Applying only to Stegner. Last day, or rather, last few hours. Panicking as i try to mix and match tidbits of things i've written over the years to have something worthwhile submitting.
Any idea what format the files should be in while submitting online? Pdf or doc? and formatting tips would be HIGHLY appreciated.
don't those online forms usually let you browse and download files from your computer? Seems like most of my apps asked for .doc or .pdf files. It was pretty self-explanatory. Good luck!
Feels good to be done. And now that I just finished my final SOP, I think I've arrived at my best version. Too bad the best one is only going to two schools...
It feels like I'm being terribly ballsy applying to some of these (silence, Inner Critic!), but this is my list, in order of interest:
U of Iowa, Iowa City (nonfiction) U of Michigan, Ann Arbor (fiction) U of Alabama, Tuscaloosa (nonfiction) Ohio State U (nonfiction) Bowling Green State U (fiction) Penn State U (nonfiction) U of Texas, Austin (fiction) Vanderbilt U, Nashville (nonfiction) U of Virginia, Charlottesville (fiction)
I'm only applying to 2 schools for fiction. Arizona State Arizona I see people applying to so many schools, but I only want to be in Arizona. I would not enjoy being else where so I am sacrificing..we'll see. I know that it isn't safe applying to only 2 schools, but oh well! We never know...wish me luck!
Here is my final list for poetry. I had to cut off SIUC, Pittsburgh, LSU and Hollins because my list was getting too long and it was getting too expensive.
Washington (St.L) Brown UNC, Greensboro Mississippi UM, Amherst Iowa UVA Cornell Syracuse NYU Wisconsin
I did in fact include all 3 genres in my application; the guidelines said to apply in a genre if you wanted, or to send 30 pages of any mix of genres. I think I'm strong in fiction and nonfiction, and I had 2 good poems, so I threw them in, too. I don't consider myself a poet primarily, but the compression and concentration and rhythm carries over to my major genres.
It'll be interesting to see how it works out. Hollins seems particularly open to crossing genre boundaries.
I am hoping that someone could answer my question. I am not applying to any MFA programs until next year, but I was curious as to how many students Sarah Lawrence and Hollins accepts for the Creative Nonfiction program.
Right now I live in Brooklyn, but I'm in a position to move almost anywhere in the country next year. Aside from applying to NYU, I'm trying to get out of the city—as much as I love it! I'll add that I'm also trying to take the advice of people on this blog and applying to as many places as I can afford.
Poetry Programs:
Houston Arkansas Wisconsin Washington - St. Louis Virginia UMass Maryland UNC - Greensboro Michigan Cornell Iowa Syracuse NYU Illinois Minnesota Indiana
- vanderbilt university - johns hopkins university - syracuse university - university of north carolina, wilmington - university of nevada, las vegas - university of michigan
Really starting to feel the pressure now, and this blog is becoming totally addictive!
For anyone interested, I'll be applying in poetry to these schools . . .
U of Michigan W. Virginia U Penn State U U of Massachusetts Emerson College Boston U Syracuse U U of New Hampsire Brown U Rutgers U, Newark Cornell U U of Iowa Writers' Workshop Vanderbilt U
Okay, I've never posted here. But I've been reading this blog for the last few months, through the process of narrowing down schools and working out where I wanted to apply. So, the final list, all for fiction, is:
1. Michener 2. Virginia 3. U Wash 4. Washington University at St. Louis 5. The New School, NY 6. California College of the Arts 7. Hollins 8. Mills
This probably is not the place to say this, but this is a great blog, really informative and interesting. So.. thanks. And good luck everyone! ^_^
University of Oregon University of British Columbia Portland State University University of Iowa Cornell University Syracuse University University of Massachusetts, Amherst
final 13 in Poetry. (Maybe I should have picked a less spooky number).
Boise State Brown Univ Colorado-Boulder Colorado State Cornell Iowa Illinois-Urbana Champaign Michigan Syracuse UC Irvine Washington State (St. Louis) Wisconsin-Madison Wyoming
umass amherst school of the art institute of chicago sarah lawrence emerson boston university the new school san francisco state cal arts brown brooklyn college nyu columbia california college of the arts syracuse
UCSD UC-Irvine U. Wyoming U. Michigan SIUC Syracuse Ohio State Bowling Green Brown U. South Carolina U. Florida Florida State Arkansas Arizona State Purdue Indiana Penn State Washington U. Minnesota
Michener Center Virginia Tech Boise State Colorado Boulder Colorado State Old Dominion Ole Miss University of Wyoming Penn State Bowling Green State
The application process is taking over my life. My cats sit on my laptop in protest. I had a dream that I went to the hospital for a cat scan and I came upon a butcher's shop on my way to the test. In the butcher's shop were skinned calves, happily blinking. I wanted to rescue one; but I was forced to accept an intact chicken. Thus begin the stress dreams.
I think I posted this a couple of months ago, but I had to drop one school for $$$ reasons. And if I get even poorer (happening as we speak!), I might have to drop one of the last two.
I have 2 done, 8 to go, btw.
For nonfiction:
Iowa South Carolina Florida State Portland State Penn State Houston Arizona Baltimore Old Dominion George Mason
U of Minnesota U of Iowa Pittsburgh Ohio State Portland State Columbia College (Chicago) Rutgers Camden American University Bennington (Low-Res) Goucher (Low-Res)
Multi-Genre: University of British Columbia Hollins
Poetry: University of Minnesota Vanderbilt UC-San Diego San Diego State American University Naropa University San Jose State Roosevelt University Mills College CCA Notre Dame
Consider keeping SIUC and LSU--they're later deadlines, so you might have more $$ by the time they roll around in 2011. Plus, either program's funding is well worth the app fee!
Iowa Michener Iowa State University of Wisconsin University of Minnesota Notre Dame Boise State Colorado Boulder Colorado State Bowling Green State UNLV LSU
I'm a writer without an MFA who's not even applying to MFA programs...but that doesn't mean I don't think about the degree and wonder what kind of writer I'd be with one.
I recently wrote a blog post about my current situation working as a writer without an MFA and the vague sense of anxiety that makes me wonder if I should hurry up and get the degree...or not.
As always, I'm fascinated by reading about other writers' MFA decisions, where they are applying, etc. I wish everyone luck!
I'll second Adam's suggestion to keep SIUC and LSU on your lists and that's not just me tooting my own horn. Both programs are well-funded, provide various editorial/ professional development opportunities, and SIUC is just shy of the top 20 in poetry and LSU is just shy of the top 25. Plus, the app fees for those programs isn't bad at all.
I'm taking the two-genre approach, but would probably go to a good fiction program over a good non-fiction one, all things being equal. Anyone else doing this?
Fiction:
Iowa (Writers Workshp) Southern Illinois Indiana Montana Kansas Boise State
This is my final application list...some are already submitted, others about to be finished: Genre (fiction)
Iowa University of North Carolina Wilmington University of Mississippi Oxford Vanderbilt UC San Diego Boston University University of Virginia Bowling Green State University
The only Low-Res I am applying to is Warren Wilson
I look at these comments and I'm shocked at how many schools some people are applying to. Good luck to you all, though. Application fees had me limited to three:
San Francisco State (my top choice) Portland State San Jose State
University of Florida Florida State University Florida International University Florida Atlantic University University of South Florida University of Central Florida University of Miami
Obviously I'm wanting to stay in Florida. Can't we just all find out already?
-Minnesota -Guelph -Iowa -Arizona -New Hampshire -New School -Victoria
... All in Nonfiction. I had Columbia on the list but figured it was pointless because, realistically, I won't consider going anywhere if they can't give me funding. I might take New School off the list for the same reason.
My fiction workshop prof recommended I apply to between 10 and 15. I'm limited by my husband's relocation options, but I hit eight and feel fairly good about my prospects....
Am I screwing myself by only applying to five programs?
(Fiction) Hunter Brooklyn College NYU Michener Unviersity of Florida
The first three are because I should probably stick around here (tho I think any of them would be awesome no matter where I lived). Michener is because I felt like buying 60 lottery tickets. UF is because I felt an almost-mystical pull.
Now, almost done, I finally feel ready to shary this. I am applying to these places in poetry. Good luck all!
Wisconsin, Madison Michigan, Ann Arbor Iowa, Iowa City Arizona State, Tempe North Carolina, Greensboro Coloado, Boulder Virginia, Charlottesville Cornell, Ithica
Applying to 13 schools for poetry, listed in order of deadline.
Michener Brown University Washington University in St. Louis Cornell University University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign University of Michigan Syracuse University Virginia Tech UNC Greensboro Purdue University University of Colorado at Boulder University of Iowa Penn State
I'm also applying in poetry this application season. Yikes yikes. No relaxation this upcoming break. (It is still finals week here). Not that there ever really is Relaxation over break. Holidays. Sigh sigh.
I'm applying to (or have applied to):
Iowa U of Wisconsin U of Minnesota Ann Arbor Stegner Austin Brown UVA John Hopkins
Aiming high or something. I can always re-apply next year. I don't feel a pressure to get in this year.
Dave, I have the same concern about recommenders coming through. I absolutely hate that we go through all the work of submitting these applications and then it's completely out of our hands as to whether they end up being incomplete. Why do they even need these letters of recommendation anyway? Does anybody ever give a bad one? The whole exercise seems pointless. Sorry for the off-topic rant, but this has caused me a fair amount of anxiety.
Surprisingly, some rec letters are not good. I used to intern at the Iowa Review, and while reading rec letters for a poetry contest, I came across a fairly hostile one from a student's old professor claiming that said student was an immature writer and had a lot of growing to do, not to mention a bit of a pain in the ass.
Who knows if this is the case for graduate school. I would certainly hope not!
That letter sounds like it would say more about the professor writing the recommendation than the student. Generally, there's an unspoken rule that LORs (for anything) have to "recommend". A teacher/ boss/ co-worker etc. can always turn down someone's request if he/she feels that they cannot contribute anything positive (or at least spin words to sound somewhat positive). With that said, also think long and hard about who you ask to write your letters. Will famous person A that you barely know really write you a good letter vs. a neighborhood workshop leader that has known you for years? Is your recommender reliable? Does your recommender really care about you (and students in general)? Is your recommender professional when he/she needs to be? (translation: we're all writers here and we all know that can translate into some big time drama/ craziness).
So...I am not one to write on this type of site, but as I was doing my applications, I used it to procrastinate alot, and it was also helpful with answering some practical questions (thanks..)
AND I just finished sending my apps, and want to do something fun to symbolyze it.
AND there is something cool about sharing here.
All of this to say here I am being a dork and typing the list of schools I applied to. I am a proud dork...
(For Fiction)
Irvine Iowa Writers' Workshop Michigan University of Florida UVA Houston Arizona state University Syracuse John Hopkins
I know they are all super competitive, but if I don't get in this year I guess that's better than getting in somewhere I don't really want to go to.
Oh boy, I have a question. For the others applying to UMich: did you have to send your writing sample early enough so that they received it by Dec 24th since they're closed between the 24th and the 1st? If I sent it after the 24th and I see a "notice" was left at their office on the USPS site, does this mean my application will arrive late and therefore not be considered?
Twin - there are many good programs in the South, including: UF, FSU, Georgia College and State, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, Virginia Tech, Virginia Commonwealth, UNC Greensboro, UNC Wilmington, NC State, McNeese, LSU... deadlines are approaching, though :)
Hi, I'm new to the board. I have the same fear as you do about Michigan. May I ask what was on the "notice" that you saw at the office?
And why do you think your application won't be considered? Did you confirm that if a package arrives between Dec 24 and Jan 1 it will definitely not be received?
Sorry, I'm quite worried as well and would appreciate any extra information!
hey, I hope this doesn't sound rude (or hypocritical, since I answered a question here), but questions about deadlines and schools should probably be posted in the mailbag to avoid confusion and clutter :)
Feels good to be done. And now that I just finished my final SOP, I think I have arrived at my best version. Too bad the best one is only going to two schools.
108 comments:
Applying only to Stegner. Last day, or rather, last few hours. Panicking as i try to mix and match tidbits of things i've written over the years to have something worthwhile submitting.
Any idea what format the files should be in while submitting online? Pdf or doc? and formatting tips would be HIGHLY appreciated.
quixilver,
don't those online forms usually let you browse and download files from your computer? Seems like most of my apps asked for .doc or .pdf files. It was pretty self-explanatory. Good luck!
Tom
So,
just finished all but 1 of 12 MFA applications! Other than sending a few transcripts, nothing left to do. I applied at these schools:
Minnesota (nonfiction)
Illionis-Urbana (fiction)
Iowa (nonfiction)
Northern Michigan (nonfiction)
Idaho (nonfiction)
Montana (nonfiction)
Wyoming (nonfiction & fiction)
U of Arizona (nonfiction)
New Hampshire (nonfiction)
Memphis (nonfiction)
Hollins (fiction/nonfiction/poetry)
Texas (fiction & screenwriting)
Feels good to be done. And now that I just finished my final SOP, I think I've arrived at my best version. Too bad the best one is only going to two schools...
Tom
@Tom
Did you apply in all three genres at Hollins?
I've posted before, but my final list has changed a bit now that I'm actually doing applications.
Poetry:
UMass
Virginia
Iowa
Brown
Michigan
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Indiana U
Mills
Michener
Ohio State
Hopkins
It feels like I'm being terribly ballsy applying to some of these (silence, Inner Critic!), but this is my list, in order of interest:
U of Iowa, Iowa City (nonfiction)
U of Michigan, Ann Arbor (fiction)
U of Alabama, Tuscaloosa (nonfiction)
Ohio State U (nonfiction)
Bowling Green State U (fiction)
Penn State U (nonfiction)
U of Texas, Austin (fiction)
Vanderbilt U, Nashville (nonfiction)
U of Virginia, Charlottesville (fiction)
Mine are all for fiction.
Iowa
Michigan
Indiana
Montana
UC Irvine
Syracuse
NYU
Brown
Cornell
Virginia
Texas State
Minnesota
I'm only applying to 2 schools for fiction.
Arizona State
Arizona
I see people applying to so many schools, but I only want to be in Arizona. I would not enjoy being else where so I am sacrificing..we'll see. I know that it isn't safe applying to only 2 schools, but oh well! We never know...wish me luck!
I'm applying to the nonfiction programs at Wyoming, Montana, Iowa, and UNCW.
I'm turning in my materials...
soon...ish.
Fiction:
NYU
Alabama
Michigan
Columbia
Arkansas
New School
Boise State
New Mexico
Louisiana State
Mississippi
Hunter
UNLV
Georgia State
Poetry:
Iowa
Brown
Madison
Minnesota
Michigan
UMASS
Here is my final list for poetry. I had to cut off SIUC, Pittsburgh, LSU and Hollins because my list was getting too long and it was getting too expensive.
Washington (St.L)
Brown
UNC, Greensboro
Mississippi
UM, Amherst
Iowa
UVA
Cornell
Syracuse
NYU
Wisconsin
Alas, just these few (in poetry)...
Johns Hopkins Univerity
University of Michigan
University of Iowa
Indiana University
Brown University
Applying in fiction, and I only have one of ten applications done. Yikes!
Ohio State
Illinois-UC
Michigan
Indiana
Purdue
Iowa
Florida State
Houston
Bowling Green
Southern Illinois-C
Karissa,
I did in fact include all 3 genres in my application; the guidelines said to apply in a genre if you wanted, or to send 30 pages of any mix of genres. I think I'm strong in fiction and nonfiction, and I had 2 good poems, so I threw them in, too. I don't consider myself a poet primarily, but the compression and concentration and rhythm carries over to my major genres.
It'll be interesting to see how it works out. Hollins seems particularly open to crossing genre boundaries.
Tom
For Fiction:
Purdue
Texas - Austin
Indiana
Iowa
Notre Dame
Michigan
Southern Illinois
Illinois
Vandy
Iowa State
Yea! As of this morning, I am like 90% done organizing everything. Good luck everyone!
Here is the list, it's for fiction.
Arkansas
UNLV
Arizona
Memphis
Syracuse
Cornell
South Carolina
Kansas
Boise State
Iowa
Applying to mostly full res, 3 low res.
FULL-RES (poetry)
Wisconsin
Illinois
Michigan
Iowa
Bowling Green
Columbia College (Chi)
Northwestern
Minnesota
LOW-RES (poetry)
Pacific
Vermont College
Warren Wilson
@Tom
Yes, my boyfriend is currently in the MFA program there, and they most certainly are open to it.
I'm almost finished with half my apps! Yay!.
Here's the complete list, all for fiction:
Minnesota
Colorado State
Cornell
WashU-STL
Ohio State
Alabama
Iowa
UNLV
LSU
Wyoming
Applying in poetry to:
Brown U
NYU
Hunter
U of New Hampshire
Cornell U
UMass
Syracuse U
Penn State U
Indiana U
U of Iowa
U of Michigan
America U
U of Virginia
Final for poetry (and all submitted on-time!!!)
Brown
Cornell
Wisconsin
Michener
Michigan
Virginia
Iowa (WW)
Oregon
Vanderbilt
Houston
Irvine
FSU
Johns Hopkins
(in fiction)
umass
nyu
unc, greensboro
va tech
hollins
uva
iowa
memphis
the final list for poetry...
austin
oregon
oregon state
washington
montana
univ. victoria
north carolina state
north carolina, greensboro
whew.
I am hoping that someone could answer my question. I am not applying to any MFA programs until next year, but I was curious as to how many students Sarah Lawrence and Hollins accepts for the Creative Nonfiction program.
Thank you and good luck to everyone!
Final list [fiction]
UNLV
San Diego State
Idaho
Boise State
Iowa
Kansas
UC Davis
Wyoming
Right now I live in Brooklyn, but I'm in a position to move almost anywhere in the country next year. Aside from applying to NYU, I'm trying to get out of the city—as much as I love it! I'll add that I'm also trying to take the advice of people on this blog and applying to as many places as I can afford.
Poetry Programs:
Houston
Arkansas
Wisconsin
Washington - St. Louis
Virginia
UMass
Maryland
UNC - Greensboro
Michigan
Cornell
Iowa
Syracuse
NYU
Illinois
Minnesota
Indiana
(and that's the condensed list!)
settled on my list, like, last week:
- vanderbilt university
- johns hopkins university
- syracuse university
- university of north carolina, wilmington
- university of nevada, las vegas
- university of michigan
oh, and mine are all for fiction
Mine is for fiction too.
UVA
VA Tech
George Mason
Hopkins
Cornell
Michigan
UC Irvine
Brown
Iowa
Syracuse
Hollins
Oregon
UMASS
Minnesota
Just Sent In My Applications.
All for Fiction.
University of Utah
Portland State
Brooklyn College
New School
Southern Illinois U. at Carbondale
Really starting to feel the pressure now, and this blog is becoming totally addictive!
For anyone interested, I'll be applying in poetry to these schools . . .
U of Michigan
W. Virginia U
Penn State U
U of Massachusetts
Emerson College
Boston U
Syracuse U
U of New Hampsire
Brown U
Rutgers U, Newark
Cornell U
U of Iowa Writers' Workshop
Vanderbilt U
Year two ... for fiction
Syracuse
U Illinois
U Michigan
Iowa ...
and maybe ...
Emerson
and maybe a couple more if I get my self together
soooo I added 2 more schools!!
Final list for fiction!!!
ASU
Arizona
Hunter
Brooklyn College
Already finished everything for arizona!!!
Fiction-
Brown
Syracuse
Michigan
Virginia
Miami
South Carolina
Iowa
Colorado
Kansas
Iowa State
Montana
Witchita State
For Fiction:
Iowa
Brown
Syracuse
Notre Dame
Southern Illinois
Illinois
UNCG
Wash U. St. Louis
Virginia Tech
These six in poetry
1. U. Mass, Amherst
2. Johns Hopkins
3. Virginia
4. Michigan
5. Iowa
6. Houston
MY LIST (fiction)
UNLV
Montana
Minnesota
Arizona St.
Colorado-Boulder
UC San Diego
UC Irvine
Cornell
NYU
Oregon
Stanford (Stegner)
Brown
Virginia
Okay, I've never posted here. But I've been reading this blog for the last few months, through the process of narrowing down schools and working out where I wanted to apply. So, the final list, all for fiction, is:
1. Michener
2. Virginia
3. U Wash
4. Washington University at St. Louis
5. The New School, NY
6. California College of the Arts
7. Hollins
8. Mills
This probably is not the place to say this, but this is a great blog, really informative and interesting. So.. thanks. And good luck everyone! ^_^
It feels good to finally be able to post this!
Fiction
University of Oregon
University of British Columbia
Portland State University
University of Iowa
Cornell University
Syracuse University
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Hi! My app list for POETRY...
Wisconsin
Indiana
Michigan
Cornell
Houston
NYU
U. Virginia
Virginia Tech
Iowa
Sarah Lawrence
CUNY
Syracuse
final 13 in Poetry. (Maybe I should have picked a less spooky number).
Boise State
Brown
Univ Colorado-Boulder
Colorado State
Cornell
Iowa
Illinois-Urbana Champaign
Michigan
Syracuse
UC Irvine
Washington State (St. Louis)
Wisconsin-Madison
Wyoming
just poetry for all of these:
umass amherst
school of the art institute of chicago
sarah lawrence
emerson
boston university
the new school
san francisco state
cal arts
brown
brooklyn college
nyu
columbia
california college of the arts
syracuse
Genre: Fiction
NYU
Cornell
Johns Hopkins
Iowa
Minnesota
LSU
McNeese St
Ole Miss
Miami
GCSU
Memphis
Virgnia
For fiction:
UCSD
UC-Irvine
U. Wyoming
U. Michigan
SIUC
Syracuse
Ohio State
Bowling Green
Brown
U. South Carolina
U. Florida
Florida State
Arkansas
Arizona State
Purdue
Indiana
Penn State
Washington U.
Minnesota
All in poetry
University of Houston
University of California at Irvine
Purdue
Syracuse
University of Florida
University of Iowa
I'm applying to ten poetry programs:
Michener Center
Virginia Tech
Boise State
Colorado Boulder
Colorado State
Old Dominion
Ole Miss
University of Wyoming
Penn State
Bowling Green State
The application process is taking over my life. My cats sit on my laptop in protest. I had a dream that I went to the hospital for a cat scan and I came upon a butcher's shop on my way to the test. In the butcher's shop were skinned calves, happily blinking. I wanted to rescue one; but I was forced to accept an intact chicken. Thus begin the stress dreams.
Glad to know I'm not the only one who's freaking out these days! This is my final for fiction:
1. Iowa (Writers Workshop)
2. Cornell
3. Indiana
4. Washington U in St. Louis
5. Alabama
6. Virginia (U of)
7. Texas State
8. UNLV
Love this blog! Here is my final poetry list.
Johns Hopkins
Virginia Commonwealth
Western Michigan
Michigan
Iowa
UMass
New School
Columbia College Chicago
I think I posted this a couple of months ago, but I had to drop one school for $$$ reasons. And if I get even poorer (happening as we speak!), I might have to drop one of the last two.
I have 2 done, 8 to go, btw.
For nonfiction:
Iowa
South Carolina
Florida State
Portland State
Penn State
Houston
Arizona
Baltimore
Old Dominion
George Mason
first time posting here. took me three months to narrow this thing down, but here is my list (in poetry)
wisonsin
michigan
cornell
montana
iowa
minnesota
unc greensboro
hollins
virgina
good look everyone!
My final list, for non-fiction:
U of Minnesota
U of Iowa
Pittsburgh
Ohio State
Portland State
Columbia College (Chicago)
Rutgers Camden
American University
Bennington (Low-Res)
Goucher (Low-Res)
FICTION LIST
Univ. of California, Irvine
NYU
Rutgers Univ. (Newark)
Univ. of Iowa
Syracuse Univ.
Univ. of Virginia
Univ. of New Hampshire
Brown Univ.
Multi-Genre:
University of British Columbia
Hollins
Poetry:
University of Minnesota
Vanderbilt
UC-San Diego
San Diego State
American University
Naropa University
San Jose State
Roosevelt University
Mills College
CCA
Notre Dame
fiction:
nyu
brooklyn
hunter
brown
greensboro
u.texas
u.virginia
u.miami
(applying in poetry)
umass, amherst
unc, greensboro
indiana
iowa
penn state
purdue
cornell
oregon
Hmm.
Fiction:
UC Irvine
UT Austin
NYU
Cornell
Syracuse
Iowa
Virginia
Poetry:
Michigan
Columbia
UC Irvine
Iowa
For Poetry:
Arizona
Southern Illinois
Brown
Purdue
Michigan
Indiana
Illinois
Ohio State
UMass
Fiction:
Iowa
Michigan
Hunter
Brown
I know my chance of getting into any of these schools is slim to none but hey, a girl can dream. :)
Can't remember whether I posted before, but here's my final list:
New School (nonfiction)
Hunter (nonfiction/memoir)
Columbia (nonfiction)
Hopkins (MA in medical-science writing)
and probably UNC-Chapel Hill for journalism...
First time posting here. Am applying to 13 schools in fiction:
Minnesota (Twin Cities)
UC San Diego
UC Irvine
Texas
UC Riverside
Iowa
Washington (Seattle)
Miami
UIUC
Michigan
Rutgers-Newark
Cornell
UNLV
After today, I have 4 more apps to submit. Good luck everyone!
Here is my list:
Iowa (duh)
Texas Austin
Texas Houston
Michigan (Ann Arbor)
UW-Madison
Brown
U of Minnesota
U of Montana
U of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign)
-Oscar
Okay. This is for Poetry.
Brown
Michigan
Indiana
UMass(Amherst)
New Hampshire
Cornell
Iowa
Syracuse
Minnesota
Oregon
NYU
Johns Hopkins
This is my second-time around applying. Only 4 of the schools on this list are schools I applied to last year. Let’s hope I have better luck!
In poetry:
Virginia Tech
JHU
Wisconsin
Iowa
Virginia
Illinois
Cornell
Syracuse
Washington, St. Louis
UNLV
Boise State
Oregon
Texas State
Arizona
@anthony
Consider keeping SIUC and LSU--they're later deadlines, so you might have more $$ by the time they roll around in 2011. Plus, either program's funding is well worth the app fee!
Hi,
Here's my, uh, “lucky” 13 for fiction...
1. Rutgers (Newark 0
2. Virginia
3. Cornell
4. Brooklyn College
5. Iowa
6. UNC, Greensboro
7. Syracuse
8. Arizona State
9. LSU
10. UC Irvine
11. Brown
12. Oregon
13. UC San Diego
Oh, I forgot to mention that my genre is poetry.
-Oscar
Here’s my list (applying for poetry):
Iowa
Michener
Iowa State
University of Wisconsin
University of Minnesota
Notre Dame
Boise State
Colorado Boulder
Colorado State
Bowling Green State
UNLV
LSU
Where did I apply?
Nowhere.
I'm a writer without an MFA who's not even applying to MFA programs...but that doesn't mean I don't think about the degree and wonder what kind of writer I'd be with one.
I recently wrote a blog post about my current situation working as a writer without an MFA and the vague sense of anxiety that makes me wonder if I should hurry up and get the degree...or not.
As always, I'm fascinated by reading about other writers' MFA decisions, where they are applying, etc. I wish everyone luck!
Ugh...This whole process has literally consumed my entire fall!
Ok, I will be applying in fiction to the following schools
U of Michigan
U of Iowa
U of Mississippi
McNeese State
U of S. Carolina
U of Memphis
U of Miami
U of Virginia
Cornell
U of New Hamphire
Emerson
Brown
NC State for fiction! That's the only one, so I hope it works out.
@ Anthony,
I'll second Adam's suggestion to keep SIUC and LSU on your lists and that's not just me tooting my own horn. Both programs are well-funded, provide various editorial/ professional development opportunities, and SIUC is just shy of the top 20 in poetry and LSU is just shy of the top 25. Plus, the app fees for those programs isn't bad at all.
(Cont'd @ Anthony re: Poetry list)
Additionally, you'll have a more well-rounded application list in terms of selectivity and funding.
I'm taking the two-genre approach, but would probably go to a good fiction program over a good non-fiction one, all things being equal. Anyone else doing this?
Fiction:
Iowa (Writers Workshp)
Southern Illinois
Indiana
Montana
Kansas
Boise State
Creative non-fiction:
Iowa
Arizona
Minnesota
The New School
This is my final application list...some are already submitted, others about to be finished:
Genre (fiction)
Iowa
University of North Carolina Wilmington
University of Mississippi Oxford
Vanderbilt
UC San Diego
Boston University
University of Virginia
Bowling Green State University
The only Low-Res I am applying to is Warren Wilson
Putting all my hope into these 5 (for fiction):
UCSD
San Diego State
UC Irvine
UNLV
Iowa (my long shot, but figured I had to at least try)
I look at these comments and I'm shocked at how many schools some people are applying to. Good luck to you all, though. Application fees had me limited to three:
San Francisco State (my top choice)
Portland State
San Jose State
I'm applying to these schools in poetry:
University of Florida
Florida State University
Florida International University
Florida Atlantic University
University of South Florida
University of Central Florida
University of Miami
Obviously I'm wanting to stay in Florida. Can't we just all find out already?
~Carly
I'm applying to:
-Minnesota
-Guelph
-Iowa
-Arizona
-New Hampshire
-New School
-Victoria
... All in Nonfiction. I had Columbia on the list but figured it was pointless because, realistically, I won't consider going anywhere if they can't give me funding. I might take New School off the list for the same reason.
Anyone applying to or hear about New Mexico?
fiction:
cornell
hollins
virgnia commonwealth
bowling green
colorado
syracuse
iowa
w.virgnia
virginia
michigan
umass
My fiction workshop prof recommended I apply to between 10 and 15. I'm limited by my husband's relocation options, but I hit eight and feel fairly good about my prospects....
Am I screwing myself by only applying to five programs?
(Fiction)
Hunter
Brooklyn College
NYU
Michener
Unviersity of Florida
The first three are because I should probably stick around here (tho I think any of them would be awesome no matter where I lived). Michener is because I felt like buying 60 lottery tickets. UF is because I felt an almost-mystical pull.
Now, almost done, I finally feel ready to shary this. I am applying to these places in poetry. Good luck all!
Wisconsin, Madison
Michigan, Ann Arbor
Iowa, Iowa City
Arizona State, Tempe
North Carolina, Greensboro
Coloado, Boulder
Virginia, Charlottesville
Cornell, Ithica
Great choices everyone! Best of luck! Either way, keep writing...
Applying to 13 schools for poetry, listed in order of deadline.
Michener
Brown University
Washington University in St. Louis
Cornell University
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Michigan
Syracuse University
Virginia Tech
UNC Greensboro
Purdue University
University of Colorado at Boulder
University of Iowa
Penn State
Man, some of these lists are long! For what it's worht, here's my modest fiction list.
Indiana
Iowa
Johns Hopkins
Cornell
Rutgers Camden
Michigan
Here's my fiction list:
Purdue
Brown
Wash U.
Southern Illinois
Illinois
Notre Dame
Iowa
Ohio State
Indiana
Syracuse
I'm also applying in poetry this application season.
Yikes yikes. No relaxation this upcoming
break. (It is still finals week here). Not that there ever really is
Relaxation over break. Holidays. Sigh sigh.
I'm applying to (or have applied to):
Iowa
U of Wisconsin
U of Minnesota
Ann Arbor
Stegner
Austin
Brown
UVA
John Hopkins
Aiming high or something. I can always re-apply next year. I don't feel a pressure to get in this year.
Best of Luck to All,
Martin
Assuming all of my recommenders come through for me, this is where I'm applying:
Columbia College (Chicago)
West Virginia
Virginia
Va Tech
Penn State
Cornell
Minnesota
Western Michigan
Iowa State
Iowa Writers Workshop
UMass
oops, forgot to mention I'm applying to all these places in poetry.
Fiction:
Brown
U Texas Austin Michener
Syracuse
Cornell
Yes, only four. Shoulda typed out the full university name of each one to make it look like a longer list.
Dave, I have the same concern about recommenders coming through. I absolutely hate that we go through all the work of submitting these applications and then it's completely out of our hands as to whether they end up being incomplete. Why do they even need these letters of recommendation anyway? Does anybody ever give a bad one? The whole exercise seems pointless. Sorry for the off-topic rant, but this has caused me a fair amount of anxiety.
@Michael Adams,
Surprisingly, some rec letters are not good. I used to intern at the Iowa Review, and while reading rec letters for a poetry contest, I came across a fairly hostile one from a student's old professor claiming that said student was an immature writer and had a lot of growing to do, not to mention a bit of a pain in the ass.
Who knows if this is the case for graduate school. I would certainly hope not!
OMG! That's scary...
Amy,
That letter sounds like it would say more about the professor writing the recommendation than the student. Generally, there's an unspoken rule that LORs (for anything) have to "recommend". A teacher/ boss/ co-worker etc. can always turn down someone's request if he/she feels that they cannot contribute anything positive (or at least spin words to sound somewhat positive). With that said, also think long and hard about who you ask to write your letters. Will famous person A that you barely know really write you a good letter vs. a neighborhood workshop leader that has known you for years? Is your recommender reliable? Does your recommender really care about you (and students in general)? Is your recommender professional when he/she needs to be? (translation: we're all writers here and we all know that can translate into some big time drama/ craziness).
11 down, 6 more to go!
Indiana
Iowa
Colorado
Miami
UC San Diego
UC Irvine
Minnesota
Ohio State
Michigan
UVA
Wash U.
Illinois
Brown
Syracuse
Cornel
NYU
Oregon
So...I am not one to write on this type of site, but as I was doing my applications, I used it to procrastinate alot, and it was also helpful with answering some practical questions (thanks..)
AND I just finished sending my apps, and want to do something fun to symbolyze it.
AND there is something cool about sharing here.
All of this to say here I am being a dork and typing the list of schools I applied to. I am a proud dork...
(For Fiction)
Irvine
Iowa Writers' Workshop
Michigan
University of Florida
UVA
Houston
Arizona state University
Syracuse
John Hopkins
I know they are all super competitive, but if I don't get in this year I guess that's better than getting in somewhere I don't really want to go to.
Keep on posting interesting stuff.
!
Oh boy, I have a question. For the others applying to UMich: did you have to send your writing sample early enough so that they received it by Dec 24th since they're closed between the 24th and the 1st? If I sent it after the 24th and I see a "notice" was left at their office on the USPS site, does this mean my application will arrive late and therefore not be considered?
Yes, I just confirmed that I am screwed for Michigan...
Fiction:
UGA
Georgia State
University of South Carolina
North Carolina State
UVA
University of Miami
I'm obviously trying to stay in the South...any other suggestions?
Twin - there are many good programs in the South, including: UF, FSU, Georgia College and State, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, Virginia Tech, Virginia Commonwealth, UNC Greensboro, UNC Wilmington, NC State, McNeese, LSU... deadlines are approaching, though :)
Thanks for the suggestions, Kaybay. I got a late start this year, so I won't beat myself up if it doesn't work out.
Victoria,
Hi, I'm new to the board. I have the same fear as you do about Michigan. May I ask what was on the "notice" that you saw at the office?
And why do you think your application won't be considered? Did you confirm that if a package arrives between Dec 24 and Jan 1 it will definitely not be received?
Sorry, I'm quite worried as well and would appreciate any extra information!
Thank you!
hey, I hope this doesn't sound rude (or hypocritical, since I answered a question here), but questions about deadlines and schools should probably be posted in the mailbag to avoid confusion and clutter :)
Feels good to be done. And now that I just finished my final SOP, I think I have arrived at my best version. Too bad the best one is only going to two schools.
Flower to Pakistan
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