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spamela

Feb 20, 2008, 10:21 AM

Post #176 of 462 (10776 views)
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Re: [silkfx2004] Accepted to Iowa? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Might I suggest taking a shuffle on down to Active Endeavors and buying some Yak Trax? I seriously think they saved my life this winter.

Lynn Costes

Feb 20, 2008, 12:22 PM

Post #177 of 462 (10688 views)
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Re: [spamela] Accepted to Iowa? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Is there a difference between getting a phone call and a letter from Iowa? I haven't received either; I'm just curious.

bighark

Feb 20, 2008, 12:36 PM

Post #178 of 462 (10652 views)
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Re: [Lynn Costes] Accepted to Iowa? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Not really--both methods of contact result in admission to Iowa.

***

Iowa has a new director, so its admissions procedures might be changing. In the past, calls went out first and letters came out a few days after.

I surmise that the calls went out to especially competitive candidates to whom some sort of assistantship was going to be offered.

The letters went out to everybody else.

Also, if Iowa doesn't have an official waitlist, one could reasonably expect to see letters trickling out as candidates respond with their decisions to decline admission in favor of a spot at another school.

This is just conjecture, though. I don't attend Iowa or work for them. Also, as stated above, there's a new director and it's entirely possible that the process has changed.

marcelisima

Feb 20, 2008, 2:57 PM

Post #179 of 462 (10544 views)
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Re: [hazelmotes] Iowa MFA [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi there,

I'm in the fiction program at Iowa right now, and my application packet had two stories--one twelve pages and one thirteen pages. So maybe 25 pages tops. It was a very slim package.

I also did not have a high undergrad gpa 2.83 overall, and 3.5 in English...but I did have an MA in English with a 3.75 gpa (don't know if that offset or what). I suspect they don't care much about grades.

Hope that helps,

Marcela

Lynn Costes

Feb 20, 2008, 5:26 PM

Post #180 of 462 (10452 views)
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Re: [marcelisima] Iowa MFA [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks guys. This is helpful!

kdolenz

Feb 21, 2008, 10:19 PM

Post #181 of 462 (10268 views)
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Re: [Lynn Costes] Iowa MFA [In reply to]	Can't Post

Okay, so Iowa is my top choice, but it looks like it might take a while to hear anything definite, expecially if I end up on a waitlist. In the meantime, I've been accepted into one of the schools that was basically in the middle of my top 12 list. They've offered me a TAship, and I don't think I'd be unhappy to go there--it's just that it's not Iowa, and from what everyone says, if you get into Iowa, you have to go. So here's my question . . . what do I tell the school that has already accepted me? I know they want an answer asap, but I'd really like to at least find out whether Iowa accepts me or not before I give them an answer. I don't care as much about the other places where I applied, but I know I'd be depressed if I found out in March that I had been accepted at Iowa after I'd already committed myself to another school.

So, can I stall them? And, if so, how long can you stall them before they start to get pissed off?

pensive
Adam

Feb 21, 2008, 10:56 PM

Post #182 of 462 (10234 views)
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Re: [kdolenz] Iowa MFA [In reply to]	Can't Post

What's the school you were accepted to?

__________

Feb 21, 2008, 11:12 PM

Post #183 of 462 (10221 views)
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Re: [pensive] Iowa MFA [In reply to]	Can't Post

If Iowa doesn't accept you this year, there's no law that says you couldn't head for School B and secretly apply next year. They might even keep your reference letters on file so there's minimum creepiness involved.

six five four three two one 0 ->

popeye

Feb 22, 2008, 12:23 AM

Post #184 of 462 (10182 views)
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Re: [kdolenz] Iowa MFA [In reply to]	Can't Post

You do not need to give them a response until April 15th. That date was agreed upon by all the programs, and although they will push you for an answer sooner you are not required to commit. Just tell them that you are waiting to make a decision until you have heard from other places. People do this all the time and they won't retract their offer.

pensive
Adam

Feb 22, 2008, 1:10 AM

Post #185 of 462 (10161 views)
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Re: [popeye] Iowa MFA [In reply to]	Can't Post

This is not true for all programs actually. Some programs do not fall under this rule. New School and Sarah Lawrence for instance don't fall under this rule. What's the program?

aiyamei

Feb 22, 2008, 1:25 AM

Post #186 of 462 (10155 views)
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Re: [pensive] Iowa MFA [In reply to]	Can't Post

I would imagine that Kdolenz is not eager to reveal the name of the program, given that it might be a very small one, and it may not be very difficult for someone from that program, either student or faculty, to figure out who he/she is. I'd say, better keep the name of the program under wraps. Better that they don't think you're the student who is really pining after Iowa/planning a defection to Iowa, etc.

kdolenz

Feb 22, 2008, 11:32 AM

Post #187 of 462 (10039 views)
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Re: [aiyamei] Iowa MFA [In reply to]	Can't Post

popeye,

thanks. I had no idea about the April 15 date. That's good to know. And yes, sorry to be so secretive about the school. I just have no idea who might be reading these messageboards . . .

thanks everyone for all of your help!

pensive
Adam

Feb 22, 2008, 12:29 PM

Post #188 of 462 (9984 views)
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Re: [kdolenz] Iowa MFA [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Like I said, there's a list of schools that this date pertains to. Not all schools fall under this rule.

lynnhs

Feb 23, 2008, 2:08 PM

Post #189 of 462 (9802 views)
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isis updates [In reply to]	Can't Post

for those of you who have gotten in has your status on isis changed? mine
is still in progress but it now says on one of the pages that registration has not been authorized by advisor (this is a change from previously and im desperate for anything at this point)...does this mean anything? does anyone else have this? why is this so painful?

golic

Feb 23, 2008, 2:08 PM

Post #190 of 462 (9799 views)
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Re: [pensive] Iowa MFA [In reply to]	Can't Post

For those not following the "Waiting Game" thread: Iowa has accepted one person by phone for fiction and several by phone for nonfiction. There's also a great link to a post about this person who applied to 23 schools and didn't hear from some until late April - wasn't even told she was on the wait list. So those of us applying to Iowa should assume that until we hear something from them directly, there's still hope. Hang in there everyone!

phillywriter

Feb 23, 2008, 2:28 PM

Post #191 of 462 (9778 views)
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Re: [golic] Iowa MFA [In reply to]	Can't Post

golic,

Thanks for your post. I feel better already!

Taryn_S

Feb 23, 2008, 3:07 PM

Post #192 of 462 (9741 views)
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Re: [phillywriter] Iowa MFA [In reply to]	Can't Post

Just in at Iowa for Poetry!!!! Call from James Galvin. Talk of TAship. Freaking A!

martis

Feb 23, 2008, 3:58 PM

Post #193 of 462 (9716 views)
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Re: [Taryn_S] Iowa MFA [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Just in at Iowa for Poetry!!!! Call from James Galvin. Talk of TAship. Freaking A!

Taryn,

Congratultions!! Even though Iowa is my number one choice, and I'm kind of freaking out myself (for different reasons), I mean that sincerely. That's a serious accomplishment. Getting into the top program in the country with a TAship to boot. You should be opening the champagne!

jeleri

Feb 23, 2008, 5:10 PM

Post #194 of 462 (9664 views)
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Re: [lynnhs] isis updates [In reply to]	Can't Post

Congrats!

And to lynnhs, I haven't heard anything from Iowa, but mine also says this about the advisor. And yes, it is a change. I bet it's just system wide torture. But let's keep hoping...

kdolenz

Feb 23, 2008, 9:41 PM

Post #195 of 462 (9567 views)
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Re: [Taryn_S] Iowa MFA [In reply to]	Can't Post

Congrats, Taryn_S!

ecletters

Feb 23, 2008, 9:42 PM

Post #196 of 462 (9565 views)
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Re: [jeleri] isis updates [In reply to]	Can't Post

I don't know if I'm help or hurting, but the isis change might be system wide. I'm a current student and mine says the same. It refers to Summer course registration.

kdolenz

Feb 24, 2008, 2:14 PM

Post #197 of 462 (9455 views)
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Re: [ecletters] isis updates [In reply to]	Can't Post

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know who the visiting writers at Iowa will be next year? I guess I should wait to hear if I get in before I start worrying about such things, but I'd still be interested to know.

ecletters

Feb 24, 2008, 2:48 PM

Post #198 of 462 (9433 views)
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Re: [kdolenz] isis updates [In reply to]	Can't Post

As with anything at the workshop its only a rumor until confirmed. So far the only name I've heard repeatedly is Charlie D'Ambrosio who might be here the whole year. Last year the admit letters mentioned who the guests were going to be in the Fall.

martis

Feb 25, 2008, 2:22 PM

Post #199 of 462 (9260 views)
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Re: [ecletters] isis updates [In reply to]	Can't Post

Looks like at least two poets have gotten phone call acceptences to Iowa. Have any other poets out there heard anything from them?

BLUECHEESE

Feb 25, 2008, 2:41 PM

Post #200 of 462 (10077 views)
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Re: [martis] isis updates [In reply to]	Can't Post

I haven't. sadly. But I won't count myself out until the rejection letter is in hand.

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