Applying to an MFA in Creative Writing Program Without Going Insane
Well, as of two days ago, I am officially a college graduate!
Now, on to the rest of my life.
As you'll be able to gather from this post, I have just gone through the process of applying and being accepted into an MFA in Creative Writing program. This fall, I will be attending Minnesota State University at Mankato with my tuition expenses covered by a position as a teaching assistant of Composition.
Minneopa Falls at Minneopa State Park, Mankato, Minnesota.
I'm pretty sure that I lost my sanity at a few points along the way, but I am SO happy to have made it to the end. This post is basically a chronicle of my life for the past year (a tiny bit may be embellished), as I've transitioned from just considering the possibility of subjecting myself to three more years of school after the past 16, to an accepted MFA student who is moving across the country to pursue her dream. Some of these tips that I've learned are jokes, some are serious—I'll let you decide which is which.
1. Start early!
Okay, not a joke. Sorry.
If you are interested in graduate school, might be interested in graduate school, or are a graduate-school-agnostic, start researching early. I didn't decide that I was serious about getting my MFA in creative writing until one of my professors brought it up while I was studying abroad at Oxford the spring semester of my junior year (because there, just an undergraduate degree is worth practically nothing). However, without that moment of realization that "oh, graduate school exists and might be something I'm interested in," I might have never considered a master's degree. During your junior year of college, ask yourself what your career goals are: if you want to pursue a college-teaching career in creative writing or you need to hone your writing skills and be given enough time and space to work on a novel, chapbook, etc. before launching into your writing career, then an MFA might be for you. Once you make that decision, start looking at schools that fit your interests and make a very long list.
2. Don't let them take your money.
But legitimately. Be realistic—as a creative writer, did you ever expect to make any money? The correct answer is "no," so how do you expect to be able to pay for this MFA program? Unless your parents, grandparents, long lost uncle, etc. are very, very wealthy and very, very generous, you will want to narrow down your list of schools to those that offer teaching assistantships (TA's) or graduate assistantships (GA's) that will cover most or all of tuition. And here's the good news: there are a ton of these programs out there! Some even offer automatic TA positions with acceptance.
3. Cry.
Because you found the statistic that tells you that the odds of getting into an MFA program are lower than the odds of getting into medical school.
4. Stalk the professors.
A lot of the professors will have a Twitter or a list of shorts stories, poems, or books he/she has written. Take a look at their bio: Are they a hardcore Trump supporter? Do they retweet fake news all the time? Read their work: Do they appeal to your writing style? Is their work good? Use this to determine whether these professors would make good mentors for you. Also take a look at whether any of the professors are taking part in a reading near you and use that opportunity to schmooze so that your name is in their head for the application judging process and you have a good story for your cover letter.
5. Be the crazy desperate girl(or boy)friend that the University of ________ has always dreamed of.
For these applications, you want to look like you are desperate to be admitted into this school. That your mother told you to go to the University of _______ on her deathbed. That if you don't get accepted, you will be cast into eternal misery and fail in your career.
Okay, maybe not that far. Don't kill yourself with stress, but send in those apps over Thanksgiving Break, even if the deadline isn't until January 1. Often, the first students to send in their applications get first consideration for TA positions.
6. Take out a loan.
Because the cost of applying to ten different MFA programs wipes out five paychecks.
(Don't actually take out a loan, kids.)
But do try to pick up extra shifts at work or ask your parents for some help. It'll range about $30-$90 per application, and it really adds up. An advance on that Christmas money would also come in handy.
7. Hit the send button.
And immediately wonder if you spelled your name wrong. Or maybe your address. Or maybe your email. Obsessively check your inbox over and over again to get a confirmation, and once you get it, think about what you've just done. This is the rest of your life!
(Or three years, but you know what I mean.)
8. Wait.
Can my Christmas present be knowing what I'm doing for the rest of my life?
9. Really cultivate that "art of patience" thing that everyone has been telling you to get your whole life.
New Year's Resolution: Pick a career that isn't based on a subjective like or dislike of something.
10. Get super excited because you got YOUR FIRST RESPONSE!
And then immediately feel the crushing weight of an existential crisis because it was your dream school telling you, "We thank you for the opportunity to read your work. However, we can not offer you a place in our program." Well, if my work was good enough for you to thank me for giving you the opportunity to read it, then WHY DIDN'T YOU LET ME INTO YOUR PROGRAM, HUH? I'M GETTING MIXED SIGNALS.
11. Feel your heart harden a little more each time you receive another rejection.
You receive a lot of rejections. So you're basically Elsa at the end of Frozen at this point.
12. Get an acceptance from your "eh" school.
Your professors all told you to manage expectations and apply to your one safety school, and now you're glad you listened. Even though you won't go there (whaddup, UK?), it's still a boost to your self esteem that you needed in this dark time.
13. Wait some more.
Seriously, what do these judges even have to do besides read your application? Revisit the whole "questioning whether you wrote your email/address wrong on some of the applications" phase.
14. Receive... AN ACCEPTANCE! FROM A GOOD SCHOOL!
This school was in the middle of the pack on your top ten list, but often that means it has the best balance between what you thought you wanted and what you actually need.
15. Immediately manage expectations because you don't have funding yet.
Great, so now you've been accepted to a wonderful school, but you still don't have any money. Here comes the waiting game that is even worse than acceptance letters. I recommend keeping yourself very occupied during this time. Maybe take on so many responsibilities that you can't even think about the next day, much less the next week or the next year. (Or maybe just binge-watch Thirteen Reasons Why.)
16. Convince yourself that this school is perfect for you and no other school will be as good.
Discover that there is a river in the middle of the city. You've always wanted to live by a river!
Discover that there is a state park fifteen minutes away. You love state parks!
Discover that they offer young-adult literature and writing classes next semester. You want to write and study YA more than anything!
17. Receive a succession of emails that makes you more and more cynical.
"We're so happy that you're considering an MFA with ________! Here are apartments to consider! Here are classes you should register for! Here are professors to talk to! Here are recent grads to look at!"
Think to yourself, That's all well and good, but why don't you give me a TA and then we'll talk.
18. Finally.
You've reached the promised land. You're stressed, exhausted, poor, (and probably hungry), but at least you have a TA, a spot in an MFA program, and what's left of your sanity.
To anyone who helped me along this journey, in all seriousness, thank you.
For anyone who is starting or in the middle of this process of applying to an MFA program, I would love to answer any questions you have! Just leave a comment below!