Help? If possible.

[lettered]

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?

Comments

[kita0610.livejournal.com]

I have a lot of general info. for you. Can you hop on AIM?? It's ... a lot.

[globalfruitbat.livejournal.com]

if you come to BC (University of British Columbia or University of Victoria [I'm at UVIC right now -- actually in class right now -- and I think we might have a MFA in Creative Writing]) I can see you! I'll show you around and be excited! BC is very very nice, esp. Victoria.

[alleynyc.livejournal.com]

Pretty sure yseultdb went to Michigan for Creative Writing. (Could totally be wrong!) Maybe ask her?

Her B/A site is here: http://www.yseultspassion.com/

[violaclaire.livejournal.com]

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.

[femmenerd.livejournal.com]

I don't know anything about those kind of programs. I do know that the way that I chose what programs to apply to was to think about which articles/books/scholars I liked and looked up where those people taught.

Also, I want you to move to Chicago, but that's neither here nor there. You and Fod should make a support group.

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

I went to NYU for an MA in comp sci. It's a great location and a great school but there is no campus at all. Depends on what you want.

I love Buffy season 8, issue 6 and I blab about it here.

[stefanie-bean.livejournal.com]

Wow - that's quite a long list of schools. If you come to St. Louis to visit the Wash. U. campus, drop me an e-mail (addy is on my user info page), and we can have a beer or coffee. I don't know anything about Wash U's grad program, but if you want to ask me anything about St. Louis, go ahead and e-mail me.

[entrenous88.livejournal.com]

I have lots of free advice, all of which you're welcome to consider or to ignore.

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!

[chrisleeoctaves.livejournal.com]

OMG! Do *not* tease me with the prospect of coming to the University of New Brunswick. I *know* people at that school. What strings do I have to pull to get you up here? Tell me and I will yank them...hard.

[makd.livejournal.com]

I have a lot of GENERAL advice about grad school, but on creative writing/MA/MFA, I got nothin'.

pepperlandgirl is in a creative writing program in Utah. You might want to talk with her about the process.

I will leave you with three pieces of GENERAL advice:
1 - drop your list of potential schools to 5. If you apply to every school on your list, you'll need a loan to pay the application fees.

2 - think about what you want to do with the degree: teach, write, teach & write. That will help you focus on your degree choice, which in turn will help you focus on a smaller number of schools.

3 - where do you want to live for the next three years: city/country/suburb? US/Abroad? If you don't like the city you're in, you're gonna HATE grad school. Take a trip there, test it out, see if you like the school, the city, the program, the people.

For example: I spent a year of my life in one grad program that I never finished. I hated the school, I hated the program, I hated the profs, and I hated the other students. Fortunately I found another grad program, in another city that I liked well enough to finish. Ironically, the cheaper program was better than the more expensive one.

Good luck in making what may be the most important decision in your life.

[seraphcelene]

I'm going to agree pretty much with everyhing that entrenous88 just said, cause, yeah, I wish that I had known then what I know now cause I'd have a PhD at this point and be much less conflicted on the whole. That said OMG! NYU! Got my MA there and got to take classes with Carolyn Dinshaw who was kinda like my hero. It's an amazing location. I have a friend who teaches in the MFA program and I can give you her info if you're interested. She's brilliant and sweet and one of my favorite people in the world.

However, NYU is hellishly expensive, and everything that entrenous88 said about the MA cash cow applies there. I'd suggest going the PhD route with that school if you're going for an MA in English. They revamped the program just as I was leaving so I know that it's been expanded quite a bit. I don't have any experience with the MFA program that doesn't involve good time party shenanigans. SO ....

OH, and if you went to NYU, I would totally come visit you and we could run around the city like wild and crazy wimmen. woot!!

[marenfic.livejournal.com]

I did not get a degree in English and I don't have any close friends or family members who have.

That said, I do know about Washington University in St. Louis in a general sense (not English-program specific). I can tell you that it is a phenomenal school and I would have gone there in a heartbeat if I could have afforded it (or for grad school, gotten in-- I didn't apply there because my research interests didn't match, but I'm not sure I would have been accepted). I don't know of a single Wash U grad who isn't gainfully employed in a very good job-- the alumni base is fantastic. The campus is pretty, which I think you can expect with most of those schools. And finally, it is located right by Forest Park which is the prettiest place in St. Louis and the third largest city park in the country.

[stultiloquentia.livejournal.com]

Say the word and I'll get you contacts at UBC. My sister just finished her undergrad there in honours English. She's adored by the department and has brilliant contacts -- she still regularly meets her supervisor and several other profs socially. Her roommate, meanwhile, was poised to start an MFA in Creative Writing this year, but switched to an English MA, so between the two of them they'll have all the dirt. Vancouver is an incredibly beautiful city, Duff could hook you up with many hot med. students, and I would come and visit.

Selfishly, I'd love to get you out on the East Coast. New Brunswick, NYU, UMass (UMass! UMass!), don't care.