Poets & Writers Speakeasy: Writing and Publishing: MFA Programs: Has Anybody Made a Final Decision?: Page 27

Subscribe | Give a Gift Subscription

Advanced Search

Main Index » Writing and Publishing » MFA Programs
Has Anybody Made a Final Decision?

You are not signed in. Click here to sign in.
If you are not a member, Register here!

123302 registered users

1 ... 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32

View All

rdowney

Apr 18, 2008, 3:03 AM

Post #651 of 793 (6119 views)
Shortcut

Re: [ejdifili] Notre Dame [In reply to]	Can't Post

I have been away from these boards today.

I hope it works out for you. I really do. I was "the next person to be contacted" for 3 days and I almost went crazy.

It is not an enviable position to hold. Perhaps I will see you next year.

Again, good luck.

rdowney

Apr 18, 2008, 3:04 AM

Post #652 of 793 (6117 views)
Shortcut

Re: [rdowney] Notre Dame [In reply to]	Can't Post

Also, thank you for the "congratulations".

I really hope everyone gets somewhere that works for them.

what an ordeal

schmeeter

Apr 18, 2008, 9:38 AM

Post #653 of 793 (6070 views)
Shortcut

Re: [sin] Pacific! [In reply to]	Can't Post

Congrats, Sin! Pacific has an excellent program.

I'm wondering about Bennington? Has anyone heard from them in awhile? I was waitlisted last Wednesday.

eoc

Apr 18, 2008, 11:11 AM

Post #654 of 793 (6011 views)
Shortcut

Re: [ovni1013] Final Decision! [In reply to]	Can't Post

i'm also going to sarah lawrence in the fall. i didn't get to visit the campus so i'm glad you had such a positive reaction to it. i'll just have to go on blind faith, but i also have a gut feeling it is absolutely the right place for me.

see you there!

empiricalhubris

Apr 18, 2008, 11:36 AM

Post #655 of 793 (5984 views)
Shortcut

Re: [eoc] Final Decision! [In reply to]	Can't Post

Anyone else going to Iowa State for fiction?

paigelgoit

Apr 18, 2008, 11:52 AM

Post #656 of 793 (5972 views)
Shortcut

Has Anybody Made a Final Decision? [In reply to]	Can't Post

As of Wednesday, I finally had answers from every school I applied to. And though being rejected by Bennington was a little disappointing, I'm giggling with glee about starting Stonecoast in July. Good luck everyone!

Paige
Life Goes On, I Think
http://lifegoesonithink.blogspot.com

pensive
Adam

Apr 18, 2008, 12:10 PM

Post #657 of 793 (5952 views)
Shortcut

Re: [eoc] Final Decision! [In reply to]	Can't Post

I too will be starting at Sarah Lawrence in the fall for fiction! My visit was amazing! For what it's worth, here's the final tally:

Sarah Lawrence: Attending**
Pittsburgh: Accepted
Bowling Green: Laughable Waitlist
Western Mich: Rejected
Univ of Mich: Rejected
Washington/St. Louis: Rejected
Iowa: Rejected
Virginia: Rejected
Wisconsin: Rejected
Notre Dame: Rejected
Indiana: Rejected
Brown: Rejected

Good luck to all, and thanks for all of the support!!
--Adam

Sugah

Apr 18, 2008, 1:27 PM

Post #658 of 793 (5890 views)
Shortcut

Re: [pensive] Final Decision! [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

I too will be starting at Sarah Lawrence in the fall for fiction! My visit was amazing!

*sniff*

I hope, on occasion, you will join me in spirit at Pitt.

Peace & Love,
Sug

___________________________

http://sugahsshack.blogspot.com

ovni1013

Apr 18, 2008, 1:31 PM

Post #659 of 793 (5885 views)
Shortcut

Re: [eoc] Final Decision! [In reply to]	Can't Post

Congrats, eoc! I don't think you'll be disappointed. Their descriptions of the program are completely accurate, so your gut will most likely have nudged you the right way.

We'll meet officially in the fall!

(This post was edited by ovni1013 on Apr 18, 2008, 1:33 PM)

stacylynn

Apr 18, 2008, 5:43 PM

Post #660 of 793 (5757 views)
Shortcut

Re: [ovni1013] Final Decision! [In reply to]	Can't Post

I have a final decision...

I will be attending McNeese with a teaching assistantship and tuition waiver! I am very happy and excited! (Fiction)

I will be removing my name from the waitlist at LSU, I was told my position was "extremely high"

I also am declining a spot at University of Missouri St. Louis.

I will be moving on with my life and not checking these boards everyday but thanks for all the support...This process has been long, involved, and anxiety provoking, I'm so glad it's over!

Best of luck to everyone.

vmalone
Vanessa

Apr 23, 2008, 3:00 PM

Post #661 of 793 (5465 views)
Shortcut

Final Decision! [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'm off to Hunter in the fall! (CNF)

Turned down Lesley, Goucher, and this morning, UNCW (it took them this long to give me the funding situation).
UNCW sounds like a great program. I hope someone gets a call today who was looking forward to the beach...

Good luck to everyone!

ancorder

Apr 28, 2008, 7:40 PM

Post #662 of 793 (5195 views)
Shortcut

Pretty much certain [In reply to]	Can't Post

that I'll be attending Eastern Washington University for fiction. If anyone else is headed that way or is considering it, I'd be glad to hear from you!

Cheers,

Marcus

RaoulDuke
Cobra Cobachi

May 1, 2008, 12:17 AM

Post #663 of 793 (4993 views)
Shortcut

I may be an idiot. Maybe not. [In reply to]	Can't Post

You decide:

I just declined a funded opportunity here at my alma mater to study language and literature. In its place I am attending Northern Michigan's MA in (creative) writing. So far, it is an unfunded opportunity, but I am a "viable option" on the backup list. I spoke with the director of the program, who is also my advisor, and found that there are indeed positions opening up and that the committee will be filling those spots in the next few weeks.

Even if I don't get funded, I am happy with the decision. My alma mater, Western Illinois, has grown dull and repressive by its lack of motivation, and after completing 28 straight credit hours of lit, I am ready for a well needed break. The MA in writing is solely writing seminars and workshops, and I am excited to finally be rid of the oppressive Illinois summers and flat, unsightly landscape. Lake Superior, here I come.

Feel free to call me an idiot. I know that the possibility of going further into debt stifles some people (my nervous parents included) but I need a release. Let's see how many more cliches I can fit into this post.

I also found that I likely will not be offered a spot at SIUC off the waitlist because I am 10th, out of 10. There is still a slight possibility, in which case I'll be headed further south and closer to the equator. I may melt, but at least it'll be an MFA program.

This might be my last post for a while. Hopefully for two years, when I'm sick of the U.P of Michigan and ready to apply to MFA programs for a second round. I'll be older, wiser, more mature, and hopefully, a much better writer than I am now.

(insert additional cheesy farewell here).

Rick P.

jaywalke

May 2, 2008, 8:21 AM

Post #664 of 793 (4858 views)
Shortcut

Re: [richardkae] I may be an idiot. Maybe not. [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

I am attending Northern Michigan's MA in (creative) writing.

The UP is going to knock you on your ass after Illinois (in a good way). Good luck and have fun. Remember, this is a voluntary process, just like donating a kidney.

Be sure to get out in the winter, or you'll go nuts. Try some cross-country skiing in the Porkies or drive a snowmobile 100mph across a frozen lake. There's nothing like it. Also, you have to hike the North Country Trail through Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. It's one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen.

http://www.nps.gov/piro/planyourvisit/scenicsites.htm

If you are really looking to escape, take the ferry out of Houghton to Isle Royale for a few days. Moose, wolves, loons--it's the wildest place in the U.S. outside of the northern Rockies.

Jaywalke
a Michigander in Hokie-land

(This post was edited by jaywalke on May 2, 2008, 8:27 AM)

RaoulDuke
Cobra Cobachi

May 2, 2008, 11:47 AM

Post #665 of 793 (4808 views)
Shortcut

Re: [jaywalke] I may be an idiot. Maybe not. [In reply to]	Can't Post

Nice, Jaywalke. Thanks for the affirmation. I'm pretty excited and I can't wait to get down there and begin to take it all in. I appreciate the advice.

Take it easy,

Rick

pareidolia

May 2, 2008, 3:25 PM

Post #666 of 793 (4744 views)
Shortcut

Re: [richardkae] I may be an idiot. Maybe not. [In reply to]	Can't Post

I have to make a decision by the end of today.

Minnesota State Moorhead is offering a 10,000 stipend/TA position + tuition remission.

Colorado State is offering me 4,000 worth of aid for the first year with a position as the editor of the lit mag. I was told that getting a TA position my 2nd and 3rd years was very likely. So I'd go into about 12,000 worth of debt for my first year.

CSU location is much more appealing to me. I already told MSUM that I would be attending so I feel like a jerk if I back out - especially because the faculty has been so great to me.

What do you guys think? (I already turned down UNCW and SFSU because of funding issues, but I'm hesitant to turn down CSU)

JKicker
Jonathan

May 2, 2008, 4:36 PM

Post #667 of 793 (4708 views)
Shortcut

Re: [pareidolia] I may be an idiot. Maybe not. [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'd say stick with Minnesota. Colorado is great, but you're looking at a 22,000 dollar difference in your first year. One school wants to give you money, the other wants to take it away.

However, if in spite of that, your gut is saying Colorado, just do it.

haha how helpful was that?

Actually, the most important thing may be faculty. Which faculty would you rather work with? That may be your answer.

whyGA77

May 2, 2008, 6:28 PM

Post #668 of 793 (4675 views)
Shortcut

Re: [JKicker] I may be an idiot. Maybe not. [In reply to]	Can't Post

Okay, how did you get such a sweet deal? You must be an amazing writer. Money AND an editing position? That's awesome, I'm uber-jealous!

yeahyeahyeah

May 2, 2008, 6:53 PM

Post #669 of 793 (4665 views)
Shortcut

Re: [pareidolia] I may be an idiot. Maybe not. [In reply to]	Can't Post

I want to know how you got such a sweet deal too.

I don't know anything about MSUM, but I really love CSU's program. I would have went there if I had gotten funding. I still almost went there without the funding. It broke my heart to decline their offer.

That being said, you did commit to MSUM and you have to be a person of your word. Plus they're giving you a lot more money.

Then again, if you're not married and have no kids or anyone else to support and you don't mind going into debt and you're drawn to CSU, you should go for it. (I would love for there to be a thread next year where we revisit people's choices and see if they have any regrets.)

Good luck!

ellen362

May 2, 2008, 9:37 PM

Post #670 of 793 (4633 views)
Shortcut

Re: [yeahyeahyeah] I may be an idiot. Maybe not. [In reply to]	Can't Post

Will you get in-state tuition at CSU? That might make it cheaper.

pareidolia

May 3, 2008, 8:50 AM

Post #671 of 793 (4588 views)
Shortcut

Re: [ellen362] I may be an idiot. Maybe not. [In reply to]	Can't Post

No, they are not offering me in-state tuition, so I think it ends up being 18,000 for the year. I'm probably going to end up applying for some other internships. If I don't get a TA-ship the second or third year, then I'm really screwed - I'll have to come back to Nevada and go work in a brothel in Pahrump to pay all this crap off.

ellen362

May 3, 2008, 8:12 PM

Post #672 of 793 (4517 views)
Shortcut

Re: [pareidolia] I may be an idiot. Maybe not. [In reply to]	Can't Post

I think $18,000 is a hell of a lot of money to borrow for one year of an MFA. There are cheaper ways to get your education--you can always find another way to spend time in Colorado. Just my opinion, but hope it helps.

Ellen

reality writes

May 12, 2008, 1:28 PM

Post #673 of 793 (4308 views)
Shortcut

I'm not going to school this fall [In reply to]	Can't Post

I decided to turn down my offers from Sarah Lawrence, Virginia Commonwealth, and Univ. of Missouri-St. Louis after moving to the top of the waitlist at UNCG, which became my dream program after one visit. However, I found out last week that UNCG has a full house so I won't be going there. (I knew this before turning down my other offers, so it wasn't a blind decision.) I chose to go this way because I didn't get that "gut feeling" the other schools that accepted me were where I needed to be right now. They didn't have any definite funding, and I wasn't ready to go into that much debt, especially in cities where the cost of living would have made it a further challenge. I've written about my decision-making here, if you're interested: http://realitywrites.wordpress.com And I'll be back to the Speakeasy in the fall to start this process all over again!

Congrats to everyone else who found their MFA homes! It was a pleasure to go through this with you!

Khalilah

Mar 7, 2009, 3:09 AM

Post #674 of 793 (3975 views)
Shortcut

Indiana Combined MFA-fiction /MA in AAADS [In reply to]	Can't Post

It looks like I'm the first this year to announce my final decision.

So I've been thinking hard about it the past two hours and realized the decision has pretty much been made. Indiana along with a couple of other schools was my third choice school. My first choice (MCW) and second choices have told me No and the city of Irvine is so expensive that I know even if UCIrvine called at this point they'd have to do something extraordinary to pull me away from Indiana.

VaTech* did pull me because, of course I would have loved working with the faculty, Virginia is my favorite state in the union and I love that part of Virginia, but the program to which I've been accepted at Indiana is a four year combined program: MFA in fiction and MA in African Diaspora Studies. Both Va Tech and Indiana were fully funded but I'm loving the fourth year at Indiana that will give me more time to know where I'll be and from where my money will be coming as I work for another year on my writing. And, Indiana gave me a fellowship which changed their full funding from being less than Va Tech's to more than Va Tech's for me.

So off with me to Indiana University!

Good Luck to everybody! Its been a much better notification season going through this with all of you than it would have been in the dark by myself. Feel free to ask any questions --by post or pm.

*Because of the deadlines to respond to my fellowship offers, I had to pose serious questions to VaTech regarding what they could do financially. My situation is not an indication of when they will be informing others of admission into the program.

Khalilah

Mar 7, 2009, 6:56 AM

Post #675 of 793 (3961 views)
Shortcut

Re: [Khalilah] Indiana Combined MFA-fiction /MA in AAADS [In reply to]	Can't Post

Let me add that while funding and time were the final crucial factors in my decision, every school to which I applied made my list because I felt a strong connection to the professors' writing -- I felt that I could and feel that I will at Indiana find a mentor amongst the authors on the faculty.

1 ... 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32

View All

Main Index » Writing and Publishing » MFA Programs