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Choosing an MFA Program (2013)

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FreddyBensonDRS

Jul 10, 2011, 12:48 PM

Post #76 of 149 (4217 views)
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Programs in England or Ireland? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Does have information on MFA or MA programs in the United Kingdom?

I've looked through the archives and haven't much information. A few programs popped up on a google search but I'm not sure of their reputations as they aren't included in any rankings or blog posts I've found.

Any help would be appreciated.

edwriter

Jul 10, 2011, 1:16 PM

Post #77 of 149 (4212 views)
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Re: [FreddyBensonDRS] Programs in England or Ireland? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Actually, Stephanie Vanderslice has done a lot of research on programs in the UK. You might want to try to get a copy of her book. You could also check with NAWE (http://www.nawe.co.uk/), which Prof. Vanderslice has called the UK analog for Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP), for guidance.

Good luck.

Best,
Erika

Quiet Americans: Stories
http://www.erikadreifus.com

Lydiah A.
Lydiah

Jul 11, 2011, 10:43 PM

Post #78 of 149 (4163 views)
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Re: [azer] Traditional vs experimental [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hey guys, I have a question that kind of relates to studio v academic. Has anyone heard of:
1. A Medical Humanities grad program that *is friendly to poets.* (these programs are a combo study of lit, history, phil, ethics, medicine, etc)

2. A solid ranking of these programs?

Like many of you, I've spent hours looking at M.F.A programs(and this forum), but recently I've wondered about a more diverse study. I am a poet with a simultaneous second Bachelors in Philosophy. B/c of my academic and creative focus, I'm very interested in the fantastical dream that is the interdisciplinary program. Ethics, medicine and phil already appear in the creative work, you know?

Any thoughts, friends?

Thanks all.

-L

bighark

Jul 11, 2011, 11:08 PM

Post #79 of 149 (4156 views)
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Re: [Lydiah A.] Traditional vs experimental [In reply to]	Can't Post

The Langone Medical Center at NYU would be a good place to start looking. They sponsor the Bellevue Literary Review. It doesn't look like they host any humanities programs that aren't part of a dual MD/MA program, but I'd bet you could shake something loose if you start sniffing around NYU's programs in general.

Another place you might look is the Iowa Writer's Workshop. They're not going to host any special degree program, per se, but Ethan Canin is a physician, and the degree requirements of Iowa's MFA can accommodate a deep dive in other university departments.

Anyway, your work sounds interesting. Good luck.

Lydiah A.
Lydiah

Jul 11, 2011, 11:55 PM

Post #80 of 149 (4152 views)
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Re: [bighark] Traditional vs experimental [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hello Bighark,

I seriously appreciate the thoughts. I would never have thought of Iowa (for this reason) and didn't know abt Canin! I know UTMB has a ma in Medical Humanities and so does Northwestern. I also looked to see if Fady Joudah is teaching somewhere, but as far as I can tell, he's actually practicing medicine at the moment. And as we know, William Carlos Williams isn't as active as he once was. ;)

Yes, it's a hard thing to sift through the programs and perceive which wouldn't mind a poet/Phil kind of person. That's not as apparent online.

And you know, I haven't turned down the idea of ma/md or phd/md, and then teaching *or* practicing while writing.
But the thing about this...writers all need time. We need to help people(for ex), but also time to write. I'm scared of being taken away from writing and the "study."

In any case, please know that I so appreciate your feedback. I will hit New York again and see what shakes out. :)
And continue searching programs, etc.

Thank you.
-L

newapplicant
N A

Jul 12, 2011, 11:53 AM

Post #81 of 149 (4093 views)
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Revised GRE test [In reply to]	Can't Post

This is my first time applying for the MFA, and some of the schools on my list require or would like the GRE, so I'm signing up. This is probably overkill, but as we all go through this application panic, I'm going to ask anyway...

I am wondering if there is any benefit to still taking the current GRE as opposed to the new revised GRE? As in, do schools prefer the current format because they are more familiar with the scores, and I'd thus have a better chance with financial aid/etc. than if I had the crazy new scores? Or do schools favor them equally? It looks like half the price to take the revised GRE format, and I'd have more time to cram... Or should I rush and take the current test by the July 31 deadline? Is anyone else in this same over-paranoid situation?

Truth & Fiction

Jul 13, 2011, 2:35 PM

Post #82 of 149 (4033 views)
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Re: [newapplicant] Revised GRE test [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi newapplicant,

What you'll hear from most people about the GRE is that it doesn't matter. Yes, you have to take it for those schools that require it, but it's usually a requirement of the graduate program itself, not the MFA program specifically. And while I admittedly don't know anything about the revised GRE, I think you can take either version based on what makes the most sense for you. The GRE is one thing you actually don't need to stress about.

Do any MFA programs actually take the GRE into consideration for funding? I know some have requirements for the verbal scores -- but only like a minimum of 600 -- and other than that, I thought all funding decisions were based on the writing and personal statements.

Truth and Fiction

azer
A Z

Jul 13, 2011, 4:11 PM

Post #83 of 149 (4021 views)
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Re: [Truth & Fiction] Revised GRE test [In reply to]	Can't Post

Ah, So anything over a 600 in verbal is good enough? I got a 630 when I originally took it, and I was agonizing over whether to take it again or if the score was good enough. I know it is not as important to the creative writing department, but I was thinking for financial aid and fellowships. Is 630 verbal and 5 on the writing portion competitive for that purpose?

In Reply To

bighark

Jul 13, 2011, 10:50 PM

Post #84 of 149 (3989 views)
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Re: [azer] Revised GRE test [In reply to]	Can't Post

In terms of merit awards based on GRE scores, a 630 Verbal probably won't amount to much. Depending on the year, a score like that is somewhere in the 90th percentile. It's good, but not free-money good.
These types of GRE awards are usually university- (not writing program-) based, and consider combined scores. To be competitive, you'd need to be above the 1,500 mark, with a 700-800 Verbal, 700-800 Quant.
But don't despair--MFA funding never considers GRE. It's writing sample based.
Good luck.

elissa
Elissa Field

Jul 13, 2011, 11:08 PM

Post #85 of 149 (3986 views)
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Re: [bighark] Revised GRE test [In reply to]	Can't Post

The only published score target I've seen, on a competitive program's site, was 1000 (total) -- which was a base requirement for the grad English dept overall, not a priority for the MFA program itself.

I was debating between the current or new GRE also and never did see a statement of how they are different. I used to teach LSAT prep, and remember when the LSAT was revised one year, they published some general differences -- in scoring, content, number of questions, etc. I haven't seen that for the new GRE - has anyone else?

Barring that, the consideration, to me, came down to the date scores are needed. Most programs I'm looking at either don't need a GRE, or don't need it until 12/18 at the earliest -- so I am likely to go with the revised GRE merely because it will cost less. (I've already shelled out $800 in standardized testing to complete secondary certification this year... so would gladly take a $discount on this one.)

http://elissafield.wordpress.com/
http://www.facebook.com/...p?id=100001772022683

edwriter

Jul 14, 2011, 8:52 PM

Post #86 of 149 (3937 views)
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Re: [Lydiah A.] Traditional vs experimental [In reply to]	Can't Post

Lydiah, not sure if this is anywhere in the realm of what you're looking for, but I thought immediately of the Columbia M.S. in Narrative Medicine: http://ce.columbia.edu/Narrative-Medicine.

Also, it's not a degree program, but another Iowa strength as far as this topic goes is the (apparently annual) conference, "The Examined Life: Writing and the Art of Medicine." It looks as though the 2011 conference featured pre-conference workshops, including one in poetry.

Good luck! Please keep us posted.

Best,
Erika

Quiet Americans: Stories
http://www.erikadreifus.com

umass76

Aug 3, 2011, 8:40 PM

Post #87 of 149 (3709 views)
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Re: NEW MFA Applicant Community [In reply to]	Can't Post

Just an FYI: Anyone looking to participate in multiple MFA-applicant communities this coming application cycle should take a look at the MFA Draft '12 Facebook Group. If you click on the link and request to join, you'll be let in in fairly short order. Right now there are close to 375 applicants in the group, and it's a great resource for dozens of real-time MFA-related discussions (just as this website is; I'm only mentioning this because many applicants appreciate being members of multiple MFA-related communities at once). Best of luck to all!
Seth

readbutnap
Matthew Winkler

Aug 5, 2011, 3:57 PM

Post #88 of 149 (3624 views)
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Re: [umass76] Re: [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'm new here. The Choosing an MFA Program (2012) thread seems to have expired. When does the 2013 thread go live? The Poets and Writers top 50 rankings data claims to be solicited here. How does that work?

alamana
Jennifer Brown

Aug 5, 2011, 4:07 PM

Post #89 of 149 (3623 views)
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Re: [readbutnap] Re: [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

The Choosing an MFA Program (2012) thread seems to have expired.

I don't think the 2012 thread has expired. . . I think it just hasn't heated up yet. . .

Be regular and orderly in your life, that you may be violent and original in your work. -- Flaubert

http://www.jenniferkirkpatrickbrown.com

readbutnap
Matthew Winkler

Aug 5, 2011, 4:26 PM

Post #90 of 149 (3617 views)
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Re: [alamana] Re: [In reply to]	Can't Post

Can you tell me how the data for this rankings list is collected? From this discussion? Or is there a poll?http://sethabramson.blogspot.com/...p-low-residency.html

alamana
Jennifer Brown

Aug 5, 2011, 4:30 PM

Post #91 of 149 (3616 views)
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Re: [readbutnap] Re: [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Can you tell me how the data for this rankings list is collected? From this discussion? Or is there a poll?http://sethabramson.blogspot.com/...p-low-residency.html

I think Seth collects data from multiple places--he will probably see this and respond himself. . .

Be regular and orderly in your life, that you may be violent and original in your work. -- Flaubert

http://www.jenniferkirkpatrickbrown.com

umass76

Aug 8, 2011, 9:34 PM

Post #92 of 149 (3487 views)
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Re: [readbutnap] Re: [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Matthew,
An older version of the Methodology Article is here--
http://www.pw.org/...king_of_mfa_programs
--and should answer your question (at least as to past low-res rankings). Regarding the data I'm collecting right now, there's been a change in the methodology which I won't be announcing until 2012 so as not to in any way affect the research I'm doing for this upcoming application cycle. I hope you understand.
Best,
S.

azer
A Z

Aug 9, 2011, 6:43 AM

Post #93 of 149 (3459 views)
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Re: [umass76] Re: [In reply to]	Can't Post

I was over at the Creative Writing MFA Blog just now and noticed the 2012 Fiction Rankings on the sidebar. Are those the finalized rankings using the changed methodology you mentioned in your post above? Or is that an informal ranking? When will the final chart be released (the one that looks like the lovely 2011 one available on PW.)
I noticed University of Arizona's huge drop, from 22 to 40. What is the reason for that? Is it just based on the votes?

umass76

Aug 9, 2011, 3:32 PM

Post #94 of 149 (3435 views)
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Re: [azer] Re: [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Azer, I can't comment on most of that except to clarify that the new methodology I was referring to above applies to polling I'm doing, under my own auspices (i.e. via/for TSE), right now -- the results of which wouldn't appear on TSE until 2012. I can't comment on specific programs or on the publication of any rankings besides those I put up on my personal blog. The 2012 rankings on TSE now represent the polling I conducted through the end of this past application cycle (i.e., through April 15, 2011).

(This post was edited by umass76 on Aug 9, 2011, 3:32 PM)

azer
A Z

Aug 9, 2011, 3:38 PM

Post #95 of 149 (3432 views)
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Re: [umass76] Re: [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks for the clarification. When in 2012 do those rankings come out, just out of curiosity? Somewhere I thought I saw something that said September 2011, but I must have mixed something else up as you mention they'll be released in 2012.

umass76

Aug 9, 2011, 5:39 PM

Post #96 of 149 (3422 views)
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Re: [azer] Re: [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Azer, yes, I think we're speaking of different things -- I was only referring to the rankings posted on my blog, The Suburban Ecstasies, not rankings appearing anywhere else. The "2012" TSE rankings were posted on my blog a few weeks ago, and the "2013" TSE rankings will appear on my blog probably late next spring.

azer
A Z

Aug 10, 2011, 4:16 AM

Post #97 of 149 (3384 views)
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Re: [umass76] Re: [In reply to]	Can't Post

Ok, let me try to be more specific so I don't keep sending you running in confused circles :).
The rankings you have up on your personal blog are these, correct?: http://sethabramson.blogspot.com/2011/02/2012-mfa-rankings-fiction.html
So, looking at these, since you can comment on them, I was wondering if those are final rankings for 2012 or just draft rankings, since data like selectivity, job placement, funding, all of the other columns that are on the 2011 chart that can be found on pw.org, is absent.

And regarding methodology, these rankings were determined using the "old"/current methodology, and you mean that the new methodology you have developed will be used for the 2013 rankings, is that correct? Or you mean to modify these rankings linked above once your research is complete?
Ok thanks! Hopefully I made more sense this time.

In Reply To

(This post was edited by azer on Aug 10, 2011, 4:18 AM)

umass76

Aug 10, 2011, 11:52 AM

Post #98 of 149 (3363 views)
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Re: [azer] Re: [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Azer,
Any item in the sidebar of TSE that has a "2012" next to it is a "final" TSE ranking for this year (i.e., the 2010-2011 application cycle). The items with no year next to them -- for instance, the selectivity and funding rankings -- are updated in real time, so they are also current. Re: methodology, the 2012 rankings on TSE will not be modified further; the "new" methodology, which replaces the current methodology -- though to be clear, the two methodologies are much, much more alike than they are dissimilar -- will only be applied to the 2013 rankings, i.e. the rankings based on data taken during the current (2011-2012) application cycle. So the "new" methodology won't really be relevant for another year (and again, will not retroactively affect any data currently on TSE). Hopefully that makes sense(!) :-)

S.

(This post was edited by umass76 on Aug 10, 2011, 11:52 AM)

azer
A Z

Aug 10, 2011, 3:08 PM

Post #99 of 149 (3343 views)
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Re: [umass76] Re: [In reply to]	Can't Post

Yes, I am all clear now. :) Thank you for your infinite patience... You must have to answer this question 9 times a day on every different website.

umass76

Aug 11, 2011, 12:06 AM

Post #100 of 149 (3313 views)
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Re: [azer] Re: [In reply to]	Can't Post

No worries.
S.

(This post was edited by umass76 on Aug 11, 2011, 12:06 AM)

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