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Lyz
Lyz

Jan 11, 2008, 11:27 AM

Post #126 of 462 (10198 views)
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Re: [bennyprof] Application question [In reply to]	Can't Post

Yeah, but if my writing sample didn't show them what they wanted, wouldn't they just reject me rather than have me send more (its not like their struggling for applicants). So you think they were giving me another chance or they were really interested in seeing if I could finish something well?

Clearly I am overthinking this and very paranoid.

http://shopoftheheart.blogspot.com

bennyprof

Jan 11, 2008, 11:29 AM

Post #127 of 462 (10195 views)
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Re: [Lyz] Application question [In reply to]	Can't Post

Yes, I would say it's a good sign. They wouldn't have even bothered unless you'd made it out of the slush pile. Good luck!

Lyz
Lyz

Jan 11, 2008, 11:31 AM

Post #128 of 462 (10191 views)
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Re: [bennyprof] Application question [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks for lying to me:)

Just kidding. Thanks for the ease of mind.

http://shopoftheheart.blogspot.com

monarca

Jan 11, 2008, 4:22 PM

Post #129 of 462 (10146 views)
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Re: [Lyz] Application question [In reply to]	Can't Post

I think it's a good sign and that they probably think you're worth the "trouble."

Also a good sign because it shows that they are being thorough. I think it shows that they take every application seriously. Even if you don't make it, I think you should feel glad that they respected you and your writing enough to give you as much a chance as anyone else. (Does that make sense?)

Lyz
Lyz

Jan 11, 2008, 4:26 PM

Post #130 of 462 (10142 views)
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Re: [monarca] Application question [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks so much for your insight. And I think you are right, what ever happens, at least they gave me a fair shot.

http://shopoftheheart.blogspot.com

Zash
Zachary Ash

Jan 11, 2008, 6:19 PM

Post #131 of 462 (10113 views)
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Re: [Lyz] Application question [In reply to]	Can't Post

Does this mean Iowa has already begun reading and sifting through the writing samples?

bennyprof

Jan 11, 2008, 7:47 PM

Post #132 of 462 (10098 views)
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Re: [Zash] Application question [In reply to]	Can't Post

With 1200+ apps per year, it seems likely they'd start the process pretty early.

monarca

Jan 14, 2008, 11:28 AM

Post #133 of 462 (9985 views)
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Re: [bennyprof] Application question [In reply to]	Can't Post

It does.
Still seems scary that's it's actually happening, though.

Not that I'm spending way too much time thinking about it or anything.

bennyprof

Jan 14, 2008, 4:26 PM

Post #134 of 462 (9933 views)
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Re: [monarca] Application question [In reply to]	Can't Post

Sent the last of my apps off today, so I'm right there with you. Nothing left but the waiting.

I'll be extremely busy for the next few months, which should help the time go by quicker. I'm not all that nervous yet. More relieved to have the applications behind me. I'm sure the nerves will start firing toward the end of the acceptance period, though. You know, when I still haven't gotten a single 'yes,' and there's only one or two programs left to hear from? That'll be fun. Looking forward to that.

phillywriter

Jan 14, 2008, 8:27 PM

Post #135 of 462 (9891 views)
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Re: [bennyprof] Application question [In reply to]	Can't Post

Like a lot of you, it seems, Iowa is my first choice. Any idea when they let people know? Also, do they call you or just send a letter? I realize it's probably pointless to even worry about these things, but now that my apps are in, what else is there to do?

bennyprof

Jan 14, 2008, 9:06 PM

Post #136 of 462 (9877 views)
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Re: [phillywriter] Application question [In reply to]	Can't Post

Seth Abramson's site has a section with previous years' response times and types of notification:

http://sethabramson.blogspot.com/...ng-mfa-rankings.html

It looks like in the past Iowa has called their choices.

-B

Yugao

Jan 14, 2008, 11:37 PM

Post #137 of 462 (9846 views)
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Re: [bennyprof] Application question [In reply to]	Can't Post

I got a form letter from Iowa today thanking me for my application. Even though I knew it would be something like that, I was still scared to open it, in case I had been rejected in record time.

piratelizzy

Jan 15, 2008, 12:07 AM

Post #138 of 462 (9836 views)
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Re: [Yugao] Application question [In reply to]	Can't Post

Here is last year's "Are We There Yet?" blog, documenting acceptances and rejections beginning 1/27/07. Note that Iowa started notifying in February.

http://mfaincreativewriting.blogspot.com/...we-there-yet_17.html

Good luck, everyone.

mattvswild

Jan 15, 2008, 11:05 AM

Post #139 of 462 (9791 views)
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Re: [piratelizzy] Application question [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks for the "Are We There Yet" link. Though, to be honest, I think definitively knowing when people started hearing last time around only gives me calendar dates to circle... I'm sure that won't be unhealthy or anything come February... =)

monarca

Jan 15, 2008, 11:20 AM

Post #140 of 462 (9787 views)
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Re: [piratelizzy] Application question [In reply to]	Can't Post

Fabulous.

Now I can start freaking out on a specific day!

Love it. It looks like my top choices tend to notify in February. I could know in a month! That is SO frightening.

tuesday

Jan 15, 2008, 1:16 PM

Post #141 of 462 (9755 views)
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Re: [monarca] Application question [In reply to]	Can't Post

OR really exciting!!!

good thoughts,
tuesday

silkfx2004

Jan 15, 2008, 3:40 PM

Post #142 of 462 (9708 views)
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Re: [tuesday] Application question [In reply to]	Can't Post

I don't know if this information will help or hurt, but...

Iowa calls the people it REALLY wants to grab into their program, and they usually call in February.

The rest of us get letters. I got mine in early March.

When I found out that some had been called and some had been sent letters, I was upset...for about five seconds. Then I got over it. An acceptance is an acceptance is an acceptance.

Good luck to you all...

--------
Nobody but God gets it right the first time. Everybody else has to rewrite. --attributed to Stephen King

monarca

Jan 15, 2008, 4:11 PM

Post #143 of 462 (9695 views)
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Re: [silkfx2004] Application question [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks. That's a comfort, too.

(Also, thanks for the happy thoughts, Tuesday. It's a much better coping strategy!)

Lynn Costes

Jan 25, 2008, 4:35 PM

Post #144 of 462 (9515 views)
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Re: [monarca] Application question [In reply to]	Can't Post

Quick question for those of you applying to Iowa in Fiction: Did you use the entire 100-page max for your writing sample? Just curious . . .

monarca

Jan 25, 2008, 4:43 PM

Post #145 of 462 (9510 views)
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Re: [Lynn Costes] Application question [In reply to]	Can't Post

Nope, I didn't send 100 pages.

Edited: I guess it would be more helpful to tell you how many I did submit! A 20-page and a 10-page, abouts.

(This post was edited by monarca on Jan 28, 2008, 12:07 PM)

Yugao

Jan 25, 2008, 5:32 PM

Post #146 of 462 (9495 views)
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Re: [Lynn Costes] Application question [In reply to]	Can't Post

I sent a 21-page story and 12-page story. I have over 150 novel pages, but they haven't been revised much. I'm still focusing on forward momentum with the novel. I did describe the novel I'm working on in one paragraph of my statement though, and that might have been a dumb thing to do.

Zash
Zachary Ash

Jan 25, 2008, 7:57 PM

Post #147 of 462 (9458 views)
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Re: [Yugao] Application question [In reply to]	Can't Post

A fifteen page story and a nine page story.

Scrat1

Jan 27, 2008, 8:16 PM

Post #148 of 462 (9342 views)
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Re: [Zash] Application question [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

A fifteen page story and a nine page story.

I'm about the same. I had around 23-25 pages I believe that I sent everywhere, even the places requiring 30 pages (Indiana). I got pretty fed up with the process.

kiwikid

Jan 28, 2008, 3:29 PM

Post #149 of 462 (9225 views)
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Re: [Scrat1] Application question [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi all. This waiting is driving me crazy! I submitted a 29 page excerpt of a novella and an 11 page short story.

Lyz
Lyz

Feb 1, 2008, 3:24 PM

Post #150 of 462 (11084 views)
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Re: [Lynn Costes] Application question [In reply to]	Can't Post

No, I did not. 30 page novel excerpt and a 8 page short story.

http://shopoftheheart.blogspot.com

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