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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
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.