Okay, so you want to apply for an MFA in Creative Writing, but you don’t know whether you’re good enough or where to start. You want to brush up on your writing and you want to put together the best application you possibly can. But how? In this post, I’ll try to give you someContinue reading “How to Prepare to Apply to an MFA Program, Part 1”
Category Archives: MFA application
Transcripts for the MFA Application
I’ve reached Day 8 in Kenzie Allen’s 10-day course on applying for the MFA in creative writing, and she’s talking about the CV, transcripts, and the GRE. She has a lot of good advice, so if you haven’t taken her free course, you should. She even links to my blog a few times, so sheContinue reading “Transcripts for the MFA Application”
Revisiting the Statement of Purpose for the MFA
This week, I’ve been learning how to apply to MFA programs in creative writing: I decided to take a free course, even though I direct an MFA program. I’m taking the course to see what Kenzie Allen has to say about the process and to review what I think about it, since I’ve written aContinue reading “Revisiting the Statement of Purpose for the MFA”
A Few Do’s for the MFA Applicant
A couple of years ago, I wrote a post titled 15 Things to Do Before a Low-Res MFA (plus 5 bonus things). That title was a little tongue in cheek because I’m not a big fan of numbered lists (since there’s no magic number), but they were some good things to at least consider before embarkingContinue reading “A Few Do’s for the MFA Applicant”
A Few Don’ts for the MFA Applicant
It’s getting to be that time of year again, when college seniors and graduates planning to go to grad school start thinking about their applications in earnest. I’ve written a fair amount about the process and even compiled some of my best advice in a Guide for Applicants for my MFA program in Creative WritingContinue reading “A Few Don’ts for the MFA Applicant”
Why Rank MFA Programs? Or Why Not…
News appeared recently on the Creative Writing Pedagogy Facebook Group about a new ranking of MFA programs based on publishing history in annual prize anthologies. Naturally, a discussion ensued about the value of rankings (which is dubious, and to credit this one, they even begin their post with a disclaimer about why you shouldn’t careContinue reading “Why Rank MFA Programs? Or Why Not…”
Low-Res or Fully Funded: an MFA Decision
I write a lot about MFA programs because I direct the low-residency MFA in Creative Writing at Mississippi University for Women. I mention this to let you know I am biased on this topic, but I’ve been thinking about the advice people often get about applying for MFA’s: don’t unless it’s fully funded. On theContinue reading “Low-Res or Fully Funded: an MFA Decision”
How To Find the best MFA program in Creative Writing (for you)
Summer is a time when many prospective MFA students begin searching for programs. Or maybe you’ve already begun that search, but it is now intensified as the application season approaches. Those who want to apply for an MFA need to have a good idea of their top choices soon, so they can work on craftingContinue reading “How To Find the best MFA program in Creative Writing (for you)”
15 Things to Do Before a Low-Res MFA (plus 5 bonus things)
Here are 15 things you should probably do before applying to a low-residency MFA in Creative Writing like ours: Read at least a dozen different literary magazines (find some at your library or local bookstore) Read multiple issues of at least two literary magazines Submit to your favorite literary magazines multiple times Get rejected by magazinesContinue reading “15 Things to Do Before a Low-Res MFA (plus 5 bonus things)”
More Thoughts on MFA Applications
About a year and a half ago, I wrote a series of posts about MFA applications, beginning with “What to Say in your Statement of Purpose.” At the time, The W was just launching its low-residency MFA in Creative Writing, and I wanted to be transparent about the application process by telling prospective students whatContinue reading “More Thoughts on MFA Applications”
Kendall Dunkelberg 