lettered: (Default)
It's Lion Turtles all the way down ([personal profile] lettered) wrote2007-09-17 03:36 pm
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Help? If possible.

This year I am reapplying to grad school. I'm applying to all the schools to be admitted into two different programs: the Creative Writing MFA and the English MA. I feel like if I don't get into the former I probably have more of a chance with the latter. So far, the schools I'm applying to are:

Washington University in St Louis, University of Florida, University of Texas, New York University, University of Houston, Saint Mary's College of California.

I'm also looking into University of Michigan, Otis College of Art and Design, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, University of Notre Dame, University of New Orleans, Emerson College, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, University of New Hampshire, Rutgers University, City College of New York, The New School, Sarah Lawrence College, Syracuse University, Ohio State University, Chatham University, University of Pittsburgh, University of South Carolina, Vanderbuilt University, Goddard College, George Mason University, Hollins University, University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, anywhere that does MFAs in Creative Writing in Alaska, University of New Brunswick, University of British Columbia anywhere that does MFAs in Creative Writing in Canada, University of East Anglia in the UK, anywhere that does MFAs in Creative Writing in any English speaking country such as the UK, Australia, or New Zealand, and English MA programs anywhere in Europe, particularly the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Poland, and English MA programs anywhere in the world, including Argentina, South Africa, India, China, Russia, and Egypt.

Um, so. The purpose of this post is to ask if anyone has any advice on any of these universities, any of these locations, any English MA programs, any Creative Writing MFA programs, any grad programs, getting into grad programs, writing portfolios, and stuff. I'm just trying to gather any info I can on the process of choosing and applying, as I have failed so spectacularly in the past.

So how 'bout that Buffy 6 comic?

[identity profile] violaclaire.livejournal.com 2007-09-17 09:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, I might have stuff about this--my parents both work in English departments, so I'm sure they have hints about portfolios, etc. Give me a minute and I'll find out.

Otherwise, all I got is that Chicago's a beautiful and very cold city (ooh! If you visit I can show you some amazing bookstores), and Pittsburgh depresses me. On the other hand, it's the town that produced August Wilson, so there must be good parts.

[identity profile] violaclaire.livejournal.com 2007-09-17 11:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Okay, straight from the mouth of a former English chair. This could be spectacularly obvious from your angle, but I'm not sure what you specifically need advice on:

-Your writing sample is the most important part of your app, so go over it a lot, and have old teachers look at it.
-Your GREs (including math) affect financial aid, so keep that in mind.
-Call the admissions officer in the English department and pester them with questions ("Where do your students generally go for PhDs?" etc.) to show that you're interested in the program.
ext_7189: (Default)

[identity profile] tkp.livejournal.com 2007-09-18 05:27 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, awesome! The last one is especially helpful. I didn't know that the admissions officer would take that into account.

I hope you don't mind if I pepper you with more questions if I come up with them. You needn't feel obliged to bug your parents with them, but you don't know what a comfort it is to know someone who knows people who know about this stuff.

This stuff is really scary and driving me crazy!

Thanks so much, hon.

[identity profile] violaclaire.livejournal.com 2007-09-18 02:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, feel free to pepper ;) My parents have this weird teacher-gene thing where they love giving advice.