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shoe1234

Feb 29, 2008, 6:46 PM

Post #376 of 2090 (10772 views)
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Re: [bktv] Let the rejections begin [In reply to]	Can't Post

Does anyone know the link to check my GSU application status?

chitown

Feb 29, 2008, 6:53 PM

Post #377 of 2090 (10763 views)
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Re: [gcsumfa] Let the rejections begin [In reply to]	Can't Post

I contacted the secretary at Cincy.

gcsumfa

Feb 29, 2008, 7:09 PM

Post #378 of 2090 (10753 views)
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Re: [chitown] Let the rejections begin [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

I contacted the secretary at Cincy.

Cool; thanks for doing the dirty work for all of us;-)

krob75

Feb 29, 2008, 8:14 PM

Post #379 of 2090 (10727 views)
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Re: [shoe1234] Let the rejections begin [In reply to]	Can't Post

The Georgia State link is https://www.gosolar.gsu.edu/bprod/admstat.GetSSN.

Stewbags

Mar 1, 2008, 11:34 AM

Post #380 of 2090 (10673 views)
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Georgia [In reply to]	Can't Post

Rejected by Georgia (UGA) today for poetry via snail mail, postmarked 02/27.

LesK
Les

Mar 1, 2008, 11:43 AM

Post #381 of 2090 (10667 views)
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Re: [Stewbags] Georgia [In reply to]	Can't Post

Quote

Rejected by Georgia (UGA) today for poetry via snail mail, postmarked 02/27.

Sorry to hear that Stewbags. But that certainly makes your decision easier! Is, by the way, USC your top choice?

medusashair

Mar 1, 2008, 1:38 PM

Post #382 of 2090 (10650 views)
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Re: [LesK] Georgia [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'm wondering, does anyone ever go for a Creative Writing PhD after doing an MFA?

bktv

Mar 1, 2008, 1:48 PM

Post #383 of 2090 (10642 views)
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Re: [boody01] Georgia [In reply to]	Can't Post

Boody,

I would say that the vast majority of creative PhD applicants already have an MFA (or an MA) before applying, although I know at least one school that will occasionally accept students without any master's degree. In my opinion, a PhD (all other factors being equal) makes for a better CV and increases the chances of landing a tenured position.

green sneakers

Mar 1, 2008, 1:49 PM

Post #384 of 2090 (10640 views)
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Re: [boody01] Georgia [In reply to]	Can't Post

Oh hells yes. A bunch of PhDs at my school, at least, already have an MFA.

gcsumfa

Mar 1, 2008, 2:02 PM

Post #385 of 2090 (10631 views)
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Re: [boody01] Georgia [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

I'm wondering, does anyone ever go for a Creative Writing PhD after doing an MFA?

Yes, either an MFA or MA in creative writing. The MFA degree isn't as "terminal" as some would have you believe and only having the MFA disqualifies you from competing for many of the creative writing jobs at smaller colleges that need a creative writer to teach literature courses in addition to creative writing.

(This post was edited by gcsumfa on Mar 1, 2008, 2:38 PM)

Stewbags

Mar 1, 2008, 2:25 PM

Post #386 of 2090 (10616 views)
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Re: [LesK] Georgia [In reply to]	Can't Post

Les,

Yes, I think USC is my top choice at this point. The greater decision I currently need to make is whether to do the MFA first or go straight into the PhD. At this point, I think the PhD (and particularly USC) is a better match for my goals - as being able to teach lit and writing, for me, is just as important as the development of my own work. Plus, knowing the odds of getting into these programs at ANY point makes me inclined not to let an incredible opportunity slip away.

LesK
Les

Mar 1, 2008, 4:36 PM

Post #387 of 2090 (10581 views)
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Re: [Stewbags] Georgia [In reply to]	Can't Post

Quote

Yes, I think USC is my top choice at this point. The greater decision I currently need to make is whether to do the MFA first or go straight into the PhD. At this point, I think the PhD (and particularly USC) is a better match for my goals - as being able to teach lit and writing, for me, is just as important as the development of my own work. Plus, knowing the odds of getting into these programs at ANY point makes me inclined not to let an incredible opportunity slip away.

Indeed....that would be my advice. I've got an MFA and wouldn't feel great about my chances of getting into USC's PhD program (which is way up there) at this point. In fact, I doubt anyone on this board would....seize the chance while it's there!

Besides...I imagine that as a worst case you could exit after two years with an MA or MFA...no?

spamela

Mar 1, 2008, 7:49 PM

Post #388 of 2090 (10549 views)
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Re: [boody01] Georgia [In reply to]	Can't Post

Everyone I know in a PhD program has their MFA. I'm applying this year and I have my MFA. Do you mean as opposed to the MA? Can you go into a PhD program with no MA or MFA? I mean, I suppose you could, right? I've just never heard of it happening. But I don't know many recent college graduates these days.

Boody, do you have an MA or an MFA or neither? Now I'm curious.

On another note: God I hope FSU notifies soon. Tick tick tick!

medusashair

Mar 1, 2008, 9:37 PM

Post #389 of 2090 (10534 views)
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Re: [spamela] Georgia [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Spamela,
I am getting an MFA at the moment and I have an MA. I would be really interested in applying to Creative Writing PhD programs. Mainly because when I graduate I'll have to go back to my career waitress mode. Kidding. (no I'm not) But I do see problems; funding and selectivity being the main ones. Are there fellowships with these (like in MFA programs)? TA-ships or the like? Also, I am quite a bit older than my classmates already, which is kind of uncomfortable sometimes though I try not to let it be. Any feedback from y'all would be great!

LesK
Les

Mar 1, 2008, 10:06 PM

Post #390 of 2090 (10520 views)
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Re: [boody01] Georgia [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi boody01,

Quote

I am getting an MFA at the moment and I have an MA. I would be really interested in applying to Creative Writing PhD programs. Mainly because when I graduate I'll have to go back to my career waitress mode. Kidding. (no I'm not) But I do see problems; funding and selectivity being the main ones. Are there fellowships with these (like in MFA programs)? TA-ships or the like? Also, I am quite a bit older than my classmates already, which is kind of uncomfortable sometimes though I try not to let it be. Any feedback from y'all would be great!

Actually, most of the programs available have extensive funding...nothing that would compare to recent anomalies like the Michener Center MFA, but good packages. They typically range (and anyone feel free to correct me) from all students fully funded with 1/1 or 2/1 load to some students fully funded with 2/2 load.

Most programs, I think, will let/force you to teach comp as well as creative writing & most, I think, have opportunities to teach Lit later on down the line, but you may have to finagle your way into it by proposing a class, making it clear you want to teach Lit, etc.

In addition, some programs (Missouri?) also offer funding packages linked to admin and journal work....

In short, I don't think anyone (at least on this board) is applying with plans to send themselves deeper into debt.

This reader's poll on Seth Abramson's blog might be a good place for you to start gathering information. Just google each English Department, check out their websites, see what you like/don't like, and go from there. Of course, that's not a complete list of the programs available, but it comes closer than you'd think.....

Good luck!

pedro

Mar 1, 2008, 10:17 PM

Post #391 of 2090 (10513 views)
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Re: [spamela] Georgia [In reply to]	Can't Post

I could be totally wrong, but I think that USC's one of the few--if not the only--CRW PhD programs that don't require an MA or MFA for entrance. Right? Or wrong?
At least that's my impression from the programs I applied to.

(This post was edited by josray on Mar 1, 2008, 10:18 PM)

medusashair

Mar 1, 2008, 10:20 PM

Post #392 of 2090 (10509 views)
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Re: [LesK] Georgia [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks Les K. I spent two years in a row on this speakeasy around this time of year, and it feels weird being IN a program rather than obsessively checking Seth's MFA blog, this site, waiting for calls, rejections, etc. Where are my corkboard flow charts? Where are my mile high sharpie-printed checklists for schools? So, feeling lost, I thought I'd start obsessively checking out PhD's just to keep my neuroses intact for next year!

Thanks for the info! I'm liking Florida and Houston especially.

What's the age range in the students, if you know? Hard being an oldster.

LesK
Les

Mar 2, 2008, 12:44 AM

Post #393 of 2090 (10481 views)
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Re: [boody01] Georgia [In reply to]	Can't Post

Quote

What's the age range in the students, if you know? Hard being an oldster.

I can't really speak to the demographics. I can say that I've been out of academia for ~10 years and plan to keep applying until I get in and funded (or my wife strangles me). And given recent trends in the demographics of MFA programs, I don't expect to be one of the older students in my program (whenever/wherever that may be)...but I don't actually know anything. I'd guess the age range is best described as 24+ (with the plus containing multitudes).

Regardless, don't let age stop you. In a PhD, I seriously doubt anyone will care about age, as long as you can a) write b) tactfully help others improve their writing c) take your scholarship seriously*

*I see this as a major difference between the MFA and the PhD. The emphasis on scholarship, theory, etc. varies from program to program, with some schools like Cincinnati, for example, putting a major emphasis on your ability to do that sort of work, and less so for somewhere like Florida State, which doesn't even require the torture of the Lit GRE to apply. However, regardless of where you go, you'll still have comps and it will still (I expect) be a far more rigorous experience than the MFA.

stephkarto1
Stephanie Kartalopoulos

Mar 2, 2008, 10:34 AM

Post #394 of 2090 (10446 views)
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Re: [LesK] Georgia [In reply to]	Can't Post

Aye, don't be fooled about FSU and focus on scholarship and theory! The program doesn't require the Lit GREs (but neither does Utah, and that's a very academically-focused program), and the program doesn't even require an academic writing sample. But when I was researching schools last spring and e-mailing with enrolled students, I did get the sense that the CRW faculty takes the fact that students must take regular ol' lit classes--and a good many of them--quite seriously. And the students with whom I have e-mailed seemed to be really into their lit classes and their secondary/academic foci within the program.

:)

Some former classmates of mine who are in the PhD program at Cinci were surprised at just HOW focused on the scholarly stuff that program is and how sometimes, to them, their focus on writing their fiction seemed to be treated as secondary. I don't know much about Cinci's program (only that their fiction program seems to be v. well liked by folks from my MFA program), so I really can't say much aside from these little tidbits that I have heard.

shoe1234

Mar 2, 2008, 11:39 AM

Post #395 of 2090 (10427 views)
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Re: [stephkarto1] Georgia [In reply to]	Can't Post

Does anyone know how many PhD creative writing students FSU admits each year? I've heard quite a few. Is it "hard" to get into?

stephkarto1
Stephanie Kartalopoulos

Mar 2, 2008, 11:47 AM

Post #396 of 2090 (10423 views)
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Re: [shoe1234] Georgia [In reply to]	Can't Post

I would imagine it's "hard" to get into, as over the last few years the program has gotten so much press and has really been well promoted. Statistics, though, seem a bit more hard to find than what one can typically find with other programs.

Sometimes I have wondered if "quite a few" admittees means, like, 5 per genre or 7 per genre or what. The statistic may be out there and may be eons beyond whatever research I have done, but I do not think that I have ever actually seen a number for program admittees.

I guess, if the notification patterns of the last couple of years carry over into this year, this week will be the one for nail-biting and waiting for a phone call from FSU.

(And--by the way--850 is the area code, just in case anyone in addition to me checks caller ID in a somewhat neurotic sort of way)

Stewbags

Mar 2, 2008, 2:14 PM

Post #397 of 2090 (10393 views)
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Re: [josray] Georgia [In reply to]	Can't Post

Actually I'd say the majority of schools will at least consider applicants coming in with a Bachelor's. The only schools I ran into during my applications who said that they required a Master's Degree were Missouri, FSU, Denver, and Tennessee. USC, Utah, Houston, Georgia, and Albany do not - though coming in with a BA tacks on additional credit requirements, of course.

bktv

Mar 2, 2008, 3:04 PM

Post #398 of 2090 (10377 views)
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Re: [stephkarto1] Georgia [In reply to]	Can't Post

I think Stephanie is accurate with the "quite a few" students being 5-7 per genre, or 10-14 total per entering class. Most PhD programs admit 1-3 per genre, or 2-6 per entering class. That's easily less than most MFA programs. However, I would still say that many MFA programs receive more applications than PhD programs, but then most PhD applicants are more qualified/experienced.

stephkarto1
Stephanie Kartalopoulos

Mar 2, 2008, 3:18 PM

Post #399 of 2090 (10371 views)
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Re: [bktv] Georgia [In reply to]	Can't Post

You know, it still sort of boggles my mind that a 'large' program accepts around 5 people per genre. It's insane to me to think of that as large.

And BK, I think you're right--PhD programs have less applicants (the reasons are so different for getting a PhD than an MFA, I think), but the ways in which applications are read are so different, so much more subject to scrutiny, than the MFA applications. Like--it's no longer just about having good poems (or stories...or CNF pieces...), but it's about having good poems and being able to hang with the lit doctoral candidates for 4-5 years. And it's no longer about having poems that are good--they show some achievement--but are teachable. It's about having poems that show a lot of achievement, that have enough room for some guidance over the couple of years in which you will be in workshops but that show enough achievement to set the faculty at ease that if admitted, this poet can be reasonable self-guided in completing a pretty stellar first book manuscript, in getting journal publications, in winning awards.

I think of it as being, like, applications for professors-in-training--WITH showing the promise that this applicant can handle the mix of teaching, writing, and scholarship that tenured professors need to maintain.

Different ballgame. Entirely.

And a strange one--filled with beastly fur and teeth and quite a bite.

pedro

Mar 2, 2008, 5:53 PM

Post #400 of 2090 (10344 views)
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Re: [Stewbags] Georgia [In reply to]	Can't Post

Gotcha. Interesting--

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