Amanda - ditto on the adding a spot and why it has to be April 15th. If I have to explain it one more time I might bash my head against the book shelf!
Anyone know when Columbia might be finished notifying acceptances? I'm waking up every day this week hoping I'll see the phone ring, and going to bed every night heartbroken that it didn't. I ask because I'd like to stop feeling the false hope over coffee.
I know it's a big program, but with 35 people to call (talking about fiction applicants, here) you would think it wouldn't take more than 2 or 3 days unless they're spending an inordinate amount of time on the phone with each applicant. I did see that someone noted they were on the phone for an hour when they got the call, but still. Beginning to lose hope.
Accepted to Old Dominion in poetry with funding via email today! Woot! With the exception of two presumed rejections, this was my last bit of news. Exciting to end on a positive note. I will post sometime soon with my final tally, but I have to run off to youth group right now.
Congratulations for all the recent acceptances and waitlists! I won't chime in on any of the debate, but I agree with the concept of trusting the gut, and different things guide the guts of different people.
@Jillian Lauren - I know, but people complain in this blog that: not everyone gets a TA-ship and hence, their living expenses won't be covered. But yes, everyone gets tuition remission (which is no small thing!).
So, are the MFA students called the Notre Dame Writing Irish?
@Emma - Most of my first person narrative stories tend to have the "strong" opinionated (and aggressive) voice of Padgett Powell. Also, have you ever read "Dedication," a short story in David Leavitt's "Family Dancing" collection? The early Nathan-Andrew-Celia years read like the early Will-Jack-Grace years in "Will and Grace" although to Leavitt's credit, he came first. Not a complete overlap, of course -- Will and Jack never had a sexual relationship -- but the triangle dynamic comes close. Leavitt should sue the "Will and Grace" producers/creators for millions, I tell ya.
@Kitty in a Cathouse No word from Texas State about funding for me. Now I'm thinking that must mean that I don't have an IAship or any funding. Did you also apply for scholarships?
A follow-up to my above post: I called Texas State and they said that I am on the waitlist for the IAship and that I am pretty high up with a good chance of getting it.
I have heard nothing but good things about the program. The funding doesn't really seem all too complete. You have to rely on scholarships and the teaching job to really cover it. There is also a fellowship that covers tuition but not everyone gets it. Funding does seem to be a problem at TSU, and not everyone is completely covered. A friend of mine who is there right now takes out private loans in order to cover most of her expenses. If I can't get scholarships or a fellowship, I might have to pass on their offer. :(
@burlaper - congratulations! And with full funding, that's really great! Do you know if you're headed there next year? :)
@everybody, I am going majorly fidgety here waiting for the mail! It's after 5 pacific time and it's STILL not here... and I think there's a rejection from Indiana in there, and fingers crossed, maybe something from Miami - aaaah, going crazy! This is really stupid, but I think I got really excited about Miami recently because one of my family members (who goes to med school there) posted a picture on facebook of him with a lemur on his back. I love lemurs!!! Haha, and this was just a random lemur that he met at the beach - I mean, it's not like lemurs are a usual occurrence at U Miami or anything. haha, but still, that lemur made me WANT to go. And so I am antsy! Come here, mailman!!!
@ Zoulou, yesterday, I heard the mailman outside (my box is right outside the door), and I had to think to myself how long I should wait to open the door without looking creepy. I counted to 30 and he was gone. Creepiness averted. No mail for me though.
Anticipating the anxieties of MFA applicants, yahoo came up with an article listing the 101 small pleasures you can enjoy every day (w/ minimal time and money):
Hahaha, you guys - I love the mailman stalking stories :)
Well, the mailman FINALLY came (I'm pretty sure mine has no schedule! It's totally up in the air) but there was no MFA news, nooooo!!
Here is my list - oh, and it's for fiction:
*U Alaska, Fairbanks - accepted with full funding, Fairbanks here I come! :)
Rejections: *U Minnesota (by email several weeks ago) *ASU (on the site, a while back) *U Alabama (by mail, weeks ago)
Nothing! *Indiana U (rejection) *U Florida (rejection) *U Washington (rejection) *U of Oregon (rejection) *U Hawaii - MA program *U Miami (probably a rejection by now - I am bummed about this one) *UC Riverside (also probably a rejection) *UNLV
I know some folks have gotten fiction rejections from Indiana by now - is anybody else still waiting? I am in Washington, so I suspect that these rejections are just taking their sweet time coming home...
All those still waiting, and all those with choices - here's wishing you luck! And hurry up, you mailman! I know our mailmen like to take their breaks in the woods right across my street, and I'm starting to begrudge them their leg-stretching/pee-break. I mean, they're so close... with my mail... Haha, you know it's bad when you start getting angry at a resting mail carrier.
This blog has no PM feature. On most forums like P&W Speakeasy, MFA Limbo, and other places, you can send private messages to each other offline. You can't do that here. It's like email except that the messages only occur WITHIN the forum itself. It's like an intercom system you may have installed in your mansion, like the one I have, except that you can direct your intercoms to specific people in a very private manner.
Hiyo! I've just popped in to let y'all know that UNLV is still notifying. I just got off the phone with Dondald Revell, who offered me a poetry spot.
I was so super nervous, babbling like a crazy person! I, basically, recited my SoP to him -- alls about how I loves me some UNLV and how I want to go to Rome and translate Ungaretti. Oh, well, I'm just a passionate person.
Also, I wanted to let everyone know that Revell said they were running way behind in the notifications, because someone had a death in the family. I didn't ask for any more details about that, you know, for obvious reasons.
@sahaider - I'm happy to see you're back! How are you doing, after the accident? When you were gone for a little bit, I got worried. Not that you have to be here, in Obsession Central, every day of the week. ;-D Anyway, I hope you're well.
The novelty wears off for me after about 10 minutes, if not sooner. I was once in a room with George Lucas and I had this incredible urge to ask him, "So, what were you thinking with the damn Ewoks?" ...Ayayah...Fortunately for me, I held it in check
I talked to Colleen Hoover on the phone today. Nice lady. It was amazing that she was able to talk to me with so much enthusiasm and passion on a topic (i.e., waitlists and funding) she probably discussed with literally hundreds of other applicants over the years. Yes, the very first cup of coffee EVER was incredible, but not 21,876th cup!
Anyway, I was not part of the Top 5 on the waitlist, so she suggested I take my best other offer. it may have been my imagination, but I swear she made it seem like I was #7. Ehh...who knows?
I was going to ask her about her accent. But I was kinda hungry, so the conversation got away from me and we hung up.
Soooo I just heard back from the Skidmore summer writing program (I'm accepted but no scholarship. waah wah.) and I was wondering if anyone else had gone in the past (I know LHH and MFAguy did-- you guys still around?) and had any opinions to give me. I really really want to do it, the list of faculty/ visiting authors is shocking, but it would be a lot of money at a time that I'm super broke and maybe facing down a cross-continent move, so I guess I just want to hear what other people have thought of it, what it's like, how it works, etc.
Also, congrats to all the acceptances/waitlists i've missed over spring break!! (yup, i'm just now finally coming back.)
Algae, it is expensive that's for sure. Last summer I had an awesome workshop with Rick Moody. I learnt a lot from that man. This year I'm heading there the first two weeks (so no Moody :( ), but I'm still looking forward to it.
The list of visiting writers is great and you get to hobnob with them in the evenings over wine and cheese. There is a fair mix of undergrads/grads/post-grads and "older" people (usually nonfiction, writing a memoir or something). You have the mornings free: check out Saratoga Springs (a posh small town), or drink coffee in the kick ass cafeteria, which serves pretty great food and a lot of options. MWF are w/shops in the afternoons, T/TH are craft Q&A's with incoming writers. Evenings are readings followed by aforementioned wine and cheese. Post-this normally there's drinking in the rooms and/or Risk games (just me!), or long chats with people are lit etc. It's pricey, but worth it. Last year I spent little the whole 2 weeks I was there.
Got accepted to UNCG for poetry over email. I think that Jim Clark was unhappy with my questions about cross-genre workshop participation in our earlier emails, so he didn't call. Still thrilled to have been accepted. No news on funding.
@ UNCW acceptees and waitlisters
I am giving up a fully funded spot (with TAship) so hopefully something will open up for one of you.
@ U of Arizona acceptees
Has anyone heard anything about funding yet?
Arizona and Oregon are really my frontrunners and until I know what Arizona's funding situation looks like I don't feel like I'll be able to make an informed decision.
Congrats to all those hearing good news, and good luck to everyone still waiting. Now come on UVA, don't stay quiet for too much longer because it's my birthday tomorrow and all I'd like is an answer one way or the other.
I got a call from Oregon March 6, and I'm talking about the University of Arizona, not ASU, and they notified me about poetry even earlier than that, maybe a week or so. Though I also applied for fiction and haven't heard anything. Though I think that fiction people did hear about acceptances. My fiction has been pretty much rejected all across the board. I guess that's what a poet gets for trying to apply to MFA programs in both genres.
@ Jillian
I have a fully funded spot from Oregon too that I think will be better for me. I wouldn't give it up unless I had something else though, so I see how you could think I was crazy.
HAHAH! So funny! I guess we Julia's think alike and have varied interests that can't be contained in one genre. I also don't like being pinned into the corner of being a poet and that automatically meaning that's all I can do. Congrats on fiction! What school are you leaning towards?
@Lilia - Just settle down, collect your thoughts, maybe write down 2-3 bullet points on a scrap piece of paper, and, when you're ready, call the buggers. It's not make-or-break. Decisions have been made. Your phone communication skills will play no part in your admission status.
Ah indeed, Julias are uncontainable by nature. I also like to branch out and try new things. In my mind, genre's a pretty fluid thing anyway.
At the moment, I have a TA-ship at NC State and a scholarship for law school, both of which are pretty enticing. But if UNCG manages to scrape up some monies, I'd be pretty happy to go there. They're my #2 (after the unattainable UVA :P).
So in a perfect world (with no debt), would it be Arizona or Oregon?
Congratulations to everyone who has received acceptances since last week! I've stopped following the blog since my last hope for a full-on acceptance (ASU) came back with a no.
This was awhile ago, but if Franzine Kafka is still reading, I submitted two magic realism short stories and was waitlisted at Wisconsin. So, not an acceptance, but positive attention at least (and I've otherwise been rejected across the board). I didn't apply to either Iowa or Cornell, which I believe were the others you mentioned.
Honestly, no idea. I lean towards one over the other on some days and the other way around on others if it makes sense. I've got full funding from Oregon but coming from the east coast I'm a bit intimidated by the journey. Arizona is also intimidating, but the cost of living is slightly lower there, and it's not as far, but really, cross country is cross country. So let's just say we'll both get into UVA because Julia's are awesome and that'll be that, hahaha.
Even though, even if that happens, I still think that I want to challenge my self artistically, personally, and intellectually, and take my life on a crazy ride and move to the pacific north west and see what happens. So i guess through writing you this, I'm leaning strongly towards Oregon right now :).
Feel free to email me at jkolch at gmail dot com to continue this off blog and maybe even trade some work.
I posted this query earlier today... sorry for the repetition if you've already seen the message.
Yo,
Coming out of lurkage to seek out other Brooklyn College and Sarah Lawrence admits.
Drop me a line if, like me, you're in the throes of the decision-making process. Or even if you've accepted/declined a spot at either of those two programs already. I want to pick your brain, in the most delicate-possible way.
I did four weeks last summer, and I'm likely to go all four again this summer. I know Moody was your teacher for one workshop, not sure about the other. I definitely think you will find the people and the place to be priceless. I know I did. Some of my best friends, future readers, and current mentors came from those four short weeks.
The environment is the literary hub of the country in the summer. It's the intellectual elite meeting in the middle of Cambridge, MA and NYC in Saratoga--truly a hidden gem. I do know some people who gained from Moody's workshop, MFAGuy is one of them. Anyways, if you have any questions, feel free to email me at lhiton74 at gmail dot com. I am a huge advocate for the program. I hope this was helpful!
Came across this blog, got curious, and then saw the Columbia comments and just wanted to say:
I gambled on going to Columbia, with minimal fellowships. I didn't want to teach; I wanted to write. I got the MFA, the debt, and yes the six figure book deal Columbia seems to promise (though it took longer than I expected)
The program was incredible. Very, very, very happy there. But I'm paying the loans back now and they are killer. It's a huge gamble, and there are many days that I regret it.
If you're not a rich person, you have to know what you're getting into. I was excited by that acceptance too and Columbia has opened doors left and right for me. But don't forget the INTEREST on those student loans. What you think is $100K in debt is far far more.
I wanted to go that badly, but I didn't really understand what I'd gotten into. That was the choice I made. Just go in with eyes open.
@MFAguy, Still a bit early to tell, but my sights are set on Irvine. Here's my list thus far:
UC-Irvine (accepted full funding) UNCW (accepted fellowship/taship) Texas State (accepted/no word on funding) Boise State (waitlist) Notre Dame (waitlist) Michener (rejected) Michigan (rejected) Arizona State (rejected) Colorado State (rejected) Idaho (rejected) No word: Oregon, Florida, Penn State, Hollins, NC State
As I've seen almost all acceptances from these schools, with the exception of NC State (poetry) posted on here I can safely assume though I might not be outwardly rejected, I'm certainly not at the top of their lists. I was planning on hanging onto UNCW until Friday and making a decision then, but my heart says UCI and I want someone else to have that same amazing moment that I did when they finally offered it to me after being accepted initially with no funding.
@threes I am actually one of those creative writing mutts. I applied in both poetry and cnf. I was accepted to UNCW for cnf and waitlisted at ND in cnf. My other two acceptances, TSU and UCI are in poetry, as well as my waitlist at Boise State.
@threes, I meant to comment a bit on impressions of UNCW. I know they have gotten a bad rap lately regarding their exploding offers. Here's my take: I, fortunately, wasn't put in a situation where I had to make a decision before I felt I was confident enough to make said decision. Had I been asked to decide prematurely, I'm sure I would have harbored mixed emotions (and rightfully so). The faculty there has been very encouraging and reachable. Lavonne Adams has been helpful and forthright with any information/questions I asked. I can say that my experience with UNCW has been positive.
I think I am going to have to pass, too. I am going to write to them tomorrow (or call them) and make sure this doesn't include any other offer. Otherwise, I'm 99% sure I'm going to take the offer from Georgia College, it's fully funded.
Good luck on your decisions. I thought I'd have more time for celebrating the good news, but how quickly it turns to panic!
Did I read that someone here applied to the Tin House workshop? I did, too. Since I now have 9 rejections, I'm kinda counting on Tin House.
I still have yet to hear from UNCG, Washington, NMSU, and UNLV. Looks like I'm in for a third year of applications.
On the up side, one of my cats, who has been having major medical issues (cancer scare, mysterious GI issues, diabetes caused by medication to take care of the GI issues) is now doing very well. Even gets to go off the insulin. My cats are the only kids I will ever have, so this is big for me. Sorry for the off-writing tangent, but I wanted to be able to share some good news for once. And if that's the only good news I get this spring, I'll take it. My cat is more important than grad school.
I’ve been lurking for a few months, all your comments have been very helpful and insightful to me during this crazy process. You guys rock, and I’m hoping that everyone makes it through this season with their sanity intact. Here are my stats: Accepted: George Mason (on 3/19…so not sure if funding is an option at this point?) VCU (waitlisted for TA-ship)
Rejected: JHU LSU
Still Waiting: Hollins Vanderbilt(assumed rejections?)
I am now in the awkward position of having been accepted to two schools I’d really like to attend but probably won’t be able to unless the funding situation improves. Can I defer my acceptances? It seems kinda strange to have to reapply to schools that I already know like my writing, but I doubt that I will be able to attend either school if not given funding. I know these are questions I need to ask the schools, but I was curious if you guys had an insights? I’m sure some of you out there are in a similar position. Maybe this is just the universe’s way of encouraging me but letting me know I’m not ready for an MFA yet? Sigh.
You're probably right about all the notices being sent out. Still, it would be nice to know my status -- even if I'm only on some deep, long-shot "holding list."
As is, I've heard nothing from them, even though I know that they received all my application materials (because they indicated so in an email to me back in December).
Not that anyone's gotta read the full review (though here's the link, if you are interested) but I thought you guys -- er, particularly some of you -- might feel some empathy re: this excerpt from the recent review of The Suburban Ecstasies in The Daily Cardinal: "Experiencing Abramson for the first time is a mixture of bewilderment, assault and awe." I love how many different ways that line could be taken...
I'm stuck in a situation, and I need someone's opinion:
So far I've only been accepted into minimally funded programs — Otis College and The New School — which will require me to go into at least $60K in debt. And this week I received a job offer doing public relations for a university, and one of the perks of the job is they would pay for me to get my master's degree there. (Not an MFA. Most likely I'd end up doing an M.Ed in Secondary English.)
Should I put my MFA dreams on hold for a while, work on my writing and accept a job that would pay for me to get a different masters degree? I feel so torn because I really want to go to NYC for my MFA, but the job is a great opportunity too. But I also know MFAs will always be there in the future ...
@M.Swann Congrats on Columbia. What did they tell you about funding?
@ Trilbe You're on a roll, girl. Maybe you can start a poetry slam at Ceasar's Palace.
@ Julia Good work on UNCG. Why aren't they telling anyone about funding? Did you get the impression it was just a bureaucratic matter, or that funding wasn't possible?
1. That job sounds like a good deal and a good opportunity that doesn't come along every day, plus the experience and the (more useful) degree could make you a more competitive future applicant for other jobs. You could also save a little money for next time you apply for MFAs, whether just for the application process or for the degree itself. And, this way, you could, as you say, work on your writing some more and try your hand again; MFAs aren't going anywhere.
2. I personally believe that people should get grad degrees only when they really want them. Without the desire, there is no motivation, and there is no success. I've watched people struggle with the advanced degrees they think they should get rather than ones they want to get. Then again, I'm inferring from you "end up" statement that you don't necessarily burn for an education degree, but I could be overanalyzing. If you want an M. Ed., hey, go for it. Just be sure you're doing it because you want to, not because it's convenient or you think you should for posterity, or something.
I guess you should consider what you want for your immediate future. If you can see being happy taking one over the other and not regretting it, you should go in that direction. In my opinion, worth nothing probably, the wiser, possibly more cautious decision would be the job, the experience, and trying again in the future.
But I admit, in your shoes, I would also feel torn. It's not too easy to make a decision.
I can only offer my opinion, but I think you answered your own question. The MFA dream will always be there, and you don't need said degree to become a published writer and to hone your craft. However, the different opportunity you've described seems to be a once in a lifetime deal.
I honestly wish you the best of luck in this decision, but that PR gig seems pretty major. And you'd perhaps have a better time finding jobs with an M.Ed in Secondary English.
You can defer your MFA dreams for a year, if need be.
If I was in your position, I would take the job, work on my writing and apply to MFA schools next year or the year after. The MFA isn't a time sensitive degree. Your M.Ed might make you more competitive for a TAship and better funding.
Unless you feel TNS is your absolute dream school, and the place you have to be, I would wait.
@ xavier: I think Jasmine framed it really well. The most important thing to consider, in my opinion, is whether you want to go that far into debt for an MFA. Make that decision independently. If you decide you can't stomach the $60K+ and that you want to apply a different year for an MFA, then consider taking the job. I also think you should be the most interested in the PR part of it, rather than the "they pay" bonus. Because if you're not stoked about an M.Ed but you do want the PR gig, it'd probably be worth it anyway.
I wasn't offered a fellowship at Columbia. Something came up about other funding opportunities (FAFSA loans? Teaching assistantships? Gossip Girl catering?) but it was a phone call (in a noisy bar--me, not the caller), and I didn't ask for details.
@Trilbe Thank you for your kind words. I walked away with a concussion and have had worsening headaches over the past few days, but considering the state of the car that we were in - I feel blessed to be alive. It is nice to be back though and thinking about my MFA future. Again, thank you for your concern. It's sweet to know that this community is so caring.
I found out that I had funding (in the form of a teaching assistantship) from U of Arizona in my acceptance email, but they only told me the details of the assistantship (i.e. exact sum, tuition waver, etc.) on March 11th.
I applied in CNF.
Hope that helps, and sorry for the delayed response (I'm not in the western hemisphere).
Hats off to those with good news-- whether it be acceptances, waitlists or people throwing $$ at you to study with their program (envious, haha). All good things!
Received a waitlist for poetry in the mail from TNS yesterday. Better than a flat out rejection, yea?
Two left--UNCG & LSU--hoping for some belated March Radness
They said that as of right now they had $0 dollars to give out. They also told me that last year they were in a similar position (though not as dire) and people got some money towards the deadline (thanks to some Obama plan?). So they literally won't know until, like, the 15th.
so I haven't heard anything for poetry from Oregon, U of Washington and Irvine. Should I assume the rejection letters are just slow in getting to my mailbox? So hard to know when to give up hope...
Jim Clark said they were working on it but it would probably take a while and he didn't know what they would come up with. He also told me that if at some point he thought that it would be better for me to go somewhere else (i.e. there wasn't going to be funding), he'd let me know.
Which is information I would immediately share here, of course. :)
@anyone who might know the answer or is willing to speculate
Do you think applications to Columbia's MFA program are need-blind? Or do you think that if Columbia's not prepared to give you a fellowship or other assistance, and they see from your FAFSA that attending Columbia is considerably beyond your means, they might choose not to accept you on the basis of finances?
Wondering if anyone has gotten official notice (good or bad) from Univ. of Utah for Fiction MFA yet? I caught someone noting a rejection a few days ago, but it was hard to tell if it was assumed or received.
Nervous, anxious, feeling altogether dreadful as Utah is my last hope of 8 applications a year after 12-for-12 rejections. Have to delude myself in the meantime that no news is good news (particularly with no first notification posted to the DH list yet).
@phillywriter, I doubt it. Nothing about my FAFSA would have indicated that I'd be able to pay for it, and I was still admitted. Whether I'll be able to go is another question...
Also, does anyone know when Columbia's admitted students weekend is? I've searched their website and can't find anything about it. I'm at work, so calling is a little difficult.
UNCG told me plenty about funding. They told me that right now they have $0 to give to anyone. They said that they were in the same position last year, and suddenly, closer to the 15th, some money freed up and they were able to offer stipends. Jim Clark told me to "hold on to my funded offers."
I have an MS in Education and it did NOTHING for my MFA app. That said, I'm more confident in my own ability to teach. Your call (but the internship is terrible. Truly terrible.)
Depressing about the funding across the board. Good at least Jim is being straight forward w/ the information.
I don't think anyone is truly surprised programs are scrambling for cash this year.
Right now, I'm sitting on 3 unfunded offers. Boo. In truth, I still think I'm going to go for it. Maybe I'm crazy for thinking about it this way but I think about all the hard work I've put into my portfolio, the anticipation and the precautions/considerations made before I even started the app process make me think: I did everything in my power to make sure I was ready for this...maybe some debt is unavoidable? I'm not ready to "call it" just yet.
Please, tell me if I'm dellusional and need to start having more than 2 cups of coffee a day.
I'm in the same boat. I'm waiting to hear from Hunter, but it's looking less and less likely that an acceptance is headed my way any time soon. City College appears to be on the horizon. I'd be happy to chit chat.
Congratulations @burlaper & M.Swann &@the Julias! And love to any other recent radness I've missed.
@Phillywriter - If you crack on your merit one more time, because of Columbia or anybody else, I will pimp slap you through the interwebz, beeyotch! This process is about a lot of things, but we all know that it isn't the kind of process that can -- or really even tries to -- evaluate your merit.
I'm really sorry, but to update you, I called Brooklyn a few days ago and they told me very definitely that everyone being admitted OR waitlisted had already been contacted by phone. If you haven't heard anything, it means you have been rejected. They are inexcusably slow at updating their rejects (it's been like a month since they notified admits), but even if your online status hasn't changed and says your app is still under review, it's a rejection.
I hope that doesn't sound harsh, i too was just really on edge about not knowing, and it's helped my mind move forward on plans for next year to know that Brooklyn is completely off the table.
Congrats on your acceptance, though! I hope you will enjoy that program at City College.
Is this the Chelsae that was accepted into CCC? You may get funding of some sort. Did you apply for the GSI? I spoke with the director on Monday night and she said that I had been granted a GSI, which totals to about 10-12,000 for the entire two years. I would call CCC and see what's up. I am very excited to go to CCC, thouh!
I realize, by posting this, I may seem thick, and that this topic has been beaten into a coma...but how do people feel about accruing a moderate amount of debt for the MFA if one does not yet have any loans from undergrad or otherwise? moderate as in, less than 100k but more more than 15k.
Just got off the phone with Terry Kennedy at UNCG. He says they're barely begun notifying both fiction and poetry acceptances, and that they haven't sent any rejections. He says if a school is pressuring you for a decision and you're waiting on UNCG, you should call UNCG because they might not have final decisions until April 15 (!!!).
So...I woke up this morning and my landlord was banging on the door. He wants to sell the house I'm renting, and he and some realtor dude marched all over the place taking pictures. My dog kept jumping on them (trying to play), so I took her outside, where she proceeded to bound across the entire (large) yard and careen into my junk. On my hands and knees in my yard, thinking about how much I love the house and how much I'll miss it, I was still smiling about the funded offer I got from Old Dominion (fiction) yesterday.
OK, I'll try not to let my sense of self-worth be affected by any of my rejections in this MFA process. :) I was mostly kidding in my Columbia comment, though; while Hilary's response to my inquiry was reassuring in that it indicated Columbia would give me a fair read regardless of my financial situation, it was simultaneously distressing in that I won't be able to blame a Columbia rejection on anything other than my writing. But I know it's an ultra-competitive year, and that many, many good writers will be turned away by MFA programs this year, so I will definitely not take rejection as a sign that I should give up. Don't worry; I'm in this for the long haul, and there's no expiration date on getting an MFA.
Thanks, Trilbe, for all your support of everyone here.
They said that first round acceptances went out but that there are still more denials to be sent and that the waitlist isn't finalized (or maybe she said that so I wouldn't ask).
I'm leaning towards CCNY. Please contact me if you'd like to chat: david dot puretz at gmail dot com.
Right now I'm trying to see if I can finagle a way to get in-state tuition vs out-of-state. I lived in NY for nine years before moving to Vermont for two years with my girlfriend so she could get her Masters in Social Work. We always had the intention of returning to NY after she graduated but it seems like NY schools require you to have lived within the state for the past twelve months in order to receive in-state costs. Does anyone know if there is a way for me to get in-state tuition even if I've taken a two year hiatus out of the state?
Any light people can shed on this in-state vs out-of-state tuition dilemma would be very helpful.
Awww, Philly, I know you were self-deprekidding --and I was kidding, too, I would never warn you that the pimp slap was coming, 'cause I'm too gangsta. But I also know that, sometimes, we cut ourselves more deeply than we should with the self-deprecating jokes. And I just wantd to make sure that you weren't doing that. You know, because this process is about too many other factors than just OUR writing -- I mean, every adcomm reader that saw you could have, as far as we know, loved your submission but thought that it maybe indicated that you would, somehow, not fit with the group that they were putting together.
Because this process is about teachers putting together a class, we can't know what factors led to our selection or lack thereof. I'm just saying that, because of the process, you can't assume the worst. And, except for Arna, we can't assume the best, either. We just have to take the process for what it's worth, and do our best to find our fit.
Just my $0.02!
Unrelated, but @Woon - Writing Irish!!!! They shouldn't accept you into the program, they should put you on the f*ing faculty for that one!
@burly bird- Are you in Fiction or Poetry? Unfortunatley, I don't have any advice to offer on your situation (I've always lived in NY.) I hope you find a solution, though!
@hilary - You're awesome. I don't just say that because you spell your name the same as one of my best friends and so automatically have a good vibe at first sight. You are genuinely awesome.
re: doubting merit
I think it is very difficult to not feel at least a little defeated at the sight of multiple rejections, especially if, as in my case, there are no acceptances to speak of...ever.
But damn it, I won that fiction contest in AP English! I don't think it's possible to peak that early. There's still hope! I have enough hope to go around, and for 3 small installments of $19.95/month, it can be yours too! Just call 1-800-632-2763 ext. 63 or if it's easier to remember: 1-800-MFA-BROKE ext. ME
@Ratliff, Awww thanks! Your posts always make me smile, and any program would be lucky to have you and your own brand of awesomeness. (I'm also glad you friend spells her name correctly!)
Are you all done hearing from schools, or are you still waiting on some? If you haven't heard from everyone yet, it ain't over! Otherwise, and if you're going to reapply next in the next year or two (which I might have to), we should exchange samples and things :)
Of course whether or not to go into debt to get an MFA is a personal decision but make sure it's an informed one. There are plenty of student loan calculator sites on the internet and I would strongly advise you visit them to know what you'll be getting yourself into. For example to borrow $25,000 (at 6.8% interest)if you take 10 years to pay it back you'll be paying $288 a month and your total payments would be $34,500. If you borrow $50,000 at those same terms your monthly payment would be $575 and your total payments would be about $69,000. Of course you could pay it down quicker but do you really want that albatross around your neck when you graduate with an arts degree? Good luck, whatever you decide.
My earlier post may have sounded douchier than I intended. I'm just saying that, given the process, not getting into a program doesn't mean you're a worse writer than someone who got in, or vice versa. Because the adcomms are considering more factors than just the quality of our samples.
@hilary - Hilary refused to vote for Hillary Clinton on the basis that she publicized an incorrect spelling that would become even more mainstream were she to be president. Sounded as good a reason to not vote for someone as any. :)
I am waiting on only Bennington. They sent me the packet with info about the program after I applied with lightning speed, so I expect when they send out rejections I will be among the first to know.
I'll more than likely reapply and would totally love to exchange samples and good will!
@Trilbe - You've never, in all the posts I've seen from you, sounded douchey. You brought up a valid point that's pretty darn comforting to those of us nursing bruised egos.
dude, I'm sorry. Marnie Leonard had to tell me over the phone that I didn't get into CSU, and she was so, so, so lovely and caring about it. I hope ASU is the same way, b/c I need to call them to put me out of my limbo (I've been stuck in limbo with several schools for too long now!). Can I ask, what number did you call? Karla's? (yes, we're on a first-name basis now. only she doesn't know it)
The Brown waitlist is dead. Everyone at Brown accepted their offers. I can't say that I'm surprised, but not too long ago, Meredith Steinbach sent me a GNE saying that I was at the top of the waitlist, so I had a little more hope than I should have perhaps.
On the bright side, it looks like I am off to join the writing Irish! I just need to hear back from U of Arizona. I might just end up calling them to get this whole process over with.
FINALLY got my Iowa rejection, dated March 5th...apparently it takes a long-ass time to send a single letter from Iowa to Montreal. Nice that they say how many applicants there were for 25 spots - puts things in proper perspective! I wish every school did that.
Looks like I may have to send off my deposit to Naropa soon without having heard from a bunch of places...but it's probably pretty irrelevant at this point...
I have been watching this blog for a long time but have not posted.
Here is my list for fiction. If anyone has any advice on making a choice, I would love to hear it!
-Wisconsin (accepted w/ full funding) -Syracuse (accepted w/ full funding) -Arkansas (accepted w/ probable full funding) -Montana (accepted w/ no word yet on funding - they said it was probable) -UMass Amherst (accepted, had an interview for a TA position but no word yet on their decision) -NYU (waitlisted)
Rejected by: Cornell, Iowa (with a nice note), JHU, Hunter, UT Austin, Brown, Michigan, Indiana and Irvine
No Word: Virginia, Brooklyn
If anyone has advice that would be great. I'm hoping to make a decision in a week or so after I make visits and hear from the other places. I'll do it as fast as I can.
Thanks for all the help on this blog. It has been a great help to me. Congrats to everyone and good luck!
I say try again, also. I got into Columbia two years ago (and was rejected from three other schools) and couldn't go because of the money. I think it's worth it to apply again, and work hard in the meantime.
On the short wait list for Sarah Lawrence and on the waitlist for the New School for fiction. Does anyone know how many waitlisters there are for either program? Just emailed TNS to find out.
I was also wondering, if anyone feels comfortable mentioning their approximate age--I am 23, and part of me thinks it'd be better to wait another year before settling down in a sense for school. I feel like my "real life" experience is lacking... Is this doubt that I'm "ready" proof that I am definitely not ready?
Depends on what you're looking for, I suppose. Lots of quality programs there - is there a faculty member you're looking to work with? Is location a consideration? Funding?
I think Wisconsin's the winner, and it's not even close, but I don't know your circumstances. Maybe you want a 3-year program and you love George Saunders, or maybe you want to live out in Montana. So it's hard to say. Everyone's going to have a different opinion.
Just wanted to point out something about student loans. Everyone keeps pointing out what payments would be if you paid down your debt according to a 10 year plan and hardly anyone does this. The federal government also allows you to consolidate your loan debt and pay according to your current income at the time. Income-based payments are often lower and manageable and obviously take a lot longer than 10 years to pay off. The 10-year, unmanageable payments are not the only solution. There is also debt forgiveness for people who take public service jobs — public school teacher, for example.
Try not to scare people by telling them their monthly payments will be $600 or more a month if they borrow $50,000. That's not productive.
Congrats on the acceptances! I think your decision comes down to Madison or Syracuse. (I'm assuming you're in fiction.) And only if your writing tends to be more non-realistic would Syracuse be an equal consideration.
I can't a imagine a better opportunity than working with Lorrie Moore, one of my idols. Madison is also very strong on post-grad placements whereas Syracuse is not. It's a smaller program than Syracuse but highly selective, so I'm sure your cohorts would be fine writers.
Thanks for recommending those calculators. Definitely something I'll look to use when making decisions.
It stings a little to think about hard everyone has worked--both first time applicants and veterans--and how being offered an acceptance still doesn't mean you'll get a chance to fulfill your dream. Talk about wompwomp!
@ Kristen - 22. I think "real life" sucks, but that's an entirely individual situation that you can only call for yourself. No harm in not being ready just yet. I'm personally tired of working jobs that lead nowhere and make me feel empty, for lack of a better word. I know reading and writing makes me happy. And Zumba, but that's irrelevant to your question.
There's a lotta life out there for us, Kristen. I think it is very possible to experience it while pursuing advanced degrees. Of course, if you have the means, maybe you'd like to travel instead and get a job waitressing in Italy and writing about your enchanting European customers - not that it's a romantic dream of mine or anything!
Haha! You hit the nail on the donkey! I am currently (more thoroughly when I assumed I wasn't getting in anymore) considering multiple 6 month au pair jobs--all of them very romantic: milan, paris, sicily, rome. I keep hearing the director of writing at my school: "Wait to go back to school. What will you have to write about if you haven't lived?" Anyway, if I do indeed get in somewhere this year, there's a couple of 2-3 month Italy opps. Here's to reading!
@ Kristen: I applied for programs when I was 24 and didn't feel ready. i did it because I couldn't think of anything else to do and I loved writing. I was accepted to one school and ultimately decided against going, and I'm really glad I did. I think I've changed immensely in the last few years and am much more in the place I need to be mentally to appreciate the experience. I also had several of my poetry profs tell me not to rush into it and to wait several years until I knew for sure. I am confident now that if i get into a program that values me, I'm truly ready to go.
@Kristen Hey, i am on both those wait-lists for fiction too. Let me know what you find out! I am fellowette AT gmail DOT com. As for being ready, I am 27. I applied to MFAs at 23 and for a # of reasons didn't go...it's not the end of the world to have a little "life experience" under the belt before you go but it depends on how badly you want the degree.
Go onto totalnannies.com. My friend whom I studied abroad with spent three months watching little italian boys in trento italy. So the program--which is really just a free application and contact with foreign families-- is legit. Go for it girl.
thanks for pointing that out. i thought some of those #s seemed adjustable, because I know ppl paying off a lot of debt that aren't paying anywhere near their rent amount in monthly loan repayments. although, if you budget and don't expect to make a huge upgrade in standard of living right after grad school, i think those #s could be manageable, even with a low salary.
if you're planning to have a family and buy a house w/o a spouse that can support you, that's another thing to think about. maybe that sounds silly, but that's how I'm approaching possible large grad school debt--like buying a house. of course, i also know that i'm not planning to get married, have kids, or buy an actual house.
if you teach at a public university, does the same loan benefit apply as if you were a public elementary school teacher?
@Ratliff, OMG Zumba. I took a class once and almost killed all four of the poor souls unfortunate enough to be immediately proximate to me. I didn't mean to. I just learned that group exercise classes are not a good idea when you are 6 feet tall and catastrophically clumsy.
@ Susan: I know the loan forgiveness program that Xavier talked about, and I'm pretty sure it only applies to public schools K-12. Universities do not count toward the 10-year indentured servitude...
Re: Real life, I'm 23 and have my MA and have thus been out of school less than a year... I feel you all on the "Am I too young? Do I need to (dramatic pause) LIVE?" thing. And I don't know. I just don't. Maybe I'll spend a summer in Israel while my boyfriend does arcane computery things there. Maybe I'll go back to school for my MFA (DO YOU HEAR ME, BU?). Maybe I'll find a job I actually like and reapply in a few years. I hate open-ended situations (yes, I write poetry, oh irony), but I think you have to appreciate them while you're young enough to pick up and do what you want while you can.
Thank you so much for your responses. I feel like I may be where you both were at a couple years ago. I guess I will start really worrying about this uncertainty if and when I actually get into one of these programs.
If I stay up too late, I get into an incredibly stupid mood where bad ideas are suddenly good, like the time I decided the 90s were awesome and bought album after album of stuff like the Gin Blossoms on iTunes.
I did that last night, only instead of buying like a Third Eye Blind album or something, I decided to quick-edit my arguably most successful story, changing certain key elements, and submit it for publication immediately, even though the deadline isn't for, you know, a month and a half.
Zeus only knows what I really sent them; I'm afraid to open the document and look.
Someone should punch me in the face if I ever stay up later than midnight.
this is off-topic, but only slightly because james franco was the topic of conversation a couple of days ago, but one of his stories was recently published in esquire: http://www.esquire.com/fiction/james-franco-fiction-0410
@Jasmine, having imbibed and submitted, I feel your pain (although it sounds as though you were just sleep-deprived, not tipsy, which is almost certainly better). I find it's better to have someone look at your documents/web history for you, then gently usher you to the computer screen and, if necessary, restrain you from hysterics when you see what you've done.
Or maybe that was just me... perhaps you had a sleepiness-induced flash of genius and are going to rake in the Pushcarts :)
True confession: I know that my future MFA program will be extremely lucky to have me. Oh, no, not because I'll prove to be a brilliant workshopper or collegial classmate or great leader on campus. My plan is to set up a multi-million dollar endowment to my MFA program as soon as I graduate and sign a lucrative multi-million dollar deal (See, e.g., Michael Chabon, Elizabeth Kostova). I will dedicate my first book to my recommenders (and my wife), my second to the faculty at my MFA school (and my wife), and my third to my classical guitar instructor for informing me that I had no musical talent and that I should "do something else, for Chrissakes!"
But if I don't become rich/famous, that's okay. I'll still donate $$$ to my MFA school. It's important to give back.
What does "life experience" even mean? I'm serious. If one can only obtain "life experience" by indulging in some kind of Heroes Quest/Odysseus crap (i.e., exploring the world, battling mythical creatures and landlords), then graduate school is my only option. I don't have enough money to travel; I don't even have enough money to rent some dumpy apartment in my local cracktown.
Basically, whenever someone tells me to put off graduate school until I'm older and have "life experience," I want to punch them in the face. Age doesn't mean a damn thing. (I'm a week and one day shy of 25, by the way.)
I'm in at WMU for fiction, w/ TAship, and I'm about 99% sure I'm going. That said, I have no idea how many fictioneers they accepted, nor how long the waitlist is. Sorry I can't help more.
I'm 23, outta school for less than a year, and this questions has plagued me since I first applied. Do I need more life experience? Do I need to do some "living" before I get my MFA?
The problem for me is...I'm not really doing much "living" at the moment. I live with my parents in Michigan, and I've spent almost a year looking for/applying to/interviewing for jobs (booo economy...booo Michigan). This February, I finally got a job, but it's part time (though doing something I love--video editing), and I don't make enough money to move out or do any of the exciting things I want to be doing.
So this was my thinking when I applied at the end of last year: Do I want to spend another year living with my parents, not pursuing my many dreams? NO!
And thus, I applied. And I think it's been a healthy choice for me. I'm writing more, reading more, more passionate about everything. When I was unemployed and living of my 'rents, I felt like I didn't have a purpose. I was definitely depressed, and definitely unhappy. I know that time like that is every writer's dream: time to write, read, etc, but it was really unhealthy for me. Even now that I have a job, I can't imagine spending another year in this funk.
So...I guess it depends on the quality of "life experience." I'm very insecure that I don't have enough life experience, but I know that this is a healthy decision for me, and something I'm more than excited about. It's moving forward. Living at home is reverting backward. It's time to move on.
Sorry, that was long, but I'm glad I had the opportunity to write it.
I'm 21. Turning 22 in September right when I will be starting an MFA program.
About the continuing in school vs. going out into the world and getting more life experience thing... I've thought about it a lot, but really I can't think of anything I want to do more than start an MFA program. I really really really want to be in one right now, I'm SO excited.
So yeah, I'm really young, I've never really done anything except go to school, but going to school is one of my favorite things ever, so I plan to keep doing it as long as possible, haha. And an MFA program will be an adventurous new experience because I'll be moving and in a completely new environment, so I don't feel like I'm just doing the same thing I've always been doing.
But, if you don't start an MFA this year, then maybe having another great experience like adventuring in Italy will end up being equally or more awesome. And you can always get your MFA later if you want to.
Wondering your thoughts on U of Miami... I know it is ranked pretty darn low but it seems to have an impressive faculty (at least for poetry- I'm a big Maureen Seaton fan), decent funding, nice location (for those into tropical climates, etc...
Also, can you re-post the link for the newest set of rankings? i know it's somewhere in one of the last mailbags but they are a bit cumbersome to sift through...
I'm in the same boat. Well, I'm a drama queen so I've named mine Titanic, but yes. It's a stifling boat for sure. We have an opportunity to GTFO, so why not take it, I say!!!
I definitely know what you mean. I live with my parents too, because I'm still an undergrad and only work part-time so I can't afford to move out, and haven't been able to find a job with more hours. I think that Rhode Island and Michigan have the two top highest unemployment rates in the country... yay for our home states and their twin shitty economies? haha.
I just can't wait to move out to start an MFA program, I am so excited to finally move away on my own. I think that an MFA program will be a huge "life experience" for me, so I don't feel like I need to go experience something else before starting one. And I've never run out of things to write about before, even with what could be seen as limited experience, so I think I'll be fine. :)
Does anybody know someone who went to the Johns Hopkins program and have some insight into the program they'd like to share? I'm first on the waitlist. Definitely don't want to get too excited about the program since I may not get in, but I think I need to start finding out about it.
It seems like, considering their funding and faculty, relatively few people apply (they got 225 apps this year). Is there something negative about the program (beside Baltimore) that I don't know? I'd love to hear any thoughts on the program!
Texas State people, No, I haven't heard about funding yet. I e-mailed the school yesterday but have no gotten a response. I'm sure they're busy I suspect that Texas State may be one of those schools doesn't have a waitlist and accepts as more students than they expect to accept. So they might not be offering assistantships to half of admits, but to half of the incoming class - which right now might be something lower like 25%. This is pure speculation, of course... I'm hopinghoping, but right now I'm trying to decide if I will go if I do not get funding. If I do go and without money, I'm thinking about going part time for the first year while I'm paying out of station tuition. This would save me a few thousand. 3 years at Texas State would cost me about $25,000 + living expenses. This is relatively inexpensive compared to most other MFAs (especially three year programs) but it's still a lot of debt to take on. Maybe with night classes I can get a stupid real world job during the day... Does anybody know about the prospect of work in San Marcos or maybe Austin?
Roughdraft, thanks for posting the link to James Franco's story in Esquire. His writing's pretty good! Some vivid metaphors and imagery, especially the moment when the car crashes into the wall. He's definitely cultivating his creativity in numerous directions which is awesome (take that cruel UCLA alum of 2009!).
I'm 29 and a first time MFA applicant. Still hoping it works out (come on funding!). I purposefully waited to get life experience and strongly believe it's worth it. Sure you're poor, but there are ways to live and experience new things. Work in a national park (they provide housing), take chances, wash dishes. Everyone is different, but if you're questioning whether you're ready... then I think you've answered your own question.
To all younger applicants--your stories have been the affirmation I needed. I suppose it's natural to go back-and-forth about one's deicison to attend a MFA program but hearing your different reasons, living situations & dedication has proven age is just a number. And "life experience" IS about quality not quantity. Woooo!
I'm 86 yrs old. When I look back to when I was in my 70s, boy, I did a lot of stupid things. My thinking was also very immaturish (and amateurish).
No, seriously, you won't realize how "unformed" you are right now until ten years have passed. (Ten is a magic number I made up. The actual number of years varies from person to person.) Every time I reflect on my past, I realize how stupid (and uninformed) I really was back then.
I think questioning whether I'm ready is just in my nature! I don't think I've ever walked into something without questioning whether I'm ready. And I feel like not being ready for something has prompted some of the best and most memorable experiences of my life. If I waited around until I was ready to do things, I would spend my whole life sheltered away.
For instance, I studied abroad in Quito, Ecuador for six months. I didn't think I was anywhere near ready for that. I had been preparing, studying, and had even gone through an application process to get in, but I still wasn't ready when the time came.
I wouldn't trade that experience for anything. Even though I wasn't ready for it, I forced myself to give it a try, go outside my comfort zone, take classes in Spanish, make Ecuadorian friends, explore a completely different culture, try different food. It was one of the best and most life-changing experiences of my life. And this is partially because I didn't feel prepared for it. I had to learn how to be comfortable in a whole new environment, and it was completely worth it.
I know, I'm taking issue with a very small part of your post, and in some ways, my argument doesn't apply, but I feel that judging your preparedness, or questioning whether you're ready for something doesn't mean anything. Even though I'm questioning whether I need life experience before my MFA, I am certain I'm making the right decision.
But as you said, everyone's different. This is just my view on the situation, and I don't mean to offend or insult you (and I hope I haven't). I just felt the need to respond!!
@xavier "Try not to scare people by telling them their monthly payments will be $600 or more a month if they borrow $50,000. That's not productive." Scare people? I said before you take on debt you should make an informed decision by knowing how much you'll have to pay back. I then gave two specific examples with a loan amount, interest rate, and term. Since it's a loan all of those are variables. Yes, you could take longer to pay it, yes you could get a better rate, and yes you could sign a big book deal and pay it back in a month. If suggesting that people do some research before they put themselves on the hook for tens of thousands of dollars constitutes "scaring" people, well then just call me the boogeyman.
I need help/advise. I just saw on the caller id a number from NY and a "private" call that I missed. The only call from NY I am expecting is from Columbia. I called this number back and it the voice said it's not a working number. My question is, should I call the admissions? Frankly, I am terrified of the prospect of calling them.
@Rosie, yeah, my boat wouldn't live up to the name Titanic. Glad you took it. Haha.
@Laura T, I haven't run out of things to write about, either, and there are huge portions of my life I haven't even scratched the surface on. And, when I think about it, I have a lot of life experience. And if money weren't a factor, I'm sure I would have a lot more.
Anyone else want to just drop everything in your life and go off-grid? I want to pack a backpack of the essentials and just start traveling, see where I end up. Life dream right there. Maybe some day I'll actually have the guts to do it.
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I'm reading Padgett Powell too... interesting.
Amanda - ditto on the adding a spot and why it has to be April 15th. If I have to explain it one more time I might bash my head against the book shelf!
*bookshelf
Anyone know when Columbia might be finished notifying acceptances? I'm waking up every day this week hoping I'll see the phone ring, and going to bed every night heartbroken that it didn't. I ask because I'd like to stop feeling the false hope over coffee.
I know it's a big program, but with 35 people to call (talking about fiction applicants, here) you would think it wouldn't take more than 2 or 3 days unless they're spending an inordinate amount of time on the phone with each applicant. I did see that someone noted they were on the phone for an hour when they got the call, but still. Beginning to lose hope.
Accepted to Old Dominion in poetry with funding via email today! Woot! With the exception of two presumed rejections, this was my last bit of news. Exciting to end on a positive note. I will post sometime soon with my final tally, but I have to run off to youth group right now.
Congratulations for all the recent acceptances and waitlists! I won't chime in on any of the debate, but I agree with the concept of trusting the gut, and different things guide the guts of different people.
Happy Tuesday!
Did not make it to Chipotle. Ate at Pizza My Heart instead. Sleepy now, but I really should be conjugating my verbs.
@Woon,
If I am not mistaken, ND is a fully funded program. Not everyone gets stipends, but no one has to pay for school.
@Jillian Lauren - I know, but people complain in this blog that: not everyone gets a TA-ship and hence, their living expenses won't be covered. But yes, everyone gets tuition remission (which is no small thing!).
So, are the MFA students called the Notre Dame Writing Irish?
@Emma - Most of my first person narrative stories tend to have the "strong" opinionated (and aggressive) voice of Padgett Powell. Also, have you ever read "Dedication," a short story in David Leavitt's "Family Dancing" collection? The early Nathan-Andrew-Celia years read like the early Will-Jack-Grace years in "Will and Grace" although to Leavitt's credit, he came first. Not a complete overlap, of course -- Will and Jack never had a sexual relationship -- but the triangle dynamic comes close. Leavitt should sue the "Will and Grace" producers/creators for millions, I tell ya.
@Kitty in a Cathouse
No word from Texas State about funding for me. Now I'm thinking that must mean that I don't have an IAship or any funding. Did you also apply for scholarships?
A follow-up to my above post: I called Texas State and they said that I am on the waitlist for the IAship and that I am pretty high up with a good chance of getting it.
I have heard nothing but good things about the program. The funding doesn't really seem all too complete. You have to rely on scholarships and the teaching job to really cover it. There is also a fellowship that covers tuition but not everyone gets it. Funding does seem to be a problem at TSU, and not everyone is completely covered. A friend of mine who is there right now takes out private loans in order to cover most of her expenses. If I can't get scholarships or a fellowship, I might have to pass on their offer. :(
Hey all,
I keep thinking that I will at least hear from my last three schools by April 1st. Is this a misguided assumption?
@burlaper - congratulations! And with full funding, that's really great! Do you know if you're headed there next year? :)
@everybody, I am going majorly fidgety here waiting for the mail! It's after 5 pacific time and it's STILL not here... and I think there's a rejection from Indiana in there, and fingers crossed, maybe something from Miami - aaaah, going crazy! This is really stupid, but I think I got really excited about Miami recently because one of my family members (who goes to med school there) posted a picture on facebook of him with a lemur on his back. I love lemurs!!! Haha, and this was just a random lemur that he met at the beach - I mean, it's not like lemurs are a usual occurrence at U Miami or anything. haha, but still, that lemur made me WANT to go. And so I am antsy! Come here, mailman!!!
@ Zoulou, yesterday, I heard the mailman outside (my box is right outside the door), and I had to think to myself how long I should wait to open the door without looking creepy. I counted to 30 and he was gone. Creepiness averted. No mail for me though.
In the past month I've learned exactly when the mail comes, within a window of about 30 minutes.
The list of things I've learned from applying truly does go on and on.
You guys! I just got accepted to Columbia in fiction. No joke.
Smoke-oi, are you available to answer questions?
Sure...run to smoke-oi when you need him, but give him swift kick in the *** when you don't. How cruel. How inhumane. How selfish and opportunistic.
Heheh...(I don't really care.)
@ Columbia Acceptances
How were you notified? Any fiction peoplez?
Anticipating the anxieties of MFA applicants, yahoo came up with an article listing the 101 small pleasures you can enjoy every day (w/ minimal time and money):
101 small pleasures
I'm thinking they left out one very important item that also requires minimal time and (no) money.
Hahaha, you guys - I love the mailman stalking stories :)
Well, the mailman FINALLY came (I'm pretty sure mine has no schedule! It's totally up in the air) but there was no MFA news, nooooo!!
Here is my list - oh, and it's for fiction:
*U Alaska, Fairbanks - accepted with full funding, Fairbanks here I come! :)
Rejections:
*U Minnesota (by email several weeks ago)
*ASU (on the site, a while back)
*U Alabama (by mail, weeks ago)
Nothing!
*Indiana U (rejection)
*U Florida (rejection)
*U Washington (rejection)
*U of Oregon (rejection)
*U Hawaii - MA program
*U Miami (probably a rejection by now - I am bummed about this one)
*UC Riverside (also probably a rejection)
*UNLV
I know some folks have gotten fiction rejections from Indiana by now - is anybody else still waiting? I am in Washington, so I suspect that these rejections are just taking their sweet time coming home...
All those still waiting, and all those with choices - here's wishing you luck! And hurry up, you mailman! I know our mailmen like to take their breaks in the woods right across my street, and I'm starting to begrudge them their leg-stretching/pee-break. I mean, they're so close... with my mail... Haha, you know it's bad when you start getting angry at a resting mail carrier.
Okay everybody - good luck!
What exactly is a PM and how does one communicate by this method?
@Ananda - PM=private message.
This blog has no PM feature. On most forums like P&W Speakeasy, MFA Limbo, and other places, you can send private messages to each other offline. You can't do that here. It's like email except that the messages only occur WITHIN the forum itself. It's like an intercom system you may have installed in your mansion, like the one I have, except that you can direct your intercoms to specific people in a very private manner.
@Ananda - (cont.) PM can also be "personal messaging" or "personal message" or "private messaging," etc.
@Woon
Or Prime Minister.
Hiyo! I've just popped in to let y'all know that UNLV is still notifying. I just got off the phone with Dondald Revell, who offered me a poetry spot.
I was so super nervous, babbling like a crazy person! I, basically, recited my SoP to him -- alls about how I loves me some UNLV and how I want to go to Rome and translate Ungaretti. Oh, well, I'm just a passionate person.
Also, I wanted to let everyone know that Revell said they were running way behind in the notifications, because someone had a death in the family. I didn't ask for any more details about that, you know, for obvious reasons.
@sahaider - I'm happy to see you're back! How are you doing, after the accident? When you were gone for a little bit, I got worried. Not that you have to be here, in Obsession Central, every day of the week. ;-D Anyway, I hope you're well.
@ Woon: LOL to the Writing Irish. Also, I almost ate at Pizza My Heart today, but walked out when I saw they didn't have beer like the Santa Cruz one.
@phillywriter - the Prime Minister (of the United Kingdom, for example) wears many hats, of course, but I doubt he'll relay a message for me.
Congrats, Trilbe! You have some difficult choices to make! Good luck - but I'm sure you'll end up in the right place.
@Trilbe - that's awesome, congratulations!! (Your Italian plans sound awesome too :)
@Trilbe - re. speaking w/ celebrities
The novelty wears off for me after about 10 minutes, if not sooner. I was once in a room with George Lucas and I had this incredible urge to ask him, "So, what were you thinking with the damn Ewoks?" ...Ayayah...Fortunately for me, I held it in check
@Woon
Given your connections, I assumed you had unrestricted access to Gordon Brown like I do. He's much more reliable than carrier pigeon.
(cont.) clarification: I was not the only other person in the room w/ George Lucas. That would be weird.
@phillywriter - I have no connections. Even my neighbors barely know me.
re. Notre Dame.
I talked to Colleen Hoover on the phone today. Nice lady. It was amazing that she was able to talk to me with so much enthusiasm and passion on a topic (i.e., waitlists and funding) she probably discussed with literally hundreds of other applicants over the years. Yes, the very first cup of coffee EVER was incredible, but not 21,876th cup!
Anyway, I was not part of the Top 5 on the waitlist, so she suggested I take my best other offer. it may have been my imagination, but I swear she made it seem like I was #7. Ehh...who knows?
I was going to ask her about her accent. But I was kinda hungry, so the conversation got away from me and we hung up.
Soooo
I just heard back from the Skidmore summer writing program (I'm accepted but no scholarship. waah wah.) and I was wondering if anyone else had gone in the past (I know LHH and MFAguy did-- you guys still around?) and had any opinions to give me. I really really want to do it, the list of faculty/ visiting authors is shocking, but it would be a lot of money at a time that I'm super broke and maybe facing down a cross-continent move, so I guess I just want to hear what other people have thought of it, what it's like, how it works, etc.
Also, congrats to all the acceptances/waitlists i've missed over spring break!! (yup, i'm just now finally coming back.)
@junowind: I'm still "in review" too at ASU.
@Not: ""the Nadiya model" (as a term) is my small tribute to one of the more lucid commenters here."
you just made my morning lovely. thank you very much.
@M. Swann: Congratulations on Columbia! Wow! I hope they offer you funding, but still major cool.
@Woon: "I'm thinking they left out one very important item that also requires minimal time and (no) money."
minimal time? you disappoint me.
Algae, it is expensive that's for sure. Last summer I had an awesome workshop with Rick Moody. I learnt a lot from that man. This year I'm heading there the first two weeks (so no Moody :( ), but I'm still looking forward to it.
The list of visiting writers is great and you get to hobnob with them in the evenings over wine and cheese. There is a fair mix of undergrads/grads/post-grads and "older" people (usually nonfiction, writing a memoir or something). You have the mornings free: check out Saratoga Springs (a posh small town), or drink coffee in the kick ass cafeteria, which serves pretty great food and a lot of options. MWF are w/shops in the afternoons, T/TH are craft Q&A's with incoming writers. Evenings are readings followed by aforementioned wine and cheese. Post-this normally there's drinking in the rooms and/or Risk games (just me!), or long chats with people are lit etc. It's pricey, but worth it. Last year I spent little the whole 2 weeks I was there.
Got accepted to UNCG for poetry over email. I think that Jim Clark was unhappy with my questions about cross-genre workshop participation in our earlier emails, so he didn't call. Still thrilled to have been accepted. No news on funding.
@ UNCW acceptees and waitlisters
I am giving up a fully funded spot (with TAship) so hopefully something will open up for one of you.
@ U of Arizona acceptees
Has anyone heard anything about funding yet?
Arizona and Oregon are really my frontrunners and until I know what Arizona's funding situation looks like I don't feel like I'll be able to make an informed decision.
Congrats to all those hearing good news, and good luck to everyone still waiting. Now come on UVA, don't stay quiet for too much longer because it's my birthday tomorrow and all I'd like is an answer one way or the other.
@Julia When did you hear from ASU and Oregon?
Haven't heard anything yet...
@Woon
The Writing Irish!! HAHA!! I LOVE IT! :)
@Julia
Why are you giving up a fully funded spot!?? I wish I had that luxury! :) lol
1. I LOVE the term "Writing Irish" and will forever refer to that in regard to ND's program. So, thank you.
2. I, also, have not heard about funding from Texas State and can only assume no news is, well, no news. Ashley Brooke--any word?
Congrats M. Swann on Columbia!
@ Julia
That's kind of brilliant because I asked the same question of Jim Clark. I'm in for fiction.
Congratulations on your acceptances! I hope you hear from UVA ASAP!
@MFA Guy-what's the difference between older and "older"?
@Lilia
I got a call from Oregon March 6, and I'm talking about the University of Arizona, not ASU, and they notified me about poetry even earlier than that, maybe a week or so. Though I also applied for fiction and haven't heard anything. Though I think that fiction people did hear about acceptances. My fiction has been pretty much rejected all across the board. I guess that's what a poet gets for trying to apply to MFA programs in both genres.
@ Jillian
I have a fully funded spot from Oregon too that I think will be better for me. I wouldn't give it up unless I had something else though, so I see how you could think I was crazy.
@ Julia (fiction :)
HAHAH! So funny! I guess we Julia's think alike and have varied interests that can't be contained in one genre. I also don't like being pinned into the corner of being a poet and that automatically meaning that's all I can do. Congrats on fiction! What school are you leaning towards?
So I am thinking about calling programs that I haven't heard anything from:
ASU
Oregon
FSU
anyone call them yet?
I am figuring the other 2, Houston and NYU, are rejections.
Is it wrong to call? Should I just stick it out? What should I say? I am not 100% sure if I should
@Lilia - Just settle down, collect your thoughts, maybe write down 2-3 bullet points on a scrap piece of paper, and, when you're ready, call the buggers. It's not make-or-break. Decisions have been made. Your phone communication skills will play no part in your admission status.
@ Julia (Poetry)
Ah indeed, Julias are uncontainable by nature. I also like to branch out and try new things. In my mind, genre's a pretty fluid thing anyway.
At the moment, I have a TA-ship at NC State and a scholarship for law school, both of which are pretty enticing. But if UNCG manages to scrape up some monies, I'd be pretty happy to go there. They're my #2 (after the unattainable UVA :P).
So in a perfect world (with no debt), would it be Arizona or Oregon?
Well Sud I didn't want to offend, as "older" is relative. The range at Skidmore is probably 20-65, something like that.
Head's up UNCW acceptees with no funding:
I have just declined a very generous fellowship (w/TAship). Here's hoping this lands in the hands of one of you.
Nice Abbie! Where are you headed this fall?
@MFA Guy-no problem, wee young'un. Just wondered about the quotation marks.
Hey all,
Congratulations to everyone who has received acceptances since last week! I've stopped following the blog since my last hope for a full-on acceptance (ASU) came back with a no.
This was awhile ago, but if Franzine Kafka is still reading, I submitted two magic realism short stories and was waitlisted at Wisconsin. So, not an acceptance, but positive attention at least (and I've otherwise been rejected across the board). I didn't apply to either Iowa or Cornell, which I believe were the others you mentioned.
@ Julia (Fiction)
Honestly, no idea. I lean towards one over the other on some days and the other way around on others if it makes sense. I've got full funding from Oregon but coming from the east coast I'm a bit intimidated by the journey. Arizona is also intimidating, but the cost of living is slightly lower there, and it's not as far, but really, cross country is cross country. So let's just say we'll both get into UVA because Julia's are awesome and that'll be that, hahaha.
Even though, even if that happens, I still think that I want to challenge my self artistically, personally, and intellectually, and take my life on a crazy ride and move to the pacific north west and see what happens. So i guess through writing you this, I'm leaning strongly towards Oregon right now :).
Feel free to email me at jkolch at gmail dot com to continue this off blog and maybe even trade some work.
I posted this query earlier today... sorry for the repetition if you've already seen the message.
Yo,
Coming out of lurkage to seek out other Brooklyn College and Sarah Lawrence admits.
Drop me a line if, like me, you're in the throes of the decision-making process. Or even if you've accepted/declined a spot at either of those two programs already. I want to pick your brain, in the most delicate-possible way.
bookmothblog at gmail dot com
In solidarity,
BM
@Algae
I did four weeks last summer, and I'm likely to go all four again this summer. I know Moody was your teacher for one workshop, not sure about the other. I definitely think you will find the people and the place to be priceless. I know I did. Some of my best friends, future readers, and current mentors came from those four short weeks.
The environment is the literary hub of the country in the summer. It's the intellectual elite meeting in the middle of Cambridge, MA and NYC in Saratoga--truly a hidden gem. I do know some people who gained from Moody's workshop, MFAGuy is one of them. Anyways, if you have any questions, feel free to email me at lhiton74 at gmail dot com. I am a huge advocate for the program. I hope this was helpful!
Came across this blog, got curious, and then saw the Columbia comments and just wanted to say:
I gambled on going to Columbia, with minimal fellowships. I didn't want to teach; I wanted to write. I got the MFA, the debt, and yes the six figure book deal Columbia seems to promise (though it took longer than I expected)
The program was incredible. Very, very, very happy there. But I'm paying the loans back now and they are killer. It's a huge gamble, and there are many days that I regret it.
If you're not a rich person, you have to know what you're getting into. I was excited by that acceptance too and Columbia has opened doors left and right for me. But don't forget the INTEREST on those student loans. What you think is $100K in debt is far far more.
I wanted to go that badly, but I didn't really understand what I'd gotten into. That was the choice I made. Just go in with eyes open.
Congratulations to all on the acceptances!
Good points LHH :)
twenty, can we buy your book?
sud, no probs.
@MFAguy,
Still a bit early to tell, but my sights are set on Irvine. Here's my list thus far:
UC-Irvine (accepted full funding)
UNCW (accepted fellowship/taship)
Texas State (accepted/no word on funding)
Boise State (waitlist)
Notre Dame (waitlist)
Michener (rejected)
Michigan (rejected)
Arizona State (rejected)
Colorado State (rejected)
Idaho (rejected)
No word:
Oregon, Florida, Penn State, Hollins, NC State
As I've seen almost all acceptances from these schools, with the exception of NC State (poetry) posted on here I can safely assume though I might not be outwardly rejected, I'm certainly not at the top of their lists. I was planning on hanging onto UNCW until Friday and making a decision then, but my heart says UCI and I want someone else to have that same amazing moment that I did when they finally offered it to me after being accepted initially with no funding.
Sorry that was long winded. :)
Wow, Irvine. Awesome!
@ Abbie
Are you fiction or poetry? Impressions on UNCW? Congrats on making a decision - where are you going!
Thanks for the info, Raine! Hope your waitlist(s) turn into an acceptance.
@threes
I am actually one of those creative writing mutts. I applied in both poetry and cnf. I was accepted to UNCW for cnf and waitlisted at ND in cnf. My other two acceptances, TSU and UCI are in poetry, as well as my waitlist at Boise State.
@threes,
I meant to comment a bit on impressions of UNCW. I know they have gotten a bad rap lately regarding their exploding offers. Here's my take: I, fortunately, wasn't put in a situation where I had to make a decision before I felt I was confident enough to make said decision. Had I been asked to decide prematurely, I'm sure I would have harbored mixed emotions (and rightfully so). The faculty there has been very encouraging and reachable. Lavonne Adams has been helpful and forthright with any information/questions I asked. I can say that my experience with UNCW has been positive.
Sahaider,
I think I am going to have to pass, too. I am going to write to them tomorrow (or call them) and make sure this doesn't include any other offer. Otherwise, I'm 99% sure I'm going to take the offer from Georgia College, it's fully funded.
Good luck on your decisions. I thought I'd have more time for celebrating the good news, but how quickly it turns to panic!
Did I read that someone here applied to the Tin House workshop? I did, too. Since I now have 9 rejections, I'm kinda counting on Tin House.
I still have yet to hear from UNCG, Washington, NMSU, and UNLV. Looks like I'm in for a third year of applications.
On the up side, one of my cats, who has been having major medical issues (cancer scare, mysterious GI issues, diabetes caused by medication to take care of the GI issues) is now doing very well. Even gets to go off the insulin. My cats are the only kids I will ever have, so this is big for me. Sorry for the off-writing tangent, but I wanted to be able to share some good news for once. And if that's the only good news I get this spring, I'll take it. My cat is more important than grad school.
Best to you all,
Danielle
I’ve been lurking for a few months, all your comments have been very helpful and insightful to me during this crazy process. You guys rock, and I’m hoping that everyone makes it through this season with their sanity intact.
Here are my stats:
Accepted:
George Mason (on 3/19…so not sure if funding is an option at this point?)
VCU (waitlisted for TA-ship)
Rejected:
JHU
LSU
Still Waiting:
Hollins
Vanderbilt(assumed rejections?)
I am now in the awkward position of having been accepted to two schools I’d really like to attend but probably won’t be able to unless the funding situation improves. Can I defer my acceptances? It seems kinda strange to have to reapply to schools that I already know like my writing, but I doubt that I will be able to attend either school if not given funding. I know these are questions I need to ask the schools, but I was curious if you guys had an insights? I’m sure some of you out there are in a similar position. Maybe this is just the universe’s way of encouraging me but letting me know I’m not ready for an MFA yet? Sigh.
Hey Anti,
I was accepted by phone to Columbia (fiction).
@Woon
Thanks for the info about Purdue.
You're probably right about all the notices being sent out. Still, it would be nice to know my status -- even if I'm only on some deep, long-shot "holding list."
As is, I've heard nothing from them, even though I know that they received all my application materials (because they indicated so in an email to me back in December).
@ Abbie
Thanks! UNCW seems pretty great to me as well. And congrats on UCI!
@all
Not that anyone's gotta read the full review (though here's the link, if you are interested) but I thought you guys -- er, particularly some of you -- might feel some empathy re: this excerpt from the recent review of The Suburban Ecstasies in The Daily Cardinal: "Experiencing Abramson for the first time is a mixture of bewilderment, assault and awe." I love how many different ways that line could be taken...
;-)
S.
I'm stuck in a situation, and I need someone's opinion:
So far I've only been accepted into minimally funded programs — Otis College and The New School — which will require me to go into at least $60K in debt. And this week I received a job offer doing public relations for a university, and one of the perks of the job is they would pay for me to get my master's degree there. (Not an MFA. Most likely I'd end up doing an M.Ed in Secondary English.)
Should I put my MFA dreams on hold for a while, work on my writing and accept a job that would pay for me to get a different masters degree? I feel so torn because I really want to go to NYC for my MFA, but the job is a great opportunity too. But I also know MFAs will always be there in the future ...
@M.Swann
Congrats on Columbia. What did they tell you about funding?
@ Trilbe
You're on a roll, girl. Maybe you can start a poetry slam at Ceasar's Palace.
@ Julia
Good work on UNCG. Why aren't they telling anyone about funding? Did you get the impression it was just a bureaucratic matter, or that funding wasn't possible?
@ASU "In review" folks,
Samesies.
And no reply to my excessively polite e-mail.
xavier
I can see two sides to this:
1. That job sounds like a good deal and a good opportunity that doesn't come along every day, plus the experience and the (more useful) degree could make you a more competitive future applicant for other jobs. You could also save a little money for next time you apply for MFAs, whether just for the application process or for the degree itself. And, this way, you could, as you say, work on your writing some more and try your hand again; MFAs aren't going anywhere.
2. I personally believe that people should get grad degrees only when they really want them. Without the desire, there is no motivation, and there is no success. I've watched people struggle with the advanced degrees they think they should get rather than ones they want to get. Then again, I'm inferring from you "end up" statement that you don't necessarily burn for an education degree, but I could be overanalyzing. If you want an M. Ed., hey, go for it. Just be sure you're doing it because you want to, not because it's convenient or you think you should for posterity, or something.
I guess you should consider what you want for your immediate future. If you can see being happy taking one over the other and not regretting it, you should go in that direction. In my opinion, worth nothing probably, the wiser, possibly more cautious decision would be the job, the experience, and trying again in the future.
But I admit, in your shoes, I would also feel torn. It's not too easy to make a decision.
@xavier
I can only offer my opinion, but I think you answered your own question. The MFA dream will always be there, and you don't need said degree to become a published writer and to hone your craft. However, the different opportunity you've described seems to be a once in a lifetime deal.
I honestly wish you the best of luck in this decision, but that PR gig seems pretty major. And you'd perhaps have a better time finding jobs with an M.Ed in Secondary English.
You can defer your MFA dreams for a year, if need be.
I wish you the best of luck in your pursuit.
@M.Swann
Thanks for the info!
@ Xavier
If I was in your position, I would take the job, work on my writing and apply to MFA schools next year or the year after. The MFA isn't a time sensitive degree. Your M.Ed might make you more competitive for a TAship and better funding.
Unless you feel TNS is your absolute dream school, and the place you have to be, I would wait.
@ xavier: I think Jasmine framed it really well. The most important thing to consider, in my opinion, is whether you want to go that far into debt for an MFA. Make that decision independently. If you decide you can't stomach the $60K+ and that you want to apply a different year for an MFA, then consider taking the job. I also think you should be the most interested in the PR part of it, rather than the "they pay" bonus. Because if you're not stoked about an M.Ed but you do want the PR gig, it'd probably be worth it anyway.
Mr. Hemlock,
I wasn't offered a fellowship at Columbia. Something came up about other funding opportunities (FAFSA loans? Teaching assistantships? Gossip Girl catering?) but it was a phone call (in a noisy bar--me, not the caller), and I didn't ask for details.
@Trilbe Thank you for your kind words. I walked away with a concussion and have had worsening headaches over the past few days, but considering the state of the car that we were in - I feel blessed to be alive. It is nice to be back though and thinking about my MFA future. Again, thank you for your concern. It's sweet to know that this community is so caring.
Thanks Jasmine, Mr. Hemlock, Anti-, Amanda!
Your perspectives were helpful. I've got some thinking to do ...
@Julia-(the one who asked about U of Arizona)
I found out that I had funding (in the form of a teaching assistantship) from U of Arizona in my acceptance email, but they only told me the details of the assistantship (i.e. exact sum, tuition waver, etc.) on March 11th.
I applied in CNF.
Hope that helps, and sorry for the delayed response (I'm not in the western hemisphere).
Good morning all!
Hats off to those with good news-- whether it be acceptances, waitlists or people throwing $$ at you to study with their program (envious, haha). All good things!
Received a waitlist for poetry in the mail from TNS yesterday. Better than a flat out rejection, yea?
Two left--UNCG & LSU--hoping for some belated March Radness
Happy Hump Day!!
Sorry if I missed a previous reply regarding this--but has anyone in fiction heard from Ole Miss yet? Should I assume another rejection?
@Mr. Hemlock and UNCG
They said that as of right now they had $0 dollars to give out. They also told me that last year they were in a similar position (though not as dire) and people got some money towards the deadline (thanks to some Obama plan?). So they literally won't know until, like, the 15th.
so I haven't heard anything for poetry from Oregon, U of Washington and Irvine. Should I assume the rejection letters are just slow in getting to my mailbox? So hard to know when to give up hope...
@Eli Lindert
I believe the only communication from Ole Miss has been in regards to poetry applicants.
I'm waiting too--there's still hope!
Good luck to you.
@ Mr. Hemlock Re: UNCG
Which Julia did you mean?
Ditto to what Ena posted.
Jim Clark said they were working on it but it would probably take a while and he didn't know what they would come up with. He also told me that if at some point he thought that it would be better for me to go somewhere else (i.e. there wasn't going to be funding), he'd let me know.
Which is information I would immediately share here, of course. :)
Fiction Julia
@anyone who might know the answer or is willing to speculate
Do you think applications to Columbia's MFA program are need-blind? Or do you think that if Columbia's not prepared to give you a fellowship or other assistance, and they see from your FAFSA that attending Columbia is considerably beyond your means, they might choose not to accept you on the basis of finances?
Wondering if anyone has gotten official notice (good or bad) from Univ. of Utah for Fiction MFA yet? I caught someone noting a rejection a few days ago, but it was hard to tell if it was assumed or received.
Nervous, anxious, feeling altogether dreadful as Utah is my last hope of 8 applications a year after 12-for-12 rejections. Have to delude myself in the meantime that no news is good news (particularly with no first notification posted to the DH list yet).
Thanks :)
Time for my daily question! Anyone heard anything more from Hunter College's Poetry program? Are all the slots filled? Should I give up hope?
@phillywriter, I doubt it. Nothing about my FAFSA would have indicated that I'd be able to pay for it, and I was still admitted. Whether I'll be able to go is another question...
Also, does anyone know when Columbia's admitted students weekend is? I've searched their website and can't find anything about it. I'm at work, so calling is a little difficult.
Thanks, Hilary. I figured I was just being paranoid.
Although now I know that if Columbia rejects me it's based solely on merit (or lack thereof)!
@phillywriter, you have lots of merit :)
@ Mr. Hemlock
UNCG told me plenty about funding. They told me that right now they have $0 to give to anyone. They said that they were in the same position last year, and suddenly, closer to the 15th, some money freed up and they were able to offer stipends. Jim Clark told me to "hold on to my funded offers."
@xavier
I have an MS in Education and it did NOTHING for my MFA app. That said, I'm more confident in my own ability to teach. Your call (but the internship is terrible. Truly terrible.)
Congrats to those receiving good news!
Brooklyn hasn't notified me STILL. Definitely a rejection, I feel.
Anyone know if they're going for sure to City College, or are really leaning toward it, and want to chit-chat through email?
@UNCG
Depressing about the funding across the board. Good at least Jim is being straight forward w/ the information.
I don't think anyone is truly surprised programs are scrambling for cash this year.
Right now, I'm sitting on 3 unfunded offers. Boo. In truth, I still think I'm going to go for it. Maybe I'm crazy for thinking about it this way but I think about all the hard work I've put into my portfolio, the anticipation and the precautions/considerations made before I even started the app process make me think: I did everything in my power to make sure I was ready for this...maybe some debt is unavoidable? I'm not ready to "call it" just yet.
Please, tell me if I'm dellusional and need to start having more than 2 cups of coffee a day.
Congrats to those receiving good news!
Brooklyn hasn't notified me STILL. Definitely a rejection, I feel.
Anyone know if they're going for sure to City College, or are really leaning toward it, and would like to chit-chat through email?
Otkuda -
I'm in the same boat. I'm waiting to hear from Hunter, but it's looking less and less likely that an acceptance is headed my way any time soon. City College appears to be on the horizon. I'd be happy to chit chat.
Congratulations @burlaper & M.Swann &@the Julias! And love to any other recent radness I've missed.
@Phillywriter - If you crack on your merit one more time, because of Columbia or anybody else, I will pimp slap you through the interwebz, beeyotch! This process is about a lot of things, but we all know that it isn't the kind of process that can -- or really even tries to -- evaluate your merit.
@ Oktuda,
I'm really sorry, but to update you, I called Brooklyn a few days ago and they told me very definitely that everyone being admitted OR waitlisted had already been contacted by phone. If you haven't heard anything, it means you have been rejected. They are inexcusably slow at updating their rejects (it's been like a month since they notified admits), but even if your online status hasn't changed and says your app is still under review, it's a rejection.
I hope that doesn't sound harsh, i too was just really on edge about not knowing, and it's helped my mind move forward on plans for next year to know that Brooklyn is completely off the table.
Congrats on your acceptance, though! I hope you will enjoy that program at City College.
Lexie,
Maybe you're on a wait-list? From what I've been reading here, poetry applicants were the first notified.
Here's my email:
gmanuilova at Yahoo dot com
@Chelsea
Is this the Chelsae that was accepted into CCC? You may get funding of some sort. Did you apply for the GSI? I spoke with the director on Monday night and she said that I had been granted a GSI, which totals to about 10-12,000 for the entire two years. I would call CCC and see what's up.
I am very excited to go to CCC, thouh!
@Susan: thanks for the info. At this point, I'm just relieved to know.
@ Lexie & Oktuda
I'm on the Hunter poetry waitlist and I was notified almost 2 weeks ago.
I realize, by posting this, I may seem thick, and that this topic has been beaten into a coma...but how do people feel about accruing a moderate amount of debt for the MFA if one does not yet have any loans from undergrad or otherwise? moderate as in, less than 100k but more more than 15k.
Just got off the phone with Terry Kennedy at UNCG. He says they're barely begun notifying both fiction and poetry acceptances, and that they haven't sent any rejections. He says if a school is pressuring you for a decision and you're waiting on UNCG, you should call UNCG because they might not have final decisions until April 15 (!!!).
@umIrenic - I've heard nothing from Hunter's poetry program so that's why I'm starting to assume rejection at this point. Thanks for the info!
So...I woke up this morning and my landlord was banging on the door. He wants to sell the house I'm renting, and he and some realtor dude marched all over the place taking pictures. My dog kept jumping on them (trying to play), so I took her outside, where she proceeded to bound across the entire (large) yard and careen into my junk. On my hands and knees in my yard, thinking about how much I love the house and how much I'll miss it, I was still smiling about the funded offer I got from Old Dominion (fiction) yesterday.
Huzzah.
@Trilbe
OK, I'll try not to let my sense of self-worth be affected by any of my rejections in this MFA process. :) I was mostly kidding in my Columbia comment, though; while Hilary's response to my inquiry was reassuring in that it indicated Columbia would give me a fair read regardless of my financial situation, it was simultaneously distressing in that I won't be able to blame a Columbia rejection on anything other than my writing. But I know it's an ultra-competitive year, and that many, many good writers will be turned away by MFA programs this year, so I will definitely not take rejection as a sign that I should give up. Don't worry; I'm in this for the long haul, and there's no expiration date on getting an MFA.
Thanks, Trilbe, for all your support of everyone here.
@ASU peoples
I just called and they told me over the phone that I got rejected. Didn't know why I haven't heard anything yet. So if you haven't heard, call!
@FSU Fiction people
They said that first round acceptances went out but that there are still more denials to be sent and that the waitlist isn't finalized (or maybe she said that so I wouldn't ask).
A BU haiku:
A ringing cell phone,
My mother, again. Call me,
Bob. My tea grows cold.
Rejected by NC State today via website update. Did I even want to go there? Who was I a few months ago?
@UNH admits
Feel free to email me if you want to chat - ttrepromike (at) gmail (dot) com. I, like most everyone else admitted on here, am unfunded.
Still no word from Arkansas, BGSU, Penn St, VCU, or Vanderbilt. C'mon people!
@ Oktuda & Lexie
I'm leaning towards CCNY. Please contact me if you'd like to chat: david dot puretz at gmail dot com.
Right now I'm trying to see if I can finagle a way to get in-state tuition vs out-of-state. I lived in NY for nine years before moving to Vermont for two years with my girlfriend so she could get her Masters in Social Work. We always had the intention of returning to NY after she graduated but it seems like NY schools require you to have lived within the state for the past twelve months in order to receive in-state costs. Does anyone know if there is a way for me to get in-state tuition even if I've taken a two year hiatus out of the state?
Any light people can shed on this in-state vs out-of-state tuition dilemma would be very helpful.
Awww, Philly, I know you were self-deprekidding --and I was kidding, too, I would never warn you that the pimp slap was coming, 'cause I'm too gangsta. But I also know that, sometimes, we cut ourselves more deeply than we should with the self-deprecating jokes. And I just wantd to make sure that you weren't doing that. You know, because this process is about too many other factors than just OUR writing -- I mean, every adcomm reader that saw you could have, as far as we know, loved your submission but thought that it maybe indicated that you would, somehow, not fit with the group that they were putting together.
Because this process is about teachers putting together a class, we can't know what factors led to our selection or lack thereof. I'm just saying that, because of the process, you can't assume the worst. And, except for Arna, we can't assume the best, either. We just have to take the process for what it's worth, and do our best to find our fit.
Just my $0.02!
Unrelated, but @Woon - Writing Irish!!!! They shouldn't accept you into the program, they should put you on the f*ing faculty for that one!
@burly bird- Are you in Fiction or Poetry? Unfortunatley, I don't have any advice to offer on your situation (I've always lived in NY.) I hope you find a solution, though!
Fiction.
@hilary - You're awesome. I don't just say that because you spell your name the same as one of my best friends and so automatically have a good vibe at first sight. You are genuinely awesome.
re: doubting merit
I think it is very difficult to not feel at least a little defeated at the sight of multiple rejections, especially if, as in my case, there are no acceptances to speak of...ever.
But damn it, I won that fiction contest in AP English! I don't think it's possible to peak that early. There's still hope! I have enough hope to go around, and for 3 small installments of $19.95/month, it can be yours too! Just call 1-800-632-2763 ext. 63 or if it's easier to remember: 1-800-MFA-BROKE ext. ME
Psh, and I wonder why I have a 0% success rate.
@Ratliff, Awww thanks! Your posts always make me smile, and any program would be lucky to have you and your own brand of awesomeness. (I'm also glad you friend spells her name correctly!)
Are you all done hearing from schools, or are you still waiting on some? If you haven't heard from everyone yet, it ain't over! Otherwise, and if you're going to reapply next in the next year or two (which I might have to), we should exchange samples and things :)
@Chelsea and others
Of course whether or not to go into debt to get an MFA is a personal decision but make sure it's an informed one. There are plenty of student loan calculator sites on the internet and I would strongly advise you visit them to know what you'll be getting yourself into.
For example to borrow $25,000 (at 6.8% interest)if you take 10 years to pay it back you'll be paying $288 a month and your total payments would be $34,500. If you borrow $50,000 at those same terms your monthly payment would be $575 and your total payments would be about $69,000.
Of course you could pay it down quicker but do you really want that albatross around your neck when you graduate with an arts degree? Good luck, whatever you decide.
DG
My earlier post may have sounded douchier than I intended. I'm just saying that, given the process, not getting into a program doesn't mean you're a worse writer than someone who got in, or vice versa. Because the adcomms are considering more factors than just the quality of our samples.
@hilary - Hilary refused to vote for Hillary Clinton on the basis that she publicized an incorrect spelling that would become even more mainstream were she to be president. Sounded as good a reason to not vote for someone as any. :)
I am waiting on only Bennington. They sent me the packet with info about the program after I applied with lightning speed, so I expect when they send out rejections I will be among the first to know.
I'll more than likely reapply and would totally love to exchange samples and good will!
@Trilbe - You've never, in all the posts I've seen from you, sounded douchey. You brought up a valid point that's pretty darn comforting to those of us nursing bruised egos.
@ lilia
dude, I'm sorry. Marnie Leonard had to tell me over the phone that I didn't get into CSU, and she was so, so, so lovely and caring about it. I hope ASU is the same way, b/c I need to call them to put me out of my limbo (I've been stuck in limbo with several schools for too long now!). Can I ask, what number did you call? Karla's? (yes, we're on a first-name basis now. only she doesn't know it)
The Brown waitlist is dead. Everyone at Brown accepted their offers. I can't say that I'm surprised, but not too long ago, Meredith Steinbach sent me a GNE saying that I was at the top of the waitlist, so I had a little more hope than I should have perhaps.
On the bright side, it looks like I am off to join the writing Irish! I just need to hear back from U of Arizona. I might just end up calling them to get this whole process over with.
Anyone going to St. Mary's of Cali for poetry. Looks like that's where I will be.
@Trilbe, I second Ratliff. Not douchey. Fo sho.
Ena, Julia and Austin,
Thanks for the info. I didn't know UNCG was in such a precarious position. I hope the funding comes through for you.
FINALLY got my Iowa rejection, dated March 5th...apparently it takes a long-ass time to send a single letter from Iowa to Montreal. Nice that they say how many applicants there were for 25 spots - puts things in proper perspective! I wish every school did that.
Looks like I may have to send off my deposit to Naropa soon without having heard from a bunch of places...but it's probably pretty irrelevant at this point...
Hello
I have been watching this blog for a long time but have not posted.
Here is my list for fiction. If anyone has any advice on making a choice, I would love to hear it!
-Wisconsin (accepted w/ full funding)
-Syracuse (accepted w/ full funding)
-Arkansas (accepted w/ probable full funding)
-Montana (accepted w/ no word yet on funding - they said it was probable)
-UMass Amherst (accepted, had an interview for a TA position but no word yet on their decision)
-NYU (waitlisted)
Rejected by: Cornell, Iowa (with a nice note), JHU, Hunter, UT Austin, Brown, Michigan, Indiana and Irvine
No Word: Virginia, Brooklyn
If anyone has advice that would be great. I'm hoping to make a decision in a week or so after I make visits and hear from the other places. I'll do it as fast as I can.
Thanks for all the help on this blog. It has been a great help to me. Congrats to everyone and good luck!
I say try again, also. I got into Columbia two years ago (and was rejected from three other schools) and couldn't go because of the money. I think it's worth it to apply again, and work hard in the meantime.
Sunny Field
On the short wait list for Sarah Lawrence and on the waitlist for the New School for fiction. Does anyone know how many waitlisters there are for either program? Just emailed TNS to find out.
I was also wondering, if anyone feels comfortable mentioning their approximate age--I am 23, and part of me thinks it'd be better to wait another year before settling down in a sense for school. I feel like my "real life" experience is lacking... Is this doubt that I'm "ready" proof that I am definitely not ready?
@ Sunny
Depends on what you're looking for, I suppose. Lots of quality programs there - is there a faculty member you're looking to work with? Is location a consideration? Funding?
@Sunny
I think Wisconsin's the winner, and it's not even close, but I don't know your circumstances. Maybe you want a 3-year program and you love George Saunders, or maybe you want to live out in Montana. So it's hard to say. Everyone's going to have a different opinion.
It's a nice list.
Just wanted to point out something about student loans. Everyone keeps pointing out what payments would be if you paid down your debt according to a 10 year plan and hardly anyone does this. The federal government also allows you to consolidate your loan debt and pay according to your current income at the time. Income-based payments are often lower and manageable and obviously take a lot longer than 10 years to pay off. The 10-year, unmanageable payments are not the only solution. There is also debt forgiveness for people who take public service jobs — public school teacher, for example.
Try not to scare people by telling them their monthly payments will be $600 or more a month if they borrow $50,000. That's not productive.
Hi Sunny,
Congrats on the acceptances! I think your decision comes down to Madison or Syracuse. (I'm assuming you're in fiction.) And only if your writing tends to be more non-realistic would Syracuse be an equal consideration.
I can't a imagine a better opportunity than working with Lorrie Moore, one of my idols. Madison is also very strong on post-grad placements whereas Syracuse is not. It's a smaller program than Syracuse but highly selective, so I'm sure your cohorts would be fine writers.
@DG
Thanks for recommending those calculators. Definitely something I'll look to use when making decisions.
It stings a little to think about hard everyone has worked--both first time applicants and veterans--and how being offered an acceptance still doesn't mean you'll get a chance to fulfill your dream. Talk about wompwomp!
@ Kristen - 22. I think "real life" sucks, but that's an entirely individual situation that you can only call for yourself. No harm in not being ready just yet. I'm personally tired of working jobs that lead nowhere and make me feel empty, for lack of a better word. I know reading and writing makes me happy. And Zumba, but that's irrelevant to your question.
There's a lotta life out there for us, Kristen. I think it is very possible to experience it while pursuing advanced degrees. Of course, if you have the means, maybe you'd like to travel instead and get a job waitressing in Italy and writing about your enchanting European customers - not that it's a romantic dream of mine or anything!
@Sunny Field
Can I ask when you received the notification from Arkansas? There are several of us on this blog who haven't heard a peep.
@Kristen
I'm 23 as well...
Haha! You hit the nail on the donkey! I am currently (more thoroughly when I assumed I wasn't getting in anymore) considering multiple 6 month au pair jobs--all of them very romantic: milan, paris, sicily, rome. I keep hearing the director of writing at my school: "Wait to go back to school. What will you have to write about if you haven't lived?" Anyway, if I do indeed get in somewhere this year, there's a couple of 2-3 month Italy opps. Here's to reading!
@ Kristen - So jeal you don't even know. Good luck, girl! It sounds fabulous.
@ Kristen: I applied for programs when I was 24 and didn't feel ready. i did it because I couldn't think of anything else to do and I loved writing. I was accepted to one school and ultimately decided against going, and I'm really glad I did. I think I've changed immensely in the last few years and am much more in the place I need to be mentally to appreciate the experience. I also had several of my poetry profs tell me not to rush into it and to wait several years until I knew for sure. I am confident now that if i get into a program that values me, I'm truly ready to go.
@Kristen Hey, i am on both those wait-lists for fiction too. Let me know what you find out! I am fellowette AT gmail DOT com. As for being ready, I am 27. I applied to MFAs at 23 and for a # of reasons didn't go...it's not the end of the world to have a little "life experience" under the belt before you go but it depends on how badly you want the degree.
Go onto totalnannies.com. My friend whom I studied abroad with spent three months watching little italian boys in trento italy. So the program--which is really just a free application and contact with foreign families-- is legit. Go for it girl.
@ xavier
thanks for pointing that out. i thought some of those #s seemed adjustable, because I know ppl paying off a lot of debt that aren't paying anywhere near their rent amount in monthly loan repayments. although, if you budget and don't expect to make a huge upgrade in standard of living right after grad school, i think those #s could be manageable, even with a low salary.
if you're planning to have a family and buy a house w/o a spouse that can support you, that's another thing to think about. maybe that sounds silly, but that's how I'm approaching possible large grad school debt--like buying a house. of course, i also know that i'm not planning to get married, have kids, or buy an actual house.
if you teach at a public university, does the same loan benefit apply as if you were a public elementary school teacher?
@Ratliff, OMG Zumba. I took a class once and almost killed all four of the poor souls unfortunate enough to be immediately proximate to me. I didn't mean to. I just learned that group exercise classes are not a good idea when you are 6 feet tall and catastrophically clumsy.
Anyone in for fiction at Western Michigan and leaning one way or the other? I'm high on the waitlist and trying to gauge my odds ...
@ Susan: I know the loan forgiveness program that Xavier talked about, and I'm pretty sure it only applies to public schools K-12. Universities do not count toward the 10-year indentured servitude...
Re: Real life, I'm 23 and have my MA and have thus been out of school less than a year... I feel you all on the "Am I too young? Do I need to (dramatic pause) LIVE?" thing. And I don't know. I just don't. Maybe I'll spend a summer in Israel while my boyfriend does arcane computery things there. Maybe I'll go back to school for my MFA (DO YOU HEAR ME, BU?). Maybe I'll find a job I actually like and reapply in a few years. I hate open-ended situations (yes, I write poetry, oh irony), but I think you have to appreciate them while you're young enough to pick up and do what you want while you can.
Thank you so much for your responses. I feel like I may be where you both were at a couple years ago. I guess I will start really worrying about this uncertainty if and when I actually get into one of these programs.
If I stay up too late, I get into an incredibly stupid mood where bad ideas are suddenly good, like the time I decided the 90s were awesome and bought album after album of stuff like the Gin Blossoms on iTunes.
I did that last night, only instead of buying like a Third Eye Blind album or something, I decided to quick-edit my arguably most successful story, changing certain key elements, and submit it for publication immediately, even though the deadline isn't for, you know, a month and a half.
Zeus only knows what I really sent them; I'm afraid to open the document and look.
Someone should punch me in the face if I ever stay up later than midnight.
this is off-topic, but only slightly because james franco was the topic of conversation a couple of days ago, but one of his stories was recently published in esquire: http://www.esquire.com/fiction/james-franco-fiction-0410
@hilary
"I think you have to appreciate them while you're young enough to pick up and do what you want while you can"
^^ My thoughts exactly and my conundrum. High-Five! (Is that appropriate??)
@ amanda, @ xavier
that's too bad about the k-12 thing. little kids suck.
@Jasmine, having imbibed and submitted, I feel your pain (although it sounds as though you were just sleep-deprived, not tipsy, which is almost certainly better). I find it's better to have someone look at your documents/web history for you, then gently usher you to the computer screen and, if necessary, restrain you from hysterics when you see what you've done.
Or maybe that was just me... perhaps you had a sleepiness-induced flash of genius and are going to rake in the Pushcarts :)
High-five, Chelsea! Through the interwebz!
True confession: I know that my future MFA program will be extremely lucky to have me. Oh, no, not because I'll prove to be a brilliant workshopper or collegial classmate or great leader on campus. My plan is to set up a multi-million dollar endowment to my MFA program as soon as I graduate and sign a lucrative multi-million dollar deal (See, e.g., Michael Chabon, Elizabeth Kostova). I will dedicate my first book to my recommenders (and my wife), my second to the faculty at my MFA school (and my wife), and my third to my classical guitar instructor for informing me that I had no musical talent and that I should "do something else, for Chrissakes!"
But if I don't become rich/famous, that's okay. I'll still donate $$$ to my MFA school. It's important to give back.
Woon,
I totally agree about giving back (financially or otherwise) to institutions that helped shape you in your formative years.
@WT - at the very least, I'll be helping poor students work toward their dream without having to schlepp dishes at IHOP.
What does "life experience" even mean? I'm serious. If one can only obtain "life experience" by indulging in some kind of Heroes Quest/Odysseus crap (i.e., exploring the world, battling mythical creatures and landlords), then graduate school is my only option. I don't have enough money to travel; I don't even have enough money to rent some dumpy apartment in my local cracktown.
Basically, whenever someone tells me to put off graduate school until I'm older and have "life experience," I want to punch them in the face. Age doesn't mean a damn thing. (I'm a week and one day shy of 25, by the way.)
@Rosie
I like your enthusiasm, especially the bit about punching. I've been feeling the urge to punch a lot of people lately!
Do what ya gotta do, I say!
Happy early birthday, too!
@threes
I'm in at WMU for fiction, w/ TAship, and I'm about 99% sure I'm going. That said, I have no idea how many fictioneers they accepted, nor how long the waitlist is. Sorry I can't help more.
@Kristen and everyone else Re: age
I'm 23, outta school for less than a year, and this questions has plagued me since I first applied. Do I need more life experience? Do I need to do some "living" before I get my MFA?
The problem for me is...I'm not really doing much "living" at the moment. I live with my parents in Michigan, and I've spent almost a year looking for/applying to/interviewing for jobs (booo economy...booo Michigan). This February, I finally got a job, but it's part time (though doing something I love--video editing), and I don't make enough money to move out or do any of the exciting things I want to be doing.
So this was my thinking when I applied at the end of last year: Do I want to spend another year living with my parents, not pursuing my many dreams? NO!
And thus, I applied. And I think it's been a healthy choice for me. I'm writing more, reading more, more passionate about everything. When I was unemployed and living of my 'rents, I felt like I didn't have a purpose. I was definitely depressed, and definitely unhappy. I know that time like that is every writer's dream: time to write, read, etc, but it was really unhealthy for me. Even now that I have a job, I can't imagine spending another year in this funk.
So...I guess it depends on the quality of "life experience." I'm very insecure that I don't have enough life experience, but I know that this is a healthy decision for me, and something I'm more than excited about. It's moving forward. Living at home is reverting backward. It's time to move on.
Sorry, that was long, but I'm glad I had the opportunity to write it.
Thanks, Chelsea! Yeah, I get the urge to punch people in the face at least five times a day...
@ Kristen,
I'm 21. Turning 22 in September right when I will be starting an MFA program.
About the continuing in school vs. going out into the world and getting more life experience thing... I've thought about it a lot, but really I can't think of anything I want to do more than start an MFA program. I really really really want to be in one right now, I'm SO excited.
So yeah, I'm really young, I've never really done anything except go to school, but going to school is one of my favorite things ever, so I plan to keep doing it as long as possible, haha. And an MFA program will be an adventurous new experience because I'll be moving and in a completely new environment, so I don't feel like I'm just doing the same thing I've always been doing.
But, if you don't start an MFA this year, then maybe having another great experience like adventuring in Italy will end up being equally or more awesome. And you can always get your MFA later if you want to.
@ xavier:
Was it you who was asking about Mills notifications in cnf? They've started. I just got a phone call.
(I apologize for all my typos (*this question, *living off)...gah editing.)
Seth-
Wondering your thoughts on U of Miami... I know it is ranked pretty darn low but it seems to have an impressive faculty (at least for poetry- I'm a big Maureen Seaton fan), decent funding, nice location (for those into tropical climates, etc...
Also, can you re-post the link for the newest set of rankings? i know it's somewhere in one of the last mailbags but they are a bit cumbersome to sift through...
@Chrissy,
I'm in the same boat. Well, I'm a drama queen so I've named mine Titanic, but yes. It's a stifling boat for sure. We have an opportunity to GTFO, so why not take it, I say!!!
@ Chrissy,
I definitely know what you mean. I live with my parents too, because I'm still an undergrad and only work part-time so I can't afford to move out, and haven't been able to find a job with more hours. I think that Rhode Island and Michigan have the two top highest unemployment rates in the country... yay for our home states and their twin shitty economies? haha.
I just can't wait to move out to start an MFA program, I am so excited to finally move away on my own. I think that an MFA program will be a huge "life experience" for me, so I don't feel like I need to go experience something else before starting one. And I've never run out of things to write about before, even with what could be seen as limited experience, so I think I'll be fine. :)
Does anybody know someone who went to the Johns Hopkins program and have some insight into the program they'd like to share? I'm first on the waitlist. Definitely don't want to get too excited about the program since I may not get in, but I think I need to start finding out about it.
It seems like, considering their funding and faculty, relatively few people apply (they got 225 apps this year). Is there something negative about the program (beside Baltimore) that I don't know? I'd love to hear any thoughts on the program!
Texas State people,
No, I haven't heard about funding yet. I e-mailed the school yesterday but have no gotten a response. I'm sure they're busy
I suspect that Texas State may be one of those schools doesn't have a waitlist and accepts as more students than they expect to accept. So they might not be offering assistantships to half of admits, but to half of the incoming class - which right now might be something lower like 25%. This is pure speculation, of course... I'm hopinghoping, but right now I'm trying to decide if I will go if I do not get funding.
If I do go and without money, I'm thinking about going part time for the first year while I'm paying out of station tuition. This would save me a few thousand. 3 years at Texas State would cost me about $25,000 + living expenses. This is relatively inexpensive compared to most other MFAs (especially three year programs) but it's still a lot of debt to take on. Maybe with night classes I can get a stupid real world job during the day... Does anybody know about the prospect of work in San Marcos or maybe Austin?
I'm in fiction, by the way.
Roughdraft, thanks for posting the link to James Franco's story in Esquire. His writing's pretty good! Some vivid metaphors and imagery, especially the moment when the car crashes into the wall. He's definitely cultivating his creativity in numerous directions which is awesome (take that cruel UCLA alum of 2009!).
re: life experience.
I'm 29 and a first time MFA applicant. Still hoping it works out (come on funding!). I purposefully waited to get life experience and strongly believe it's worth it. Sure you're poor, but there are ways to live and experience new things. Work in a national park (they provide housing), take chances, wash dishes. Everyone is different, but if you're questioning whether you're ready... then I think you've answered your own question.
@age discussion
To all younger applicants--your stories have been the affirmation I needed. I suppose it's natural to go back-and-forth about one's deicison to attend a MFA program but hearing your different reasons, living situations & dedication has proven age is just a number. And "life experience" IS about quality not quantity. Woooo!
re. life experience
I'm 86 yrs old. When I look back to when I was in my 70s, boy, I did a lot of stupid things. My thinking was also very immaturish (and amateurish).
No, seriously, you won't realize how "unformed" you are right now until ten years have passed. (Ten is a magic number I made up. The actual number of years varies from person to person.) Every time I reflect on my past, I realize how stupid (and uninformed) I really was back then.
@Cielo
I think questioning whether I'm ready is just in my nature! I don't think I've ever walked into something without questioning whether I'm ready. And I feel like not being ready for something has prompted some of the best and most memorable experiences of my life. If I waited around until I was ready to do things, I would spend my whole life sheltered away.
For instance, I studied abroad in Quito, Ecuador for six months. I didn't think I was anywhere near ready for that. I had been preparing, studying, and had even gone through an application process to get in, but I still wasn't ready when the time came.
I wouldn't trade that experience for anything. Even though I wasn't ready for it, I forced myself to give it a try, go outside my comfort zone, take classes in Spanish, make Ecuadorian friends, explore a completely different culture, try different food. It was one of the best and most life-changing experiences of my life. And this is partially because I didn't feel prepared for it. I had to learn how to be comfortable in a whole new environment, and it was completely worth it.
I know, I'm taking issue with a very small part of your post, and in some ways, my argument doesn't apply, but I feel that judging your preparedness, or questioning whether you're ready for something doesn't mean anything. Even though I'm questioning whether I need life experience before my MFA, I am certain I'm making the right decision.
But as you said, everyone's different. This is just my view on the situation, and I don't mean to offend or insult you (and I hope I haven't). I just felt the need to respond!!
@xavier
"Try not to scare people by telling them their monthly payments will be $600 or more a month if they borrow $50,000. That's not productive."
Scare people? I said before you take on debt you should make an informed decision by knowing how much you'll have to pay back. I then gave two specific examples with a loan amount, interest rate, and term. Since it's a loan all of those are variables. Yes, you could take longer to pay it, yes you could get a better rate, and yes you could sign a big book deal and pay it back in a month. If suggesting that people do some research before they put themselves on the hook for tens of thousands of dollars constitutes "scaring" people, well then just call me the boogeyman.
@Woon, I agree completely. But I look at it more as a "look how much I've grown" than "god, I was stupid!" Haha. Glass half full?
Just don't borrow money from guys named Vinnie or Tony "Gooselegs" Moretti.
I need help/advise.
I just saw on the caller id a number from NY and a "private" call that I missed. The only call from NY I am expecting is from Columbia.
I called this number back and it the voice said it's not a working number.
My question is, should I call the admissions? Frankly, I am terrified of the prospect of calling them.
@cielo, I'm wondering if we know each other. Are you from Southern California? Did you go to school in Massachusetts?
@Rosie, yeah, my boat wouldn't live up to the name Titanic. Glad you took it. Haha.
@Laura T, I haven't run out of things to write about, either, and there are huge portions of my life I haven't even scratched the surface on. And, when I think about it, I have a lot of life experience. And if money weren't a factor, I'm sure I would have a lot more.
Anyone else want to just drop everything in your life and go off-grid? I want to pack a backpack of the essentials and just start traveling, see where I end up. Life dream right there. Maybe some day I'll actually have the guts to do it.
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