Poets & Writers Speakeasy: Writing and Publishing: MFA Programs: The Waiting Game...Have you heard yet???: Page 250

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The Waiting Game...Have you heard yet???

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ookfish

Jan 27, 2011, 4:59 PM

Post #6226 of 6267 (8298 views)
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Re: [jreneecummins] [In reply to]	Can't Post

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Hi all! New to this thread, but so good to know that I am not the only one freaking out over grad school apps. Currently, I am waiting, waiting, patiently waiting to hear from a number of universities but my first choice is UNCW. I'm finishing up my undergrad degree so you would think my mind would be occupied with studies, but all I can think about is whether I get into grad school or not....ugh. Good luck to all!
Jackie Cummins

Why UNCW?

jreneecummins

Jan 27, 2011, 5:11 PM

Post #6227 of 6267 (8296 views)
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Re: [ookfish] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In a nutshell...the department is fairly small, the professors are all writers I admire (one of my longtime favorite authors on faculty is clyde edgerton), they place emphasis on the collaborative aspect of the mfa program, and they support (in fact require) cross genre study and that appeals to me as well.

J

pamelawarr

Jan 30, 2011, 10:47 AM

Post #6228 of 6267 (8086 views)
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Re: UNCW . . . waiting . . . [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi to all (especially jrenee),
I've been lurking instead of posting because my MFA application experience is so . . . well, weird.

Weirdness factors:

I applied to only ONE program - UNCW in Creative Nonfiction. I can't move the husband and the dog just anywhere, but Wilmington works. (If any faculty are lurking . . . the program looks awesome too!)
I will earn my only degree, a BA in Liberal Studies, through UNC Greensboro's online program in May.
Like many MFA hopefuls, I have not one publication credit to my name; but unlike most, I'll be sixty years old next month. (Shouldn't I have written more and published something by now?)

See, a little weird . . . Going for the MFA at all is a litmus test for me. A good idea? Or another excuse for me NOT to just hunker down and write? If I receive the thin envelope, I'm just going to hunker down and write.
If, by some stretch, I get in with the other 6.25% of their successful applicants, I hope to meet jrenee and any other hopefuls on campus.
Meanwhile, I'm going to attempt to mentally move on, maybe even submit something somewhere! But please DO post if you start hearing from UNCW.
Happy writing to all,
Pamela

Joofar

Jan 30, 2011, 11:24 AM

Post #6229 of 6267 (8074 views)
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Re: [pamelawarr] UNCW . . . waiting . . . [In reply to]	Can't Post

Good luck to you, Pamela! :).

Does being published matter too much? I'm just curious, I suppose this is to all, how often do you send out stuff to mags?

Best wishes,
Joofar

flobelle

Jan 30, 2011, 11:30 AM

Post #6230 of 6267 (8073 views)
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Re: [pamelawarr] UNCW . . . waiting . . . [In reply to]	Can't Post

I am not sixty, and didn't get my degree online, but I too only applied to one program. If you poke around a bit I'm sure you'll know which one it is. Also in nonfiction. I'm hoping it'll work out, because I very much want the MFA degree, but if it doesn't, that's OK too - I'll just pursue other things that are just as important to me. I couldn't imagine attending another program. And I know applicants who post here tend to apply to 8-20 schools, but I couldn't find another program that offered what I wanted, and plus, I have taken a bunch of classes in the MFA program I'm applying to already; I'm hoping that at least some of them will apply to the degree. My advisor thinks about as much.

So don't worry. I think of the MFA as something of a litmus test as well. Despite having taken a ton of classes in the program as an undergrad, I don't have the actual MFA degree, and applying to this program will allow me to (possibly, hopefully) finally be more than a "friend" of the program and instead a full-fledged participant.

flobelle

Jan 30, 2011, 11:34 AM

Post #6231 of 6267 (8072 views)
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Re: [Joofar] UNCW . . . waiting . . . [In reply to]	Can't Post

I told myself I wanted ten pieces in lit mags this year. I didn't submit regularly at all and got three in last year (two poems, one nonfiction essay) so I hope it's doable. I have rules, though, like only submitting to lit mags that pay, and I have other writing obligations to attend to as well (I'm a freelancer by day, so "creative" stuff tends to take the back burner). I probably will send out a new essay every month or so.

In Reply To

Does being published matter too much? I'm just curious, I suppose this is to all, how often do you send out stuff to mags?

Best wishes,
Joofar

jreneecummins

Jan 30, 2011, 1:07 PM

Post #6232 of 6267 (8038 views)
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Re: [pamelawarr] UNCW . . . waiting . . . [In reply to]	Can't Post

Pamela,
So great to hear from someone who applied to UNCW! I applied to the fiction program...if accepted I hope to study non-fiction as my cross-genre subject. I am in a similar situation...though I did apply to other schools, my husband (active-duty Coast Guard) just got word that he will be assigned XO of....Sector Wilmington! Soooo...I think it is fair to say that I am also down to a one school option, and if I don't get in I am hoping to attend Warren Wilson...though the low-res MFA option does not appeal to me nearly as much as a full res. However, UNCW has always been my first choice and it seemed the stars aligned when Tim got word about Wilmington. That being said, he was very competitive and we discussed all of our options thoroughly before sending out apps and his sending out job choices. So....I am 42 years old to your 60 and will also continue to write, write, write, submit, submit, submit no matter what happens MFA-wise. Fingers crossed, requests sent out to the universe and let's hope to see each other on campus in the fall!
Jackie Cummins

pamelawarr

Jan 30, 2011, 5:06 PM

Post #6233 of 6267 (7985 views)
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Re: [jreneecummins] UNCW . . . waiting . . . [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hey Jackie,
I live in western North Carolina, less than an hour from Warren Wilson. If they had a nonfiction program, I would probably have applied there. It will be fun to see what happens even if we both end up writing in our garrets.
My husband, the dog, and I went to Writers' Week in Wilmington to see how we would like it. It was really great. I'm sure it will be great for your family, with or without the MFA program.
Best wishes,
Pamela

jreneecummins

Jan 30, 2011, 5:38 PM

Post #6234 of 6267 (7973 views)
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Re: [flobelle] UNCW . . . waiting . . . [In reply to]	Can't Post

Joofar - I don't think it makes much difference whether you have been published or not in regards to MFA programs (although, it certainly can't hurt)! In answer to how often to send out manuscripts for publication...I have always thought sending out one piece to three publications at a time would be a safe number, as long as they all take multiple submissions....

Jackie

logodaedalus

Feb 11, 2011, 2:23 PM

Post #6235 of 6267 (7539 views)
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SAIC decisions in one week [In reply to]	Can't Post

So I get this email from an SAIC (School of the Art Institute of Chicago) faculty member in the writing department:

"As part of the admissions process, we like to have a brief conversation (10 to 15 minutes) with students who are applying, basically to see if they have any questions about the school and/or the Writing Program, especially given that the Writing Program is housed in an art school and the fact that the nature of our curriculum itself is unique, or even questions about life in Chicago."

So we talk. It really is 10 minutes, and it really is just him asking if I have any questions. I asked questions I already knew the answers to, so I could plug a little of my app into conversation. He hadn't read it from what I could tell.

Why on earth would they ask me now? The deadline for turning the app in was over a month ago...surely if I had any questions about the program it's too late now anyway? Surely the only burning question is: am I in or out?

Chime in please...this is driving me slightly crazy. As an electronic writer, I have the pleasant ability through tracking on my supplementary portfolio to say with certainty they have accessed it twice so far.

Oh, and PS...he said the SAIC writing program decisions will be made in a week. Good luck everyone!

pamelawarr

Feb 11, 2011, 2:58 PM

Post #6236 of 6267 (7519 views)
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Re: [logodaedalus] SAIC decisions in one week [In reply to]	Can't Post

I won't say congrats, but I think you should be encouraged. Maybe they are calling those who have a chance in case some of the applicants have accepted other offers, or hoping to gain a little insight into who you are just by chatting. That could be way off, but I can't imagine they are calling everybody! Good luck!

flobelle

Feb 11, 2011, 3:15 PM

Post #6237 of 6267 (7510 views)
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Re: [pamelawarr] SAIC decisions in one week [In reply to]	Can't Post

You should definitely be encouraged, no?

Anyone hear any news about Iowa in fiction, nonfiction, or poetry?

John Y
John Yewell

Feb 13, 2011, 12:17 PM

Post #6238 of 6267 (7291 views)
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Re: [flobelle] SAIC decisions in one week [In reply to]	Can't Post

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You should definitely be encouraged, no?

Anyone hear any news about Iowa in fiction, nonfiction, or poetry?

Fiction will likely be later this week.

chicagofog

Feb 17, 2011, 5:16 PM

Post #6239 of 6267 (6910 views)
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Re: [flobelle] SAIC decisions in one week [In reply to]	Can't Post

I emailed Iowa late last week and they said official letters would go out early March but didn't confirm when acceptance phone calls would take place. The past couple years the calls have been made starting the 3rd Friday in February (for fiction.)

For those wondering about Michigan they are having a meeting today and acceptances should start going out late next week.

pamelawarr

Feb 19, 2011, 2:49 PM

Post #6240 of 6267 (6655 views)
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Re: UNCW Applications [In reply to]	Can't Post

I received an email from UNCW this morning because of a missing transcript. By giving them the original transcript info, they were able to find that it had been misdirected to undergraduate school. The important text of the message was:
"Your application has been processed and is currently under review by the committee. Please forward the outstanding item(s) below to the Graduate School."
Not terribly exciting, but way better than obsessive silence!
They originally wanted the missing transcript overnighted, so I'm hoping that means responses are around the corner. . .

jreneecummins

Feb 19, 2011, 4:41 PM

Post #6241 of 6267 (6618 views)
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Re: [pamelawarr] UNCW Applications [In reply to]	Can't Post

Pamela! Good news...hope this means the pins and needles waiting part will end soon....Fingers crossed for both of us!

Jackie Cummins

bavisca
courtney bavis

Mar 15, 2011, 2:35 PM

Post #6242 of 6267 (5843 views)
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Notre Dame? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Has anyone heard back from Notre Dame regarding their Fiction program?

allisonjoy
Allison Joy

Mar 19, 2011, 3:27 PM

Post #6243 of 6267 (5588 views)
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Re: [bavisca] Notre Dame? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Over halfway thru March and I'm edging toward unbridled OCD. I check my email and the forums first thing in the morning, which means that at the time I'm still so delirious that I have to check them again about a half hour later. I've been accepted to an MA program (the rest of my apps were for MFAs) and am still waiting on 4 more programs. Three of these four have sent out at least some acceptances at waitlists (some as early as 2/11), so I'm assuming I've been rejected. I just wish they would send me my letter so I can move on with my life. After this tortured love affair, I need closure. Last year I didn't receive my rejection letter from BGSU until 5/6...is it just me or is that ridiculous?

One of the programs I applied to hasn't made any moves yet and probably won't until next week. Therefore, I still love that program. As for the rest, I mean, what does a girl have to do just to get a, "I'm sorry, you're very sweet, I just don't think we are compatible in 'that way'" letter??

Dammit MFA, I just can't quit you.

mriley08
Meghan Riley

Jan 22, 2012, 5:59 PM

Post #6244 of 6267 (4303 views)
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Waiting..waiting...waiting.... [In reply to]	Can't Post

I've been watching the forum for a while, but haven't posted before. I've applied only one place - UNC-Wilmington. I live in Wilmington and would like to get my masters in Creative Writing, but can't make the big change of moving to a completely new city. If I don't get in, I'll still have the book I've been working on, but I would really like to have the workshop environment and classes to further develop my writing abilities.

I understand that UNCW doesn't usually send anything out until March, but I wanted to say hello to everyone. So...

HELLO!

VelvetSparks
Velvet Sparks

Jan 23, 2012, 3:10 PM

Post #6245 of 6267 (4258 views)
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Re: [mriley08] Waiting..waiting...waiting.... [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'm a new poster, too, and also a single-school MFA applicant (Alabama). I'm in a pretty tight swivet lately; from what I hear, UA should start calling folks just about any minute.

jreneecummins

Jan 25, 2012, 3:08 PM

Post #6246 of 6267 (4151 views)
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Re: [mriley08] Waiting..waiting...waiting.... [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Meghan! I also live in Wilmington and applied to UNCW...I also applied to other schools...best wishes for good news!
Jackie Cummins

honaker
Greyson Honaker

Jan 25, 2012, 4:33 PM

Post #6247 of 6267 (4136 views)
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Re:Waiting..waiting...waiting.... [In reply to]	Can't Post

Rejection from Michener's yesterday

mriley08
Meghan Riley

Jan 25, 2012, 6:54 PM

Post #6248 of 6267 (4121 views)
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Re: [jreneecummins] Waiting..waiting...waiting.... [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Hi Meghan! I also live in Wilmington and applied to UNCW...I also applied to other schools...best wishes for good news!
Jackie Cummins

Thanks Jackie! You too!

mriley08
Meghan Riley

Jan 25, 2012, 6:55 PM

Post #6249 of 6267 (4120 views)
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Re: [honaker] Re:Waiting..waiting...waiting.... [In reply to]	Can't Post

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Rejection from Michener's yesterday

Lydiah A.
Lydiah

Jan 30, 2012, 1:35 AM

Post #6250 of 6267 (3946 views)
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Re: [mriley08] Re:Waiting..waiting...waiting.... [In reply to]	Can't Post

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Rejection from Michener's yesterday

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