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franz

Mar 8, 2006, 5:54 PM

Post #1 of 793 (17375 views)
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Has Anybody Made a Final Decision?	Can't Post

If you have been blessed enough to be a lucky acceptee at your dream school or a place you're definitely going to, post the school of your choice here. While you're at it, post any other offers of schools where you were accepted or wait-listed but decided not to attend. I think this will provide some information for the many wait-listers who are keeping their fingers crossed.
Congratulations to those of you who know where you'll be come fall, and I wish you all the best!

Franz Knupfer, author of short stories and novels

clarabow

Mar 8, 2006, 6:24 PM

Post #2 of 793 (17336 views)
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Re: [franz] Has Anybody Made a Final Decision?	Can't Post

Hey, Franz, does this mean you've been waitlisted somewhere in addition to your UMass Fiction acceptance! Way to go, if that's the case!

franz

Mar 8, 2006, 6:38 PM

Post #3 of 793 (17325 views)
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Re: [clarabow] Has Anybody Made a Final Decision?	Can't Post

In Reply To

Hey, Franz, does this mean you've been waitlisted somewhere in addition to your UMass Fiction acceptance! Way to go, if that's the case!

I haven't been wait-listed anywhere, although I had a dream about being wait-listed at JHU about a week or so ago. Weird. I'd rather be wait-listed at Brown. Wait a minute. I'd rather just get into Brown. Hopefully I'll have some more dreams to that effect. Anyway, I've just seen so many people who have been wait-listed and that it's a difficult limbo to be in. And of course, we're all curious about where people decide to go.

Franz Knupfer, author of short stories and novels

clarabow

Mar 8, 2006, 6:41 PM

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Re: [franz] Has Anybody Made a Final Decision?	Can't Post

I hope you get into Johns Hopkins AND Brown! But UMass is good, too, even if it's not your top choice.

sibyline

Mar 8, 2006, 6:49 PM

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Re: [franz] Has Anybody Made a Final Decision?	Can't Post

After receiving my Hopkins rejection today for fiction (what I thought might turn out to be a relationship was really just a fling :), I think I'm ready to commit to Cornell, take myself off the waiting list at Michigan, and withdraw my Brown application.

So there you go: Cornell for me! :)

clarabow

Mar 8, 2006, 6:50 PM

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Re: [sibyline] Has Anybody Made a Final Decision?	Can't Post

Cornell sounds great. Good luck!

franz

Mar 8, 2006, 7:01 PM

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Re: [sibyline] Has Anybody Made a Final Decision?	Can't Post

Congratulations! I'm sure we could all see it coming-- their program offers so much. btw, I would love to see your story-- a friend of mine said you posted it for friends on livejournal.

Franz Knupfer, author of short stories and novels

clarabow

Mar 9, 2006, 8:16 PM

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Re: [franz] Has Anybody Made a Final Decision?	Can't Post

I have decided that, since I wasn't accepted at JHU, I am not going there. And that I am certain of.

fionayale

Mar 12, 2006, 10:01 PM

Post #9 of 793 (17036 views)
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Final Decision	Can't Post

I am no longer in the graduate student game! However, I do mentor a student who has made a final decision. She will attend The University of Minnesota and study fiction writing. Hope this helps.

rapunzel1983
Marisa Lee

Mar 14, 2006, 3:26 PM

Post #10 of 793 (16667 views)
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Re: [bighark] Methods of Acceptance	Can't Post

If I haven't heard from a few programs by now, does it mean I probably got rejected by them?

I don't really care because I got accepted to 2 great programs already, but I'm just wondering.

bighark

Mar 14, 2006, 3:34 PM

Post #11 of 793 (16653 views)
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Re: [rapunzel1983] Methods of Acceptance	Can't Post

I'm not sure, Rapunzel, because I don't know the programs where you applied. It's possible that your programs won't be making a decision for a few more days or weeks, and it's possible that you could be on an informal (as in, you won't be notified if you're on it) waitlist. Of course, it's also possible that you were, in fact, rejected.

Anyway, I'm happy to hear that you already have some acceptances under your belt. I wish I could say the same for myself.

Congratulations!

rapunzel1983
Marisa Lee

Mar 14, 2006, 4:09 PM

Post #12 of 793 (16628 views)
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Re: [bighark] Methods of Acceptance	Can't Post

Thanks for the response.

and dont worry--it will be okay!!! I was rejected across the board for all my Ph.D programs last year, and this year I applied to MFA programs because I realized I wanted to be a writer instead of an academic, and now things are going better.

Even if everything is a disaster, you can still apply again. My friend endured 2 years and 16 rejections before he got a single acceptance and now he is doing very well at Columbia.

sayra

Mar 14, 2006, 6:24 PM

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Michigan	Can't Post

i made my final decision today: I'll be going to Michigan in the fall for poetry. Said goodbye money and sent an email to Michener turning down their offer (I also took myself off the Syracuse waitlist last week or so). Though I'm positive this is the right choice for me for a variety of reasons (such as I would melt / bake / something very very bad in Texas heat, and spend three years wandering around trying to figure out why Austin never got the memo that winter = cold), I still am a little freaked to finally have decided. And I'm hitting the serious terror level right now as well, trying to figure out if maybe they either saw something in my poetry that wasn't there or even if it was that will never surface again and then they'll wonder why they admitted me. Ahh well. That'll ... well, honestly, that fear will probably never go away, knowing me. But it's ok anyway. Now on to the other challenges, such as apartment hunting (can't say I've ever moved cross country before, so I'm a little lost). Good luck to all with their decisions!

davidjoseph

Mar 14, 2006, 6:38 PM

Post #14 of 793 (16915 views)
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Decision making process...	Can't Post

Just curious - how are folks making their final decisions? What are the deciding factors for people? Is it faculty, location, program reputation, funding?

I was recently accept into the fiction programs at Iowa and UMASS, and waitlisted at UMINN, U-Wisconsin, and U-Washington. Still waiting to hear back from Virginia, among others. Rejected at Syracuse and Michigan.

theapplepicker

Mar 14, 2006, 6:43 PM

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Re: [davidjoseph] Decision making process...	Can't Post

I haven't made my final decision yet, but funding is going to be a very important part of it. I don't think I'll pick school X over school Y because X has more money to offer, but I will not be going anywhere that can't fully fund me.

As for the next highest priority... I'm not sure.

sara15

Mar 14, 2006, 6:55 PM

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Re: [davidjoseph] Decision making process...	Can't Post

While I haven’t made any official choices, I’m starting to feel more prepared to make a final decision. I’ve been accepted to George Mason, Ohio State, Iowa, and Montana (in Nonfiction). However, only GM, OSU, and Iowa have offered funding. Their assistantships are very similar, but I think OSU might be offering the best package. I could say this is the reason I’m leaning toward OSU, but really, it’s only part of the reason. While all of these programs have been a pleasure to correspond with, I feel as though OSU might be the best fit for me. Their faculty has been extremely friendly and encouraging, and I feel like their program might be the best environment for me to develop my writing.

These are my feelings right now. I’ll keep you posted on my final decision. Which is something I hope to make soon (I’m still waiting to hear back from one school).

Congratulations on all of these amazing acceptances—and good luck with your final decisions!

franz

Mar 14, 2006, 7:09 PM

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Re: [sayra] Michigan	Can't Post

Congratulations Sara! I think you'll love it in Ann Arbor. The program is just great. And I don't think you should worry about what they did or didn't see in your poetry-- you got that great offer from the Michener Center too, and I don't think they both made a mistake (or that either of them did, for that matter).
You are going to make somebody on the waitlist at Michener very happy (and somebody on the waitlist at Michigan sad-- what a house of cards this game is). Good luck!!!

Franz Knupfer, author of short stories and novels

mingram
Mike Ingram

Mar 14, 2006, 7:11 PM

Post #18 of 793 (16889 views)
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Re: [sara15] Decision making process...	Can't Post

Just a note on the Iowa nonfiction program -- I don't know how clear they make this, or whether they tell applicants at all, but the nonfiction program is completely separate from the Writers Workshop. That is, it's also an MFA degree, but it's run through the English department, in a separate building, with separate faculty. This isn't to say it's not a good program -- the truth is, I don't know all that much about it, as there's not as much interaction between the departments as you might imagine (though some nonfiction students do take seminars taught by workshop faculty, and there are a few I know through teaching or social events).

Anyway, just thought I'd put that out there for anyone considering the program.

sovietsleepover

Mar 14, 2006, 7:34 PM

Post #19 of 793 (16868 views)
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Re: [franz] Michigan	Can't Post

Sayra, what tipped you towards Michigan? I'm curious because I had to make the same decision last year & decided opposite from you. It's shameful to realize how much winter != cold is what did it for me, though! I thought "there is no way I'll be able to leave my house mid-winter in Ann Arbor without hating the world at every second. The high there today is 37, so I'm confident in making a good choice for my happiness & mental stability!

fionayale

Mar 14, 2006, 7:42 PM

Post #20 of 793 (16860 views)
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Re: [davidjoseph] Decision making process...	Can't Post

David Joseph -

I would choose Iowa over all the programs you have applied to. That's my opinion. Given all the factors you listed, I think (personally) that Iowa wins out on all counts - funding (if you get it...most people do...if you don't get, all grad students I believe get in-state tuition, and it's pretty low...also, Iowa City is inexpensive and a lot of the fun stuff, like readings at Prairie Lights almost every night, are free); program reputation (no program has a rep like Iowa, even non-writers know all about it); location (I think Iowa City is a wonderful place to live, and especially recommend Thai Spice and Thai Flavors if you love Thai food!); and faculty (Two Pulitzer Prize Winners, Chris Offutt, Ethan Canin...hot damn).

Get thee to Iowa! That's what I'd tell you if you were my son.

All those other programs are excellent, excellent programs. But you can't discount the Iowa name, buddy. Plus, you'll have a lot of fun out there and your writing will be worked over something fierce, which can only be good for you.

Fiona

franz

Mar 14, 2006, 7:59 PM

Post #21 of 793 (16847 views)
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Re: [davidjoseph] Decision making process...	Can't Post

In Reply To

I was recently accept into the fiction programs at Iowa and UMASS, and waitlisted at UMINN, U-Wisconsin, and U-Washington. Still waiting to hear back from Virginia, among others. Rejected at Syracuse and Michigan.

I think location is essential. Can you be happy in Iowa City? If so, then go there. I would be partial to a place that accepted you outright as opposed to a place where you're waitlisted. You control your own destiny.
And yeah, Iowa is a very prestigious program. I don't think the funding is quite as great as Fionayale says, but it's true about the instate tuition. Personally, I have mixed feelings about I.C. because I'm actually from there and went there for undergrad-- I can only give the born and bred there perspective (which means I'm bored of there), but lots of people love it and I think it's a good environment to work in. Do get used to wicked cold winters, though. I hear they've been mild the last few years but I remember days as a kid where there would be a week of 40 below weather (with windchill) and when it got back up to zero it would actually feel warm. They wouldn't let us out of school unless it was colder than 50 below and there would be a string of agonizing days where it would be 43, 46 below and I would freeze my ass off going to school.
Mike Ingram, what's it been like these last few winters? I live in Portland now. Sometimes I miss those ol' cornfields. I do have heartland pride, indeedy. We're not quite the hicks that some people think we are.

Franz Knupfer, author of short stories and novels

pollyannaglassy

Mar 14, 2006, 8:04 PM

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Re: [franz] Decision making process...	Can't Post

I was there (in Iowa City) all last winter and I don't think it went below zero more than two or three days in January...it seemed like January was cold and the rest of the months - December, Feb, March, etc - were just charming Midwestern winters, with snow on the ground and big blue skies above.

My favorite thing about Iowa City is the great "writers" bars...something you won't find in most cities, large or small.

(This post was edited by pollyannaglassy on Mar 14, 2006, 8:05 PM)

sara15

Mar 14, 2006, 9:47 PM

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Re: [mingram] Decision making process...	Can't Post

Thanks, Mike. I did know going in that Iowa’s Nonfiction Writing Program is separate from the Writer’s Workshop. My main reason for applying was to work with Iowa’s topnotch faculty, including John D’Agata. I’m currently working with the lyric essay, a form D’Agata explores and anthologizes in The Next American Essay. So although I’m not sure Iowa’s program will end up being the right choice for me, I would definitely recommend it to other Nonfiction writers.

(In a fun side note, Iowa’s NWP site has audio recordings from NonfictionNow 2005. Pretty cool!).

sovietsleepover

Mar 14, 2006, 11:44 PM

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Re: [franz] Decision making process...	Can't Post

Quote

I would be partial to a place that accepted you outright as opposed to a place where you're waitlisted.

But don't feel like being waitlisted puts you at a disadvantage to the people accepted outright should you decide to accept. Once you get there you'll all be first year MFA students starting from exactly the same place. No one will know you were waitlisted (not that it's shameful, but that there won't be any scarlet "W"s to set you apart), and really, no one will care one way or the other.

sayra

Mar 15, 2006, 12:32 AM

Post #25 of 793 (16722 views)
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Re: [sovietsleepover] Michigan	Can't Post

there were a bunch of factors, but honestly, i think it was also weather that tipped it for me in the opposite direction that it tipped it for you. as in "it was like 90 there last week--did no one send them a memo that it's march?!". and the fact that it's been about 50/60 here lately, and i kept thinking, this will be my whole winter. and that honestly seemed horrifying to me. yes, i am the only person who would ever say that weather was a deciding point for michigan over texas, but that's ok.

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