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Peaquah

Oct 18, 2010, 9:56 PM

Post #1101 of 1172 (3469 views)
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Re: [jamilinzi] Florida Apps [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'm currently a student at the MFA program at Michigan - if you have any questions about the program as you're researching, PM me. I'd be happy to take a stab at them.

ericweinstein
Eric Weinstein

Oct 18, 2010, 10:07 PM

Post #1102 of 1172 (3467 views)
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Re: [Peaquah] Florida Apps [In reply to]	Can't Post

Ditto for anyone who has questions about NYU (poetry).

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.

napk132

Oct 19, 2010, 1:11 AM

Post #1103 of 1172 (3445 views)
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Re: [ericweinstein] Florida Apps [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'm applying to a few:

1) Washington University in St. Louis
2) University of Montana
3) Southern Illinois University in Carbondale
4) Purdue University
5) University of Alabama
6) Johns Hopkins University
7) Syracuse University

I should probably be applying to twice this number, but this is what works for me right now. I think I'll be okay trying again next year if I don't get in anywhere.

ericweinstein
Eric Weinstein

Oct 19, 2010, 7:32 AM

Post #1104 of 1172 (3432 views)
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Re: [napk132] Florida Apps [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

I had the same mindset last year. If it makes you feel any better, I applied to five reasonably selective programs and got into two, so it's not always necessary to apply to a dozen or more schools, especially if you're fine applying more than once.

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.

kbritten

Oct 19, 2010, 9:34 AM

Post #1105 of 1172 (3422 views)
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Re: [jamilinzi] Florida Apps [In reply to]	Can't Post

Sure!

1). Research the hell out of your schools. Write down specific characteristics you are looking for in a program and don't settle for programs that don't meet those requirements, give or take a few. It'll be easy to write your personal statements if you know what is specifically drawing you to a program. Remember, too, to not use general statements. Make sure you specify for each program.

2). Put a ton of energy into your writing sample. Get it reviewed by many people (I've actually had several bloggers review two of my stories, which has helped tremendously). Revise and revise. Let it sit for a few weeks and then revise again. Don't settle for anything less than "perfect."

3). Don't lose hope in February when you haven't been notified of anything (or worse, you've only been notified of a rejection :( ). Many people heard nothing until late Feb/early March and then received several acceptances. It happens. Of course, it's nice to have an acceptance early on, but don't think that an early rejection/non-notification really means anything. That goes for wait lists, too. I wasn't notified of mine last year until pretty late in the game.

4). Find something to keep you occupied during the wait. It'll drive you nuts. Something about a watched pot comes to mind ;)

5). Don't feel down if you get rejected your first try, it happens to a lot of people. I talked to at least four people who were rejected their first attempt only to receive several acceptances then next year from some pretty stellar programs. Remember that this is incredibly subjective and says nothing about your potential. Don't quit writing or anything because of it.

Good luck to all!

kbritten

Oct 19, 2010, 9:36 AM

Post #1106 of 1172 (3421 views)
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Re: [napk132] Florida Apps [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'd be really careful about only applying to a few programs, especially to those with low acceptance rates. Many of us aren't the best judges of our work and you might be shooing yourself in the foot here. Just because one person got accepted after only applying to a few doesn't mean that others will. Cast a wide net, is all I'm saying.

blob

Oct 19, 2010, 10:10 AM

Post #1107 of 1172 (3415 views)
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Re: [kbritten] Florida Apps [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'm applying for poetry to 14 schools, all with pretty low acceptance rates. I should probably give myself more chances, but I also didn't want to apply to schools that I wasn't really excited by. So, it is what it is.

If I get even one acceptance, I'll be thrilled.

patrickdunn

Oct 19, 2010, 1:49 PM

Post #1108 of 1172 (3396 views)
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Re: [ericweinstein] Florida Apps [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Ditto for anyone who has questions about NYU (poetry).

Hi Eric,

I'm going to apply to NYU (for fiction). Is the funding as bad as some would have you think? I don't know why, but part of me feels like the possibility of a decent funding situation at NYU isn't a completely lost cause. Am I being naive?

Thanks!

ericweinstein
Eric Weinstein

Oct 19, 2010, 9:09 PM

Post #1109 of 1172 (3363 views)
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Re: [patrickdunn] Florida Apps [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

I'm going to apply to NYU (for fiction). Is the funding as bad as some would have you think? I don't know why, but part of me feels like the possibility of a decent funding situation at NYU isn't a completely lost cause. Am I being naive?

Thanks!

Hey Patrick,

The creative writing program currently awards all accepted students, at minimum, a half-tuition waver (my current understanding is that some receive more). For fall 2010, GSAS (the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences) charges $1,329 per point per term, and full-time MFA candidates are required to take 8 points per term for four terms (two years).

That means that for the fall, your tuition would come to $5,745.50 ($1,329 x 8 + $439 fee for the first credit + $60 x 7 for the remaining 7 credits, all divided by 2). While fees and tuition will almost certainly go up for the remaining three semesters you'd be at NYU, you could count on paying at least $22,982 in tuition. This doesn't include your cost of living, which (since you'd be in the NYC area) would be relatively high.

I'll be perfectly honest: if you get into NYU and have no source of income apart from your half-tuition remission, I'd think long and hard before accepting their offer. Personally, I only applied to NYU because I knew I could come up with the rest of the money, and when all's said and done I won't have paid for my degree.

If your heart's set on NYU, you can look for additional scholarships (like the Javits Fellowship) and definitely ask the NYU folks about the availability of teaching fellowships (most are only for second-year students, but you can find the list here: http://bit.ly/dC1Yym).

While NYU's program is probably the very best funded in the NYC area (Seth, feel free to correct me on this if I'm wrong), it's far from fully funded. The faculty are amazing, your cohort will be immensely talented and helpful, and New York City is a hell of a great place to live and work. But if I were you, I wouldn't attend any program that would put me more than $5,000 or so in debt.

Hope this helps!

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.

patrickdunn

Oct 19, 2010, 10:02 PM

Post #1110 of 1172 (3353 views)
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Re: [ericweinstein] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Definitely helps, thanks for the response. I'd love to go to NYU, and if funding wasn't an issue it would probably be my top choice. I'm from the NY-area originally and now live in LA, so the NYU (and NYC in general) pull is certainly there for me.

There's just no way I could afford even half tuition, so unless I win some sort of fellowship lottery I probably wouldn't be able to attend if I was accepted. Who knows, though? At this point, I can't imagine NOT applying to NYU since it has been at the top of my short list for so long. Maybe I can figure something out without going into crazy debt, as I agree with you about that.

jamilinzi

Oct 21, 2010, 8:34 PM

Post #1111 of 1172 (3271 views)
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Re: [kbritten] Florida Apps [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks so much! That really helps.

Also, I'm lucky enough to be able to workshop this weekend with the director of the nonfiction program (which I'm applying to) at Iowa, as part of my undergrad creative writing class. We're all spending a weekend together at this cabin. Worried though-- I really want to just ask "so... would this be good enough to get me in?" although I obviously can't do that. Le sigh.

But I think I've got my final list!

In order of deadline:
University of Pittsburgh
University of Iowa
University of Illinois (UIUC)
Florida State
UNC-Wilmington
Portland State
Iowa State
Penn State
Miami of Ohio (MA program)
Louisiana State
Hunter
Hollins
McNeese

That's 13, which is a bit on the extensive side, but oh well, I tried and tried and tried to narrow it and couldn't.

andsuddenly

Oct 24, 2010, 9:22 PM

Post #1112 of 1172 (3142 views)
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Re: [kbritten] Florida Apps [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'm applying to:

Iowa
UMass Amherst
Ohio State
Penn State
Cornell
Brown
Indiana
Oregon
(fiction)

My biggest point of confusion right now is UMass' sample length. The website just says 20 pages... no explanation as to if that's a minimum or a maximum. Anyone know for sure?

poundsghost

Oct 27, 2010, 3:12 PM

Post #1113 of 1172 (3003 views)
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Re: [andsuddenly] Florida Apps [In reply to]	Can't Post

Here's my (maybe) final list...for poetry:

Arizona State
Brown
UMass
Washington
Oregon
UCI
University of Arizona
UC San Diego
UNLV

patrickdunn

Oct 29, 2010, 3:39 AM

Post #1114 of 1172 (2940 views)
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Re: Funding rankings [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'm pretty sure I remember reading something about schools being ranked by funding in the P&W Top 50 MFA article. Does this ranking actually exist? Anyone know where to find it (the funding rankings, that is)?

jamilinzi

Oct 29, 2010, 11:46 AM

Post #1115 of 1172 (2919 views)
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Re: [patrickdunn] Funding rankings [In reply to]	Can't Post

There exist(ed) such a list on the Suburban Ecstasies, but I don't think it's being put back up until 2011, for whatever reason.

patrickdunn

Oct 29, 2010, 1:25 PM

Post #1116 of 1172 (2911 views)
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Re: [jamilinzi] Funding rankings [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

There exist(ed) such a list on the Suburban Ecstasies, but I don't think it's being put back up until 2011, for whatever reason.

Weird. I just dug around the Suburban Ecstasies site and found the link, but it doesn't work anymore. Wonder why Seth took it down.

I'm asking because I got a little freaked out last night as I was trying to come up with my short list. I realized that only about 3 are fully funded, and they are 3 of the hardest to get into. Makes me a little nervous.

blob

Oct 29, 2010, 2:13 PM

Post #1117 of 1172 (2906 views)
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Re: [patrickdunn] Funding rankings [In reply to]	Can't Post

It was taken down off of Seth's site because of his agreement with PW to compile their rankings.

You can still get funding information off the PW rankings, if you look at the chart for the top 50, one of the categories is funding rank. It's not in order, so you'll have to compile it yourself. But it's there and it's doable.

Pedro Eler

Oct 29, 2010, 10:45 PM

Post #1118 of 1172 (2874 views)
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Re: [jamilinzi] Florida Apps [In reply to]	Can't Post

Wow, I thought I was applying to a lot of places with my modest, 8 programs list! LOL

Honestly, I feel like it's important to have a large list, but anything more than 8 would drive me crazy, it is insane as it is, I cannot even imagine myself applying to 14, 16 programs... nor do I have the money for that.

Anyway, here is my list:

Cornell
U. of Texas
U. of Michigan
U. of Wyoming
Washington University at St. Louis
Purdue
Louisiana State University
Virginia Tech

I'm happy with the list. Some pretty impossible programs there, AKA Cornell and Texas, but one got to keep praying and hoping...

jamilinzi

Oct 30, 2010, 12:30 PM

Post #1119 of 1172 (2850 views)
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Re: [Pedro Eler] Florida Apps [In reply to]	Can't Post

I feel like in this game all we can do is pray and hope and cross our fingers!

Meanwhile, I'm memorizing my 500 GRE vocab words even though I know the GRE counts extremely minimally in the admissions process.

Also, I wouldn't be applying to this many (14) programs if I wasn't so neurotic, I just can't figure out how to cut it down any further!

oscarwrites

Oct 30, 2010, 1:03 PM

Post #1120 of 1172 (2843 views)
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Re: [jamilinzi] Florida Apps [In reply to]	Can't Post

Does anyone know how Brooklyn College and Hunter rate? I don't see any mention of either, and I'm thinking of applying mainly because I'm in the NY area and the tuition (for residents) is reasonable. Only thing, are the programs any good?[reply]

oscarwrites

Oct 30, 2010, 1:08 PM

Post #1121 of 1172 (2842 views)
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Re: [oscarwrites] Florida Apps [In reply to]	Can't Post

Forgot in my last post--anyone know anything about the Writers' Institute at CUNY run by Andre Aciman? It's not a MFA program but a yearlong program directed by well-known editors.

patrickdunn

Nov 1, 2010, 9:11 PM

Post #1122 of 1172 (2778 views)
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Re: [oscarwrites] Florida Apps [In reply to]	Can't Post

OK, does any kind soul have insight into the funding situation LIU in Brooklyn or Stony Brook Southampton? Or The New School, for that matter?

Is anyone else getting really tired of seeing vague words like "a few"used on school websites when talking about assistantships and scholarships? Or schools that don't feel the need to post their tuition info at all?

Pedro Eler

Nov 3, 2010, 9:54 PM

Post #1123 of 1172 (2713 views)
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Re: [patrickdunn] Funding rankings [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hello everyone!

I used the Our Stories workshop the other day, and Justin Nicholes was the staff member that worked with me on my story. He was great, had many wonderful imputs and all, but there was one thing he told me that kind of scared me LOL.

He said that due to the bad economic situtation in the US right now a lot of people are applying to creative writing mfas because there aren't a lot of jobs. And because of that this year is going to be even more competitive than last year. MORE COMPETITIVE, that's right. Now, what do you all think of that? Does he have a good point? I'm not from the US, so I really don't know...

kbritten

Nov 3, 2010, 10:04 PM

Post #1124 of 1172 (2710 views)
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Re: [Pedro Eler] Funding rankings [In reply to]	Can't Post

God, last year was absolutely horrific in terms of competition. I think there were close to 1500 applications for Iowa and Texas (something like that). Jesus. I can't imagine it really being worse than that, though. Maybe about the same, but how can it get worse? Cornell admits .01% of its fiction applicants?

almondpunch

Nov 4, 2010, 2:47 AM

Post #1125 of 1172 (2700 views)
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Re: [kbritten] Funding rankings [In reply to]	Can't Post

@ Pedro, kaybay

I've heard that as well -- that the number of MFA applicants has surged since the economic crisis. But it's a discouraging, insensitive, and purposeless comment for someone to make to a hopeful writer, and I'm sorry to hear it came from a workshop instructor, whose purpose is ultimately to strengthen rather than to destroy confidence. Personally, dwelling too much on the competition just cramps my creativity, and on a communal level I sense that it breeds a subtle paranoia/hysteria on the blogs. Less so on this blog than on the MFA blog.

There are spots for us. Just take heart and write on.

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