MFA application – Kendall Dunkelberg

MFA Advice for Writers 2026, Pt 4 AI—Just Don’t

In which I discuss the cons of using AI in your MFA application. Just don’t, and this is why.

MFA Advice for Writers 2026, Pt 3 Magazines

Trying to learn more about an MFA program? Don’t overlook one of their main products, their literary magazine.

MFA Advice for Writers 2026, Pt 2 What are You Reading?

In this installment, I consider that intimidating and impossible list of what writers you’re reading that we all ask you to include.

MFA Advice for Writers 2026, Pt 1 #AWP26

Returning to writing advice for applicants to MFA programs in Creative Writing, I start with the benefits and challenges of attending #AWP26

Advice for MFA Applicants

My response to Poets & Writers recent advice essays for MFA Applicants

Now that it’s January, we’ve started to see some applications again for our low-residency MFA program for another year. This has me thinking about all the advice I’ve given to applicants over the years. If I could give one piece of advice on how to apply, I think it would be to just be you.Continue reading “MFA Application Advice 2024”

Advice on Writing Letters of Recommendation for the MFA in Creative Writing

Advice on writing the letter of recommendation: don’t sweat the adjectives, but do give plenty of specifics.

Three Questions for MFA Applicants

It is that time of year when those who are deciding whether and where to apply to an MFA program in cretive writing are busy preparing their applications or deciding where they will actually apply. Whether you’re in the final stages or just getting started, here are three questions I think you should ask yourself.Continue reading “Three Questions for MFA Applicants”

How to Prepare to Apply for an MFA Program, Part 2

So you’ve been writing, revising, reading magazines and books (as I suggested in Part 1 of this series), and you feel like you’re ready to start the application process. How can you navigate the difficult journey to an MFA? Fortunately, there are a lot of resources that can help you choose a program and figure outContinue reading “How to Prepare to Apply for an MFA Program, Part 2”

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”