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reality writes

Feb 20, 2009, 4:54 PM

Post #26 of 49 (8201 views)
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Re: [IrisAnn] Question for Michener Alum or Current Students	Can't Post

hey Iris,
I hear you. Michener really sounds like the a dream school. Did you also apply to Sarah Lawrence? Marie is a full-time faculty member there, I think. At least she used to be - a friend of mine studied with her there. However, my friend didn't have great things to say about her as a teacher. I don't want to speak hearsay or drag anyone's name in the mud, I'm just sayin'. My friend could have been completely out of line and not used to criticism. But also, sometimes our favorite writers aren't the best teachers.
Here's hoping both you and me get into the best programs for us.
and yes, I think I've said my share of prayers for Michener, too!

Oh, and for the rest of us waiting, who else also applied to the M.A. program there? I did, and they sent my postcard back saying they would notify late February/early March.

SevenFreckles

Feb 20, 2009, 8:55 PM

Post #27 of 49 (8110 views)
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Re: [reality writes] Question for Michener Alum or Current Students	Can't Post

I applied to Michener too... but I have to say it is a program I rarely think about. I'm not sure -why- I bothered to apply, but I think I have a similar motive when I occasionally play the really big-money lottery drawings. I know the chances of winning are slim to ridiculous, but I just have to try anyway. Cornell and UVA are similar for me. I don't even fantasize about getting in, but wouldn't it be amazing if I did. :) Michener... three years to just write. It would be a beautiful thing.

kojak

Mar 6, 2009, 9:24 PM

Post #28 of 49 (7920 views)
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Re: [SevenFreckles] Question for Michener Alum or Current Students	Can't Post

I am making attempt to revive this thread. As I understand, many people found out from their online status check that they were rejected, but just as many can read the message that their application is being reviewed. I am one of the latter, and although chances of being picked are slim, I must say I am enjoying the day dreaming, so far...

rebeccavl

Mar 9, 2009, 5:09 PM

Post #29 of 49 (7808 views)
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Re: [kojak] Question for Michener Alum or Current Students	Can't Post

Kojak: I'm still dreaming too. I noticed that my status page looks slightly different this week than it did last week. Although the text remains the same as it has since December (" We have received all credentials required to process your application. Your file has been forwarded to the Graduate Committee for review"), this phrase, while once in plaintext and left aligned, is now slightly indented, and in a light blue box.

I have tried to read a positive meaning into the blue box for several days now.

This is of course useless and obsessive, but it comforts me a little.

Khalilah

Mar 9, 2009, 7:18 PM

Post #30 of 49 (7742 views)
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Re: [rebeccavl] Question for Michener Alum or Current Students	Can't Post

So, even though I am out of the running, I have been wondering who DID get in i.e. if any of the MCW acceptees are tapping in to the forum. So speak up and to you guys looking at blue colored reviews, best of luck.

kojak

Mar 10, 2009, 1:34 PM

Post #31 of 49 (7650 views)
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Re: [Khalilah] Question for Michener Alum or Current Students	Can't Post

My status hasn't changed yet, but I was hoping to find out more information about the program and connect with some people who are going there. It would be great to find out if and when they pick someone!

VesperGloaming

Aug 6, 2009, 3:08 PM

Post #32 of 49 (7474 views)
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Re: [kojak] Question for Michener Alum or Current Students	Can't Post

I'm applying to this school and it will be a dream come true if I get in (or as someone put it, winning the jackpot). I live only an hour away from Austin and I graduated from UT Austin, so I know the area pretty well. I also know a few of the creative writing professors since I took a few creative writing classes as an undergrad. I hope I left a good impression--good enough for them to remember me and consider me as a potential student.

ryanduke

Feb 4, 2010, 12:22 PM

Post #33 of 49 (6871 views)
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Re: [VesperGloaming] Question for Michener Alum or Current Students	Can't Post

Time to apply the EKG and bring this thread back to life. Let us know, if your phone rings with good news from Austin.

ericweinstein
Eric Weinstein

Feb 4, 2010, 12:46 PM

Post #34 of 49 (6853 views)
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Re: [ryanduke] Question for Michener Alum or Current Students	Can't Post

Generally all acceptances, regardless of school, are funneled into the "I'M IN!" thread.

Hans Landa: You'll be shot for this!
Aldo Raine: Nah, I don't think so. More like chewed out. I've been chewed out before.

ryanduke

Feb 4, 2010, 1:18 PM

Post #35 of 49 (6830 views)
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Re: [ericweinstein] Michener News	Can't Post

Yeah, but it's just so... "generic". They way I figure, if you're interested in this thread, you're interested in the biggest and best news specific to Michener. The biggest news story right now: potential acceptances. Instead of sifting through hundreds of giddy/nervous posts about getting in/not getting in at schools b, c, or d, I want to hear about acceptances at school A. UT-Austin.

emilychristine
Emily Sims

Feb 8, 2010, 6:22 PM

Post #36 of 49 (6664 views)
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Re: [ryanduke] Michener News	Can't Post

Some rejections are now on the status check page (I know this Seth's blog comments).

http://sethabramson.blogspot.com/2010/01/2010-data-bank-cw-mamfaphd-application.html

Our Daily Tales / Travel Tales

mcbyrne

Feb 12, 2010, 4:16 PM

Post #37 of 49 (6435 views)
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Re: [emcsims] Michener News	Can't Post

Hi everyone! Just checking in...is there anyone else in Michener limbo? I've heard news of rejections going out all week, but my status page hasn't changed. I choose to view this as no-news-is-good-news, of course, but just wanted to know if anyone else was in the same situation :)

I applied for Playwriting/Fiction.

sfo2010

Feb 16, 2010, 10:46 PM

Post #38 of 49 (6172 views)
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Re: [mcbyrne] Michener News	Can't Post

Hi-

Yep, I'm in Michener limbo as well (no doubt along with a cast of hundreds). I applied for Fiction. I did contact GIAC on Monday regarding a lost/missing transcript and also called the center directly to let them know I was in the process of getting another copy and all they said was "Looking forward to reviewing your application."

But, I have seen on the Waiting Game thread (I think it was that thread, or maybe it was the "I'm Not In" thread, they are all blending together) that two people got their rejections--one just said UT-Austin, the other specified Michener.

Hope that's helpful!

earthgirl

Apr 3, 2010, 3:12 PM

Post #39 of 49 (5653 views)
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Question for Michener Alum or Current Students	Can't Post

So, like everyone else, Michener is my top choice.

If there is any alum or current student who wouldn't mind talking about their app process, giving out pointers, etc - I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT!

I've been hearing all kinds of conflicting things about Michener's admission council. For example, they hate writing that's done in the present tense, or they only accept people who have been published, or they only take you if you have a 1400+ on the GRE....

And then some people tell me the opposite of all of that. That your GRE doesn't matter, they love unpublished candidates, etc.

I would like to just get it straight from someone who KNOWS what they're talking about, instead of people who assume they know what they're talking about.

ANY advice is appreciated. I'm really lost here. Thanks!

earthgirl

Apr 6, 2010, 2:33 PM

Post #40 of 49 (5529 views)
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Re: [earthgirl] Question for Michener Alum or Current Students	Can't Post

bueller?

kbritten

Apr 6, 2010, 2:45 PM

Post #41 of 49 (5523 views)
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Re: [earthgirl] Question for Michener Alum or Current Students	Can't Post

I hate to say it Earthgirl, but if any of us knew how to crack the Michener code, we'd probably tell you, heh... or, we'd be sworn to secrecy, punishable by death. They seem so distant to me that I do not intend to ever apply there. Funding at other, more accessible schools, seems almost as good, especially considering that many programs offer excellent teaching opportunities that UT does not (of course, some applicants don't want to teach, but to each his/her own). Other programs that give me this "distant" feeling are Vanderbilt (yeah, <1% admittance rate is ridiculous) and Cornell (86% admittance rate for fiction, I believe). It just seems like a waste of almost $100, but that's just me. I'm not saying that you should not apply there, but for me, at least, it seems almost silly.

Now, there are several, more accessible programs with high reputations, one being Iowa. Michigan seems like another, Syracuse, too. Then again, their admittance rates are <3%!! Yeesh, this whole thing is revoltingly ridiculous. Subjective, nonsensical, inexplicable. Blech.

earthgirl

Apr 6, 2010, 3:00 PM

Post #42 of 49 (5517 views)
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Re: [kbritten] Question for Michener Alum or Current Students	Can't Post

Thanks for responding, kbritten. The teaching experience is actually somewhat important to me, since ultimately I want to be able to teach. So thanks for bringing that to my attention. I think I knew that somehow, but I suppose I just forgot about it - especially since I had TAs for a fiction class in undergrad. But I guess they were MA candidates.

Looking at the profiles of past MFA candidates there, it seems that most have had something published. A few of them had books published. BOOKS!

So I guess I shouldn't have hope.

I don't know what's up with the secrecy. I've emailed Michener several times over the past year. Can't get a word back from them. Seems ridiculous. I understand exclusivity, but if they want to maintain that precious 2% yield, shouldn't they encourage people to apply? Whatever.

You're right the entire thing is revolting. My stomach turns into knots just thinking about it. I better stop scouring answers for "how to get in" and start ferociously attacking my portfolio and make sure it's as close to perfect as i can get....

*$&^!!

oh, and thank you again for responding!

kbritten

Apr 6, 2010, 3:16 PM

Post #43 of 49 (5515 views)
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Re: [earthgirl] Question for Michener Alum or Current Students	Can't Post

I'm sorry Earthgirl :( I don't have anything negative to say about the program, so I hope my post didn't sound like a dig against UT. It's just a little frustrating, is all. I was talking to my dad about my results this year (two wait lists, 5 rejections, and 2 "no-words" after working my little patoot off last summer), and I was saying that it looks like you have to be a pretty accomplished writer to get into to some of these schools, especially the well-funded ones. My dad, who knows nothing about the process, says, "that doesn't make any sense. Why would you have to be an accomplished writer to learn to write?" Hmmmm, good point, dad. I explained that the well-funded programs are really more like writing fellowship type things that culminate in a degree, that they're not exactly "learning" centered, more "improving" centered. Much like a PhD program, I guess, in which the student should have a high level of expertise in the field to gain admission.

I don't know anyone personally who got accepted to Michener, and I haven't read an accepted sample, either. But, there is a poster on the MFA blog that got accepted to Michener this year and the guy had a pretty extensive and respectable publishing history. I don't know if that means they don't accept unpublished writers at all, or if it's just that they have so many qualified applicants that they have their pick of the litter, so to speak. At the end of the day, it's a longshot. But this is Amurricah, anything can happen ;)

sarahc

Apr 6, 2010, 4:14 PM

Post #44 of 49 (5493 views)
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Re: [kbritten] Question for Michener Alum or Current Students	Can't Post

I'm about to graduate from the Michener Center--trolling these boards again for news about post-mfa fellowships. The deal is: MCW doesn't care about GREs or publications. They don't care about anything but the quality of your writing, and that is, of course, subjective! So don't stress. There is no secret strategy. The committee won't even look at your statement of purpose until they have decided, based on your writing sample, that they want you, and they will never even see your GREs--the GRE is just a university-wide requirement for graduate enrollment. Just send your best work and cross your fingers.

That sucks that nobody's gotten back to you, earthgirl. I'm surprised. It's a pretty friendly operation.

Glinda Bamboo

Aug 29, 2010, 3:59 PM

Post #45 of 49 (4381 views)
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Re: [sarahc] Question for Michener Alum or Current Students	Can't Post

Can anyone comment on whether there are every any sort of teaching opportunities at Michener? I'd like to apply but honestly, I really would like teaching experience. That's the one thing holding me back from this program.

mw1363
Marc Watkins

Aug 29, 2010, 8:01 PM

Post #46 of 49 (4359 views)
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Re: [Glinda Bamboo] Question for Michener Alum or Current Students	Can't Post

I know the Austin based Badgerdog organization allows folks enrolled in the program to receive course credit by teaching/interning in programs designed to teach creative writing to elementary and high school students. LINK

Guyintheback
Random Person

Mar 4, 2011, 10:40 PM

Post #47 of 49 (3068 views)
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2011 Status Question	Can't Post

Here's a question regarding the most recent crops of rejections (of which I'm a part of). For those of you who applied and got rejected via emails a few weeks ago:

Were your file statuses listed as "Complete" on the UT website? Or did your status say that you still had items missing when you received the rejection letter?

...Just trying to prepare for next year's second swing. Sigh.

Yugao

Mar 9, 2011, 11:21 AM

Post #48 of 49 (2951 views)
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Re: [Guyintheback] 2011 Status Question	Can't Post

I got into Michener a few years ago, and my status was never upgraded from "items missing." I guess it doesn't mean a great deal?

sheila3425

Jul 20, 2011, 9:26 AM

Post #49 of 49 (2099 views)
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Re: [Yugao] 2011 Status Question	Can't Post

What are your thoughts on the Creative Writing MFA with the English department? The program is shorter and the funding is not as great, but there are opportunities to TA.

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