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Choosing an MFA Program (2009) (2010) (2011)

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umass76

Mar 4, 2010, 12:21 PM

Post #826 of 1018 (11601 views)
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Re: [Forum Apps] Re: [In reply to]

Aaron,
Only have a moment to write--have to run to class--but I do think you can ask LSU about their applicant pool, I'd just be tactful. E.g., "Can I ask how many applicants you guys had this year?" and finding out how many people will be in the entering class this year. I'd hope they'd be willing to give you the former piece of info, and almost certainly they will allow you the second. If you do find out, it means LSU is willing to release it, in which case if you could e-mail me or PM me backchannel that would be great. This has been a very elusive piece of information in terms of the program voluntarily releasing it to a non-media source.
Be well,
Seth
P.S. My friend spent four years in the undergrad -- so her reports regard the town and the school culture and the student body you'd be teaching as a TA. I don't know anyone who's gone through the program -- remember that until about 20 months ago it wasn't really on anyone's "national" radar screen (despite a handful of accomplished grads in the past) except those who stumbled across it.

(This post was edited by umass76 on Mar 4, 2010, 12:22 PM)

Forum Apps

Mar 4, 2010, 7:28 PM

Post #827 of 1018 (11508 views)
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Re: [umass76] Re: [In reply to]

Thanks again for the help. I also had to run out for the day... just got home a little while ago.

Sounds like a good idea. I'll be sending out some e-mails tonight.

On a positive note, either way, I just got an e-mail from UMN inviting me to visit (and they'll pay my travel expenses). I think this will help me quite a bit with the whole decision process.

~Aaron

IrisAnn

Apr 19, 2010, 9:49 PM

Post #828 of 1018 (10305 views)
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Re: [motet] Choosing an MFA Program (2009) (2010) (2011) [In reply to]

I was wondering if anyone applying this year was switching from one MFA program to another MFA program.

I am very curious to see if those who are unhappy with their program end up staying-- and if those who leave for somewhere else have found the move to be worth it?

I believe I once heard that MFA programs don't generally accept the transference of credit from one to the other... but I don't remember. Any insight into this topic? (I don't know where else to post it)

taraberyl

May 5, 2010, 1:21 AM

Post #829 of 1018 (9529 views)
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Choosing an MFA Program (2009) (2010) (2011) [In reply to]

hypothetically.
you are accepted to the following 5 schools with full and equal funding. rank your personal order of preference.

iowa
uva
michigan
irvine
nyu

totally subjective, totally curious.

ericweinstein
Eric Weinstein

May 5, 2010, 7:24 AM

Post #830 of 1018 (9487 views)
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Re: [taraberyl] Choosing an MFA Program (2009) (2010) (2011) [In reply to]

All things being equal, funding-wise:

1. NYU
2. IWW
3. Michigan
4. Irvine
5. UVA

Since I'll be starting at NYU in the fall, though, I am somewhat biased.

Hans Landa: You'll be shot for this!
Aldo Raine: Nah, I don't think so. More like chewed out. I've been chewed out before.

alamana
Jennifer Brown

May 5, 2010, 7:36 AM

Post #831 of 1018 (9482 views)
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Re: [taraberyl] Choosing an MFA Program (2009) (2010) (2011) [In reply to]

iowa
irvine
uva
nyu
michigan

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

http://www.jenniferkirkpatrickbrown.com

renila

May 5, 2010, 3:38 PM

Post #832 of 1018 (9427 views)
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Re: [alamana] Choosing an MFA Program (2009) (2010) (2011) [In reply to]

Irvine

dead heat:
NYU
Iowa

gap

Michigan
UVA

Part of this is location. For long term work reasons, I would prefer to stay in LA/NYC.

jaywalke

May 5, 2010, 4:49 PM

Post #833 of 1018 (9412 views)
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Re: [renila] Choosing an MFA Program (2009) (2010) (2011) [In reply to]

In Reply To

Part of this is location.

I'd choose from these based on location, too, but obviously not for the same reasons.

1. Michigan
2. UVA
(big gap)
3. Iowa

Never: NYU or Irvine. I've lived in NYC and CA. Once was enough.

__________

May 5, 2010, 6:08 PM

Post #834 of 1018 (9392 views)
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Re: [jaywalke] Choosing an MFA Program (2009) (2010) (2011) [In reply to]

Shhhh...you guys quiet down. This kind of talk will only draw out the SETH BEAST!.

six five four three two one 0 ->

HollinsMFAer
Luke Johnson

May 5, 2010, 7:27 PM

Post #835 of 1018 (9373 views)
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Re: [taraberyl] Choosing an MFA Program (2009) (2010) (2011) [In reply to]

UVA

gap

Michigan
Iowa

gap

Irvine
NYU

I'd put Wisconsin, Cornell, and Texas all up with UVA, for whatever it's worth.

http://www.lukejohnsonpoetry.com

ericweinstein
Eric Weinstein

May 5, 2010, 10:54 PM

Post #836 of 1018 (9331 views)
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Re: [Junior Maas] Choosing an MFA Program (2009) (2010) (2011) [In reply to]

Sometimes I wonder whether Seth has a Google alert on his name.

Hans Landa: You'll be shot for this!
Aldo Raine: Nah, I don't think so. More like chewed out. I've been chewed out before.

Pedro Eler

May 22, 2010, 9:59 PM

Post #837 of 1018 (8256 views)
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Re: [ericweinstein] Choosing an MFA Program (2009) (2010) (2011) [In reply to]

Hey everyone!! What happened to the forum??? Let's not let it die...

So, to start a new conversation, what do you all think of Cornell??

I'm applying to many different colleges at the end of the year, but Cornell is the number one on my list by far!!! Do you know anything about the program? I only hear amazing things about it... but as far as I know it is also one of the most competitive mfas out there...

kbritten

May 23, 2010, 11:11 AM

Post #838 of 1018 (8189 views)
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Re: [Pedro Eler] Choosing an MFA Program (2009) (2010) (2011) [In reply to]

Well, Pedro, I'm gonna be honest with you. It's pretty darn awesome. Good funding, great reputation, great alums, great location, great faculty. I can't think of any negatives, unless of course you don't like Ivy League schools or Ithaca (or snow, I guess that's one negative!).

BUT!!

THEIR ADMITTANCE RATE FOR FICTION IS .83%!! YES, THE DECIMAL IS SUPPOSED TO BE THERE!

Good God, that's just unreal. As much as I would love to reapply there this year (was, of course, rejected last year), it's highly doubtful because I have a better chance of waking up one day in a bathtub full of ice with my kidney missing. That goes for you too, Vanderbilt :)

Good luck!

Pedro Eler

May 23, 2010, 3:57 PM

Post #839 of 1018 (8158 views)
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Re: [kbritten] Choosing an MFA Program (2009) (2010) (2011) [In reply to]

In Reply To

ARE YOU KIDDING??? .83%???

LOL LOL THAT'S INSANE!!!!!!!!!!!! Well, it better be good if it is this damn hard to get into...

I'll try anyway LOL... I have nothing to loose (apart from the few hundred dollars I'll spend with the application process... I mean, they do ask for GRE, and, in my case, TOEFL... so...)
I've been talking to a few alumni from there, and they all told me that the manuscript is the only thing that matters (not the first time I heard that... LOL, the manuscript is the only thing that matters everywhere!!). That they want stories that hook you form the getgo, so... I'll just sit down now and write a fenomenal incredible brilliant hooking and gripping short story and of course there is no way they'll say no...

OK... if only it were so... but, anyway... it is my dream, so I'll try at least once before I decide to let go LOL

Kbritten, where are you applying to this time?? I don't know about you, but funding is paramount for me, and, as we all know, if a place offers full fundinf then their admittance rate for fiction is normally there, in the decimals as well, so... yeah, I'm in shit LOL LOL

Good luck to you too!! And let's not allow this forum to die!

kbritten

May 23, 2010, 9:54 PM

Post #840 of 1018 (8118 views)
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Re: [Pedro Eler] Choosing an MFA Program (2009) (2010) (2011) [In reply to]

Hi Pedro, I haven't officially decided on a list yet, but here's what I have so far:

Florida
Notre Dame
Ohio State
Iowa
Florida State
Washington University-St. Louis
NC State
Ohio (MA)
Bowling Green
West Virginia
Virginia Commonwealth
Michigan

Oh, and yes they admit .83% for fiction! Yowzers, that's rough. People do get in though, even those who don't expect to get in. Same with Michener, every year there's a shocked lucky S.O.B. that gets good news while everybody else gets rejected promptly.

(This post was edited by kbritten on May 23, 2010, 9:58 PM)

Pedro Eler

May 24, 2010, 10:15 AM

Post #841 of 1018 (8053 views)
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Re: [kbritten] Choosing an MFA Program (2009) (2010) (2011) [In reply to]

In Reply To

That's a great list!!

I've been to NC State... they have a great program. I don't know if the funding is good though... it seems to me that only a few students get TA's which don't pay that much... but still, the university is beautiful and the people are all extremely kind!

And yeah... a feel lucky S.O.B. do get accepted into Texas and Cornell, so... maybe it will be one of us LOL

andsuddenly

Jun 17, 2010, 10:23 PM

Post #842 of 1018 (5916 views)
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Re: [Pedro Eler] Choosing an MFA Program (2009) (2010) (2011) [In reply to]

hey guys! i too will be joining you on the crazy mfa application ride.

this is my list of schools [so far, i'd like to bump it up by one or two, but my standards are weird, haha]

iowa [just for the lolz]
umass amherst
cornell
brown
indiana u
uoregon
penn state

i'm worried that even these seven will be hard enough, though! i'm currently a senior, so i'll be writing my thesis, plus doing an internship, taking a full course load, and trying to do this... i guess we'll see!

Peaquah

Jun 17, 2010, 11:45 PM

Post #843 of 1018 (5907 views)
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Re: [andsuddenly] Choosing an MFA Program (2009) (2010) (2011) [In reply to]

Hello! List looks good so far - are you fiction or poetry? I think people could do a better job suggesting additions if you explain a little more about your requirements.

andsuddenly

Jun 17, 2010, 11:51 PM

Post #844 of 1018 (5905 views)
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Re: [Peaquah] Choosing an MFA Program (2009) (2010) (2011) [In reply to]

i'll be in fiction.

basically my requirements are: above the mason-dixon line, good funding ranking [full funding if at all possible] and good overall fiction ranking. penn state's pretty low on the fiction ranking, but it's close to home [pittsburgh, pa] so that's why it's there [kind of out of place, haha] michigan's out because i lived there for a while and hated it.

also, i'll be finishing up my bfa at a school in nyc, so if it's an nyc area school, it needs to have sweet funding. i am notttt doing the starving-in-nyc song and dance again, haha.

i appreciate any help you have to offer! i'm the only one in my program applying to fiction mfa programs, but grads from years previous have gone to iowa and brown, so i'm slightly optimistic in that respect.

Peaquah

Jun 18, 2010, 12:38 AM

Post #845 of 1018 (5900 views)
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Re: [andsuddenly] Choosing an MFA Program (2009) (2010) (2011) [In reply to]

I'm biased (I went there for undergard) but I'd suggest the University of Montana. Lovely location and great teachers - not everyone gets full funding, but some certainly do.

Other places with good funding in the northern half of the US:
University of Alaska - Fairbanks (if you can handle six months of dark, dark winter. Could be interesting to write about.)
University of Indiana
University of Illinois
Ohio State - Columbus

I actually didn't end up applying to any of those places myself so I can't speak to the applicant's experience. I would say that you should apply to a minimum of 8 programs, and more like 10-12.

Oh! University of Virginia - although they have the longest notification period ever. Probably doesn't seem like a big deal now, but I know quite a few people who accepted other places before Virginia even made a peep.

andsuddenly

Jun 18, 2010, 12:45 AM

Post #846 of 1018 (5898 views)
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Re: [Peaquah] Choosing an MFA Program (2009) (2010) (2011) [In reply to]

i know i had ohio and illinois on my list [i made a preliminary one last year], but for some reason they got the axe. i'll have to re-investigate. thank you for the recommendations!

but wow, 10-12 programs?! oh my goodness. that's a bit terrifying.

i take it you've applied before? is it as crazy as it seems to be? will i sleep at all this fall semester? [don't tell me the answer to that one.]

Peaquah

Jun 18, 2010, 2:37 AM

Post #847 of 1018 (5885 views)
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Re: [andsuddenly] Choosing an MFA Program (2009) (2010) (2011) [In reply to]

Yes, I applied last year - I'm heading to Michigan this fall. Very excited.

Once you get the basic application materials done (writing sample, SOP etc.) it's really not that much more work to add on a couple of schools. In fact, I sat down and did all of my applications in one long morning. I think 12 programs is generally recommended if you want a good shot at getting in somewhere this round. Personally, I went into it with the philosophy that if I only got into one program I had to be really excited about going, and in the end I could only say that about 8 schools. I wasn't opposed to re-applying the next year, but some people are.

The waiting is tough, though. I thought I'd be more blase about it, but I ended up having serious writer's block for a couple of months. Maybe it will be better for you since you're still in school - you'll have class deadlines and such to keep you motivated. You'll be in good company, though.

elissa
Elissa Field

Jun 18, 2010, 10:21 AM

Post #848 of 1018 (5853 views)
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Re: [Peaquah] Choosing an MFA Program (2009) (2010) (2011) [In reply to]

Peaquah, congrats about Michigan! You start in Aug/Sept? It's a great program and fun town. Is Charles Baxter still there? He is great to work with.

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

jaywalke

Jun 18, 2010, 10:32 AM

Post #849 of 1018 (5848 views)
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Re: [elissa] Choosing an MFA Program (2009) (2010) (2011) [In reply to]

In Reply To

Peaquah, congrats about Michigan! You start in Aug/Sept? It's a great program and fun town.

It's a wonderful town . . . have a sandwich at Zingerman's and a pale ale at Grizzly Peak and a bourbon at Ashley's for me, Peaquah. Spin the Cube, visit the Arb, and GO TO A FOOTBALL GAME! Even if you don't like the sport, being in a crowd of a 110K single-minded people is an experience like no other. You can pick up non-rivalry game tickets on the street for $10 right before kickoff.

elissa
Elissa Field

Jun 18, 2010, 10:55 AM

Post #850 of 1018 (5834 views)
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Re: [jaywalke] Choosing an MFA Program (2009) (2010) (2011) [In reply to]

go Ann Arbor, right? :) I was born there -- U of M parents. My dad was the guy who developed the Gandy Dancer, way back when. So, silly story, not completely on tangent: I took my sons through town last summer. Earlier in the spring, they puzzled me by asking me to explain, What is a hippie? I'd attempted some lame explanations (links to a blog about that)... but Ann Arbor saved me. No better way to explain hippie to 21st century kids than walking through little shops in a college town. :)

BTW, I went to Virginia Commonwealth University for undergrad and it's right up there in the hippie dept, but also underground/alternative music, had a legitimate punk scene at one time. It has a great art school, so gets that influence. But also a charming southern belle town. -- I mention that here becs I think someone above said they might apply htere. I'd be glad to share my experience there. It's a town I'd consider going back to.

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

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