That's disappointing about SDSU if true. I've gotten into some "better" programs but I'm really intrigued by their set up. Unfortunately, might not get the chance to explore the option if we don't here before April 15th.
If anyone's interested--I emailed Brooklyn, asking if all acceptances have been notified, and got this response:
"Decisions are still being made by the department. It will take some time for the deputy to review every applicant. Please check the my enrollment website for updates."
I spoke to Nancy Eimers over at WMU and she said that the department hasn't been made aware of what their budget is yet for the year, and that she'll let me know as soon as they know. She also passed along contact info from some of the MFA students there (who I've yet to contact).
Right now, I'm waiting to hear back from 5 more schools, and then I guess I'll make my decision.
What have you heard and have you decided? They seem like really wonderful people and that Prague Summer Workshop sounds awesome!
I should've stated in my SOP that the only reason why I want to go to SDSU is because I'll be in town when Comic-con rolls around & I need prime real estate for proper Robert Pattinson stalking (kidding, kinda). It is extremely off-putting if we don't find out until mid-April...I'd probably go the other route with "better" programs as well.
I'm still waiting to hear from four other schools, but WMU is sounding really good--faculty seems great, love the idea of the Prague program. Do you know how big the (MFA) program is?
I was checking my UNH status obsessively and it wasn't changing, so I finally called. For those of you waiting to hear from UNH, you should just call - Janine is really very nice.
I'm in! I'm really happy, but at the same time I did not get a TAship. Which is really not surprising, but unfortunately there is a 0% chance of me being able to go without one. UNH is my first choice by far, but I don't see how I can possibly go with no financial assistance.
But at least I heard something positive. This was literally the first news I've had at all.
I'm a lesbian and I have a special needs son, and two of the words you'll hear most in my household (Household = myself, my partner, my 3 children) is "gay" and "retarded" -- we LOVE these words. I believe you take away the power of those words to "hurt" or be "offensive" if you sorta reclaim them. Does that make any sense?
I hate the PC police.
When my kids aren't around, my favorite word choice to insult somebody is "dumb whore." No offense to any dumb whores on this blog.
Also, Janine said that letters and phone calls would be going out "in a couple of days," so if you're not brave enough to call yourself, don't despair if you haven't heard anything or if you don't hear for a day or two. Sounds like they're in no particular hurry to end our agony. :)
Nancy said that there are about 20 students in their MFA program right now, and that they're planning to accept around 3 or so poets for the 2010-2011 school year.
WMU is sounding really good. I'm scared though...I've lived in CA practically all of my life and have no idea what real snow is (snowboarding for a day in tahoe doesn't count, I know).
@Megan, Congrats on UNH! Though I understand it’s bittersweet what with the TA situation. Also, thanks for the heartfelt words. I do agree that those of us who are not getting good news, or who aren’t getting the news we hoped for, shouldn’t take it as a knock on our abilities and should certainly keep writing. And look! You just got in! A ray of hope shines!
@Mr. Hemlock Thanks for the encouragement and also for the NYC writing group heads up. If I stay in the area those all sound really great. Sorry to hear about MN, are you fiction? Hope you’ve been getting good news from other schools!
@ Wee M. voodoo it is, darling! Voodoo, beers and cookies.
I just found this blog today and have been reading the comments until my eyes started bleeding. Has anyone heard from University of Houston yet? I've been checking the mailbox in hopes of finding a thick envelope, but I read somewhere yesterday that faculty members call with acceptances. Can anyone verify this? Thanks!
I know UNH sometimes offers other forms of financial aid, like a tuition waiver without a TAship. I was too nervous to ask about that; she just said, "sorry, you are not being offered a TA position," and I didn't ask further questions.
@DFW1986 - Sorry to hear about Columbia College and JH.
@ Megan - Congrats on UNH! Sorry to hear about the funding situation. I am not sure about my own funding seeing as I checked my status online. I'm waiting for Janine to call me back.
@ Hilary and rwhitmore - Thanks for the congrats. I do wish a very merry March Radness to both of you.
@Alyson: In the past, Houston has called to notify their first-round picks, but it's possible they also send out mail. Many programs notify in more than one way. Some call only those who are offered money or teaching assistantships and then mail the additional acceptance letters.
Not a soul has reported a Houston notification so far. I am also waiting. By waiting I mean I've been maniacally picking up my phone, making sure it has reception, checking messages, considering the time zone difference and business hours -- the usual, totally normal, non-crazy type of waiting.
@Alyson Yes, Houston will be calling those who were accepted to their program hopefully sometime next week. A big fat envelope should follow in the mail after notification. And welcome to the blog! Prepare to wear out your refresh button :)
Also, I dont mean to mislead you by saying they should call by next week. I am just going off of the last few years and when they have notified people. I am also waiting to hear from Houston as it will effectively make my decision of where i will be going in the coming year.Good vibes for everyone!
Fiction applicants: anyone officially been given the boot by Hunter, Brooklyn or MN, Twin Cities? I think Hunter and MN gave some CNF/Memoir people the brush off, but don't recall any word on fiction applicants.
6 presumed rejections because I haven't heard a peep from them SAIC Portland Emerson VCU (though I spoke to someone on the phone today--I called b/c my online status said I was missing items--and they said they were in the process of making decisions and had notified early applications but would send the rest next week, latest April 1st) Stony Brook (though I did get a confusing email from them on Monday saying they had just received my application materials--they'd received them back in January, so I don't know why I got the email now--and I would hear from them shortly) Virginia (yeah, I know they haven't started notifying, but seriously? I may be a little conceited, but I'm not *that* arrogant)
And now I'm out of schools, so I guess I'm done for the year. My plan: get a crappy job with my BA in Writing (fat chance there), work more on my writing (already started and it's going well), start submitting to lit mags, and apply to MFA programs next year, doing all of the applications early so I can be sure that they are perfect.
Good luck to everyone still waiting to hear back! I'm throwing my towel in now.
I don't meant to get you excited, but that *might* be a good thing. I've heard in the past that those being offered TA-ships were notified first; I haven't received any kind of notification yet (my application status still says "under review"), so the fact that they've notified you might be a good sign.
I have also heard that in previous years NO TAs were offered to MFA candidates, only to PhDs. So, that's something to keep in mind, too. And I don't even know how accurate any of that is, since it's all second- and third-hand.
I also got in for fiction. Don't know a ton about the program other than it is affordable, respectable and I've been google-stalking the faculty. All the info I've got is the same as you - from the acceptance letter.
You can reach me at joshua.a.gardner@gmail if you'd like to talk more about it or maybe bring our heads together about questions we all have and could ask them in one email.
And congrats! I am waiting on a few schools, but am dying to move back east for a buncha reasons. Personally, I'm excited about it.
By the way, K, before I received the email rejection, I found it waiting for me on the applyyourself website (the same page you used to apply initially) in case you want to check there. It was about a day between the applyyourself status decision showing up and the actual email being sent.
thank you so much for that info...checking now. Very, very sorry. I've been properly rejected enough times now to know the sting well. I'll keep my fingers crossed good news comes your way! Hopefully some already has!
Congrats, Eric. Is this the first time an NYU admit has posted on this blog for this season? That's a biggie. Is it your first choice? I didn't apply there because I assumed there was zero funding. But, still, I was avoiding all NY based schools . . . trying to force myself to get away. Anyway, this isn't about me . . . did NYU tell you anything about funding?
I was in a meeting and got a call from a New York number...and after the meeting I went to listen to my voicemail and was graced with the amazing news that I've been accepted to NYU with a half tuition fellowship! I am completely beside myself now. NYU tied with VCFA for my number one choice. Now I have some serious decision-making to do.
Big up, big up, big up to Smiling Raindrops. You get mucho luv from me for anything to do with NY. Will you be able to afford it with the half-tuition scholarship?
Do you know if UNH offered any other financial aid to first years without TAs? When I applied, they said they "sometimes" gave tuition waivers without a TA, but I'm wondering if that "sometimes" ever happens. I know you were accepted there last year, right? Can you shed any more light on the financial situation?
Hey, creative nonfictioners, I found an interesting article today. I'd already heard about Ben Yagoda's new book, "Memoir: A History" -- but this article was super interesting, and I totally want to read "Reality Hunger" now!
Not really. They do offer tuition scholarships to a couple of people. The award has some fancy name on the website somewhere.
UNH, though, allows you to defer for a year. So, for next year they will consider you for funding again. I'm in that position now and waiting for them to get back to me on it!
@Alyson Greene - I got a very informal email (not an acceptance or rejection) from a member of the Houston faculty on Tuesday. He said that they were/are sitting down this week to make decisions. I assume they will begin notifications shortly thereafter.
Thanks! I will definitely be able to afford it. I had enough that I was prepared to pay for Vermont College out of pocket, and that's way more expensive. It would have been a bit of a struggle with Vermont (I only graduated in January and started working in February, so I don't have quite as many funds for that option as I'd like), but with NYU all the numbers will be pretty comfortable. All this is thanks to my parents brainwashing me into suffering through business school for my undergrad.
@Jarsh: I emailed CC on the deadline issue two days back- no response. Called-no one's picking up. There's a voice recording with a thick Brooklyn accent, which made me chuckle (I grew up in Brooklyn), discussing a record amount of applicants this year, and to please be patient.
NYU offered to cover half the tuition, which brings its cost down to around $20,000, assuming you don't decide to teach the next year. If you teach one class the second year it goes down to like $16,000. Vermont College adds up (when you include all the travel fees and everything) to around $40,000. And since it's low-res, scholarships are small and few. So NYU is actually cheaper!
Haha, your post made ME chuckle. And it is exciting to know that. But we definitely need a deadline. Also, I've gotten to wondering about TA positions, etc. Any idea about that? Perhaps they're on spring break or just itching to get spring break started...?
"We are sorry that your application could not receive favorable action and hope that you will be able to make satisfactory adjustments in your plans for future study."
Is that a little um, bitchy, or am I just being sensy?
Congrats, smiling raindrops and all other recent acceptances!
Received my JHU fiction rejection in the mail today. That means I have now officially been rejected by one third of my schools (8 out of 24).
Still waiting for my Indiana fiction waitlist to magically turn into an acceptance!
No word from my other 15 schools - but with today's NYU notification, I'm now down to only 2 schools that haven't notified anyone yet (Columbia and UVA).
@ Jarsh: No idea about TA positions. It hasn't really crossed my mind at this point- I'm thinking of trying for it in the second year; I've never taught and first year will be daunting and taking some getting used to as is. But that's just me.
Still, I'll try calling admissions tomorrow to ask about this, among other things. Hope I get through!
@Jeanine: you're the first person on here I've seen mention LIU. I was beginning to think the program was a figment of my imagination... and getting accepted, too. (I'm in Fiction. But I'll be most likely declining because of the cost.)
I'm also still waiting for Hunter and Brooklyn (also assuming I'm in the rejection stack); but the latter informed me they are neither done with decisions for fiction NOR poetry. So..I don't know what to think
Thanks for the encouragement. I bet my status changed first cuz my last name starts with B. That's how I'm looking at it till I hear otherwise, esp. given what MFAGuy is saying about funding. I guess we'll find out this weekend, maybe...
Here's an interesting site where you can get insider dish on (some) of the MFA programs:
http://gradinsider.com/programs/mfa-writing
@Jarsh and potential CCNY-ers
I sent an e-mail to grad admissions regarding tuition and funding. Only got an automatic response telling me they're a bit busy at the moment, but will get back to me ASAP.
Honestly, I read a lot of negative things about CCNY as an insitution on studentsreview and Yelp!. I was convinced the acceptance wasn't a big deal, that the school wasn't as good as I'd hoped it'd be. Then I read this:
From the faculty and alumni writing samples I've found and read online, CCNY is the school that's wowed me more than any of the other places I've been accepted to or received GNPs from.
...but they do take in A LOT of people: http://www.ccny.cuny.edu/library/Exhibitions/creative_writing/history_home.html.
I'm def. excited to see where this goes. Def. keep me posted if any of you call and manage to get info. from CCNY and its Grad CW program. I'm really too chicken to do so myself. :)
**
I remember seeing a few weeks ago a link regarding MFA programs' selectivity and class size. I've been looking for it like crazy, and hoping it's not a figment of my imagination. If anyone can supply me with the link, I'd very much appreciate it (it was formely on S. Abramson's blog, if I'm not mistaken. Don't know if the blog post or web page itself is floating around in internet limbo).
And on that note, any more info. on CCNY, SAIC and TNS would be more than welcome. The obvious thing to do is to contact the faculty and/or the program's offices, but I don't know about you guys...I can't trust faculty or anyone repping the school (of course they'll paint a positive picture).
Two of the links got cut off for some reason. Here's another attempt (I broke them up, like a poem). If they're cut off again, you can easily find them on Google.
Wow. I live in Idaho and haven't heard anything yet! Haha. Though it was only two weeks ago that their grad admissions had never received my transcripts which I'd had rushed there. I sent another and they said that the department was "now reviewing." Hmmm.
Question -- I was accepted to Montana for fiction and told that I am the first alternate for TA and funding. According to Kevin Canty, it would be "very much out of the ordinary" if they were NOT able to offer me funding.
I can't attend Montana unless it is fully funded, and while I'm cautiously optimistic, I don't want to visit, fall in love, then have my hopes crushed when it turns out that none of the people who were offered funding declined.
So my question is:
Should I visit??? As of now Montana is my only acceptance, and I've been waitlisted at one other school (a top choice for me, but I won't bank on that). I'm still waiting to hear from Houston and VA.
I think visiting is worth every penny. You might go and find out you hate it, for example, which I did when I visited my number 1 choice for undergrad.
I know it's expensive, and you don't want to get your hopes up, but sometimes visiting makes or breaks the game.
Nutted up and called this Janine that folks on here have been talking about at UNH. She told me I had been accepted and like an incredulous idiot I said, "I HAVE?!"
Sounds like funding might not be available but I am so excited to finally hear some positive news. If anyone wants to chat about coordinating a visit or anything else UNH my email is ttrepromike(at)gmail(dot)com.
@Anti- thanks for the links. All I've been hearing are negative reviews too. Mostly, though, they were about the location. West Harlem...I guess it's not for everyone.
I don't know how funding is traded between fiction and poetry, but I'm in fully funded at Montana in poetry, and I'm going to turn them down, probably tomorrow.
So yeah, visit, from every faculty member there I've talked to it's utterly breathtaking.
That was actually from a movie, but I was thinking the same thing, which then morphed into Jonesy Hopkins, but that sounded too much like Anthony Hopkins could be illegitimate love child with a hill person while on opium. Bringin' it full circle, what's up.
JHU sent you a GNE? They must have really liked something about your sample! I'm sorry it didn't turn into an acceptance though. That really sucks. If I remember though, you have some other GNEs/acceptances/waitlists?
I got into almost every school I've applied to so far, and I didn't have anyone check anything. And I'm saying this as someone who really should have had someone look over them, but the laziness and deadlines just got to me.
So while I don't recommend it, as long as there are no big errors in your own proofreading it'll be fine--hell, I got into Michigan, and I think I misspelled a faculty member's name.
I just got the letter today. Maybe they were so repulsed by my writing sample they rushed to get my letter out ASAP, or maybe you'll get yours soon. Good luck to you -- hope you hear better news than I did!
@Emma-- Hey this is the other, other Emma! I am hoping to visit Montana too. Hopefully, hopefully. I'm sorry have been totally lame about emailing-- super busy. But when are you thinking of visiting? Would be rad if we went at the same time, by chance. I'm totally rooting for you to get a TAship, all the way!
My biggest problem is a)buying the tix and b) getting someone to watch my dog
I'm waitlisted at Iowa, and I'm waiting on UVA still... so nothings a sure thing for me yet, but I'm very enthusiastic about Montana!
@Emma - I'm on Florida's waitlist, so I'm rooting for you to join either Kevin Canty or Sam Chang. Heheh. j/k. Do you have emails of any current MFA students at Florida? I emailed Carla Blount for this info but no response yet.
@DFW1986 and Summer, Pinsky + high-grade opium + jazz quartet sound pretty effing sweet. I bet when you get the call, the sky opens up and rains down adorable kittens and unconditional love.
Sorry, I just posted like you were talking about Montana, then erased. I'm on overload these days. Let's try this again:
Email David Leavitt at Florida, because he's the one who can help you with current students' emails. At least he's the one who sent me a list. He seems to run that whole deal so far as I can tell.
I lived in Florida. Gainesville is not that awesome, because it's not by the ocean. Then again, it's an hour and a half from the ocea either way, and the gulf in particular is beautiful. The bugs are huge, especially the palmetto bugs (like roaches the size of a fig). I like humidity.
But....
Now that I know that Montana is PARADISE, I guess it's case closed!
Ha.
I will definitely post what I decide to do, that's for sure. Constant contact and updates!
Hi, y'alls! I've been off blog since the weekend, trying to catch up with my real life...
Heartfelt congratulations on all of the wonderful acceptances! I'm going to have to go back over about 400 messages tonight, to catch up.
God, I'm so sorry about Kaybay! That's truly a heartbreaker. She's been the number one cheerleader for everyone here. Somewhere, somehow, I hope all of her good karma will pay off.
Anyway, I'm back on the blog this evening to let you guys know that I, too, have been accepted at NYU for poetry. They are offering half tuition for two years, with an opportunity to teach during the second year. I got a voicemail earlier this evening, so I'll call back tomorrow to get more details.
Junot Diaz at NYU? That's crazy! Their faculty lineup is magically delicious, yo! Seriously. There are famous writers all over the MFA map, but NYU takes it to a whole new level.
My opinion, though many would disagree: Don't mention that you are reapplying---even if it is to the same school, unless you were WL or accepted and had to decline for whatever reason. Instead of mentioning your rejection from them, honestly point out what you have done in the last year that would make you a suitable candidate; don't be so explicit about reapplying, I say.
Woon, sorry to hear about J.Hopkins. But I'm pretty sure your heart is set on Fort Collins anyway, so it's all good!
C'mon Arizona AND Arizona State. It is REALLY time for you to make some move on the fiction-front. Really. Please be nice to us and let us know!
Are there any other VT fiction admits out here still considering the program? Besides Cratty?
I have a deferral from Alaska-Fairbanks from last year, and it looks like it may be a strong candidate this year. I won't have a TA-ship, but I am still strongly considering going. Maybe I'll see you two up there!
I don't think Arizona State has begun notifying yet. According to someone on Driftless, we should be hearing back late this week (which it already is - hmm) or early next week.
@Hullabaloo I, too, received that rejection letter. And, yes, it was downright awful. Then it goes on to say something about if I plan to attend as an undergrad? Um, what? Probably stung a bit more considering I was accepted unfunded last year and chose to decline. I'm definitely keeping it, however. Something to look back on someday. :) Chin up! :)
Has anyone not had their Minnesota status changed on apply yourself? I've had no word. Nada, and while I consider that most likely negative, there's no outright rejection yet. Anyone else in the same boat?
Yeah, they definitely gave me plenty of time. But I really want to come to a decision soon. Really, really, really. I am losing a LOT of hair stressing about my options. And I do not look good bald. This is a problem.
I think I'm actually in the same boat. I lost a fair number of eyelashes this morning. Eyelashes!!!
@ Memphis acceptees: Anyone? Bueller? Would love to chat with some other people and see if anyone will be going there for a visit in the next few weeks.
Unfortunately I'm from the sceptered isle, the land of overcast skies and hot tea, Sundays in the park, walks with the dog, and conversations with men called John, who wear sandals and socks and sport heavy beards, and like to talk about real ale....
I had three creative writing professors (my recommenders) look at my writing sample numerous times and give me feedback. I worked especially closely with one of them, who is also an editor for a poetry journal -- he gave me the most extensive suggestions about revisions. I spent, I think, three months intensely revising each poem in my sample over and over again. So far I've been accepted to three programs and waitlisted at one, and I really don't think I would've been accepted anywhere if those three professors hadn't helped me with my writing sample. They are getting gifts soon :)
@Dolores, No, I've declined VTech and am dithering btwn Iowa and Michigan. I'd like to get a clear idea of both before I decide. But I don't want to take too long over it either.
@MFAGuy - the boonies of a (former) shard of the former jewel of your crown, Bangladesh. (Thus ends post-colonial studies for the day :P)
@Jacqueline S - I think it's finally a question of what you're comfortable with. I had both my writer friends/mentors look over my SOP closely, but a lot of their suggestions/edits I didn't accept. It's the same as writing anything I guess, it's finally what you believe works that counts.
I was accepted by Memphis for fiction. I'm relatively familiar with the city because I grew up a couple of hours away and went to college about an hour away. But I don't know a whole lot about the school, except that I am mildly obsessed with Richard Bausch.
I still haven't decided if I am going to accept the offer because I'm waiting to hear from several other schools, and I'm still a little bit confused by the funding situation. But in the acceptance email, they asked for fiction applicants to let them know something by March 15, so I am kind of freaking out. Anyway, there's a chance I will visit sometime in the coming weeks to check out housing options, but I haven't made any definitive plans. If you have any general questions about the city, my email is willwoodskinner(at)gmail(dot)com.
congratulations for everybody's acceptances! i just found this blog today. i am waiting to hear from the new york schools: nyu, hunter, brooklyn, new school, and sarah lawrence.
if i didn't hear from nyu today, is that probably bad news?
1. Nadiya takes Michigan over Iowa. 2. Emma takes Iowa (or Montana) over Florida. (Coupled with Arna taking either Cornell or Texas over Iowa, releasing another Florida admittee to take the Iowa slot) 3. Florida offers me available seats #5 or #6. I get to choose between Florida and Colorado State.
I still haven't heard from Michigan. Given that the acceptances were contacted weeks ago, I'm assuming a rejection, and I want my assumption validated! I do live abroad but...snail mail usually arrives within 11-14 days.
Also, I *think* I read before that Wolverine Access, where we're supposed to check our application status, isn't updated? B/c there's no DENIED or anything listed there. (Well more importantly there's no ACCEPTED either.)
Has anyone not heard back from Michigan one way or another?
@Lee -- I got my official rejection from Michigan a week or two ago. I'd suggest calling them to see what's up if you haven't heard anything and haven't gotten any mail. Although, they told us way back when they were notifying people that if you didn't get a phone call, you weren't accepted. I'd give them a call nonetheless. You deserve the courtesy of official notification. And who knows? Maybe they thought they'd called you, but didn't get through?
Morgan, I couldn't resist stalking-- I mean--clicking on your profile, and you look familiar... Did you happen to do a Writers in Paris program a couple of summers ago?
Boise State (from the English dept.) was the first rejection I received. It came back in early, early February like two weeks after I sent in the app. Tonight I got an email from the grad admissions office saying they didn't receive the transcripts from two colleges I from which I received high school credit, and that they needed them to move my app forward to the English dept. Weird... Probably just like my app was fragmented and the grad admissions office hadn't received word from the English dept.
@Boise, Idaho - yes, that is weird. It's like a parallel universe. You could choose the one where you're rejected or the other one where you're pending.
@ Nadiya - I can't figure out Irvine. They called someone on March 1st for fiction, but as far as I know that's all they've done - no waitlists or other calls. I can't figure out if they're finished, pausing, or building suspense. A few people on here have said that Irvine isn't done, if that helps. I'm not sure at what point we email/call to get the scoop.
Another question - would it be kosher to email Virginia sometime around the March 20's to see what's going on - if they haven't peeped? I'm interested in looking at housing in Ann Arbor during the visit weekend, but I'm loathe to sign a lease before I've heard back from all the schools.
P.S. I'll email you in detail about my Michigan visit, and perhaps someone can do that for you for Iowa.
Sorry guys, that post was all over the place. The first paragraph and P.S. were directed to Nadiya. The second paragraph was to everyone at large. Wow - not enough caffeine today.
I know nothing about UC-Irvine, and didn't apply there, but is it possible that that one outlier got notified early because of some sort of grant, or something? I know some programs tell a few people early because they got some sort of awesome funding or grant. Just sayin'. A possible option. But, let me reiterate, I didn't apply to UC-Irvine, nor do I know anything. Just pure speculation...
@Peaquah -- P.S. if you have any questions about Ann Arbor, I live in the area and grew up there. I could tell you a lot about it! Email me, if you want. CJWid87(at)hotmail(dot)com
Haha, yeah. I forgot to mention that they emailed me on some old email I never use anymore but decided to check for the hell of it. I don't remember providing them that email...
Nadiya, Oh, I see (and I know what you mean). Wow, well, you've got an insanely tough decision ahead of you! Good luck!
Woon, I actually swooned a little at that statement, haha. Thanks. Can you please tell them that?
Abbie, sorry to hear about the email! That's a rough subject line but I hope your birthday festivities made up for it!
And a general-specific congrats to all the NYU folks, esp. those in fiction, who apparently are going to be lucky enough to work under the Dominican Don Juan himself, Junot Diaz. Mmmhmmm. More with the swooning over here.
I read Junot Diaz's "Fiesta 1980" (a lot of vomiting, btw). Last week, at a used book store, I came across his most recent Oscar Wao, which was selling for $2.00. Should've bought it.
I love his stuff, vomit and all. As for Oscar Wao, I will say as amazing as it is, the section "Wildwood"---which is also one of the O' Henry Prize 2009 stories---is the best part of it. And really, if all you read of Oscar is just that section, that's all you need. It's perfection. Hotdamn.
Does anyone ever REALLY believe that certain authors are just, I don't know, destined to be with you? No? Just me? Okay, I'll stop now. ;D
Has anyone gotten official notification from Cornell of rejection? Because at this point, it's gotta be nothing but rejection, and yet...no letter. I feel like I deserve the dignity of a letter, e-mail, something official.
As for UNH, does anyone know what the numbers are...How many applied, how many were accepted (fiction and poetry, I'm curious about both?) I feel like these numbers were posted somewhere. Maybe Seth can enlighten us...
And all acceptances today, congrats! And trilbe, as always, thanks for checking in!
P.S. Junot Diaz comes into the bookstore where I work all the f'ing time. He signed a book for me "Love and words..." The brother is smooth.... NYU people, I'm seething with jealousy!
I received the Cornell rejection today in the mail. I live in, well, see my name. But yeah, I guess depending on where you live, news will probably come soon!
I just received an email (at 1:30 in the morning) from the University of Maryland telling me that my final decision has been made. But the letter only appears to be a "the graduate school has indeed accepted you even after the writing program already sent out official acceptances" letter and not a funding letter. Alternatively, it's an extremely roundabout way of saying I didn't get jack for funding. Any Maryland applicants get the same?
Congratulations! I didn't get the email or any letter from UMD, though I was contacted by phone and email in the last week of February about my acceptance. Also checked my online application status - it still says "Pending decision." Since February, it's been all quiet!
@Lee - Same for me, even though I only got a letter at the end of Feb and no phone call.
I doubt someone is actually sitting awake at this hour arbitrarily emailing notices from the dean, so the system is probably just slowly plodding its way along. Couldn't these schools just pick a method of notification and be done with it?
re: the automated system That makes sense, but it's also really weird. I wonder if they send things out via the system alphabetically (probably). And if it's working at 1 in the morning, does it mean it's working nonstop at all hours? In that case, were there really so many applicants that it'll take more than a week for the system to get to?
Ok, I've got a simile: Submitting your stories/poems (to whatever) is like sending pictures of your children to modeling contests. They are part of you, they are innately good to you, but they might not be striking to others. They might need a couple more years or some makeup, or to be tossed into the incinerator in favor of new ones, if necessary. But it's really hard to say whose children are the more beautiful because they are all just part of humanity, and it all is worth looking at. I'd be horrible at judging a contest, I think. And a horrible parent, at that.
@Lee - Draw your own conclusions. On my application status page, it has my letter from the dean posted. The date of the posting is "3/10" but the date on the pdf itself is "3/11," which I presume is the mailing date. I got the email notice about it on 3/12.
@DFW1986 I don't foresee myself being busy with an MFA program in the near future and so would be interested in joining you in your "whateverish" supportive endeavor referenced about 200 comments ago :)
Good morning to my homiez, hilary & Cratty & Nadiya & Georgie! I've been gone so long, I feel like I've been out in the wilderness and that I should be returning to you with some wisdom. But I've got nothin'. Just CONGRATULATIONS to all of you who are rockin' March Radness! Especially to Morgan & Eric, awesome poets who are finally getting the recognition you deserve.
The dept. head of VT finally got back to me with a long and encouraging letter of rejection. I guess I came pretty close, but nada. He did seem genuinely apologetic, at least.
Thanks guys! It was in email form, but my status also changed and says something along the lines of "we regret we cannot recommend admission" or something. I'm over it. I have some amazing options. And I had a great 27, regardless! :) Chin up, guys. It's a new day!
I've got a question for TEAM TSU! (Texas Staters, I'm talking to you!) If you, in fact, choose TSU as your home-for-awhile, are you planning to live in San Marcos? Are there some who want to live in Austin and commute? Planning to rent, I assume? Although, housing is insanely affordable there (especially farther out of Austin and closer to SM? If you want to discuss Texas State a bit more in-depth off board, feel free to email me at abbiebergdale (at) hotmail (dot) com.
UNCW friends: Anyone hear any new news, lately? I've still got my funding fingers crossed.
Did you email the faculty member asking about when they'll be notifying people? Or did you receive this email out of the blue? (Sorry, now I'm scrutinizing and obsessing over every detail, in search for any indication either way)
The fact we are as far into the season as we are is completely blowing my mind!
Congrats to everyone who's heard! I have spring break next week so I will have unadulterated time to stare down my last few schools that haven't informed yet. I will intimidate them into telling us! (ha.)
Just found this blog a few days ago. Great community! Congrats to everyone who's been accepted.
I wanted to let everyone know that I emailed Penn State for my status and received the following message from Peg Yetter:
"Our decisions committee has made some first round offers but will continue to review application through the month of March. Final round offers could be made as late as the end of March or beginning of April."
If we are relying on me to intimidate people, we are in a sorry place indeed. I was just going to stare meanly at the websites and hope that the schools notice! lol.
But, I am positive I am not the most intimidating of this lot. I am the sort of person who when I get mad people go "awwww look! she's all angry! how cute!"
2,265 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 1401 – 1600 of 2265 Newer› Newest»@Vanni
You're in at WMU in poetry, correct? Have you been contacted about TA-ships or funding or anything like that?
Any thoughts on the program, if you'll attend, etc.?
That's disappointing about SDSU if true. I've gotten into some "better" programs but I'm really intrigued by their set up. Unfortunately, might not get the chance to explore the option if we don't here before April 15th.
If anyone's interested--I emailed Brooklyn, asking if all acceptances have been notified, and got this response:
"Decisions are still being made by the department. It will take some time for the deputy to review every applicant. Please check the my enrollment website for updates."
...Aw shucks.
@Andrew,
I spoke to Nancy Eimers over at WMU and she said that the department hasn't been made aware of what their budget is yet for the year, and that she'll let me know as soon as they know. She also passed along contact info from some of the MFA students there (who I've yet to contact).
Right now, I'm waiting to hear back from 5 more schools, and then I guess I'll make my decision.
What have you heard and have you decided? They seem like really wonderful people and that Prague Summer Workshop sounds awesome!
@John,
I should've stated in my SOP that the only reason why I want to go to SDSU is because I'll be in town when Comic-con rolls around & I need prime real estate for proper Robert Pattinson stalking (kidding, kinda). It is extremely off-putting if we don't find out until mid-April...I'd probably go the other route with "better" programs as well.
@ Vanni-
By chance are you the Vanni from Advanced Poetry with Dr. Clark last year at Cal Poly? If so, hi! How is your MFA journey going so far?
If you are not the correct Vanni, just disregard me. :)
-Chelsea
Yaaaay DryLeaves!
I am loving March Radness, I would just love it more if it bestowed a glance my way...
@Vanni
I'm still waiting to hear from four other schools, but WMU is sounding really good--faculty seems great, love the idea of the Prague program. Do you know how big the (MFA) program is?
@Dry Leaves
Congratulations on all of your news, and especially your news today!!
I'm in fiction, and my email is ede02005 (at) mymail (dot) pomona (dot) edu. Definitely let me know what you decide! Good luck to you :)
Re: UNH
Congrats, Dry Leaves!
I was checking my UNH status obsessively and it wasn't changing, so I finally called. For those of you waiting to hear from UNH, you should just call - Janine is really very nice.
I'm in! I'm really happy, but at the same time I did not get a TAship. Which is really not surprising, but unfortunately there is a 0% chance of me being able to go without one. UNH is my first choice by far, but I don't see how I can possibly go with no financial assistance.
But at least I heard something positive. This was literally the first news I've had at all.
@cecil peoples,
I'm a lesbian and I have a special needs son, and two of the words you'll hear most in my household (Household = myself, my partner, my 3 children) is "gay" and "retarded" -- we LOVE these words. I believe you take away the power of those words to "hurt" or be "offensive" if you sorta reclaim them. Does that make any sense?
I hate the PC police.
When my kids aren't around, my favorite word choice to insult somebody is "dumb whore." No offense to any dumb whores on this blog.
:)
CHELSEA???!!! ARE YOU APPLYING TO MFA PROGS THIS YEAR??? AND YES, IT'S MEEEEE! are you on fb? add me! vtaing (at) calpoly (dot) edu
UNH Peeps!
Congrats to everyone. I am afraid to call, but I don't think I can handle it. I am going to sit here and think on it, for a while.
... I should add, in poetry.
Also, Janine said that letters and phone calls would be going out "in a couple of days," so if you're not brave enough to call yourself, don't despair if you haven't heard anything or if you don't hear for a day or two. Sounds like they're in no particular hurry to end our agony. :)
@Andrew,
Nancy said that there are about 20 students in their MFA program right now, and that they're planning to accept around 3 or so poets for the 2010-2011 school year.
WMU is sounding really good. I'm scared though...I've lived in CA practically all of my life and have no idea what real snow is (snowboarding for a day in tahoe doesn't count, I know).
Well played, Lauren. I'm cracking up over here.
Hey megan, how did you find out you have no TA-ship?
@Megan,
Congrats on UNH! Though I understand it’s bittersweet what with the TA situation. Also, thanks for the heartfelt words. I do agree that those of us who are not getting good news, or who aren’t getting the news we hoped for, shouldn’t take it as a knock on our abilities and should certainly keep writing. And look! You just got in! A ray of hope shines!
@Mr. Hemlock
Thanks for the encouragement and also for the NYC writing group heads up. If I stay in the area those all sound really great. Sorry to hear about MN, are you fiction? Hope you’ve been getting good news from other schools!
@ Wee M.
voodoo it is, darling! Voodoo, beers and cookies.
Congrats on UNH, @meagan!
Also, Laura, your post slays me. You remind me of one of my best friends from high school, which is to say, you are awesome.
Rejection update: I will not be smokin' weed with Johnny Hopkins this semester.
@DFW
Wanna do karate in the garage instead?
@Andrew
Yes. Yes I do.
@Andrew: "Did we just become best friends?"
I just found this blog today and have been reading the comments until my eyes started bleeding. Has anyone heard from University of Houston yet?
I've been checking the mailbox in hopes of finding a thick envelope, but I read somewhere yesterday that faculty members call with acceptances. Can anyone verify this?
Thanks!
Yup! So many activities!
@ MFAguy: I asked Janine on the phone. :)
I know UNH sometimes offers other forms of financial aid, like a tuition waiver without a TAship. I was too nervous to ask about that; she just said, "sorry, you are not being offered a TA position," and I didn't ask further questions.
@ Lauren - Beautiful!
@ Zoulou - fouquieria(at)riseup(dot)net
@DFW1986 - Sorry to hear about Columbia College and JH.
@ Megan - Congrats on UNH! Sorry to hear about the funding situation. I am not sure about my own funding seeing as I checked my status online. I'm waiting for Janine to call me back.
@ Hilary and rwhitmore - Thanks for the congrats. I do wish a very merry March Radness to both of you.
@Alyson: In the past, Houston has called to notify their first-round picks, but it's possible they also send out mail. Many programs notify in more than one way. Some call only those who are offered money or teaching assistantships and then mail the additional acceptance letters.
Not a soul has reported a Houston notification so far. I am also waiting. By waiting I mean I've been maniacally picking up my phone, making sure it has reception, checking messages, considering the time zone difference and business hours -- the usual, totally normal, non-crazy type of waiting.
@Alyson Yes, Houston will be calling those who were accepted to their program hopefully sometime next week. A big fat envelope should follow in the mail after notification. And welcome to the blog! Prepare to wear out your refresh button :)
Also, I dont mean to mislead you by saying they should call by next week. I am just going off of the last few years and when they have notified people. I am also waiting to hear from Houston as it will effectively make my decision of where i will be going in the coming year.Good vibes for everyone!
Fiction applicants: anyone officially been given the boot by Hunter, Brooklyn or MN, Twin Cities? I think Hunter and MN gave some CNF/Memoir people the brush off, but don't recall any word on fiction applicants.
Just got the good word from NYU; I'm in for poetry.
6 confirmed rejections
Iowa
UMass Boston
UMKC
WashU
Colorado Boulder
Bard
6 presumed rejections because I haven't heard a peep from them
SAIC
Portland
Emerson
VCU (though I spoke to someone on the phone today--I called b/c my online status said I was missing items--and they said they were in the process of making decisions and had notified early applications but would send the rest next week, latest April 1st)
Stony Brook (though I did get a confusing email from them on Monday saying they had just received my application materials--they'd received them back in January, so I don't know why I got the email now--and I would hear from them shortly)
Virginia (yeah, I know they haven't started notifying, but seriously? I may be a little conceited, but I'm not *that* arrogant)
And now I'm out of schools, so I guess I'm done for the year. My plan: get a crappy job with my BA in Writing (fat chance there), work more on my writing (already started and it's going well), start submitting to lit mags, and apply to MFA programs next year, doing all of the applications early so I can be sure that they are perfect.
Good luck to everyone still waiting to hear back! I'm throwing my towel in now.
@ Dry Leaves,
I don't meant to get you excited, but that *might* be a good thing. I've heard in the past that those being offered TA-ships were notified first; I haven't received any kind of notification yet (my application status still says "under review"), so the fact that they've notified you might be a good sign.
I have also heard that in previous years NO TAs were offered to MFA candidates, only to PhDs. So, that's something to keep in mind, too. And I don't even know how accurate any of that is, since it's all second- and third-hand.
K,
Yes, I was rejected last night from Minnesota via email.
It was a real bummer. Hope you have better luck...
(in fiction)
@Eric: Congrats!!
@Otkuda
@Anti-
RE - CCNY
I also got in for fiction. Don't know a ton about the program other than it is affordable, respectable and I've been google-stalking the faculty. All the info I've got is the same as you - from the acceptance letter.
You can reach me at joshua.a.gardner@gmail if you'd like to talk more about it or maybe bring our heads together about questions we all have and could ask them in one email.
And congrats! I am waiting on a few schools, but am dying to move back east for a buncha reasons. Personally, I'm excited about it.
By the way, K, before I received the email rejection, I found it waiting for me on the applyyourself website (the same page you used to apply initially) in case you want to check there. It was about a day between the applyyourself status decision showing up and the actual email being sent.
@inkli_11
Sorry to hear that. I'm highly doubting I'll hear any different, they probably just took a break to shovel.
@inkli_11
thank you so much for that info...checking now. Very, very sorry. I've been properly rejected enough times now to know the sting well. I'll keep my fingers crossed good news comes your way! Hopefully some already has!
UNH peeps,
Yes, last year, no TA-ships were offered to incoming MFAers. Instead, they offered them to students entering their 2nd year in the program.
This year who knows?
Congrats, Eric. Is this the first time an NYU admit has posted on this blog for this season? That's a biggie.
Is it your first choice? I didn't apply there because I assumed there was zero funding. But, still, I was avoiding all NY based schools . . . trying to force myself to get away.
Anyway, this isn't about me . . . did NYU tell you anything about funding?
I was in a meeting and got a call from a New York number...and after the meeting I went to listen to my voicemail and was graced with the amazing news that I've been accepted to NYU with a half tuition fellowship! I am completely beside myself now. NYU tied with VCFA for my number one choice. Now I have some serious decision-making to do.
congratulations smiling raindrops and eric.
smiling raindrops, were you accepted in fiction or poetry?
Big up, big up, big up to Smiling Raindrops. You get mucho luv from me for anything to do with NY. Will you be able to afford it with the half-tuition scholarship?
@ MFA guy,
Do you know if UNH offered any other financial aid to first years without TAs? When I applied, they said they "sometimes" gave tuition waivers without a TA, but I'm wondering if that "sometimes" ever happens. I know you were accepted there last year, right? Can you shed any more light on the financial situation?
Hey, creative nonfictioners, I found an interesting article today. I'd already heard about Ben Yagoda's new book, "Memoir: A History" -- but this article was super interesting, and I totally want to read "Reality Hunger" now!
Here's the article: Literature for Real
(I applied to MFA programs in fiction, but I also write CNF.)
Sorry guys; forgot to say I'm in NYU for fiction.
Not really. They do offer tuition scholarships to a couple of people. The award has some fancy name on the website somewhere.
UNH, though, allows you to defer for a year. So, for next year they will consider you for funding again. I'm in that position now and waiting for them to get back to me on it!
@Alyson Greene - I got a very informal email (not an acceptance or rejection) from a member of the Houston faculty on Tuesday. He said that they were/are sitting down this week to make decisions. I assume they will begin notifications shortly thereafter.
Good luck!
Cratty,
Thanks! I will definitely be able to afford it. I had enough that I was prepared to pay for Vermont College out of pocket, and that's way more expensive. It would have been a bit of a struggle with Vermont (I only graduated in January and started working in February, so I don't have quite as many funds for that option as I'd like), but with NYU all the numbers will be pretty comfortable. All this is thanks to my parents brainwashing me into suffering through business school for my undergrad.
How many of you, accepted or not, and please state which, had your profs/mentors look at your packet?
isn't NYU twice as expensive as VCFA?
@Jarsh: I emailed CC on the deadline issue two days back- no response. Called-no one's picking up. There's a voice recording with a thick Brooklyn accent, which made me chuckle (I grew up in Brooklyn), discussing a record amount of applicants this year, and to please be patient.
At least we're in :)
@cecil
NYU offered to cover half the tuition, which brings its cost down to around $20,000, assuming you don't decide to teach the next year. If you teach one class the second year it goes down to like $16,000. Vermont College adds up (when you include all the travel fees and everything) to around $40,000. And since it's low-res, scholarships are small and few. So NYU is actually cheaper!
@Otkuda
Haha, your post made ME chuckle. And it is exciting to know that. But we definitely need a deadline. Also, I've gotten to wondering about TA positions, etc. Any idea about that? Perhaps they're on spring break or just itching to get spring break started...?
From my Idaho rejection (fiction):
"We are sorry that your application could not receive favorable action and hope that you will be able to make satisfactory adjustments in your plans for future study."
Is that a little um, bitchy, or am I just being sensy?
Congrats, smiling raindrops and all other recent acceptances!
Received my JHU fiction rejection in the mail today. That means I have now officially been rejected by one third of my schools (8 out of 24).
Still waiting for my Indiana fiction waitlist to magically turn into an acceptance!
No word from my other 15 schools - but with today's NYU notification, I'm now down to only 2 schools that haven't notified anyone yet (Columbia and UVA).
Yikes.
@DFW1986 - you mean JohnnSy Hopkins. Don't forget the "S." (I know, like what's with the "S" at the end of "John" about?)
I always forget the "s." Maybe that's why they'll reject me.
@red - Yes. Alice McDermott doesn't take the dropped "s" lightly.
* I accidentally dropped this in the old mailbag - repost*
Current status for MFA in Poetry programs:
Rejected:
UNH University of New Hampshire
Accepted:
LIU Long Island University Brooklyn
CCA California College of the Arts
NMSU New Mexico State University
Pending:
Hunter - assumed rejection
Brooklyn College - assumed rejection
Queens College - anyone hear yet?
Thanks to all who are also posting. Like many, I still have the enormous, rather primary concern of funding to grapple with.
@ Jarsh: No idea about TA positions. It hasn't really crossed my mind at this point- I'm thinking of trying for it in the second year; I've never taught and first year will be daunting and taking some getting used to as is. But that's just me.
Still, I'll try calling admissions tomorrow to ask about this, among other things. Hope I get through!
Just came home to find my sad, sad thin letter from Johns Hopkins, too. Does anyone know how many applications they received this year??
@Jeanine: you're the first person on here I've seen mention LIU. I was beginning to think the program was a figment of my imagination... and getting accepted, too. (I'm in Fiction. But I'll be most likely declining because of the cost.)
I'm also still waiting for Hunter and Brooklyn (also assuming I'm in the rejection stack); but the latter informed me they are neither done with decisions for fiction NOR poetry. So..I don't know what to think
Congrats on your acceptances thus far!
@DFW1986 - You're telling me. I was so looking forward to rolling one with Hopkins. I'm still holding out for Pinsky to bring the Maui Wowie though.
Does anyone know when UC - Irvine is notifying people?
@ Megan
Thanks for the encouragement. I bet my status changed first cuz my last name starts with B. That's how I'm looking at it till I hear otherwise, esp. given what MFAGuy is saying about funding. I guess we'll find out this weekend, maybe...
@everyone
Here's an interesting site where you can get insider dish on (some) of the MFA programs:
http://gradinsider.com/programs/mfa-writing
@Jarsh and potential CCNY-ers
I sent an e-mail to grad admissions regarding tuition and funding. Only got an automatic response telling me they're a bit busy at the moment, but will get back to me ASAP.
Honestly, I read a lot of negative things about CCNY as an insitution on studentsreview and Yelp!. I was convinced the acceptance wasn't a big deal, that the school wasn't as good as I'd hoped it'd be. Then I read this:
http://gradinsider.com/programs/more/city_college_of_new_york/
Talk about polarizing.
From the faculty and alumni writing samples I've found and read online, CCNY is the school that's wowed me more than any of the other places I've been accepted to or received GNPs from.
...but they do take in A LOT of people: http://www.ccny.cuny.edu/library/Exhibitions/creative_writing/history_home.html.
I'm def. excited to see where this goes. Def. keep me posted if any of you call and manage to get info. from CCNY and its Grad CW program. I'm really too chicken to do so myself. :)
**
I remember seeing a few weeks ago a link regarding MFA programs' selectivity and class size. I've been looking for it like crazy, and hoping it's not a figment of my imagination. If anyone can supply me with the link, I'd very much appreciate it (it was formely on S. Abramson's blog, if I'm not mistaken. Don't know if the blog post or web page itself is floating around in internet limbo).
And on that note, any more info. on CCNY, SAIC and TNS would be more than welcome. The obvious thing to do is to contact the faculty and/or the program's offices, but I don't know about you guys...I can't trust faculty or anyone repping the school (of course they'll paint a positive picture).
Apologies for another lengthy post!
nightlyfix at gmail dot com
GOT A CALL FROM NYU: IN FOR POETRY!!! so relieved to know I'll actually be starting an MFA program next year!! HELL YES MARCH RADNESS!!!
Two of the links got cut off for some reason. Here's another attempt (I broke them up, like a poem). If they're cut off again, you can easily find them on Google.
http://gradinsider.com/programs/more/
city_college_of_new_york/
http://www.ccny.cuny.edu/library/
Exhibitions/creative_writing/history_home.html
Congrats Morgan!
I so wanted to apply to NYU, but I didn't have time to take the GREs.
Awesome, and their faculty is top notch.
@Hullabaloo
Wow. I live in Idaho and haven't heard anything yet! Haha. Though it was only two weeks ago that their grad admissions had never received my transcripts which I'd had rushed there. I sent another and they said that the department was "now reviewing." Hmmm.
Question -- I was accepted to Montana for fiction and told that I am the first alternate for TA and funding. According to Kevin Canty, it would be "very much out of the ordinary" if they were NOT able to offer me funding.
I can't attend Montana unless it is fully funded, and while I'm cautiously optimistic, I don't want to visit, fall in love, then have my hopes crushed when it turns out that none of the people who were offered funding declined.
So my question is:
Should I visit??? As of now Montana is my only acceptance, and I've been waitlisted at one other school (a top choice for me, but I won't bank on that). I'm still waiting to hear from Houston and VA.
Advice?
Emma (the other Emma)
NYU--is Galway Kinnell still teaching there? He is a poetic god!!!!!!!!!!
(Even if not, that's a high power line-up they have there.)
Emma,
I think visiting is worth every penny. You might go and find out you hate it, for example, which I did when I visited my number 1 choice for undergrad.
I know it's expensive, and you don't want to get your hopes up, but sometimes visiting makes or breaks the game.
junot diaz is now at NYU, for you fiction folk.
Got my rejection from Johns Hopkins in the mail. Damn! From the GNE, I thought I was a shoo-in. I told my wife the news via email:
"Bad news. Rejection by JHU. At least, now, I don't have to review my Spanish."
My wife replied:
"Good news for me, actually. Your conjugations were driving me up the wall."
Nutted up and called this Janine that folks on here have been talking about at UNH. She told me I had been accepted and like an incredulous idiot I said, "I HAVE?!"
Sounds like funding might not be available but I am so excited to finally hear some positive news. If anyone wants to chat about coordinating a visit or anything else UNH my email is ttrepromike(at)gmail(dot)com.
Good luck everyone!
@Anti- thanks for the links. All I've been hearing are negative reviews too. Mostly, though, they were about the location. West Harlem...I guess it's not for everyone.
@Emma
I don't know how funding is traded between fiction and poetry, but I'm in fully funded at Montana in poetry, and I'm going to turn them down, probably tomorrow.
So yeah, visit, from every faculty member there I've talked to it's utterly breathtaking.
@Woon and others who've had GNEs
What the hell is up with these FOGNEs?!?! I think they should be banned.
Sorry about JHU. :(.
@Summer
Pinsky only does high grade opium.
@Woon
That was actually from a movie, but I was thinking the same thing, which then morphed into Jonesy Hopkins, but that sounded too much like Anthony Hopkins could be illegitimate love child with a hill person while on opium. Bringin' it full circle, what's up.
At this point a single GNE is my only piece of news outside a mounting pile of definitive and presumptive rejections.
So now GNEs can't be trusted....
Somebody call me a Whaaaaaaaambulance! :/
Add me to the pile of JHU rejection.
@Woon - you were right about the "s."
JHU sent you a GNE? They must have really liked something about your sample! I'm sorry it didn't turn into an acceptance though. That really sucks. If I remember though, you have some other GNEs/acceptances/waitlists?
@ Emma - visit! If nothing else, turn it into a "see Montana" trip - it's just about warm enough for Yellowstone to be pleasant.
@Gena - No big deal. Although now, as I put away my Spanish flash cards, I'm feeling some withdrawal symptoms.
@Jacquelin S.
I got into almost every school I've applied to so far, and I didn't have anyone check anything. And I'm saying this as someone who really should have had someone look over them, but the laziness and deadlines just got to me.
So while I don't recommend it, as long as there are no big errors in your own proofreading it'll be fine--hell, I got into Michigan, and I think I misspelled a faculty member's name.
re. Spanish flash card. I made my own. I love making flash cards. It's a hobby.
@Boise,Idaho
I just got the letter today. Maybe they were so repulsed by my writing sample they rushed to get my letter out ASAP, or maybe you'll get yours soon. Good luck to you -- hope you hear better news than I did!
re. hobby. Actually, making flash cards is not a hobby. I don't want you thinking I have no life.
@Emma-- Hey this is the other, other Emma! I am hoping to visit Montana too. Hopefully, hopefully. I'm sorry have been totally lame about emailing-- super busy. But when are you thinking of visiting? Would be rad if we went at the same time, by chance. I'm totally rooting for you to get a TAship, all the way!
My biggest problem is a)buying the tix and b) getting someone to watch my dog
I'm waitlisted at Iowa, and I'm waiting on UVA still... so nothings a sure thing for me yet, but I'm very enthusiastic about Montana!
@Emma -- didn't you get into Florida? Or were you waitlisted?
Yeah, I got into Florida. Also very enthusiastic about that. I'm just, well, very enthusiastic these days I guess.
Also very torn. I'm going to visit Florida too, in a few weeks. I think visiting is going to be central to my decision making process.
@Emma - I'm on Florida's waitlist, so I'm rooting for you to join either Kevin Canty or Sam Chang. Heheh. j/k. Do you have emails of any current MFA students at Florida? I emailed Carla Blount for this info but no response yet.
I hear Florida is hot and humid with bugs the size of baseballs. Montana is like paradise. Iowa is like Montana, except for the paradise part.
Hooray for morgan and smiling raindrops!
Congratulations, guys.
@DFW1986 and Summer, Pinsky + high-grade opium + jazz quartet sound pretty effing sweet. I bet when you get the call, the sky opens up and rains down adorable kittens and unconditional love.
@Woon
Sorry, I just posted like you were talking about Montana, then erased. I'm on overload these days. Let's try this again:
Email David Leavitt at Florida, because he's the one who can help you with current students' emails. At least he's the one who sent me a list. He seems to run that whole deal so far as I can tell.
@Woon
I lived in Florida. Gainesville is not that awesome, because it's not by the ocean. Then again, it's an hour and a half from the ocea either way, and the gulf in particular is beautiful. The bugs are huge, especially the palmetto bugs (like roaches the size of a fig). I like humidity.
But....
Now that I know that Montana is PARADISE, I guess it's case closed!
Ha.
I will definitely post what I decide to do, that's for sure. Constant contact and updates!
Hi, y'alls! I've been off blog since the weekend, trying to catch up with my real life...
Heartfelt congratulations on all of the wonderful acceptances! I'm going to have to go back over about 400 messages tonight, to catch up.
God, I'm so sorry about Kaybay! That's truly a heartbreaker. She's been the number one cheerleader for everyone here. Somewhere, somehow, I hope all of her good karma will pay off.
Anyway, I'm back on the blog this evening to let you guys know that I, too, have been accepted at NYU for poetry. They are offering half tuition for two years, with an opportunity to teach during the second year. I got a voicemail earlier this evening, so I'll call back tomorrow to get more details.
Junot Diaz at NYU? That's crazy! Their faculty lineup is magically delicious, yo! Seriously. There are famous writers all over the MFA map, but NYU takes it to a whole new level.
jessicastone,
My opinion, though many would disagree: Don't mention that you are reapplying---even if it is to the same school, unless you were WL or accepted and had to decline for whatever reason. Instead of mentioning your rejection from them, honestly point out what you have done in the last year that would make you a suitable candidate; don't be so explicit about reapplying, I say.
Woon, sorry to hear about J.Hopkins. But I'm pretty sure your heart is set on Fort Collins anyway, so it's all good!
C'mon Arizona AND Arizona State. It is REALLY time for you to make some move on the fiction-front. Really. Please be nice to us and let us know!
Are there any other VT fiction admits out here still considering the program? Besides Cratty?
@Jacqueline S: the two stories I subbed were published pieces so no work there.
I went through four versions of my SOP before I had something I was happy with. I had two writer friends look it over and give feedback.
(accepted at Iowa, Michigan and Vtech)
Does anyone know anything about UCI and Arizona State? Are they done notifying?
@Dolores Humbert - no big deal with Johns Hopkins. Baltimore would've killed me, I think.
@Zoulou & @Dry Leaves:
I have a deferral from Alaska-Fairbanks from last year, and it looks like it may be a strong candidate this year. I won't have a TA-ship, but I am still strongly considering going. Maybe I'll see you two up there!
I don't think Arizona State has begun notifying yet. According to someone on Driftless, we should be hearing back late this week (which it already is - hmm) or early next week.
@Hullabaloo
I, too, received that rejection letter. And, yes, it was downright awful. Then it goes on to say something about if I plan to attend as an undergrad? Um, what?
Probably stung a bit more considering I was accepted unfunded last year and chose to decline. I'm definitely keeping it, however. Something to look back on someday. :) Chin up! :)
They have a good journal up at Fairbanks too: Permafrost.
Alaska's too cold for me though!
The Johns Hopkins rejection eliminates, for the time being, the need for me to learn lacrosse. So, that's good news.
@Dolores
Did Vtech give you until April 15th to decide? (if so, you still have plenty of time for your other offers).
They told me to contact them around that time. ugh, such a long wait!
Congrats to today's NYU acceptances!! Yay!
Has anyone not had their Minnesota status changed on apply yourself? I've had no word. Nada, and while I consider that most likely negative, there's no outright rejection yet. Anyone else in the same boat?
Congrats to all those who heard good news today! (I think there was some NYU and Montana action)
MFAguy,
Yeah, they definitely gave me plenty of time. But I really want to come to a decision soon. Really, really, really. I am losing a LOT of hair stressing about my options. And I do not look good bald. This is a problem.
Friday, Friday! Come on, Arizona!
Oh dear that can't be good!
At least you have some options though :)
Without funding I have none! Argh, the perils of being an international student!
MFAguy,
Yeah, I don't mean to complain. But seriously. I really am losing a lot of hair. Haha.
Can I ask where you're from? International is my favorite word, btw. Little tidbit about me. It really is. Everything about it spells good news to me.
@ Dolores Humbert:
I think I'm actually in the same boat. I lost a fair number of eyelashes this morning. Eyelashes!!!
@ Memphis acceptees: Anyone? Bueller? Would love to chat with some other people and see if anyone will be going there for a visit in the next few weeks.
@MFAGuy and Dolores H,
It's especially scary for international applicants, I think. Ugh. I think my hair's turning white. I only hope it looks attractive.
Unfortunately I'm from the sceptered isle, the land of overcast skies and hot tea, Sundays in the park, walks with the dog, and conversations with men called John, who wear sandals and socks and sport heavy beards, and like to talk about real ale....
@MFAGuy - you're in a better boat than I am. :-)
@ Trilbe, Morgan, smiling raindrops, and Eric: NYU!!! Wow. Congratulations!
@ UNH acceptances, congratulations!
Amanda,
Eyelashes! I've lost them too, but I blame my Revlon curler. Hungry little bastard. =)
Nadiya,
Congrats on all your success! You turned down VT and Iowa and chose Michigan, right? So exciting!
Which boat do thee hail from?
@ Jacqueline Stevens,
I had three creative writing professors (my recommenders) look at my writing sample numerous times and give me feedback. I worked especially closely with one of them, who is also an editor for a poetry journal -- he gave me the most extensive suggestions about revisions. I spent, I think, three months intensely revising each poem in my sample over and over again. So far I've been accepted to three programs and waitlisted at one, and I really don't think I would've been accepted anywhere if those three professors hadn't helped me with my writing sample. They are getting gifts soon :)
@Dolores, No, I've declined VTech and am dithering btwn Iowa and Michigan. I'd like to get a clear idea of both before I decide. But I don't want to take too long over it either.
@MFAGuy - the boonies of a (former) shard of the former jewel of your crown, Bangladesh. (Thus ends post-colonial studies for the day :P)
@Jacqueline S - I think it's finally a question of what you're comfortable with. I had both my writer friends/mentors look over my SOP closely, but a lot of their suggestions/edits I didn't accept. It's the same as writing anything I guess, it's finally what you believe works that counts.
@LauraT - Thank you so much! I'm pretty sure I've exhausted my adrenal glands, forever.
@ Amanda--
I was accepted by Memphis for fiction. I'm relatively familiar with the city because I grew up a couple of hours away and went to college about an hour away. But I don't know a whole lot about the school, except that I am mildly obsessed with Richard Bausch.
I still haven't decided if I am going to accept the offer because I'm waiting to hear from several other schools, and I'm still a little bit confused by the funding situation. But in the acceptance email, they asked for fiction applicants to let them know something by March 15, so I am kind of freaking out. Anyway, there's a chance I will visit sometime in the coming weeks to check out housing options, but I haven't made any definitive plans.
If you have any general questions about the city, my email is willwoodskinner(at)gmail(dot)com.
@Woon - you are cracking me up. No JHU rejection for me today (I'm in California) but i too, will not miss the subjunctive review
@ mike thompson - dude. I am so glad you "nutted up"! congrats!
to all the peeps - March radness is upon us.
i will nut up and call Janine tomorrow
Thanks Laura T and all!! So happy to finally have some good news, and so grateful for all of your support!!
congratulations for everybody's acceptances! i just found this blog today. i am waiting to hear from the new york schools: nyu, hunter, brooklyn, new school, and sarah lawrence.
if i didn't hear from nyu today, is that probably bad news?
it's so good to hear about peoples' good news!
Just received a rejection email from ASU. The kicker: A subject line reading "ASU DENY LETTER". Ouch. And on my birthday, too. I need a band aid.
@Dolores -- Arizona and Arizona State would be stupid to reject you.
Proposed scenario:
1. Nadiya takes Michigan over Iowa.
2. Emma takes Iowa (or Montana) over Florida.
(Coupled with Arna taking either Cornell or Texas over Iowa, releasing another Florida admittee to take the Iowa slot)
3. Florida offers me available seats #5 or #6. I get to choose between Florida and Colorado State.
Everyone wins!
Woo Hoo!
I still haven't heard from Michigan. Given that the acceptances were contacted weeks ago, I'm assuming a rejection, and I want my assumption validated! I do live abroad but...snail mail usually arrives within 11-14 days.
Also, I *think* I read before that Wolverine Access, where we're supposed to check our application status, isn't updated? B/c there's no DENIED or anything listed there. (Well more importantly there's no ACCEPTED either.)
Has anyone not heard back from Michigan one way or another?
What happened to the separate Fiction and Poetry rankings on Seth's site? Anyone have the link?
woon:
http://sethabramson.blogspot.com/2010/03/2011-mfa-rankings-poetry.html
2011 MFA Poetry Rankings
@Abbie
Sorry to hear about that! I hope you had plenty of other kernels of happiness on your birthday!
Do you mind if I ask if you are fiction or poetry? Just curious. :)
@Lee -- I got my official rejection from Michigan a week or two ago. I'd suggest calling them to see what's up if you haven't heard anything and haven't gotten any mail. Although, they told us way back when they were notifying people that if you didn't get a phone call, you weren't accepted. I'd give them a call nonetheless. You deserve the courtesy of official notification. And who knows? Maybe they thought they'd called you, but didn't get through?
@ Abbie, ouch, that's so harsh! :/ I hope it didn't ruin your birthday.
Abbie,
Sorry to hear about ASU. How did you find out about your admission status? I just checked mine online and it said "under review."
Morgan, I couldn't resist stalking-- I mean--clicking on your profile, and you look familiar... Did you happen to do a Writers in Paris program a couple of summers ago?
Just curious about this:
Boise State (from the English dept.) was the first rejection I received. It came back in early, early February like two weeks after I sent in the app. Tonight I got an email from the grad admissions office saying they didn't receive the transcripts from two colleges I from which I received high school credit, and that they needed them to move my app forward to the English dept. Weird... Probably just like my app was fragmented and the grad admissions office hadn't received word from the English dept.
@Boise, Idaho - yes, that is weird. It's like a parallel universe. You could choose the one where you're rejected or the other one where you're pending.
@Vanni - thanks!
@ Nadiya - I can't figure out Irvine. They called someone on March 1st for fiction, but as far as I know that's all they've done - no waitlists or other calls. I can't figure out if they're finished, pausing, or building suspense. A few people on here have said that Irvine isn't done, if that helps. I'm not sure at what point we email/call to get the scoop.
Another question - would it be kosher to email Virginia sometime around the March 20's to see what's going on - if they haven't peeped? I'm interested in looking at housing in Ann Arbor during the visit weekend, but I'm loathe to sign a lease before I've heard back from all the schools.
P.S. I'll email you in detail about my Michigan visit, and perhaps someone can do that for you for Iowa.
Sorry guys, that post was all over the place. The first paragraph and P.S. were directed to Nadiya. The second paragraph was to everyone at large. Wow - not enough caffeine today.
I know nothing about UC-Irvine, and didn't apply there, but is it possible that that one outlier got notified early because of some sort of grant, or something? I know some programs tell a few people early because they got some sort of awesome funding or grant. Just sayin'. A possible option. But, let me reiterate, I didn't apply to UC-Irvine, nor do I know anything. Just pure speculation...
@Peaquah -- P.S. if you have any questions about Ann Arbor, I live in the area and grew up there. I could tell you a lot about it! Email me, if you want. CJWid87(at)hotmail(dot)com
@Woon
Haha, yeah. I forgot to mention that they emailed me on some old email I never use anymore but decided to check for the hell of it. I don't remember providing them that email...
Boise State is watching. It's always watching...
@Chrissy
Thanks, I'll do that! I'm counting UMichigan as a wash, but still - I need to know so I can close my door on that rejection and move on :P
Nadiya,
Oh, I see (and I know what you mean). Wow, well, you've got an insanely tough decision ahead of you! Good luck!
Woon,
I actually swooned a little at that statement, haha. Thanks. Can you please tell them that?
Abbie, sorry to hear about the email! That's a rough subject line but I hope your birthday festivities made up for it!
And a general-specific congrats to all the NYU folks, esp. those in fiction, who apparently are going to be lucky enough to work under the Dominican Don Juan himself, Junot Diaz. Mmmhmmm. More with the swooning over here.
@hilary
yes, that's about right. skies opening and all.
I read Junot Diaz's "Fiesta 1980" (a lot of vomiting, btw). Last week, at a used book store, I came across his most recent Oscar Wao, which was selling for $2.00. Should've bought it.
Woon,
I love his stuff, vomit and all. As for Oscar Wao, I will say as amazing as it is, the section "Wildwood"---which is also one of the O' Henry Prize 2009 stories---is the best part of it. And really, if all you read of Oscar is just that section, that's all you need. It's perfection. Hotdamn.
Does anyone ever REALLY believe that certain authors are just, I don't know, destined to be with you? No? Just me? Okay, I'll stop now. ;D
No problemo, Woon.
What does it mean if I still have heard nothing back from Cornell, Ohio State, and Indiana? Should I assume rejection? I'm fiction, by the way.
So my question, directed at everyone is this:
Has anyone gotten official notification from Cornell of rejection? Because at this point, it's gotta be nothing but rejection, and yet...no letter. I feel like I deserve the dignity of a letter, e-mail, something official.
As for UNH, does anyone know what the numbers are...How many applied, how many were accepted (fiction and poetry, I'm curious about both?) I feel like these numbers were posted somewhere. Maybe Seth can enlighten us...
And all acceptances today, congrats! And trilbe, as always, thanks for checking in!
P.S. Junot Diaz comes into the bookstore where I work all the f'ing time. He signed a book for me "Love and words..." The brother is smooth.... NYU people, I'm seething with jealousy!
@Georgie
I received the Cornell rejection today in the mail. I live in, well, see my name. But yeah, I guess depending on where you live, news will probably come soon!
@Georgie.
Cornell emailed my rejection a couple days ago (I'm not in the US, and they agreed to notify me by email).
I just received an email (at 1:30 in the morning) from the University of Maryland telling me that my final decision has been made. But the letter only appears to be a "the graduate school has indeed accepted you even after the writing program already sent out official acceptances" letter and not a funding letter. Alternatively, it's an extremely roundabout way of saying I didn't get jack for funding. Any Maryland applicants get the same?
@Abbie - I just wanted to say, happy birthday! Hope you get fantastic news very soon.
@William - good luck with your decision!
And congratulations to all you many NYU folks today :)
@Summer
Congratulations! I didn't get the email or any letter from UMD, though I was contacted by phone and email in the last week of February about my acceptance. Also checked my online application status - it still says "Pending decision." Since February, it's been all quiet!
Hello,
Here's my tally, for fiction.
Rejected:
Alabama
Brown
Iowa
Michigan
Texas (Michener)
No response:
Arizona
Cornell
Indiana
Minnesota
Virginia
Arizona still hasn't notified anyone one way or the other, right?
@Woon: Would you be amenable to making the rest of my life-decisions please? I'm very indecisive and would be grateful.
@peaquah: you're fantastic. I would be very grateful. Thanks! (And if someone visits iowa i'd be grateful to hear about that too!)
@Lee - Same for me, even though I only got a letter at the end of Feb and no phone call.
I doubt someone is actually sitting awake at this hour arbitrarily emailing notices from the dean, so the system is probably just slowly plodding its way along. Couldn't these schools just pick a method of notification and be done with it?
@Summer
re: the automated system
That makes sense, but it's also really weird. I wonder if they send things out via the system alphabetically (probably). And if it's working at 1 in the morning, does it mean it's working nonstop at all hours? In that case, were there really so many applicants that it'll take more than a week for the system to get to?
Ok, I've got a simile: Submitting your stories/poems (to whatever) is like sending pictures of your children to modeling contests. They are part of you, they are innately good to you, but they might not be striking to others. They might need a couple more years or some makeup, or to be tossed into the incinerator in favor of new ones, if necessary. But it's really hard to say whose children are the more beautiful because they are all just part of humanity, and it all is worth looking at. I'd be horrible at judging a contest, I think. And a horrible parent, at that.
@Lee - Draw your own conclusions. On my application status page, it has my letter from the dean posted. The date of the posting is "3/10" but the date on the pdf itself is "3/11," which I presume is the mailing date. I got the email notice about it on 3/12.
Quite a chronology, eh?
@bbartok - True. My stories and poems keep me up at night just about as well as a newborn.
Nice name. I'm listening to the solo violin sonata right now!
can anyone tell me about UMass- Boston's MFA? I know it's new (unranked), small, and three years. any good buzz about it? bad?
@DFW1986
I don't foresee myself being busy with an MFA program in the near future and so would be interested in joining you in your "whateverish" supportive endeavor referenced about 200 comments ago :)
Good morning to my homiez, hilary & Cratty & Nadiya & Georgie! I've been gone so long, I feel like I've been out in the wilderness and that I should be returning to you with some wisdom. But I've got nothin'. Just CONGRATULATIONS to all of you who are rockin' March Radness! Especially to Morgan & Eric, awesome poets who are finally getting the recognition you deserve.
The dept. head of VT finally got back to me with a long and encouraging letter of rejection. I guess I came pretty close, but nada. He did seem genuinely apologetic, at least.
Thanks guys! It was in email form, but my status also changed and says something along the lines of "we regret we cannot recommend admission" or something.
I'm over it. I have some amazing options. And I had a great 27, regardless! :) Chin up, guys. It's a new day!
I've got a question for TEAM TSU! (Texas Staters, I'm talking to you!) If you, in fact, choose TSU as your home-for-awhile, are you planning to live in San Marcos? Are there some who want to live in Austin and commute? Planning to rent, I assume? Although, housing is insanely affordable there (especially farther out of Austin and closer to SM? If you want to discuss Texas State a bit more in-depth off board, feel free to email me at abbiebergdale (at) hotmail (dot) com.
UNCW friends: Anyone hear any new news, lately? I've still got my funding fingers crossed.
@Franny and @Sahaider,
Thanks for the info!
@Frankish,
Did you email the faculty member asking about when they'll be notifying people? Or did you receive this email out of the blue?
(Sorry, now I'm scrutinizing and obsessing over every detail, in search for any indication either way)
Good luck to everyone waiting!
Happy Friday!
And let there be good news for all today!
We're fast approaching the halfway mark in March; good stuff! We need only survive a few weeks longer [:
The fact we are as far into the season as we are is completely blowing my mind!
Congrats to everyone who's heard! I have spring break next week so I will have unadulterated time to stare down my last few schools that haven't informed yet. I will intimidate them into telling us! (ha.)
@Coughdrop
re: Intimidation
You have my blessing!!
Just found this blog a few days ago. Great community! Congrats to everyone who's been accepted.
I wanted to let everyone know that I emailed Penn State for my status and received the following message from Peg Yetter:
"Our decisions committee has made some first round offers but will continue to review application through the month of March. Final round offers could be made as late as the end of March or beginning of April."
Good luck all!
@ coughdrop,
normally i'm a woo them with wine kinda gal ... but intimidation sounds like a fine idea right now!
i'll give you a list of the schools i still am waiting on ... :p
If we are relying on me to intimidate people, we are in a sorry place indeed. I was just going to stare meanly at the websites and hope that the schools notice! lol.
But, I am positive I am not the most intimidating of this lot. I am the sort of person who when I get mad people go "awwww look! she's all angry! how cute!"
@coughdrop,
i think that's why i woo with wine ... i'm not exactly intimidating, but i can pick a fine sangiovese when necessary ...
i guess not everyone can do everything ...
@koru
I wish the programs would woo ME with wine! That makes this process sound like a lot more fun.
@coughdrop
there's always wine where i am ;-) for all who get lost in my city. :p
it's not wooing, but not too shabby either. :D
@Oregon fiction people
Just FYI (posted on Driftless House):
Laurie Lynn said...
Univ of Oregon has contacted all their fiction first offers by phone and their waitlist by email.
March 12, 2010 3:41 AM
Really, Oregon? That makes one rejection, two assumed, and one final hope. Is this over yet?
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