giving us a run around. Where are those notifications hiding?!
Has anyone heard anything from them since updates this morning?
@Chelsea- My UNH page still says "under review".
for those of you JHU people:
i contacted the assistant an hour or so ago and she told me they'd be making decisions through this week and into next.
fyi!
subscribing
@Andrew--I just sent you an epic-length email. Sorry it was so long. If anyone else wants info about Kalamazoo, apparently I have a lot to say... :)
@phillywriter
I will definitely post what I decide to do. This is my second year applying. I applied to just 3 programs last year, got rejected across the board. But there is still a lot of time for you this year, and a lot can happen in these weeks-- so don't jump to conclusions. I'm rooting for you all the way!
By the way, there are two Emmas on this board, and we have both in posting recently. Mindblowing, I know.
ps the mailman has come to regard me as incredibly creepy, and it's obvious.
Just got a thick 8X12 envelope in the mail from University of Oregon, so I got really excited. Then I opened it up only to find a thank-you-for-applying note followed by a we-are-still-making-final-decisions-on-applications, and then I find out that the majority of the packet is about housing around the campus... is this a good sign?
@mfaguy
My NC State page doesn't show an admission status either. Hmm. Although, I applied for poetry, so maybe they're just blazing through fiction writers first.
Errr, I meant admission decision. Not status. I need to start hitting that preview button before I post comments!
jkrueger,
Unfortunately we all got that packet. We can except to hear news from Oregon after the 15th.
Little worried that I didn't get that Oregon packet. What's the deal?
Come on Oregon! I love you!! I wanna be a Duck.
em yeu anh -- thanks for the intel!
I just emailed Louisiana State, and got a response back that "mMy best guess would be within the next couple of weeks" regarding admissions.
@jkrueger - I bet it's a good sign! Oregon gets a bazillion applicants, and fat 8x12 packets have got to be expensive to mail... I don't think they'd send them to everybody. I mean, they've had time to review all the applications by now, right?
Sorry Jason J :( I didn't get one either. Maybe tomorrow? I hope so!
Shoot - but not that I know anything for sure! Just my hunch.
Subscribed
I was accepted to Bowling Green today for poetry! I got a call and a follow-up email. Very exciting!
I think this week is going to be a busy one for lots of programs. It sounds like that could be both in the form of acceptances and people moving up off the waitlist - a big thumbs up to those of you who feel able to make early decisions. I know that the waitlisters appreciate it, and I envy your ability to bite the bullet about what you want. Personally, I am terrible at making decisions. Gulp.
For the Oregoners: my housing envelope mailed out on 2/25 with $1.26 postage stamped to it and arrived on 2/27.
A number of people have reported the envelope, so whether or not it's a good sign is unanswerable. My guess? The envelope came from the Office of Admissions and NOT the Creative Writing department; the OOA mailed them if you marked an interest in Oregon housing. I bet you didn't mark the box is all.
I second what M. Swann said about the Oregon envelope. I haven't gotten it, but would not be living on campus if accepted so I did not check the box saying I wanted housing info.
@M.Swann - Ah. That makes sense. Thanks for explaining that!
@Emma - You made me laugh about the mailman :)
@Boise - Ha, that version of Fairbanks sounds good to me too! Good luck to you, and I hope your move goes smoothly!
And congratulations burlaper!
@ burlaper: frackin' awesome! congratulations!!!!
Surprise acceptance: George Mason, via email, just now. Thought they were done w acceptances; I'm guessing no funding but wooh! anyway.
Congrats to those recently accepted, and others keep your heads up, you never know!
@burlaper: huzzah!
@U of Arizona Fiction Applicants--
any news? Has anyone asked recently?
Yay threes! Yay for late-in-the-inning home runs!
RE Oregon Housing FOE:
It's a little crazy considering the costs in money, time, and energy resources Oregon spends to mail a housing guide filled with United Colors of Benetton models to hundreds of people who WON'T be attending.
But who am I to tell Oregon how to spend its endowment frivolously?
Hey Oregon Hopefuls:
I don't want to shoot down anyone's dreams, but I've been accepted to UO for poetry and I still haven't received this elusive housing envelope that you are all talking about.
This isn't to say that you aren't accepted or might not be in the future, but I wouldn't read into the mail that you might be getting from the graduate school or UO itself. Hope this was helpful. Best of luck.
just got an email that my Minnesota status is online...a rejection. two (Iowa this morning) in one day :(
@Hannah
How do you get your student ID to check your MN status?
It's the same PIN and password you used for your application -
minnesota official rejection.
Yep, got the Minnesota rejection just now, but got accepted to Columbia College (fiction) today!
@Elissa
Congratulations on your acceptance. Mind me asking how they notified you?
Man, Minnesota really makes you work for your rejection. It's like Liz Lemon shouting, "Do the worm! Be a crab! Now fight the worm!" Or something.
@ Andrew and anyone else interested in WMU -
Kalamazoo is great. Cheap living, lots of arts all around, fairly safe. Cons: Disproportionate amount of homeless (state hospital closed down 20 years ago, lot of people on the streets), terrible drivers, cold Michigan winters.
But Western has a nice campus (not as lovely as say, Michigan, but nice), and the cost of living is very low. I used to rent a two bedroom, with hardwood floors, all utilities included, for $550/mo. And that was all to myself, so needless to say, you can find a smaller place or a roommate and pay less.
And it's pretty liberal. Most of the Republicans live in Portage. (Most.) Also, there's a deal where all the kids who go to public schools in Kalamazoo proper get to go to college in-state for free - It's called the Kalamazoo Promise. So not only are most people liberal, but also pretty keen on education (and did I say arts? Lots of arts stuff going on.)
Notable faculty: Richard Katrovas, (sometimes) Stuart Dybek (not sure if he's still around), and this year's National Book Award nominee Bonnie Jo Campbell lives in the county and is involved in a lot of local stuff. There are some great poets from some of the other local schools (Diane Seuss-Brakeman from Kalamazoo College, for one), but I don't know the poetry situation at WMU as well as the fiction. (Where I did my undergrad. Can't say enough good things about the English department there, really.)
Okay, this is too long now...be happy to answer more questions, though.
@Courtney---Nonfiction Courtney to Fiction Courtney
I have a funny story for you. I met my boyfriend for coffee this afternoon and wanted to tell him in person that I got accepted at USF (he plans on moving wherever I go, once he completes his MBA). The conversation went like this:
Before I even got to tell him, he said, "Congrats on USF, San Fran, that's awesome!"
"Crap. How do you know? I didn't tell anyone yet."
"Oh, I slept with someone in admissions at USF."
"Seriously? Wait, seriously how do you know?"
"I'm 'up on' the blog. You posted it."
"Ohhhh man, I wanted to tell you in person."
"Well...apparently there are a whole bunch of other schools you didn't tell me about. Let's talk about those..."
So I guess he's crossed over to the dark side and is obsessively checking the blog for updates, but I'm pretty sure he hasn't caught on to the fact that there are two Courtneys posting.
ohhhh and @ threes congrats on the george mason acceptance! i love the surprise fake out...just when you thought they were out of the game...
@other acceptances today, Congrats!!!!
Hahahahahah. That's fantastic!! Is he upset you didn't tell him you were probably moving to the Midwest!?! I love it!
Any Michigan poetry acceptees thinking about giving up their spot for some warmer climate so I can spend a couple long dark winters brooding over poems?
Also, anyone hear about poetry Re: Irvine?
Congrats to all you folks you just got acceptances. It's a great feeling!
@Anti
A former Brooklynite here. Loved almost every moment (the only reason I say "almost" every moment is that sometimes it's a bitch to get into/back from Manhattan). I lived with 3 others on the Williamsburg/Green Point border (weighswithwords already knows how much I miss the place) and the rent was very affordable. Bedford Ave is pretty much the best place ever on the weekends when it's warm. You're convinced you're back in the 1960s, with all sorts of crazy people dancing in the street, delivering anarchical speeches, reading Sartre in the middle of the road...
Housing is even more reasonable in Bushwick and Bed-Stuy, or above 125th on the UWS. Admittedly, those areas can be pretty shady (obvious crack addicts hassling you for money, &c.) but I used to ride my bike back from parties at 3 am and never had a problem--and I'm a 20-something chick.
I moved to TriBeCa afterwards but found it to be sorely lacking in 'general chillness.' Downtown is cool... you occasionally see Deniro or Leonardo DiCaprio wandering around, but you can feel right away that Manhattan is a money-driven, philistine culture.
Congrats, threes and Elissa! Woot!
And thanks for the support, everyone!
DFW,
I got a letter in the mail from Columbia College. I opened it thinking it was maybe a rejection and got a pleasant surprise!
Do you guys know if Western Michigan is done notifying for fiction?
Thanks for the congrats!!
Hobo, you're freakin hilarious!
Thanks Gena Courtney Summer burlaper and others!
Huge congrats to all those accepted!
Don't you wish that all the schools had a consistent way of notifying?! I'm so tired of having my heart in my stomach every time the phone rings and the mail comes and I get an email!!
I just want them all to have one medium and maybe day when they just tell everyone what the deal is, clearly I'm living in an unrealistic dream world. But the way it stands now, it makes it a long and painful process for us with lots of loose ends and room for interpretation.
@Courtney
Ohhhh yes. He was like, "Soo I thought we had discussed location already. And, not to hammer it home, but Iowa is ruled out and I think that was the only midwest school? Right????" HUGE panic face. It was the high point of my day :)
Non-Fiction
UNC Wilmington- Wait list
California College of the Arts- accepted (according to website)
Still haven't heard from
The New School
University of San Fran
St. Mary's
anybody else heard anything?
Starting to obsess for no reason. Damn this blog...
@M Swann
That makes perfect sense!
Congrats to all those receiving good news today!
to those who just received notifications from minnesota: was your status available via "application tracker" or via the applyyourself website you used to apply initially?
i bet i'll receive mine any moment now. minnesota is my #1 choice.
Wow. Congrats to all the admits so far. I've been trying to take a bit of a break from the blog so I can get some writing done (I have to turn a chapter in for workshop next week).
@ Elissa:
Yay, another Columbia College admit! I'm in fiction, too. :)
I got into Montana for poetry, found out a couple days ago. It was by email, from the director of the program, saying I am one of their top candidates!
So far, got in there, and rejected by UT Austin. Only left to hear from Houston and Warren Wilson,
@Cher - loved you in "Moonstruck." Didn't care for Nicholas Cage though.
@Cher - seriously, congrats on Montana!
@B.L. Covey
I still have to hear from St. Mary's as well. Best believe I'll dart straight to this blog within minutes of hearing anything! So glad to see someone else waiting for them.
@Woon,
If her name is really Cher, I'm sure you're the first person to ever say something like that to her!
*end snark*
LOL I know a girl named Rihanna and all I wanna do is sing Umbrella and it's really hard no to do it because I like to be the person that never says anything. It reminds me of "Why should I change? He's the one who sucks" from Office Space.
Also forgot to congratulation Cher! Yay!
@ Woon and Ashley Brooke:
Can't be as bad as some people asking me if I was named after Mika the singer.
I want to point out the stupidity of that statement, but my laughter already makes them confused.
And congratulations to Cher!!
Has anybody who was accepted to USF, gotten an email or anything with more information?
I confess I was sort of an idiot on the phone. I couldn't think of anything to say except "ok" and "thanks." I probably sounded like I didn't care, but my uninterested voice is actually my excited voice. My uninterested voice is actually pretty lively. Obviously there is a screw loose here.
Also, I checked my online stuff the other day (again, still for USF) and noticed that one of my recommendations (out of two) wasn't turned in. I thought, well, it's too late now. The next day I got the acceptance call.
@Yellow Lux -- Just wanted to say, thanks for giving the props to Di Seuss. She was my poetry prof when I was at K College, and she's incredible. I had Bonnie Jo as a prof, too! All this talk about Kalamazoo is making me miss it.
@M.B. Wells - Who's Mika the singer? Wha...?
@ Woon
He was popular when I was in undergrad (I graduated in 2008 if that tells you anything); he's known for a song called "Grace Kelly," and is still kind of a hit with the younger crowd. I only began to get the questions and shit when he became popular.
It's completely annoying.
@all
I don't want to disappoint anyone. I just want to help and to reduce anxiety. So I should say that the Oregon housing package does not mean anything one way or another -- they send it out every year to more or less everyone, and every year it traumatizes tons of people and costs them money for no reason... it's one of the more tone-deaf admissions policies nationally. Easily in the top 10. And every year they do it. I am sorry to be breaking this news but to be clear it doesn't mean anything bad, it's just that it doesn't mean anything. Continued best of luck to everyone waiting--
Be well, all,
S.
@Woon
My first SoP sucked dead rats through a straw. I violated many of the rules, as I was not aware of them. I'll keep my delusions tha I would have succeed had I known a bit more about what was needed ... by reading this blog, among other sources. I got some gentle hints from my references for my PhD application, and have learned a bit between last October and now, so I am hopeful (again).
The other thing I changes was, in addition to being able to add 8 poems to my creative sample, at the bottom of each page for published poems, I noted the name of the journal and either the date it appeared or is forthcoming. This provides evidence that I am publishing on a fairly regular basis.
And I still gave my original Plan B.
@Kaybay, I've really enjoyed your presence here and I totally understand backing off a bit. I will miss your comments here.
Don't give up on yourself.
@admits and waitlisters, congrats!
@ Boise
I'm pretty excited! I've visited Portland a few years ago and it made my list of cities I'd like to run away too. I need some time away from New York. Craig Lesley called me and told me that he really liked my submission, so that made things pretty awesome as well. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to chat with the director of the program tomorrow.
I've actually gotten pretty lucky with my rejections coming quickly... half of my schools (Wyoming, Syracuse, SIUC, Montana, UNCW, Brown, & Iowa) have already rejected me. I appreciate the relative promptness of these schools.
Right now what is left for me is: hoping for funding from Texas State (I should know in about 2 weeks), and waiting on results from UNLV, Florida Atlantic, Kansas, and GCSU (assuming they haven't notified fiction), and waiting for my presumed rejections from Penn State and Virginia Tech.
I'm excited to think that April is just a few weeks away! Despite how drawn out this process is, I really can't believe how late it already is. We're survived this far...
@Frankish,
Good luck with Houston! They have some hella good funding.
Anyone else didn't get their Iowa rejection letter yet? And, does the ISIS status ever change? I think I'm going to go out and celebrate receiving the rejection letter, if I ever do. lol. I'd be too happy I finally got the letter to feel sadness for not getting in. I'm actually looking forward to that day. =)
@ Chelsea
As of this afternoon, my UNH status has changed to "Waiting for Final Grad Review." So they must have made some decisions today. But it's still mighty quiet...
@ Spencer. Yep. Heard friday morning. Well afternoon here. Nice to get good news at work!
Haw.
Still waiting to hear from Brooklyn, Hunter, Arizona, and Eugene.
@everyone
Have any Iowa rejects checked their Isis status? Has it changed? I'm too chicken to check.
@Bobo
The advice is much appreciated. I was considering getting a shitty studio in Jersey City or Union City (NJ), since that's what a friend did a few years ago (this friend works and spends most her time in NYC, but JC rent is a bit cheaper, and she can live by herself sans roommate).
But the Brooklyn route is tempting. If I can officially reside in the area for the Fall semester (and hopefully a few months before in the summer), I can probably pull off a few in-state grants and fin. aid help just in time for the spring and remaining semesters (and even WAY cheaper tuition if I get into any CUNYs)...
...so yeah, the roommating in BKLYN is enticing, and prob. a better "investment" as an artist in the scheme of things.
@EVERYONE, especially people who applied to other Florida schools:
I've asked this before. Nobody says anything. WHY THE HELL DIDN'T YOU APPLY TO FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY? I understand that is low on the ratings and the funding isn't enough to live on in such an expensive place. But in theory there is funding for everyone including 9k a year and 80% tuition remission (though I have no idea if they have a class of 6 or 60). Are you not aware of the program? Are you not interested in it? Why? Is there some big bad secret about the school that I'm not privy to? Did the sparse website scare you away? WHAT IS IT?
@Ashley Brooke, re. FAU.
I was not aware of the existence of this school. But then again, I'm not like most of you who applied to 12-22 schools.
Jasmine: Nope. But I did go to an upstate NY school.
@portland acceptees
what's everyone thinking? I think I've only seen fiction acceptances on here, but correct me if I'm wrong.
it'll be a 1600 mile+ move for me, relocating from SD
danielmollet[at]gmail[dot]com
@Ashley Brooke
I did apply there!
@Anti: yeah definitely, and you won't have to worry about commuting in from NJ. I'm not even sure it's that much of a price difference. I know people who pay $500/mo in non-Williamsburg BK. Also keep in mind that a lot of the apts in BK are lofts and therefore much roomier and more spacious than your average apt in JC.
Jimmy James, you're only the third I've seen on this blog and before last weeksih I was the only one! Good luck! :)
@ Daniel and other Portlanders- I'm thinkin' a yes at this point. I have heard many a great thing about the program and the place...
@Ashley Brooke
It's a new program (albeit with great faculty), so I'd imagine that its youth has something to do with the lack of chatter on the blogs. To be honest, I am only aware of the school because I'm an alum. I live in Fort Lauderdale, so it was my "local" choice.
@ Anti
I am waitlisted at Iowa, and my Isis status still has not changed.
Just declined a fully-funded (GTA) fiction place at CSU and feel a little sick and horrible about it, actually. Whoever gets the spot and funding will only be too lucky; the faculty there are incredibly generous and kind and FT looks gorgeous. And will most-likely be declining Texas State this week as well (as soon as I confirm whether ZZ Packer is a visiting writer or full-time faculty member; she's the main draw for me and word is she's only visiting). So look out for those opening spots! Happy to know that they will most likely go to one of you nice mfablog folks! =)
Currently looking at acceptances from VT and Indiana and a hopeful WL at UIUC. Hoping to hear from ASU, Arizona and UNLV soon. Hoping, furthermore, to make a decision by the 22nd. I don't know why the 22nd, exactly, but it looks like a nice number for a deadline and I'm going to hit it.
Cratty, you are a rockstar. Expect more of my freakout emails in the coming days. Apologizing in advance.
Jasmine, if you don't mind, can you drop me an email? I'd love to hear some more of your thoughts on IU's program. Thanks!
nairakuz[at]gmail[.]com
Congrats to all the recent acceptances and WLers, and a sincere 'keep your heads up' to those still waiting!
So yesterday was "International Women Day" - thanks for the forwarded email, Mom.
Apparently I haven't made it clear that I am SICK with worry and anticipation and jump every time I get a new email.
Dolores Humbert,
I was under the impression that ZZ Packer was full time faculty, but I'm not sure. That may be incorrect since I haven't seen her listed as leading any classes in the fall.
Hey, everyone. I've been staying away from this blog because it triggers my cigarette cravings. (I'm down to 3 smokes a day from 20 ... Hopefully I'll be off smokes by the end of this month!)
But I just wanted to pop in and say congrats to all the newly accepted. And a special shout out to WT for Notre Dame.
As far as cover letters go, I've learned not to read them unless I liked the story. They wind up wasting my time. I know some other readers who are like that as well, so it's best to be brief and professional when writing your own cover letters. You don't want them to backfire.
@Ashley Brooke
The only reason I didn't apply to FAU is because I live in the area and really wanted to move away. I've taken classes there and a workshop with Ayse Papatya Bucak and only have good things to say.
As it's turning out, I might be stuck here another year so I should have gone ahead and at least applied. Oh well!
Ashley,
Yeah, that's what I assumed too. the faculty page is misleading, I think. Her wikipedia page says she's only visiting and I know, it's wikipedia, but I suspect it's true. I'm hoping she's still around, though it's looking increasingly unlikely. TSU is on spring break, but here's hoping they check their emails. Will keep you posted!
@Dolores:
Good for you for setting a deadline and making the hard decisions! It seems like you'll end up somewhere great. Indiana and VT are both amazing programs.
When did CSU notify you of the GTA, and was it via phone, snail mail, or email? I know a lot of us are awaiting news on that front.
@Ashley Brooke - I went to FSU for undergrad and I'm eager to get out of Florida. I confess I didn't do much research on Florida schools for MFA programs, so I knew nothing about FAU's program. (I think I know more about Virginia's program than I do about my alma mater's at this point.)
@umIrenic
Thanks for the heads up.
@Bobo
Again, thanks for the pointers and advice. I'll def. be CL'n it soon if I wind up going to school in NYC.
Thanks Dolores, let me know! Wikipedia and fall courses lead me to believe that Dagoberto Gilb is also not there anymore either... This is okay with me because I know that they have amazing visiting writers coming through all the time and I hear nothing but good things Tom Grimes and company.
Thanks everybody who has answered my FAU question, especially Melissa for the Papatya Bucak info. :)
I wish I could go to the AWP conference, but I have no money. Oh, and I also have class both Wednesday AND Thursday. :(
I've kicked myself many a time for not going to the conference when it was held in Atlanta...but I was at Vandy then.
Le sigh.
Brittany,
Thanks so much! I actually heard about the GTA the day they called me with my acceptance (a couple weeks back). Though, tbh, they made it pretty clear that my offer was the only one they had made so far and that funding for other prospective students had yet to be determined. Now, though, that the GTA has opened up, I'm sure one of the already admitted folks should be hearing VERY soon about the teaching package! Good luck!
Ashley Brooke,
The program isn't that new. It switched to MFA in 2004-2005, I believe. No idea how many people are in the program, but I have a couple friends in it, so I'll ask around.
Accepted by NC State (fiction)
email and phone.
zz packer is at texas state because glib (a fiction prof there) had a massive stroke last year. i don't think she's there next year.
but for you texas staters, robert stone is suppose to teach next year.
Congrats, MFAguy!
Major congrats, MFAguy! Sorry if my own letter caused you any anxiety throughout the day.
Also @Ashley Brooke, I forgot to mention that the average workshop at FAU is usually 12-14 students, if that helps.
Congrats MFAguy! ...now I'm nervous.
Thanks, funding's a little ropey at present though! ugh.
Cecil,
Thanks for letting us know about Texas State. I didn't know about Gilb's health issues, either. I googled it and it appears it was a "minor stroke" and it said he was expected back. Hopefully that is the case and he is doing well...
Thanks, Jimmy James! I'm glad to hear some things about the program.
@Abbie, hope you get some good news soon!
Thanks. Seems like it's just fiction on the up and up tonight and I'm in poetry. Dorianne Laux is basically my everything. I don't mind telling her that, either. haha...
Enjoy the acceptance! Hope the funding comes through.
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