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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?
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?
no subject
Just to be above board at the outset: I don't recommend MA in English programs when all you get at the end is an MA. Generally they tend to be cash cows for the PhD part of the program (assuming there is one), generating funding for students who are not you (if you are applying only to the MA part/MA track). Or they tend to be directly focused on a particular specialized group; e.g., there are some good MA in English programs designed for people who are doing a dual MA/teaching program, or MA/publishing program. For those with such goals, the programs can be fantastic (though if you're interested in publishing, there are specific programs for that, like Radcliffe's summer publishing program, that would be even better).
If you are indeed set on going to an MA-only program, and you just want to study literature, one of the few places I would recommend is Georgetown. They have an MA program, but no PhD counterpart, so you're not competing for resources/attention/time with people who are going to make careers there, with students who are going to get priority over you because they're moving towards professionalized roles. At a place like Georgetown (which has a nice, well-rounded program historically) the professors and advisers will have only you/your cohort(s) to focus upon, and that's a very good thing.
Of course, you may be thinking of MA/PhD programs, in which case I have an entirely different rundown of advice to give -- let me know.
My main advice, generally -- don't go to school just to go to school. I'm *not* suggesting that's what you're doing, because you could well have a really considered plan here. But it's an issue worth considering briefly whatever your reasoning for applying to graduate school. Apply to and attend a graduate school if you have some very specific goals in mind: if you're using an MA program as a jumping off point to getting into a PhD program, or to see if you would *want* to continue on in a PhD program; if you're using an MA program to go to a specific career (teaching, publishing) that the program feeds into with advising and career support included; or if you're using an MFA program to work on getting connected/getting agents (not so much for the writing workshops -- if the latter is the case, take writing classes instead, seriously).
A good across the board piece of advice is that you should apply based on ho you want to work with -- I think this is particularly important for MFA programs, since you would finish your thesis/work of fiction/work of non-fiction, etc., under the advisement of someone who will be one of the main people through whom you make connections. For MA programs, consider who teaches MA/first-year classes, who will be on leave if it is a one year program (start asking now, before you spend the application fee), who might mentor you depending on which field you choose. Don't choose a program that's strong overall if it is weak in the area that most interests you. You're not looking at schools as such, at how well-ranked each college or university is, but rather how well ranked *your* program is, and further, *your* area of specialization specifically. If you like Modernism, it'll do you no good if the program is strong in Medieval Studies and not much else. And make sure the person/mentor you'd like to work with actually, you know, works with people. I've been in two grad programs in which people found their ideal adviser didn't actually advise -- way better to know about something like that beforehand!
no subject
My reasons for going to grad school kind of are going to school just to go to school, but at the same time, I've considered the reasons you state. I mean, the bottom line is, I want to be a writer. I've always wanted that, and you don't need a grad degree to do it. So senior year of undergrad, I applied to grad school, but it was yeah, just to apply, and when I didn't get in I thought, okay, I'll take a year of and write my big book and get it published! But obviously...that hasn't happened yet.
But what I always thought I'd do *after* I was an established writer was--well, travel the world and do a bunch of random shit, but I always thought I'd END UP, you know, after all my wild years, getting a phD in English and becoming a professor, and still writing on the side. Since again, my wild year plans have not exactly panned out, I feel like I should seize the school option because it gives me structure and it's something I've always wanted; I just didn't think I'd be doing it right now.
Anyway, the point is, I do want a phD in English, and I did not know that AT ALL about the MA programs, and thank you so, so much for letting me know about that. Seraphcelene says below that she wishes she'd known that too!
So, I'm interested in an English PhD, and one I can use to be a professor afterwards. Though I've always been interested in being an editor, too. God, I really do seem to be all over the place.
As for the MFA program--yes, the reason I'm interested in it is definitely for the connections. I've heard from many quarters that you do not need the degree to write, and I heartily believe that since a. many have published before CW MFAs were even in existence, and b. I feel like I can already write! So it's for the connections, and also because of the timing thing--because at this point in my life I really wanted to only be writing, and I wanted to do the English phD later. But I'm starting to think maybe that's not good reasoning.
Thanks for the heads up about Georgetown. Since I *am* interested in the phD, that's probably not what I'm looking for, but since I haven't researched the English programs much at all I didn't know I should be looking for MA programs that fed directly into phD programs; I'm woefully uninformed.
Also thanks for the advice on looking into the program and advisers specifically. My s-i-l went into linguistics and had a crap adviser at her first grad program, so crap that her life was miserable and she changed schools. I knew that, and yet hadn't thought about talking to students and stuff and getting opinions on the advisers before applying.
So, I'm thinking of MA/PhD programs, what advice do you have on that? And thanks again, so much.
no subject
Do you want to chat online or speak on the phone sometime? I have unlimited long distance (as long as you're in the U.S. -- I think you are) and it may help to speak directly so we can have a back and forth about particulars. If not, no worries -- I can give a condensed version in comments.
no subject
Thanks so much for your offer of help; I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. I'd love to chat online--I suck at the phone and would just grunt at you a lot (ask Sue!). I'm jsunshiny on AIM, but if you have another messenger I can install it. Um, if you want to say a time any time is fine with me.
Thanks again!
no subject
Oh good -- chatting it is, then. I'll add you on AIM the next time I'm on it. I've been forgetting to use that chat client because I stopped my AOL service. Oh, and on AIM, I'm ezbake88. I'm also on gmail chat as entrenous88 (and with that same name, on YIM).
Today and the next are busy, but maybe sometime this weekend we can connect. If we don't end up catching one another in the next few days, let's make a more specific plan, if that sounds good.
no subject
That sounds excellent! I'm joy.tkp on gmail. I'll probably see you on there this weekend. Thanks so much, hon; this means a lot to me.