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hazelmotes

Nov 18, 2005, 3:02 PM

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Michigan Program?	Can't Post

Well, Now I'm wondering if anyone knows anything about the program in Ann Arbor. I guess I may be trying to narrow down my list of schools, since I'm applying to 10, and it's getting expensive!

I know the program is well-funded, but I don't know much about the faculty

Crissytrap

Dec 2, 2005, 9:53 AM

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Re: [hazelmotes] Michigan Program? [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'm not in the program but my friend is and she really likes it. She's a first year. I have, however, worked with a couple of the faculty members at workshops and have had extremely great experiences in that setting. I also was fortunate enough to enroll in a creative writing class at a local community college when Laura Kasischke was teaching. She was a wonderful instructor. I've heard mostly good things.

sovietsleepover

Dec 31, 2005, 12:36 AM

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Re: [hazelmotes] Michigan Program? [In reply to]	Can't Post

This is probably late info, since their deadline's already passed, but rumor has it there'll be two new poetry hires in the next several years. Since it's a two year program, this may not make a difference for anyone accepted this spring..

emptymug

Mar 12, 2006, 11:40 PM

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Re: [sovietsleepover] Michigan Program? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hmmm...

To anyone currently choosing between Michigan and another program...

I think that Michigan's program is the best in the country, especially for fiction.

Their alumni have a top notch publishing record, especially in recent years.

fionayale

Mar 13, 2006, 12:04 AM

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Re: [emptymug] Michigan Program? [In reply to]	Can't Post

I agree.

Michigan is one of the best.

I love Ann Arbor. What a neat place to go to school!

emptymug

Mar 13, 2006, 12:10 AM

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Re: [fionayale] Michigan Program? [In reply to]	Can't Post

For sure. Ann Arbor is real dandy. Affordable, too.

vronsky

Mar 13, 2006, 10:50 AM

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Re: [emptymug] Michigan Program? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Michigan's great. From what I can tell, it's a tight-knit program. Good funding, lots of events, and the Hopwood awards are nice. I got a *lot* out of working with Thylias Moss. And Anne Carson teaches classes outside of the Classics dept once in a while...I found her a little distant at first (especially compared to Thylias), but was very glad to have the chance to work w/ her...and I ended up getting alot more out of her class (Essay Writing for Poets) than I first anticipated.

Of course, if you're not studying poetry, this information probably isn't very helpful.

(Just for clarification, I was in Michigan's undergraduate CW "subcon" program.)

I'm biased, but I think Ann Arbor's a great town.

(This post was edited by maggiekate on Mar 13, 2006, 1:07 PM)

fionayale

Mar 13, 2006, 11:32 AM

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Re: [maggiekate] Michigan Program? [In reply to]	Can't Post

No bias, MaggieKate. I don't think there is any denying how fun Ann Arbor is.

rocky_fona

Mar 13, 2006, 7:39 PM

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Re: [maggiekate] Michigan Program? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Both the Fiction and Poetry departments at Michigan are top-of-the-line.

I believe someone mentioned this before: their students have a successful publishing record.

poetastin

Mar 14, 2006, 2:12 AM

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Re: [rocky_fona] Michigan Program? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Anyone willing to share thoughts on the joy of being surrounded by producers of high quality work, but also feeling kind of like a fraud since your own measly stories are way mediocre until they've reached the fifth draft or their first birthday? I was looking last night at the alumni publication record, and it is kind of intimidating. I picture myslef being laughed off the table and/or eaten, wolf-pack like, by other workshoppers.

(This post was edited by poetastin on Mar 14, 2006, 2:16 AM)

mannytheman

Feb 20, 2008, 10:37 AM

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Re: [poetastin] Michigan Program? [In reply to]	Can't Post

All these posts are helpful but a couple years stale; anybody have something to say about Michigan now? Words of wisdom regarding poetry there would be especially appreciated.

mpagan

Feb 20, 2008, 4:16 PM

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Re: [mannytheman] Michigan Program? [In reply to]	Can't Post

I agree manny,

I just got into Michigan and wanted to find out some more inside scope on here but could not find any.

I'm fiction by the way -

If I discover anything on the poetry side I'll let you know

But if any Michigan students are on here or former students - can you maybe shed some light on the program?

sayra

Feb 20, 2008, 9:30 PM

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Re: [mpagan] Michigan Program? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hey all,
Congrats to those of you who've been accepted to Michigan! I'm currently in my last semester of the poetry program, so if anyone has any questions on the program, feel free to post them here or to contact me and I'll do my best to answer what I can!

(This post was edited by sayra on Feb 25, 2008, 11:19 PM)

mpagan

Feb 21, 2008, 2:10 PM

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Re: [sayra] Michigan Program? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hey, has anyone accepted their Michigan offer yet?
I know it's early, but I was curious, especially because I don't know of a better financial package (not including Cornell and Michner) But still - I'm waiting on 10 other schools, but 98 percent sure I'm going to Michigan. The only other school I would have considered was UVA because I love Deborah Eisenberg , but now I hear she'll actuall be at Michigan for the fall as a writer in residence, and truthfullly I don't think I'm getting into UVA anytime soon. So if anyone is going let's chat, I'm looking for plane tickets for their Welcome Weekend in March.

Also, this is a question for Sayra, what's the typical schedule look like for a first year at Michigan - course load- grading- and such?

smulis

Feb 21, 2008, 2:35 PM

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Re: [mpagan] Michigan Program? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi mpagan. I am in the same boat as you. A very happy boat! I think I'm going to wait on Texas before I accept Michigan but I think Michigan might be a better fit for me anyway. Lets chat off the board. I'll PM you. I'm in for Fiction btw.

If there are any other Michigan people out there please feel free to PM me.

sayra

Feb 21, 2008, 3:46 PM

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Re: [mpagan] Michigan Program? [In reply to]	Can't Post

So typically a first year is two courses a semester (6 credits for the workshop, which is once a week for three hours, and then another 3 credit course, be it a craft course, a lit course, or a course from another department. The first semester the workshop is 1st and 2nd years together, half of each cohort; the second semester it's just your year, which is lots of fun. I don't know graderships that well, but typically they're just grading papers and holding office hours for one class, so it kind of depends on the course and what's do when as to how much time they eat up, but they're not too bad at all, and good practice for when you teach the next year.

pensive
Adam

Feb 26, 2008, 11:47 PM

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Re: [sayra] Michigan Program? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Some Michigan applicants show rejections on Michigan's website. Wolverine access under student business. Mine hasn't changed, but some people's have.

candygirl

Feb 27, 2008, 12:09 AM

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Re: [pensive] Michigan Program? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Gosh.. Mine hasn�t changed yet.. Pensive, here we go again... This time Jim Beam, I suppose? Because if we drink Jack every time we get rejected this year, next year "No money for old rejects for new applications"...

Dinosaur

Feb 27, 2008, 12:27 AM

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Re: [pensive] Michigan Program? [In reply to]	Can't Post

My status on the Michigan site hasn't changed either. I'm so glad it's freezing and miserable outside...it just reminds me that it would be so much worse up there. A little silver lining to what I assume will be a rejection.

slackaye

Feb 28, 2008, 7:15 AM

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Re: [hazelmotes] Michigan Program? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Has anyone on the waitlist received a letter by regular post? The e-mail made it seem like we'd be getting a hard copy of that same letter (going by the reference to a postcard that wasn't attached to my e-mail).

And who's out there waiting for poetry? It seems like everyone is for fiction.

And what's your address? And could you leave your back door open at night?

Since they don't tell us where we are on the waitlist, I'll have to take you all out.... just sayin

lauraeve

Feb 29, 2008, 11:29 AM

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Re: [slackaye] Michigan Program? [In reply to]	Can't Post

I was waitlisted at Michigan (poetry) & while I heard by email, I did eventually get a letter in the mail, with the postcard they referred to.

Good luck to all you waitlisters out there -- I hope many of us get in! & to those accepted, congratulations!!!

Anyone from previous years make it in off the waitlist who wants to contribute some motivational speaking? ;)

Blanca78

Mar 2, 2008, 10:22 AM

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Re: [slackaye] Michigan Program? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hey Slackaye--I was wait listed at Michigan for fiction and received my hard copy of the letter about a week ago. If you haven't received yours yet, maybe you should just respond to the email and say you want to stay on the list?

slackaye

Mar 2, 2008, 11:29 AM

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Re: [Blanca78] Michigan Program? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Yeah, thanks for the heads up. Incidentally, I did send an e-mail a few days back. Nothing for it now but the waiting, hoping, and praying that everyone ahead gets into a top choice that isn't Michigan. Fingers crossed for all you fellow waitlisters.

Blanca78

Mar 2, 2008, 2:09 PM

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Dinosaur

Mar 2, 2008, 3:04 PM

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Re: [Blanca78] Michigan Program? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Wash U was my first choice, despite the fact that all of the other 7 schools I applied to were "big name" as per your apparent definition. I was rejected by Wash U. You can understand, I'm sure, why your disappointment is ridiculous to me.

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