@pensive, I don't know. It's too early to tell. I have family in Charlotte, NC and want to be closer to them so I've applied to 3 programs in NC, 2 in Virginia and Vanderbilt, in addition to USC. It'll depend on whether I get other offers & what the funding is like. But mainly I really just want the right fit.
Can we claim expenses from application fees, transcripts, GRE tests and reports, and mailing costs under the Lifetime Learning or American Opportunity Credit? At IRS.gov, they describe costs covered as "tuition and other qualified expenses," and "qualified expenses" refers to anything required for attendance/study-- and one must supply all required application materials to be admitted and study!
A scandal involving a U of New Mexico creative writing prof was mentioned in mail bag comments a few months ago...apparently the dramz is not over yet!
Judge Faults U. of New Mexico's Handling of Phone-Sex Scandal
@Lucien, that's a really good question. I wonder if you can only claim the school you decide to attend, or all? Any accountants in this joint?
@x, hmmm, inneresting. I didn't apply there but know it's a friend's top pick, tho a phone sex scandal would probably increase his interest in the program, lol.
oof, I hope things get sorted out for them soon. I ended up not applying partly for these reasons. It just seemed like the program was going through too much right now. But it's a good program, I hope it gets it's feet back and can re-group and re-gather its faculty. I know a lot of them either left or are wanting to leave.
I applied to nmsu this year. They were very unhelpful and downright rude during any correspondence relating to the application process--so much in fact that I seriously considered withdrawing my application.
Did any other applicants happen to experience this with them, or was I just lucky?
@Jooksak-- In a word, yes. While not rude, NMSU was unhelpful, to say the least. Not only did they send me a letter with what didn't make to them TWO DAYS before their due date; their response to: "How do I get it there in time?" Was: "Overnight it." Yeah, it'd work really well if it wasn't 7 pm Eastern Time, after all the post offices closed. After some (polite) wheedling, they admitted that the due date was a POSTMARK date, so I did not need to overnight it. Oh, and does it even mention that you have to send in a teaching statement to get a TA position on the website? I don't know, maybe I just overlooked it.
Yeah, I had problems with NMSU as well. They have a requirement for all international transcripts to be evaluated by a foreign credential evaluation company (which charge a minimum of $125 for the service). Though the requirement applies to study abroad classes as well, the graduate school only lists it as a requirement in the International student section, so I didn't find out about it until after I had submitted everything else. Frustrating.
I didn't apply to New Mexico or New Mexico State, but if scandals like these make it harder to build a warm, creative, S&M-friendly relationship with program faculty I may have to reconsider the whole MFA thing.
WOW! Your situation is so exact to mine that I almost thought I wrote it! Haha.
But yeah, same story with me. I was fuming, especially since I had completed the application well more than a month prior to the deadline.
And no, it certainly does not say anything about a teaching statement anywhere, excepting a request for the recommenders to speak to your teaching ability. It's really frustrating to be forced to spend 20 bucks to overnight one piece of paper for something they do not even tell you they need.
When I emailed them about it they simply copy/pasted the MFA application guidelines in the body of the email and sent it to me. Further correspondence barely got complete sentence responses out of them. I asked them if I could email it (since, after all, it was their mistake) and they declined without even an apology.
Sorry to vent. I just expect more from a professional institution. Those universities I'm applying to who easily receive double or triple the number of applicants as NMSU have been MUCH more gracious and attentive.
I've heard that one should judge a program on the basis of how they treat an applicant during the admission process. I hope that's not entirely true, for their sake and ours!
Jooksak-- Indeed, it is not a good sign. I almost did not send it or anything to them, but the good people at the MFA Draft facebook group kept on my case on ideas, and I realized it was a waste of money and effort not to at least give myself a chance. Who knows though... if we both get into NMSU, maybe we could create a friendly-current-student-MFA-applicant-relay and solve it ourselves. :).
There were a couple UMass fiction acceptances posted on TSE last night. Not sure when in the day the calls actually came in.
Curious if there have been any other acceptances to UMass, particularly in Poetry. And for those of you have heard, have you been given TAship interviews?
Anyone know what it takes to comment on the Facebook page? I had a realllllly insightful comment to post about how my confidence is dying a horrible, painful death while my neuroses grow fat on doubt and fear. I'm sure everyone would've been just gasping to read it...but then I couldn't post. So sad.
@Alison: Are you a member of the group? If not, just search MFA Draft '11 on facebook and ask Loren to add you. :-)
@Lucien: Great tax question! I asked my sister, who's an accountant (apparently it's not contagious, eh?), and she said that application fees can't be written off, but once you're actually in a program you can go crazy and write off the whole world. Er. Well. Not exactly her phrasing, but the sentiment was there.
"In Creative-Writing Ph.D. Programs, Scholarly Rigor and Muses Try to Coexist By Jennifer Howard Washington In the United States, creative writers who hope to get an academic teaching job usually go for a master's degree in fine arts. In Britain and Australia, however, they're far more likely to seek a Ph.D. in creative writing. Because those degrees usually require a dissertation with critical research as well as creative work like a novel or a collection of poems, they may better equip writers to work alongside scholars. The doctoral degrees, however, also pose particular challenges for..."
I am a member (or at least I think am--I remember a "you got added to this group" email). Oh well. Maybe it's for the best that I'm not posting all over the internet about how much I'm freaking out.
Anyone heard anything from Indiana's poetry acceptances yet? My phone's delightful ringtone has been giving me the cold shoulder this long, long week...
yup, what Katie said. Here's the link to Seth's blog: http://sethabramson.blogspot.com/2011/01/2011-cw-mamfaphd-application-responses.html
Also, one of the acceptees informed us that UMass is scheduling TA interviews for next week.
I haven't heard of any poets yet, not sure if it's because they haven't been notified or because it's none of us. In the past poets have always been notified before fiction folk, but the chances are there would be at least one between facebook, this blog, TSE, and the speakeasy. So I'm holding out hope. Maybe they'll notify today??
Yeah, Wyoming told me, too, that they received a record number of applications. Was anyone else slightly irked by their app process? I asked my recommenders to mail theirs in, but UWYO claimed not to have received any. As a result, I had to ask my recommenders to email the letters over again...it was an irksome process, and not the only one. I just hope all of it pays off, literally, "literarily", and otherwise. Still waiting on a financial package from Chatham, if such a thing might come at all.
@Eric - I guess I lucked out. Wyoming didn't seem to have any problems with my paper letters. Of course, their online status check hasn't updated once since I submitted my application so according to the site they're still waiting on one transcript and my GRE scores, even though I know they've received both. My sense is that they've been a tad overwhelmed by the volume this year.
I'm going to be awfully jealous in three or four years when there's a single centralized application process for all schools and applicants can skip all of the nonsense....
If they do, they should model it after IU's new system. Perfectly streamlined 4 pager with boxes to upload personal statement, teaching statement, and writing sample. Beautiful!
You know what's a great application? NYU. You can upload everything--including transcripts, because they don't need the official ones unless they admit you. That should be the model for everyone.
I dunno if this will help anyone but two days ago I said on the Facebook group that Iowa's website said they hadn't received my undergrad transcript. I emailed them to check, and they said "We would not require it unless you are offered admission."
Vandy's website says it hasn't received my GRE scores from ETS, but they also sent me an email long ago saying "We are not able to confirm receipt of your specific application materials. Due to the large volume of mail we receive at this time of year, we simply cannot check on the receipt of specific items." So I think emailing them to ask will be in vain? =/
I'm not sure the best way to contact you/the staff of the MFA Blog, but I'd like to suggest a thread where former MFA students and students in this cycle could offer "Good Questions to Ask a Program Once Accepted." I was fortunate enough to be accepted and each professor that has emailed me has offered his or her service for answering my questions... but I have no idea what I should even be asking.
I guess the Mailbag thread is just as good for this, but it might be nice to consolidate this on its own page?
Thank you, Karissa. I heard a rumor that the George Mason University plans to notify accepted applicants within the week. Checking to see if any favorites had been called.
@Norman - I haven't heard from Illinois yet, & as far as I know, nobody else has either. (at least, I assume if they had started notifying, somebody would have posted about it, esp. given how many Alabama spots we heard about.) It's next on my list to notify, though, & they notified Feb. 3rd last year, so I expect they'll start making calls any day now.
It's been brought to my attention that someone was asking for this. I compiled this list of "QUESTIONS TO ASK IF ACCEPTED" from the Creative Writing MFA Handbook, and from my own noggin. Feel free to add questions or disregard others.
It has ALSO been brought to my attention that the person likely making the acceptance call will be a faculty member, with limited answers. If that is the case, don't bombard them with these questions; just make sure you get contact info for someone at the program or department that you can later call or email back for details...
• "Communicate your enthusiasm and also your desire to take time making your decision. Assure the faculty member that you will deliver your decision as soon as you know..." • Make sure you have a contact person and phone/email going forward • What is my offer: o Total funding package? Are those grants, fellowships, etc? o For all years, or just first year? o Teaching requirements? o Health benefits? o How/when are monies dispersed? o Other obligations of the funding? • Student contact info, if not listed online • How many accepted this year? How many applied? • Study abroad opportunities/funding for research? • Classes/orientation begin when? o When do I need to be on campus? o Teacher training/orientation? • Campus visits: o Designated days? Best time? o Sit in on classes? Meet faculty? • Housing: o Is there grad student housing available? o Other resources or assistance? o Neighborhoods to google? • Spouse: o Covered on my student plan? (if there is one) o Job-finding assistance? • When do you need my decision? • Who are the visiting authors/faculty next year, in fiction? • Is there a way to contact others in my incoming cohort? Will it be posted anywhere? • Are there any cool, quirky, intangible features of the program that cannot be communicated on the website?
I called Western MI University. Lucking the secretary, Bethlynn, is the sweetest woman ever and told me that the department would probably begin notifying for fiction after the 16th of this month.
@Blob, can we honestly say that UMass is finished and that all acceptances have gone out? To my knowledge only 1 poet has been accepted (month2month and sadeyedlady are the same person), and 2-3 fiction people. Or has an insider come out and said that the program has finished with acceptances?
@Blob. Darn it! My first assumed rejection of the season, and not an acceptance in sight. Now, where did I put that giant bag of gummy bears? I have a sadness that can only be alleviated with carnuba wax.
That sucks. I didn't apply there but, Dean Young is really sick...if you applied in poetry...I don't even know who's heading the program in his place. But, it's a tough program to get into with their level of funding. Good luck with the other 12!!
received the Michener rejection as well, in poetry. note to others who applied to Michener: last year rejections came in rounds that started in early Feb and lasted through March. I was rejected in what seems to be the first round this year, and what seemed to be one of the last rounds last year with a dramatically weaker application.
all that is to say: this time of year tends to breed a strong desire for interpreting every action and everyone else's information in pretty radical ways. from my very stressful application last year, I suggest limiting your time on sites like these – they are great for info, but awful for the emotions.
Jacqueline - didn't see your comment! I have been accepted to OSU, and softly (i think?) to Colorado State.
me too for UT. I appreciate that they're being direct about rejections and not making us wait and wonder. Even though it's just a status change. I'm glad they made it so that everyone would know right away.
Poetry is a dangerous field full of disappointments and trials. Persevere, all! Anyway, it's just about which teachers want to work with which students. Hopefully we'll all find the right place.
Anyway, Texas is balls hot from May to September. Blah.
Me too about Michener. I also received the e-mail and appreciate the timeliness, but I would have liked to have received something more professional/personal/not cold than a "please check your application status" e-mail. Sadness.
Sorry to hear about Michener rejection notices. Also, just wondering - does the fact that two acceptances have been posted on the Application Responses for WashU mean that all acceptances have gone out? Because then that's my first rejection.
In other news, I came home today to find a letter from CCA at my doorstep. Nervousness and horror and several paper cuts later, I found myself standing in my room, reading:
"A first rate college education is one investment you can be confident in. Studying at CCA equips you to succeed in today's complex world to work collaboratively, to think critically, and to address creatively the problems of today and tomorrow..."
Which was followed by five paragraphs in the same vein. I'm still sitting here trying to perform the "calm-self-now" procedure, with no great success. >___>;;;;
@Tim DeMay: I'm curious why you *think* you were accepted to CSU? Congrats if you are, but I was told by the program that no CSU responses would be out until the first week of March.
Sorry to everyone who received Michener Rejections.
@Akatsuki I didn't apply to CCA, so I didn't get that letter. But I know the feeling. I've gotten 3 letters from different programs (Miami, Oregon and Bowling Green) that were just we have received all your documents or we have received your application, thanks bro! type e-mails/letters. I know they don't mean anything, but I still have to read them multiple times to feel less anxious.
Looks like both a poetry and fiction acceptance were posted for Feb. 8th, so I wonder if its safe to assume that they've all gone out? I'm thinking probably.
@Sarena - i might very well be speaking too soon... basically, I received a 'good news call' from a professor who needed me to resubmit the fellowship application, but who also talked a bit about my application at large. i imagine no actual acceptances have gone out yet, sorry for the premature post.
That's still good information! Like someone said, this process is being completely unpredictable...so any info about what profs do would probably interest somebody.
After the drawn-out, two-month torment of 9-for-9 rejections in 2010, I promised myself I wouldn't visit the MFA Blog this time until I received good news from at least one school.
And... hallelujah! I'm accepted at Wash-U!
Received an e-mail from the Director last night. I'm obviously elated.
@ Akatsuki (or anyone) - where did you see these "Application Responses for Wash-U"? Is there another place (besides here) that I should be monitoring for news about school-notifying activity???
In anxious anticipation, I was just looking over the guidelines for the San Francisco State application again and noticed that it said they (the English department) would send me a letter of receipt. I never got one, though. I know I'm OK with the actual Graduate Studies office, but should I be worried about the English department now? What if they didn't get my submission?
That's fantastic news! I'm already feeling like, although my writing is better than it has ever been, I kinda blew it this year by not being quite good enough, and I'm already planning on reapplying. Your reapplication success story is super inspiring! (Wash U would be one of my top five choices.)
Also, to anyone else who applied to WashU, I checked with Kathy Schneider and she said: "Kindly be patient. Letters to all applicants are going out within the next few days. best, kathy s"
It's so nice of you to say that, and wonderful to hear, if for no other reason than the same inspiration was given to me by some plucky repeat-applicants last year. At the time I could hardly believe their tenacity.
One guy in particular, dubbed "phillywriter," was applying for the second time, this time to 24 schools(!), after having made significant preparations and improvements over the course of the year -- even got a story published. He nearly got rejected across the board (again!), but vowed he would apply the following year if necessary. I was blown away, and felt like such a wimp for thinking I might not try again.
Then on the evening of April 15th, I shit you not, he got a call from LSU saying he'd been picked up off their wait-list.
It was more uplifting than watching Rocky go the distance with Creed.
Thank you, Ink and Beans. Except now I look like I'm psychic because I commented on Rocky before you did :D I can handle psychic. Crazy, hmmm, not so much. But psychic, yes.
I'm good! I remember Phillywriter, by the way. That was a cool story.
I'm just a waitin' right now. Only school of mine notifying is Ohio State, but I'm only hoping for a wait list spot at this point. Waitlists will notified soon, methinks.
looking to ease anxieties here & in conversations w/folks @awp: rumor has it that wyo is going to start making calls (at the earliest) next week. between record applicants & their app reading process (really intensive for faculty) they're notifying later than they'd like. its a great program -- best of luck to everyone!
Michener applicants: Do any of you have a status that just says, "We've received all the items..."? Mine doesn't say anything about being forwarded for review. I see that some rejections have gone out, and I wonder if my application is just being held up. Thoughts?
Michener rejects in batches and in rounds. It's possible they either haven't read your sample yet or that they have read it and it has passed on through the first round.
me too! For fiction. I didn't expect to get in, but it sucks to have one less possibility out there. Oh well. As my dad keeps saying to me, all it takes is one.
@Dylan, thanks for the response. It is some relief to know that I'm not the only one who didn't receive a letter from SFSU. Perhaps this is a result of all the CSU cuts.
This is a bit out of the blue (if anything can be considered such in the mailbag), but I wanted to pose a simple question:
What programs have y'all applied to that have been considerably friendly, courteous, or attentive to individual applicants during the application process?
I have had particularly friendly correspondence with BGSU, GCSU, and UC Irvine. They really seem to care about their applicants and strive to make sure their applications are complete.
This is, of course, also an invitation to get stuff off your chest regarding bad application experiences, but in light of all the anxieties we are experiencing right now, it wouldn't hurt to throw around some positivity in any shape or form. :)
good question. I've gotten a really good vibe from Wyoming and from Illinois-Urbana. Also, Memphis. All these places quickly and kindly answered all of my questions.
Jooksak - I thought Syracuse, Notre Dame, and Iowa were extremely helpful/prompt/nice/etc. Also, South Carolina. I got a quick, personal response from them, and they handled a mishap with my GRE scores very well.
@Jooksak: I spoke with Amy Fleury from McNeese about a problem with my application, and she was extremely charming and helpful. Definitely left me with a great impression about the friendliness of the program and the care with which they treat students.
I've also spoken to a few people at Alabama, and am consistently delighted by their warmth.
I haven't interacted with people at all 14 of my schools. But from the programs I have had to deal with the two that really stood out to me are UT-Austin's Michener center and Wisconsin. Both were available, friendly, reassuring, kind, and actually managed to make me laugh and smile about silly things going on. UT's staffer was very transparent about their process and went out of her way to make sure all my questions were answered and concerns alleviated. At Wisconsin, they went out of their way to make sure my application was complete and all my questions were answered. I was contacted by the director early when they noticed that a part of my online application wasn't coming through correctly. They also had a wonderful sense of humor about me accidentally putting my birth year as 1885 (oops).
Bethlynn at Western Michigan University is the sweetest! I might send her a thank-you letter regardless of how this all turns out. I called to ask her a few questions a while back and she told me I could literally call her as many times as I needed because she didn't want me "starving to death from worry."
Apparently I'm not as anxious as some other applicants?
Well, out of the 8 schools I've applied to - I think I can safely assumed I've not been accepted to one, probably not wait-listed either. So it's down to 7.
Is it worth it to update the programs you are applying to of new publication credits? They are not big name journals or anything. Would they really care?
No, don't send it to them. Most schools don't care if you have been published, and you wouldn't want to bother them to add that information to your file. Now, if you won a major prize, that might make a bit of difference, but not a publication or two.
Same thing happened to me last year. I got a review acceptance about two weeks after my apps went out. I sent an e-mail to the programs I'd applied to. It didn't seem like a big deal, and all but one of them said they'd add a note in my file (whether that actually happened, I don't know). Basically, I decided it wouldn't hurt, and the story was part of my submitted manuscript. Then again, all I got last year was a spot on one waiting list and nine rejections, for whatever that's worth.
Ah... rejoining the fray now that schools have begun to notify. I'm assuming everyone had a nice christmas and new year and all that jazz.
So. I'm pretty sure Iowa's gonna come calling this weeked or the next notifying me of my acceptance (cause they wouldn't dare reject me), complete with choice of fellowship (TA or journal assistant, you know, whatevs-- as long as I grace them with my presence) and perhaps an apartment lined up, fully furnished, refrigerator stocked, you know, that sort of thing. I'd also accept a cute girlfriend with vast literary knowledge, but hey, I'm not picky.
So... just waitin for the call. What you guys up to?
Also, UCI just told me that they received my fafsa. Like with Iowa State, they way the emails (yes I received 2 emails about my financial aid from UCI) are worded suggest I've been accepted. Still no actual word whether or not I've been accepted, though. Should I consider this a good thing?
Right now I'm thinking it might just be a slow burn cosmic joke at my expense.
someone posted somewhere that, due to record number of apps, Wyoming won't be sending acceptances until next week at the earliest; I'm waiting to hear from them, too.
I don't know if anyone's checking this thread at this point, but just wanted to let people (and Seth for the SE blog's purposes) know that Cornell accepted me yesterday afternoon. Good luck, all.
No publications to my name. Nontraditional (read: old) undergrad. Some experience screenwriting, though that's not very germane to the program, I don't think. My impression from talking to the very nice woman that called was that it really is a 100 percent writing sample based decision, fwiw.
Huh, that's really cool. I have a tremendous amount of respect for that program. I just didn't apply because it seemed like such a long-shot ($80 was too big a gamble for me). That's really cool, though, that a program like that doesn't care about where you went to school or what your publication record is. It should be that way, you know!
I have not heard from Iowa or Michigan. Erin, I have no way of knowing if they've contacted the other three, but I do get the sense that it's a pretty involved and personal process there so I'd say it's possible they're still working on it, just imo.
@Anti- I would guess McNeese is still going to be at least a few days, since their "priority is given to applications by Feb. 11th" deadline just passed. Last year it looks like they sent out acceptances as early as Feb. 15th, though, so pretty soon it sounds like.
For the rest of your schools, I really don't know...
346 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 346 of 346@pensive, I don't know. It's too early to tell. I have family in Charlotte, NC and want to be closer to them so I've applied to 3 programs in NC, 2 in Virginia and Vanderbilt, in addition to USC. It'll depend on whether I get other offers & what the funding is like. But mainly I really just want the right fit.
I got into Ohio State and Indiana so far! I'm new here! Hiii
Hi Gi...That's awesome! What's your genre?
Thank you Jessica! Fiction!
@Jessica: Also ignore the fact that my name before was Gi. I have no idea why I had that
Hey Elle! I got into Indy too! It's possible we may go there together! How exciting!
Courtney I'm pretty sure I messaged you on facebook! How awesome. Congrats to you.
Question about tax returns and graduate school...
Can we claim expenses from application fees, transcripts, GRE tests and reports, and mailing costs under the Lifetime Learning or American Opportunity Credit? At IRS.gov, they describe costs covered as "tuition and other qualified expenses," and "qualified expenses" refers to anything required for attendance/study-- and one must supply all required application materials to be admitted and study!
What do you think? Thanks!!
A scandal involving a U of New Mexico creative writing prof was mentioned in mail bag comments a few months ago...apparently the dramz is not over yet!
Judge Faults U. of New Mexico's Handling of Phone-Sex Scandal
http://chronicle.com/article/Judge-Faults-U-of-New/126196/
@Lucien, that's a really good question. I wonder if you can only claim the school you decide to attend, or all? Any accountants in this joint?
@x, hmmm, inneresting. I didn't apply there but know it's a friend's top pick, tho a phone sex scandal would probably increase his interest in the program, lol.
@X
oof, I hope things get sorted out for them soon. I ended up not applying partly for these reasons. It just seemed like the program was going through too much right now. But it's a good program, I hope it gets it's feet back and can re-group and re-gather its faculty. I know a lot of them either left or are wanting to leave.
I applied to nmsu this year. They were very unhelpful and downright rude during any correspondence relating to the application process--so much in fact that I seriously considered withdrawing my application.
Did any other applicants happen to experience this with them, or was I just lucky?
Ah, just realized you guys were talking about u of nm. Well, regardless, I've been meaning to ask the question anyway.
@Jooksak-- In a word, yes. While not rude, NMSU was unhelpful, to say the least. Not only did they send me a letter with what didn't make to them TWO DAYS before their due date; their response to: "How do I get it there in time?" Was: "Overnight it." Yeah, it'd work really well if it wasn't 7 pm Eastern Time, after all the post offices closed. After some (polite) wheedling, they admitted that the due date was a POSTMARK date, so I did not need to overnight it. Oh, and does it even mention that you have to send in a teaching statement to get a TA position on the website? I don't know, maybe I just overlooked it.
So yeah, I feel you.
@Jooksak and Gena,
Yeah, I had problems with NMSU as well. They have a requirement for all international transcripts to be evaluated by a foreign credential evaluation company (which charge a minimum of $125 for the service). Though the requirement applies to study abroad classes as well, the graduate school only lists it as a requirement in the International student section, so I didn't find out about it until after I had submitted everything else. Frustrating.
I didn't apply to New Mexico or New Mexico State, but if scandals like these make it harder to build a warm, creative, S&M-friendly relationship with program faculty I may have to reconsider the whole MFA thing.
@Gena
WOW! Your situation is so exact to mine that I almost thought I wrote it! Haha.
But yeah, same story with me. I was fuming, especially since I had completed the application well more than a month prior to the deadline.
And no, it certainly does not say anything about a teaching statement anywhere, excepting a request for the recommenders to speak to your teaching ability. It's really frustrating to be forced to spend 20 bucks to overnight one piece of paper for something they do not even tell you they need.
When I emailed them about it they simply copy/pasted the MFA application guidelines in the body of the email and sent it to me. Further correspondence barely got complete sentence responses out of them. I asked them if I could email it (since, after all, it was their mistake) and they declined without even an apology.
Sorry to vent. I just expect more from a professional institution. Those universities I'm applying to who easily receive double or triple the number of applicants as NMSU have been MUCH more gracious and attentive.
I've heard that one should judge a program on the basis of how they treat an applicant during the admission process. I hope that's not entirely true, for their sake and ours!
Jooksak-- Indeed, it is not a good sign. I almost did not send it or anything to them, but the good people at the MFA Draft facebook group kept on my case on ideas, and I realized it was a waste of money and effort not to at least give myself a chance. Who knows though... if we both get into NMSU, maybe we could create a friendly-current-student-MFA-applicant-relay and solve it ourselves. :).
There were a couple UMass fiction acceptances posted on TSE last night. Not sure when in the day the calls actually came in.
Curious if there have been any other acceptances to UMass, particularly in Poetry. And for those of you have heard, have you been given TAship interviews?
Anyone know what it takes to comment on the Facebook page? I had a realllllly insightful comment to post about how my confidence is dying a horrible, painful death while my neuroses grow fat on doubt and fear. I'm sure everyone would've been just gasping to read it...but then I couldn't post. So sad.
@Alison: Are you a member of the group? If not, just search MFA Draft '11 on facebook and ask Loren to add you. :-)
@Lucien: Great tax question! I asked my sister, who's an accountant (apparently it's not contagious, eh?), and she said that application fees can't be written off, but once you're actually in a program you can go crazy and write off the whole world. Er. Well. Not exactly her phrasing, but the sentiment was there.
Anyone have access to this?
http://chronicle.com/article/In-Creative-Writing-PhD/126252/
"In Creative-Writing Ph.D. Programs, Scholarly Rigor and Muses Try to Coexist
By Jennifer Howard
Washington
In the United States, creative writers who hope to get an academic teaching job usually go for a master's degree in fine arts. In Britain and Australia, however, they're far more likely to seek a Ph.D. in creative writing. Because those degrees usually require a dissertation with critical research as well as creative work like a novel or a collection of poems, they may better equip writers to work alongside scholars. The doctoral degrees, however, also pose particular challenges for..."
@Kat
I am a member (or at least I think am--I remember a "you got added to this group" email). Oh well. Maybe it's for the best that I'm not posting all over the internet about how much I'm freaking out.
Hi, I have been a lurker now and then, just wanted to say hi. I'm in to Ohio State and waiting to hear from some other schools. Good luck to all!
Anyone heard anything from Indiana's poetry acceptances yet? My phone's delightful ringtone has been giving me the cold shoulder this long, long week...
@Blob
where are these amherst fiction acceptance posts you speak of??
@callastem: Two on Suburban Ecstasies and one on P&W Speakeasy.
@callestem
yup, what Katie said. Here's the link to Seth's blog:
http://sethabramson.blogspot.com/2011/01/2011-cw-mamfaphd-application-responses.html
Also, one of the acceptees informed us that UMass is scheduling TA interviews for next week.
I haven't heard of any poets yet, not sure if it's because they haven't been notified or because it's none of us. In the past poets have always been notified before fiction folk, but the chances are there would be at least one between facebook, this blog, TSE, and the speakeasy. So I'm holding out hope. Maybe they'll notify today??
Yeah, Wyoming told me, too, that they received a record number of applications. Was anyone else slightly irked by their app process? I asked my recommenders to mail theirs in, but UWYO claimed not to have received any. As a result, I had to ask my recommenders to email the letters over again...it was an irksome process, and not the only one. I just hope all of it pays off, literally, "literarily", and otherwise. Still waiting on a financial package from Chatham, if such a thing might come at all.
Congrats, Julie29 on your acceptance to Ohio State.
@Eric - I guess I lucked out. Wyoming didn't seem to have any problems with my paper letters. Of course, their online status check hasn't updated once since I submitted my application so according to the site they're still waiting on one transcript and my GRE scores, even though I know they've received both. My sense is that they've been a tad overwhelmed by the volume this year.
I'm going to be awfully jealous in three or four years when there's a single centralized application process for all schools and applicants can skip all of the nonsense....
Congrats on Chatham, btw.
If they do, they should model it after IU's new system. Perfectly streamlined 4 pager with boxes to upload personal statement, teaching statement, and writing sample. Beautiful!
You know what's a great application? NYU. You can upload everything--including transcripts, because they don't need the official ones unless they admit you. That should be the model for everyone.
@Julie29
Congrats on the OSU acceptance! I'm a current 1st-year MFAer at OSU. Feel free to email me if you have any questions about OSU, Columbus, etc.
My email:
michael[dot]marberry[at]gmail[dot]com
@Michael Marberry
Thanks!
What's the FB group you guys are talking about?
http://www.facebook.com/#!/home.php?sk=group_111211268949325&ap=1
I dunno if this will help anyone but two days ago I said on the Facebook group that Iowa's website said they hadn't received my undergrad transcript. I emailed them to check, and they said "We would not require it unless you are offered admission."
Vandy's website says it hasn't received my GRE scores from ETS, but they also sent me an email long ago saying "We are not able to confirm receipt of your specific application materials. Due to the large volume of mail we receive at this time of year, we simply cannot check on the receipt of specific items." So I think emailing them to ask will be in vain? =/
Hi Seth -
I'm not sure the best way to contact you/the staff of the MFA Blog, but I'd like to suggest a thread where former MFA students and students in this cycle could offer "Good Questions to Ask a Program Once Accepted." I was fortunate enough to be accepted and each professor that has emailed me has offered his or her service for answering my questions... but I have no idea what I should even be asking.
I guess the Mailbag thread is just as good for this, but it might be nice to consolidate this on its own page?
@Tim DeMay
There's a similar doc on the FB group. I'll ask the creator if he'd like to repost it here. ^^
Tim! Where did you get accepted? Any idea where you're going?
To my fellow M.F.A. Applicants,
Have any of you stunning people received news thus far from The U of Illinois, The U of Wyoming or The George Mason U?
@Norman
I know that GMU hasn't starting notifying yet. Beyond that, I'm not much help!
Thank you, Karissa. I heard a rumor that the George Mason University plans to notify accepted applicants within the week. Checking to see if any favorites had been called.
@Norman - I haven't heard from Illinois yet, & as far as I know, nobody else has either. (at least, I assume if they had started notifying, somebody would have posted about it, esp. given how many Alabama spots we heard about.) It's next on my list to notify, though, & they notified Feb. 3rd last year, so I expect they'll start making calls any day now.
Mercedes, thanks. I do hope someone who frequents these blogs receives word from IL soon.
Hello!
Does anyone have any idea if Iowa has begun to notify?
Thank you!
@Louise
Doubtful. Last year the first fiction notification was on Feb. 19th.
It's been brought to my attention that someone was asking for this. I compiled this list of "QUESTIONS TO ASK IF ACCEPTED" from the Creative Writing MFA Handbook, and from my own noggin. Feel free to add questions or disregard others.
It has ALSO been brought to my attention that the person likely making the acceptance call will be a faculty member, with limited answers. If that is the case, don't bombard them with these questions; just make sure you get contact info for someone at the program or department that you can later call or email back for details...
• "Communicate your enthusiasm and also your desire to take time making your decision. Assure the faculty member that you will deliver your decision as soon as you know..."
• Make sure you have a contact person and phone/email going forward
• What is my offer:
o Total funding package? Are those grants, fellowships, etc?
o For all years, or just first year?
o Teaching requirements?
o Health benefits?
o How/when are monies dispersed?
o Other obligations of the funding?
• Student contact info, if not listed online
• How many accepted this year? How many applied?
• Study abroad opportunities/funding for research?
• Classes/orientation begin when?
o When do I need to be on campus?
o Teacher training/orientation?
• Campus visits:
o Designated days? Best time?
o Sit in on classes? Meet faculty?
• Housing:
o Is there grad student housing available?
o Other resources or assistance?
o Neighborhoods to google?
• Spouse:
o Covered on my student plan? (if there is one)
o Job-finding assistance?
• When do you need my decision?
• Who are the visiting authors/faculty next year, in fiction?
• Is there a way to contact others in my incoming cohort? Will it be posted anywhere?
• Are there any cool, quirky, intangible features of the program that cannot be communicated on the website?
I couldn't stand it anymore...
I called Western MI University. Lucking the secretary, Bethlynn, is the sweetest woman ever and told me that the department would probably begin notifying for fiction after the 16th of this month.
So there we go.
Just FYI for everyone, it seems like all UMass acceptances have gone out.
Don't know about a wait-list.
Good luck to all the other hopefuls out there still waiting for an acceptance.
@ZakNelson
Thanks for posting the questions here. They're really, really useful.
(Hopefully, if I get in, I'll remember to ask at least some of them)
Also: subscribing.
(Sorry about the double-post)
@Blob, can we honestly say that UMass is finished and that all acceptances have gone out? To my knowledge only 1 poet has been accepted (month2month and sadeyedlady are the same person), and 2-3 fiction people. Or has an insider come out and said that the program has finished with acceptances?
@minnow
One of the acceptees asked. But no news on waitlists yet. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a wait list so I can sort of keep the hope the alive.
@Blob. Darn it! My first assumed rejection of the season, and not an acceptance in sight. Now, where did I put that giant bag of gummy bears? I have a sadness that can only be alleviated with carnuba wax.
You're welcome M.M. Cheers, and good luck.
I just received an email rejection from Michener. I applied in poetry.
12 more to go.
@ Master
Holy cow! I didn't expect to hear back from them until March...
Well, that'll be a relief. Sort of.
@master of none,
That sucks. I didn't apply there but, Dean Young is really sick...if you applied in poetry...I don't even know who's heading the program in his place. But, it's a tough program to get into with their level of funding. Good luck with the other 12!!
Also heard back from Michener. Also applied for poetry. Also was rejected.
add me to the list of tonight's rejectees from michener.
received the Michener rejection as well, in poetry. note to others who applied to Michener: last year rejections came in rounds that started in early Feb and lasted through March. I was rejected in what seems to be the first round this year, and what seemed to be one of the last rounds last year with a dramatically weaker application.
all that is to say: this time of year tends to breed a strong desire for interpreting every action and everyone else's information in pretty radical ways. from my very stressful application last year, I suggest limiting your time on sites like these – they are great for info, but awful for the emotions.
Jacqueline - didn't see your comment! I have been accepted to OSU, and softly (i think?) to Colorado State.
me too for UT. I appreciate that they're being direct about rejections and not making us wait and wonder. Even though it's just a status change. I'm glad they made it so that everyone would know right away.
Poetry is a dangerous field full of disappointments and trials. Persevere, all! Anyway, it's just about which teachers want to work with which students. Hopefully we'll all find the right place.
Anyway, Texas is balls hot from May to September. Blah.
Me too about Michener. I also received the e-mail and appreciate the timeliness, but I would have liked to have received something more professional/personal/not cold than a "please check your application status" e-mail. Sadness.
Sorry about the Michener rejections guys. Were you all for poetry? I applied to UT Austin, but under the fiction banner.
Sorry to hear about Michener rejection notices. Also, just wondering - does the fact that two acceptances have been posted on the Application Responses for WashU mean that all acceptances have gone out? Because then that's my first rejection.
In other news, I came home today to find a letter from CCA at my doorstep. Nervousness and horror and several paper cuts later, I found myself standing in my room, reading:
"A first rate college education is one investment you can be confident in. Studying at CCA equips you to succeed in today's complex world to work collaboratively, to think critically, and to address creatively the problems of today and tomorrow..."
Which was followed by five paragraphs in the same vein. I'm still sitting here trying to perform the "calm-self-now" procedure, with no great success. >___>;;;;
@Tim DeMay: I'm curious why you *think* you were accepted to CSU? Congrats if you are, but I was told by the program that no CSU responses would be out until the first week of March.
Sorry to everyone who received Michener Rejections.
@Akatsuki I didn't apply to CCA, so I didn't get that letter. But I know the feeling. I've gotten 3 letters from different programs (Miami, Oregon and Bowling Green) that were just we have received all your documents or we have received your application, thanks bro! type e-mails/letters. I know they don't mean anything, but I still have to read them multiple times to feel less anxious.
Looks like both a poetry and fiction acceptance were posted for Feb. 8th, so I wonder if its safe to assume that they've all gone out? I'm thinking probably.
@Sarena - i might very well be speaking too soon... basically, I received a 'good news call' from a professor who needed me to resubmit the fellowship application, but who also talked a bit about my application at large. i imagine no actual acceptances have gone out yet, sorry for the premature post.
@Tim
That's still good information! Like someone said, this process is being completely unpredictable...so any info about what profs do would probably interest somebody.
@Tim- Nice! I would definitely take that as a good sign.
Hello, literary brothers and sisters.
After the drawn-out, two-month torment of 9-for-9 rejections in 2010, I promised myself I wouldn't visit the MFA Blog this time until I received good news from at least one school.
And... hallelujah! I'm accepted at Wash-U!
Received an e-mail from the Director last night. I'm obviously elated.
@ Akatsuki (or anyone) - where did you see these "Application Responses for Wash-U"? Is there another place (besides here) that I should be monitoring for news about school-notifying activity???
@ink and beans.
Bravo. Congrats for sticking with it and getting it done.
For posterity, my list follows thus:
Wash-U. (accepted)
UT-Austin
Illinois-U-C
Brown
Cornell
UVA
Michigan
Syracuse
Johns Hopkins
U. Florida
Indiana U.
Vanderbilt
Louisiana U.
Iowa
Congratulations, Ink and Beans! That's a great program.
congrats, Ink and Beans. P&w and Seth Abramson's blog both often times post acceptances (to answer your question).
Oops, I see the Application Responses page on Seth's blog now. Please disregard former question. ;)
@Ink and Beans: There is also a Facebook group called MFA Draft '11 and I've seen more acceptances and rejections posted there than anywhere else.
In anxious anticipation, I was just looking over the guidelines for the San Francisco State application again and noticed that it said they (the English department) would send me a letter of receipt. I never got one, though. I know I'm OK with the actual Graduate Studies office, but should I be worried about the English department now? What if they didn't get my submission?
@Ink and Beans
That's fantastic news! I'm already feeling like, although my writing is better than it has ever been, I kinda blew it this year by not being quite good enough, and I'm already planning on reapplying. Your reapplication success story is super inspiring! (Wash U would be one of my top five choices.)
@Michael Adams
I applied to SFSU as well, but never received a letter from the English Department about receiving my manuscript/SOP.
...hopefully we weren't the only two.
@Ink and Beans: Congratulations! ^_^
Also, to anyone else who applied to WashU, I checked with Kathy Schneider and she said:
"Kindly be patient. Letters to all applicants are going out within the next few days.
best,
kathy s"
Best of luck everyone :)
Though yes, now I feel vaguely chastised >>;;
Congrats, Ink and Beans! I love seeing second-timers succeed! That's an amazing program too. Awesome accomplishment!
Ha! I prefer Rocky vs. Drago, but I'm a fan of the cheeeese...
Oh God, you Ink and Beans just deleted the comment mine was tied to and now I look Cra-zy! lol
@ Alison
It's so nice of you to say that, and wonderful to hear, if for no other reason than the same inspiration was given to me by some plucky repeat-applicants last year. At the time I could hardly believe their tenacity.
One guy in particular, dubbed "phillywriter," was applying for the second time, this time to 24 schools(!), after having made significant preparations and improvements over the course of the year -- even got a story published. He nearly got rejected across the board (again!), but vowed he would apply the following year if necessary. I was blown away, and felt like such a wimp for thinking I might not try again.
Then on the evening of April 15th, I shit you not, he got a call from LSU saying he'd been picked up off their wait-list.
It was more uplifting than watching Rocky go the distance with Creed.
Here's the blog post I wrote about him last year.
Phillywriter, you still out there friend? :-)
Thank you, Ink and Beans. Except now I look like I'm psychic because I commented on Rocky before you did :D I can handle psychic. Crazy, hmmm, not so much. But psychic, yes.
Sorry kaybay, I'm rusty with the html code thing and my link didn't work. Back up!
But you still crazy, girl! How are you? I remember you and your charming virtual presence from here last year.
I'm good! I remember Phillywriter, by the way. That was a cool story.
I'm just a waitin' right now. Only school of mine notifying is Ohio State, but I'm only hoping for a wait list spot at this point. Waitlists will notified soon, methinks.
Congrats again :D
For SIUC (Southern Illinois) folks,
Feel free to contact me if you'd like (for inside info about the program, Carbondale, and anything else you'd like to ask.)
Email: sequoia@alumni.grinnell.edu (or you can find contact info on my blog via my profile).
looking to ease anxieties here & in conversations w/folks @awp: rumor has it that wyo is going to start making calls (at the earliest) next week. between record applicants & their app reading process (really intensive for faculty) they're notifying later than they'd like. its a great program -- best of luck to everyone!
@Sequoia-- Tell them to let me in.
@Stella-- Thanks for the heads up
The longest of my long shots is out of the running--got a rejection email from UT (fiction) last night.
Not entirely a surprise...
sincere congrats to ink and beans! if wustl is where you want to go - go for it! otherwise, i'm sure more acceptances are on the way.
Michener applicants: Do any of you have a status that just says, "We've received all the items..."? Mine doesn't say anything about being forwarded for review. I see that some rejections have gone out, and I wonder if my application is just being held up. Thoughts?
@Erin
Michener rejects in batches and in rounds. It's possible they either haven't read your sample yet or that they have read it and it has passed on through the first round.
Thanks, Blob.
Being a pessimist, I'm going to assume they haven't read my sample yet. :)
@Tom
me too! For fiction. I didn't expect to get in, but it sucks to have one less possibility out there. Oh well. As my dad keeps saying to me, all it takes is one.
@Dylan, thanks for the response. It is some relief to know that I'm not the only one who didn't receive a letter from SFSU. Perhaps this is a result of all the CSU cuts.
This is a bit out of the blue (if anything can be considered such in the mailbag), but I wanted to pose a simple question:
What programs have y'all applied to that have been considerably friendly, courteous, or attentive to individual applicants during the application process?
I have had particularly friendly correspondence with BGSU, GCSU, and UC Irvine. They really seem to care about their applicants and strive to make sure their applications are complete.
This is, of course, also an invitation to get stuff off your chest regarding bad application experiences, but in light of all the anxieties we are experiencing right now, it wouldn't hurt to throw around some positivity in any shape or form. :)
Emailing my sample into McNeese tonight! They really made it too simple for me NOT to. (Yes, I know that sentence is grammatically awkward).
Just an FYI-- Priority applications need to be in tomorrow, but no transcripts, letters, etc needed for the portfolio overview.
:).
Jooksak,
good question. I've gotten a really good vibe from Wyoming and from Illinois-Urbana. Also, Memphis. All these places quickly and kindly answered all of my questions.
Tom
Jooksak - I thought Syracuse, Notre Dame, and Iowa were extremely helpful/prompt/nice/etc. Also, South Carolina. I got a quick, personal response from them, and they handled a mishap with my GRE scores very well.
@Jooksak: I spoke with Amy Fleury from McNeese about a problem with my application, and she was extremely charming and helpful. Definitely left me with a great impression about the friendliness of the program and the care with which they treat students.
I've also spoken to a few people at Alabama, and am consistently delighted by their warmth.
@Jooksak
I haven't interacted with people at all 14 of my schools. But from the programs I have had to deal with the two that really stood out to me are UT-Austin's Michener center and Wisconsin. Both were available, friendly, reassuring, kind, and actually managed to make me laugh and smile about silly things going on. UT's staffer was very transparent about their process and went out of her way to make sure all my questions were answered and concerns alleviated. At Wisconsin, they went out of their way to make sure my application was complete and all my questions were answered. I was contacted by the director early when they noticed that a part of my online application wasn't coming through correctly. They also had a wonderful sense of humor about me accidentally putting my birth year as 1885 (oops).
Bethlynn at Western Michigan University is the sweetest! I might send her a thank-you letter regardless of how this all turns out. I called to ask her a few questions a while back and she told me I could literally call her as many times as I needed because she didn't want me "starving to death from worry."
Apparently I'm not as anxious as some other applicants?
Well, out of the 8 schools I've applied to - I think I can safely assumed I've not been accepted to one, probably not wait-listed either. So it's down to 7.
Is it worth it to update the programs you are applying to of new publication credits? They are not big name journals or anything. Would they really care?
@ Jooksak
re: publication credit
No, don't send it to them. Most schools don't care if you have been published, and you wouldn't want to bother them to add that information to your file. Now, if you won a major prize, that might make a bit of difference, but not a publication or two.
@ Jooksak
Same thing happened to me last year. I got a review acceptance about two weeks after my apps went out. I sent an e-mail to the programs I'd applied to. It didn't seem like a big deal, and all but one of them said they'd add a note in my file (whether that actually happened, I don't know). Basically, I decided it wouldn't hurt, and the story was part of my submitted manuscript. Then again, all I got last year was a spot on one waiting list and nine rejections, for whatever that's worth.
Ah... rejoining the fray now that schools have begun to notify. I'm assuming everyone had a nice christmas and new year and all that jazz.
So. I'm pretty sure Iowa's gonna come calling this weeked or the next notifying me of my acceptance (cause they wouldn't dare reject me), complete with choice of fellowship (TA or journal assistant, you know, whatevs-- as long as I grace them with my presence) and perhaps an apartment lined up, fully furnished, refrigerator stocked, you know, that sort of thing. I'd also accept a cute girlfriend with vast literary knowledge, but hey, I'm not picky.
So... just waitin for the call. What you guys up to?
@ '11 MFA Draft
Yes, but what if Iowa then trades you to Michigan in exchange for their first- and second-round picks? Don't get too comfy in that Iowa jersey. ;)
Does anyone know anything about the waitlist at Ohio State? Have all notifications gone out?
@Ink
Yeah, I'm wondering the same thing about OSU.
Also, UCI just told me that they received my fafsa. Like with Iowa State, they way the emails (yes I received 2 emails about my financial aid from UCI) are worded suggest I've been accepted. Still no actual word whether or not I've been accepted, though. Should I consider this a good thing?
Right now I'm thinking it might just be a slow burn cosmic joke at my expense.
oh yeah, got my rejection from Michener.
What cuts at CSU are you referring to and, speaking of Colorado State, had anyone heard anything? Wyoming? VA Tech?
subscribing
@kaybay
I've been accepted at OSU in nonfiction. I was told that I have until mid-March to make a decision...so, waitlists might be notified around that time?
Did poetry wait-lists go out from Wash U today that anyone knows about?
Quinn,
someone posted somewhere that, due to record number of apps, Wyoming won't be sending acceptances until next week at the earliest; I'm waiting to hear from them, too.
@ Ink and Beans:
Good point. I may have to consider a no-trade clause.
@ Quinn:
I'm pretty sure the "CSU/budget cuts" post is referring to the California State University system. Pretty horrendous cuts there as of late.
first rejection!: u texas, austin; fiction
I don't know if anyone's checking this thread at this point, but just wanted to let people (and Seth for the SE blog's purposes) know that Cornell accepted me yesterday afternoon. Good luck, all.
Congratulations, Adam! Are you fiction or poetry?
Hi, I'm fiction
Wow, ridiculous congrats to you, Adam! That's one hell of a program and one teeny tiny acceptance rate.
Just out of curiosity, do you have any publications/awards to your name? I'd like to get an idea of what kind of applicant they accept.
Congratulations, Adam! That's phenomenal.
Hi Kaybay,
No publications to my name. Nontraditional (read: old) undergrad. Some experience screenwriting, though that's not very germane to the program, I don't think. My impression from talking to the very nice woman that called was that it really is a 100 percent writing sample based decision, fwiw.
Huh, that's really cool. I have a tremendous amount of respect for that program. I just didn't apply because it seemed like such a long-shot ($80 was too big a gamble for me). That's really cool, though, that a program like that doesn't care about where you went to school or what your publication record is. It should be that way, you know!
Congrats, Adam: that's fucking marvelous news for you. Ivy League, man!
Thanks everyone. I feel very very fortunate right now and hope you all get in where you want to go.
Many congrats, Adam! That must feel wonderful.
We can safely assume they've contacted all four accepted fiction writers, yes?
Have you heard from the following?:
McNeese
UC San Diego
UC Irvine
Brown
Iowa
SIUC
Michigan
Congratulations, Adam! That's so cool!
@anti SIUC has notified for poetry according to seth's blog.
I have not heard from Iowa or Michigan. Erin, I have no way of knowing if they've contacted the other three, but I do get the sense that it's a pretty involved and personal process there so I'd say it's possible they're still working on it, just imo.
Hmm... Thanks, Adam. And, congrats again!
Congrats on Cornell!
@Anti- I would guess McNeese is still going to be at least a few days, since their "priority is given to applications by Feb. 11th" deadline just passed. Last year it looks like they sent out acceptances as early as Feb. 15th, though, so pretty soon it sounds like.
For the rest of your schools, I really don't know...
Hey Adam - mind sharing your writing sample? zak at tentacle dot net. I'm rather curious. Thanks, brother.
New mailbag is up.
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