megmarcu
Jul 28, 2009, 4:07 PM
Post #51 of 56
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Ooh, can I comment on this!
I just had to make the decision myself. I chose the MA program at UC Davis over the MFA at Brooklyn College for the coming two years. It was agonizing -- I heard so many varying opinions and reasons and arguments. I don't think I made the decision until April 15 and felt bad for waiting so long.
The MFA might put you closer to teaching jobs, or higher salaries at teaching jobs, but the truth is publishing is enormously important. And people are holding on to their jobs these days as it is.
Another consideration: go where the money is. I received far better funding at Davis.
One more thing: why not both? I sort of have that in mind, although I have no idea where I'll be in 2 years. The ultimate advice I took was this: the longer you spend -- funded, preferably, poverty is no good for writing -- in school, the more time you'll have to develop your craft. An MA/MFA or MFA/PhD track or, hell, MA/MFA/PhD will give you time to write, revise, and try to publish.
I've worked 8-5 for a while now and thought I could write in the evenings but found it really difficult. I wrote much better in school. I'm sure there are some people who have stores of energy and can do both, but I am sadly not yet one of those people.
Good luck!
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