News and Notes

Seth has debuted another lengthy and thought-provoking article on his The Suburban Ecstasies, which can be accessed here: "The Best and Worst of 2008-9 Application Season." Not really a strict "best" or "worst" list, Seth's article is more a rumination on what MFA programs he thinks are headed up or down and everything in between. Really interesting stuff, but I think it's important to keep in mind that these are but one person's opinions, and as knowledgeable as Seth is on the subject of MFA programs, it would be unreasonable to expect him to wield expertise on all 300+ programs in the country, and similarly, to rely on his words alone as gospel. Nothing can replace meaningful individual research of a program.

In other news, I checked up on my Ohio State application status online, and found that I was rejected. Word on the MFA Blog is that nearly everyone's application has been updated, so check it out if you haven't heard from OSU yet. Annoyingly, I had to click on about three different buttons just to get to this view just to get the following message: "Your application for admission was not approved." Weaksauce. I was under no illusions that at this point in the game an OSU acceptance or waitlist was even possible, but a nicely worded rejection this is not. Here's hoping that the actual letter is a little more tactful.

F is for Funding

I'll have a writeup on the subject of funding one of these days, but here's some required reading, provided by Seth Abramson on the Poets & Writers website. A great article that touches on a lot of the salient points for the discerning MFA applicant -- how one type of funding differs from another, what's important in funding dollars, etc. -- as well as an in-depth look at the top funded programs in the country. An excellent place to get started for your own research on the behemoth that is MFA program funding. And trust me, research is a necessity.

Useful Links and Resources

Tom Kealey's The Creative Writing MFA Handbook -- If you're starting the application process from scratch, this is the book to begin with. Lots of great baseline information such as funding, the application process, interviews, advice. Buy this book and read it. It won't give you everything you need to know, but it will give you a place (a very big place) to start. I can't imagine how I could have possibly known where to start without this resource with so many things to prioritize and research.

MFA Blog -- I visit this site on a daily basis. It's the "web version" of the book described above. Contributors post on all subjects relating to the application process -- information on prospective programs, studying for the GREs, etc. There's also a very helpful little community of other fellow applicants who comment regularly. A great extension of Tom Kealey's book.

Poets & Writers Speakeasy Forum -- A forum with a great community. You'll have to register to read and write posts, but it's well worth it. Members are knowledgeable, kind, and more than willing to help. If there's a question to ask, no matter how obscure, you can be sure there's an answer. Important sub-forums to visit: "MFA Programs," "Sending Your Work Out," and "Rejection Letters." I have no doubt that this place will be my home when the prime application months (November, December) and subsequent rejection months (February, March) roll around.

The Suburban Ecstasies -- Seth Abramson's blog, where you come for the incredible resource on MFA programs and stay for the political commentary. On his blog, Seth has compiled an amazing amount of research on MFA Program Rankings for poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, Acceptance Rates, and even Application Response Times. Why? Because he's just a really nice guy. You won't find this kind of information readily available anywhere else on the internet, especially the Acceptance Rates and Response Times. Just click on the link I've provided and in the right-hand bar you'll see all the resources I've described (you may have to scroll down a bit to see all of them).

I'll also put all these links in my "Useful Links and Resources" section on the right-hand bar for quick access.