Affording the MFA

Life After the MFA

2011-12-01T21:25:00.001-08:00

It's been many months since I've updated this blog. It's been nearly 4 years since I applied to MFA programs.

The MFA program at Johns Hopkins is putting out succesful writers. The time, space, healthcare, teaching experience, and funding did much good.

To my knowledge, four writers have put out three books (Joanna Pearson, Jessica Blau, Stephen Kampa, Shashi Bhat), and many more have published pieces or been anthologized.

Affording the MFA is all about funding during graduate study. No writer should have to pay to be in a writing program. But I also want to stress teaching experience, especially for those who have literature degrees or are interested in teaching after the program. All schools--private, public, even for-profit, community, state, and the most prestigious--look for teaching experience.

I didn't really think much about life after the MFA when I was in the program. There was little time to think ahead--we were buried in student papers, our own writing, reading our colleagues' work. But to my delight, I have been making it work since graduation. And so have many other gradautes.

To give you an idea, most of my classmates came from Harvard, Princeton, Yale, William & Mary, Swarthmore, Cal Poly Pomona, and a handful of state schools. Almost no one had teaching experience. I had served as a TA for a large fiction lecture course, but that was it. I was definitely intimidated the first few weeks--by my classmates and by teaching. We were all given teaching opportunities for two years, and then some stayed on as adjuncts for an additional year.

I don't keep in touch with everyone, but I do know that one fiction writer went on to join the editorial staff at two New York-based magazines/reviews. Another was admitted into a creative writing PhD program in Texas; another adjuncts for two colleges in Missouri; and I adjunct for a university in San Diego and do freelance work. Some others tutor and hold a few jobs to make it work.

Last year I made $27,000, and this year it's increased. This is by no means plush, especially if you're coming from a lucrative career background (though you might go back to that once you're graduated). But I only work on campus two days a week so that I can write and move through the world at a different pace. The rest of the time I write, freelance, teach at an art center downtown, tutor, do yoga, and explore beachfronts with the dog. It's actually surprising how versatile an MFA can be. So if you're worried, there is definitely a lot of light at the end of the MFA tunnel.

PhD!!

2011-05-23T13:11:00.000-07:00

Application time is rolling around again. I am thinking of applying to PhD programs in English with creative dissertations. I'll be looking for PhD programs that don't require the GRE subject test. So far my list consists of U of N Texas, Texas Tech, and Ohio State.

MFA Blog

2009-11-28T19:39:00.001-08:00

Dear Friends,

While searching MFA blogs, I found this: MFA Chronicles. The blog covers multiple topics but includes contributors from various MFA programs like Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, and other (non-fully funded) schools.

Best,

R.P.

Top Fifty (according to S.A.)

2009-11-28T12:19:00.001-08:00

Dear Friends,

If it means anything, here are Seth Abramson's Top 50 MFA programs ranked by votes about funding, selectivity, and more on Poets and Writers.

Worth a glance.

Warmly,

R.P.

Louisiana State University

2009-11-28T11:49:00.000-08:00

Louisiana State University-Baton Rouge

Three-year program

Funding: LSU fully funds all students accepted to the program, offering teaching assistantships, enhancements, and supplements and a tuition waiver for out-of-state students as well as an excellent health insurance package. The stipends are - $16,500 if entering with a B.A. and $17,000 if entering with a MA. The assistantship includes tuition exemption as well as the health insurance. MFA candidates at LSU who have teaching assistantships teach only one class a semester. The MFA program offers opportunities to gain editorial experience by working for our many magazines and publications. The New Delta Review and The Southern Review.

Tuition per semester: $2 547.70 (residents) or $6 904.70 (non-residents); about 6 semesters to graduate/complete 42 hours of course work plus 6 hours of Thesis Research

Faculty: James Bennett, Rick Blackwood, Lara Glenum, Moira Crone, Femi Euba, Rodger Kamenetz, Mari Kornhauser, Bret Lott, Laura Mullen, David Madden, James Wilcox

Application (Deadline Jan 29)

Statement of purpose: 500 words about yourself and your interests, your research and reading interests, and your experience as a teacher (if any).
Official copy of transcript with an undergraduate minimum GPA of 3.2
General GRE score (minimum of 600 in Verbal) Graduate Dept. Code: 6373
Three letters of recommendation
Paper application
$25 application fee
Separate list of undergraduate courses, descriptions, and grades
Fiction manuscript consisting of no more than 20 pages; Poetry manuscript consisting of 8-10 poems

Admission: N/A

Website: http://www.lsu.edu/creativewriting/

Blog: http://lsumfa.blogspot.com/

Deadlines, 3-Year Programs, and Manuscripts

2009-11-28T11:24:00.001-08:00

Dear Pre- and Post-MFA Friends,

The Stegner deadline is coming up on Dec. 1. And in case you have a book-length manuscript, consider sending it to these contests:

Iron Horse

Ohio State Press

For all those applying this fall/winter, I hope MFA applications are going smoothly. If I can say anything about the economic climate and such, it might be a good idea to apply for 3-year programs that have equal and full funding. These include ASU, U of Florida-Gainesville, Indiana, Minnesota, Purdue, and TX-Michener.

Again, just a reminder about how important fully-funded schools are. I just don't believe in wording like "if applicants want to apply for a fellowship" or "stipends can result up to." Who doesn't want money to support them while they live? And I just don't believe in receiving less than $12,000 an academic year for support. I know we're capable and resourceful people--but shelter, food, and healthcare are non-negotiable.

Warmly,

R.P.

Arizona State University

2009-10-18T19:28:00.000-07:00

Arizona State University-Tempe

Three year program

Funding: Currently, all students admitted to the MFA program who submit a complete teaching assistantship application are awarded a TA by the Department of English. Each assistantship carries a 2-2 load and includes a tuition waiver and health insurance in addition to the TA stipend, just over $12,500 per year. Graduate students with assistantships must enroll for a minimum of six credit hours each semester.

All full-time MFA students are currently offered Virginia G. Piper Fellowships for each of their three years of study, based on satisfactory progress toward completion of degree requirements. Two Theresa A. Wilhoit Fellowships, one in poetry, one in fiction, provide the benefits of a Teaching Assistantship without the teaching responsibilities for one semester of the third year. Wilhoit Fellowships are administered by the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing. Graduate College fellowships and a small number of Research Assistantships provide other sources of funding. RAs are not typically awarded for the first year. Other prizes available.

Tuition: $3068 for six hours per semester or $6136 per year for a resident; $5,096 for six hours per semester or $10,192 per year for a non-resident.

Faculty: Sally Ball, Jay M. Boyer, Norman Dubie, Beckian Fritz Goldberg, Cynthia Hogue, T. R. Hummer, T. M. McNally, Melissa Pritchard, Jewell Parker Rhodes, Alberto Alvaro Rios, Jeannine Savard, Peter Turchi

Application (Deadline Jan. 15):

Online application
A personal statement including your writing background, intended area of specialization, a brief self-evaluation of recent work, and goals.
3 Letters of recommendation
Personal resume or CV
Three (3) copies of a manuscript sample: 20 pages of poetry, 30 pages of prose, or both.
Official academic transcript

Website: http://www.english.clas.asu.edu/cw-apply

A Talk

2009-10-18T19:14:00.001-07:00

I can't stress how important it is to apply to programs that give funding and health insurance. There are so many reasons to be financially smart about your MFA list. For one, unless you have have inherited millions or won the lottery it's no small feat to pay back student loans for an MFA with an MFA. It doesn't make sense to come out of an art program with $80-100,000 in debt. You're not going to be a doctor or an engineer with a lucrative position. You're going to be a writer. Most poetry or fiction prizes pay $1,000. The Pulitzer pays $10,000. The NEA and Guggenheim more, but know your odds.

As an artist, you should be given time and money to write (and in some cases teaching experience to prepare you for a job post-MFA). You shouldn't be paying a school so that you can write. In short, let grants, donors, the undergraduates at the given institution-- or rather, their parents pay for you to be there.

Worrying about how you're going to feed yourself or pay for a doctor's visit is no way to live. It's not conducive to writing. You need to have a decent place to live, good health care, and delicious food that you take pleasure in eating (don't try living on sandwiches, then toast because your lunch meat runs out, then cereal because the bread has run out). Take care of yourself.

And if somehow, you've already applied to programs that don't have great funding. Then somehow, you only get into two very poorly funded schools, just know that you don't have to pick one. There's always next year.

More Money

2009-05-12T17:27:00.001-07:00

As far as websites show, these are the schools that have increased their fellowship/stipend/funding:

Johns Hopkins University
Washington St. Louis
Purdue

And Now You Know

2009-03-19T08:55:00.000-07:00

Acceptances and rejections are out. There may be a few that haven't notified yet. As far as Hopkins, the poets were notified at least two or weeks ago and the fiction side was notified a week ago. Congratulations to all acceptances!

Tidbit

2009-01-26T09:40:00.001-08:00

As far as I know, the Writing Seminars faculty at Johns Hopkins have started reading manuscripts. I have no other information but there was a stack of applications on the department administrator's desk, or so I heard. So they're being logged in.

It seems that the aesthetics of most of the poetry faculty lean heavily towards formalism. Many of the MFA poets write or have been trained in writing in verse, etc. This is no surprise as Mary Jo Salter is now one of the leading professors in the program. It's always important to know the aesthetic tastes of the faculty.

Good luck!

Little

2009-01-18T11:40:00.000-08:00

Last year, when I applied for MFA programs, I remember:

1. Telling myself that I wouldn't get into an MFA program (psyching myself into disappointment so that I wouldn't despair later... though I probably may have anyway)

2. Checking MFA blogs and sites obsessively

3. Feeling deliriously confident that I would be chosen and then sinking into a cloudy muck of deflation

Everyone is waiting. It's a good idea to give the departments a call in late Jan or Feb if any of your material is missing from the application bundle. But don't worry-- I really mean this-- don't freak out even if something is missing. I was accepted into Johns Hopkins in April despite them not being able to find my GRE scores (name mishap). The important thing is your writing. You've come this far, don't lose hope. Don't forget to treat yourself to something nice and warm this winter season. Take care of yourselves. Eat well, get rest, and keep writing.

The Waiting Game

2008-12-22T13:49:00.001-08:00

I hope that you're all enjoying the holidays. There may be a few MFA programs that have a January deadline. Be sure to mail it in on time! For most the process is over and for a few, there are still packets to be mailed.

The important thing is to take a breather, read a good book over the holidays, view A Christmas Story at least once this Christmas (it's on 24 hours, after all), and get plenty of rest. Because when the holiday passes, you'll be back into writing.

Congratulations if you're done. I'm cheering you on if you're not. The waiting begins. Don't forget to check your status online or give the schools a call once mid-January rolls around to make sure that they have all your materials. Avoid calling them during the break-- they'll be slow, mail will be slow, your file will most likely not have been sorted and organized yet, and the administrator may be grumpy from the flood of calls/emails.

Have a happy holiday!

Warmly,

R.P.

Application Submissions

2008-12-07T17:51:00.000-08:00

I believe a few application deadlines have passed and many are looming above. Drop a comment, share your experience, questions, anxieties. What are your top schools?

An Autumn Letter From Me to You

2008-10-15T16:00:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,
If you're in school, then midterms are coming or just passing. Leaves are falling, squash of all varieties are being set out on porches, and the first cobwebs are being strewn about bushes and trees. The market is not quite in the holiday rush (turkey craze) but the shoppers are picking out candy, pumpkins, costumes, party flair, etc. I don't really do Halloween: I don't 'trick-or-treat,' I don't wear costumes, I don't really attend Halloween parties, and to the great disappointment of children everywhere, I don't give out candies (or apples or toothbrushes). However, I contribute by dressing my dog (1/2 Chihuahua, 1/2 Jack Russell) as a bona fide bumble bee.
You may (or may not) be thinking about your recommenders: Have they started on the recommendations? Will you be shown for the brilliant writer that you are? Are the recommendations going to get to the institution in time!? All valid questions.
If your recommenders are turning in their recommendations online, you may be able to check their status day to day. However, if you are like me (all of my professors preferred paper), then you'll probably want to gently remind them that the recommendations are due in a month or more. But it's not time to worry yet, so take heart.
Your applications should be at least half finished by now or at least started (because we are totally on it and not procrastinators). You might be $60-1,000 in debt as a result. I have been there and I've felt the financial strain (my debt rounded out to about $850). You'll want to really edit and revise those manuscripts and have begun to work on your personal statement and other possible essays.
Just remember, when you become overwhelmed with all of the paper work, writing, editing, revising, emailing, calling--- when you are overloaded, tired, depressed-- when things look bleak, half empty, all empty--- take my metaphorical hand and put it in yours and know that I'm figuratively there with you and cheering you on.

Warmly,
R.P.

MFA and Money

2008-09-01T10:36:00.001-07:00

An excerpt from a Poetry Foundation blog post by a woman who has been in 3 creative writing programs. I give you Harriet on MFA and money:

While an MFA or a PhD is for the most part necessary to get a teaching position, the vast majority of MFA graduates don’t get such jobs (and the teaching jobs they get are in general poorly paid adjunct jobs with no security and no benefits—I've done that too). It's not a practical degree, and no one should pay or put themselves in a lot of debt to get an MFA. But in general MFA programs have fairly good financial aid, usually in the form of teaching assistantships.

Despite many people’s reasonable doubts (and many other people’s unreasonable attacks or dismissals), MFA programs are in general a good thing. Mine gave me several years to focus on reading and writing, during which I didn't have to worry about looking for or working at a job.

What was most important about my time at the two MFA programs I attended was that I met several fellow students with whom I clicked as people and as poets, many of whom are still among my closest friends. Having felt very isolated as a writer for much of my life, especially during the several years I was out of school before finishing my BA, that was very important to me. It’s very valuable in general to get outside perspectives on one’s work, even if one doesn’t agree with all of them, as one never will. To imagine one’s work through other eyes is absolutely crucial for a writer.

If one goes to an MFA program without any illusions about what it will do for one professionally or practically, and if one doesn't pay through the nose or put oneself in debt to do it, it can be a very rewarding experience. Whatever one does afterward, one will still have had that time to focus on what one wants to do, which is a rare opportunity in our society.

CV/Resume Help

2008-08-25T11:57:00.001-07:00

In case you are having trouble writing your CV/Resume for schools, here are a few helpful links.

What to List:
http://jobsearch.about.com/od/cvsamples/a/cvformat.htm
Academic Sample:
http://jobsearch.about.com/od/cvsamples/l/blcvsamp4.htm
List of Other Samples:
http://jobsearch.about.com/od/cvsamples/a/blsamplecv.htm

Hope this helps. Feel free to leave questions/comments here.

My very best to all of you!

End of Summer, Start of Applications

2008-08-15T11:38:00.001-07:00

The summer is starting to wind down. We're in the middle of August. For most, school will start in the first few days of September.

Have you been keeping in touch with your professors or recommendation writers? Here's a little timeline to keep things straight.

Late August
1. Email or contact your rec writers just to double-check/remind them that it's coming up.
2. Whittle down that list of schools. Anything between 8-12 is a good number. More if you're trying to get into the same school with your significant other/spouse. Less if you're really broke.
3. Work on your manuscripts. As in edit or revise. I wouldn't suggest trying to write something entirely new. You should have some good pieces in your repertoire.

Mid September
1. Finalize that list of schools. Make sure you have plenty of well-funded names in there.
2. Prepare your recommendation forms for your rec writers/professors. This is what you want to include in each packet: a letter of gratitude, list of schools to which you're applying, recommendation forms for each, one business envelope (stamped, addressed if the recommender sends it straight to the school) per school, and a large manila envelope if they are sending all of the letters back to you (stamped, addressed of course). And you'll want to include a short story or poem that they know to refresh their memory of your genius. Of course, this is only if you are doing it by paper. Most schools offer electronic recommendations.
3. Sign up for the GRE

October
1. Study for the GRE-- it's not difficult. It's only difficult if you don't study at all. Get used to the computer format. Familiarize yourself with the types of questions, etc.
2. Take the GRE in late October. This allows enough time for them to send you scores and for you to order more for your schools. Allow 2 weeks for the GRE scores to reach you and then 2 more for the scores to reach your schools.
3. Fill out your FAFSA if you need it.
4. Send those recommendation packets out through mail. Or notify recommenders with a grateful email if you are having them do it online.

November
1. Fill out all the necessary forms for your school (fellowship forms, etc) and complete your online applications.
2. Friendly reminders if your recommenders haven't done any of the recommendations.

December
1. Send out your school forms. Make sure you've completed all your applications and paid the fees.
2. Make sure recommenders have sent out all the necessary forms and recommendations.
3. Make sure GRE scores have been sent.
4. FAFSA, too if necessary.

January
1. Call schools or check online to make sure they have everything. You should receive email confirmations for most forms, application, etc.
2. Have a little party, dance around, be happy it's over... and now the waiting game!

Rubric

2008-06-15T13:00:00.000-07:00

When I applied for the MFA last year I remembered a conversation I had with Sarah Shun-Lien Bynum, one of my recommenders. She advised me to look long and hard at the financial facts for each MFA program. She asserted that coming out with debt would result in financial hardship especially since writers don't usually make a lot of money especially from the get-go.

I'm a firm believer in what Virginia Woolf had to say about women writing (all writers for that matter). It isn't just the section about one's own room, but rather, that writers should be given money and good food, too. It's difficult to write if we're anxious about our next meal or worried about how we'll pay the rent. So I want to encourage applicants to look at schools that are financially generous.

In order to pare down the list of schools for this blog, I am only listing schools that meet these points:

Tuition Remission. There are multiple reasons why coming out of the MFA program with debt is horrible. Although some MFA grads go on to publish, win fellowships, and teach at other creative writing programs, many will not. And for the ones that continue to write, the writing world isn't exactly lucrative, especially from the get-go. So why burn holes in your pockets?
Stipend. I will arbitrarily set the bar at $10,000 per academic year (two semesters and it is considered taxable). Exceptions can be made based on living expenses and rent around the MFA program. With $10,000 the student will receive about $850 per month. This should cover a large portion of rent (if not all). This would require part time income for the student. A part time job during the MFA isn't the most desirable, but it's definitely feasible.
Funds all of their students. There are some schools like U of Montana or Columbia that give funding to only select students. But here, we're going to look at schools that treat all of their students equally in terms of finances.
Health Benefits. This may be partial insurance or completely free, full health insurance. Some of the school websites do not specify, so we'll look for some type of acknowledgement.

There are about 180 MFA programs nationwide. Here are the MFA programs with the most elite funding.

If you would like to suggest any schools, please let me know. I am currently seeking current and prospective students attending Sarah Lawrence, Brown, or U-Minnesota for stipend information.

Warmly,

R.P.

Ohio

2008-06-04T07:36:00.000-07:00

Ohio State University
Two-year program

Funding: Students are awarded stipend as part of MFA package. In addition, University Fellowships are available to entering M.F.A. students. University Fellowship recipients usually have enthusiastic recommendations, Grade-Point averages of 3.75 or better on a 4.0 scale, GRE verbal scores in the ninetieth percentile or above, and carefully written autobiographical statements. The stipend for a University Fellowship is currently $1,256 per month for twelve months; tuition and non-resident fees are waived. University Fellows are subsequently eligible for Graduate Teaching Associateships (see below). In addition to regular University Fellowships, there are fellowships for minority students.

Tuition Per Academic Year: $8,433 for residents, approximately $17,000 for nonresidents; 70 credits to graduate (they go by quarters; 3 quarters per academic year)

Faculty: Lee K. Abbott, Kathy Fagan, Michelle Herman, Andrew Hudgins, Lee Martin, Erin McGraw, Dick Davis, Angie Estes, Stephen Kuusisto, Jeredith Merrin

Application (Deadline Dec 15):

Official transcript stating that you've completed 40 quarter hours or 27 semester hours of work in English or other humanities (language, journalism, creative writing); B.A. necessary
GPA of 3.2 overall
General GRE score (minimum of 600 on verbal) Institution code: 1592, Dept: 2503
3 Letters of recommendation
Autobiographical statement describing educational and professional goals
Statement addressing applicant's teaching experience, interests, abilities
Curriculum vitae (2 page max)
Critical writing sample/essay of 8-10 pages in length to demonstrate expository prose and formation of argument
Fiction manuscript (20-40 pages); Poetry manuscript (15-25 pages)

Admission: Not available; named 1 of the 5 up and coming schools in The Atlantic

Website: http://english.osu.edu/programs/creativewriting/students/default.cfm

*italics= information added by current/other students*

Washington-St. Louis

2008-06-02T07:18:00.000-07:00

University of Washington- St. Louis
Two-year program

Funding: Awards consist of scholarships, which cover the cost of tuition , plus University Fellowships, stipends up to $17,940, to cover living expenses for the first year. Support for the second year will generally consist of a tuition scholarship and an assistantship to teach sections of beginning Fiction or Poetry Writing. Many other awards available.

Tuition Per Academic Year: $36,000 for two semesters; 42 credits to graduate

Faculty: Mary Jo Bang, Kathryn Davis, Gerald Early, Kathleen Finneran, Marshall Klimasewiski, Carl Phillips, Kerri Webster, Kellie Wells

Application (Deadline Jan 2):

Application

$35 Application Fee

Applicant Information Form

General GRE Score; Institution Code = 6929; Writing/Concentration = 2503

Transcripts of Previous Work

3 Letters of Recommendation

Writing Sample

Cover Sheet

Admission: 9 students accepted across both genres; 7.5% acceptance rate (listed as one of the top 25 easiest MFA programs to get into according to Seth Abramson's list)

Website: http://artsci.wustl.edu/~english/writingprogram/

Minnesota

2008-05-27T08:14:00.000-07:00

University of Minnesota - Minneapolis
Three-year program

Funding: The English Department at the University of Minnesota is committed to providing financial support to MFA students for three full years. Support is given in the form of teaching assistantships and research or administrative fellowships. In addition, grants and fellowships from outside the department may be available, by nomination, to incoming students. All forms of support provide salary or stipend and include a full tuition waiver plus health benefits. *Amount of stipend not specified- if anyone has information let me know*

Tuition Per Semester: $4,870 for resident and $8,419 for nonresident for 6-14 credits taken in a given semester; each credit after that is $811.67 for resident and $1,403.17 for nonresident; 45 credits to graduate

Faculty: Charles Baxter, Michael Dennis Browne, Maria Damon, M.J. Fitzgerald, Patricia Hampl, Ray Gonzalez, Julie Schumacher, Madelon Sprengnether, David Treuer

Application (Deadline Dec 20):

Online application
Application fee not specified
Official copy of transcript
Cover sheet
Statement of purpose: 1-3 pages concerning your academic and general experience, and your personal and professional goals
Three letters of recommendation
General GRE score Institution code: 6874 Dept: 2501
GPA Form calculating English courses only (no composition, creative writing)
Curriculum vitae (optional)

Admission: 4 or 5 students admitted into each the poetry and fiction program (8-10 total over both genres); 5% acceptance rate

Website: http://creativewriting.umn.edu/mfa/

Purdue

2008-05-27T07:21:00.000-07:00

Purdue University - West Lafayette
Three-year program

Funding: All students receive teaching assistantships in any of the composition programs, including creative writing, provide a stipend of approximately $13,000 for ten months, remission of tuition and most fees, plus merit raises. A few merit fellowships provide tax-free stipends of more than $18,000 for 12 months and remission of tuition and fees. Teaching assistantships can include composition and creative writing courses, administrative positions within the program such as Assistant Director and Visiting Writers Series Coordinator and editorial positions with Sycamore Review. (Health insurance possibly implied in "fees")

Tuition Per Academic Year: $7,416 for resident and $22,224 for nonresident; 42 credits to graduate.

Faculty: Patricia Henley, Porter Shreve, Sharon Solwitz, Marianne Boruch, Mary Leader, Donald Platt, Bich Minh Nguyen

Application (Deadline Jan 15)

Statement of purpose: 300-500 words concerning your intellectual history, development, and academic and professional goals
Critical writing sample: 10-12 page essay sample written for an English/Humanities course
Official copy of transcript with an undergraduate minimum GPA of 3.4
General GRE score (minimum of 500 each in Verbal and Analytical) Institution Code: 1631, Dept Code: 2599
Three letters of recommendation
Online application
$55 application fee
Fiction manuscript consisting of 2-3 short stories or a novel excerpt; Poetry manuscript consisting of a group of 8-10 poems

Admission: About 4 applicants in both poetry and fiction; 4% acceptance rate

Website: http://tholian.sla.purdue.edu/english/creativewriting/index.html

Indiana

2008-05-23T07:43:00.000-07:00

Indiana University at Bloomington
Three-year program

Funding: Teaching assistantship stipends start at a minimum of $12,150 beginning the first year. They offer students of exceptional merit first-year fellowships in fiction and poetry, as well as third-year (thesis year) fellowships and a variety of other awards designed to give distinction to their writing, their public service, and their teaching. They offer Neal-Marshall Graduate Fellowships in Creative Writing to all incoming students of color, and we nominate all qualified students for Chancellor's University Fellowships, Chancellor's Minority Fellowships, and Educational Opportunity Fellowships.Full tuition remission and coverage of most fees. Health coverage not mentioned, but assumed in "coverage of most fees."

Tuition Per Academic Year: $7,837 for residents and $22,316 for nonresidents. Estimated room and board is $6,138–$7,860 for the year.

Faculty: Tony Ardizzone, Catherine Bowman, Richard Cecil, Debra Kang Dean, Ross Gay, Maurice Manning, John McCluskey, Jr., Alyce Miller, Scott Russell Sanders, Maura Stanton, Samrat Upadhyay, Tim Westmoreland

Application (Deadline Jan 1)

Personal statement

Statement about the teaching of creative writing

Three letters of recommendation

Official copy of transcripts

GRE general test scores; Institution, 1324, Dept. 2503

Portfolio of creative work (at least thirty pages of fiction, or twenty pages of poetry

Admission: 12 students across fiction and poetry (6 in each)

Website: http://iub.edu/~mfawrite/about/

Irvine

2008-05-23T07:09:00.000-07:00

University of California, Irvine
Two-year program

Funding: Financial assistance for students in the Program is available in the form of Regents' Fellowships (student fees and stipend), Tuition Fellowships (for out-of-state students), and Teaching Assistantships. Teaching assistants will earn $5,203.50 per quarter ($15,610.50 for the full academic year) for one course per quarter. TA-ship renewable based on satisfactory performance and good academic record. Full tuition remission. First quarter fellowship without teaching responsibility is available for students as well as tuition remission and a fellowship for third year option students.

Tuition Per Academic Year: $7,556 for resident and $27,176 for non-resident. Estimated room and board cost: $10,266

Faculty: Michelle Latiolais, James McMichael, Geoffrey Woolf

Application (Deadline Dec 15):

Online application
$60 application fee
Official copy of transcript (with a 3.0 minimum GPA for B.A. degree)
3 Letters of recommendation
Autobiographical sketch: 2-4 pages
Statement of Purpose: 1-2 pages, academic
GRE not required
Manuscript cover form
Self-addressed, stamped postcard
Fiction manuscript consisting of 1-2 short stories (40 pages); Poetry manuscript consisting of at least 10 poems

Admission: 10-12 in Poetry and Fiction combined; acceptance rate less than 2%

Website: http://www.humanities.uci.edu/english/programs/cw_mfa.php

*italics= information added by current student*

Texas-Michener Center

2008-05-22T09:10:00.000-07:00

Michener Center For Writers
Three-year program

Funding: Each student receives a $25,000 stipend per academic year. All tuition and fees are paid. Students in good standing may also apply for Professional Development Funds ($6,000 over 3 years) to attend writing conferences or residencies, to assist in research travel, or for summer support to complete a major writing project.

Tuition Per Credit: $883 for resident and $1,320 for nonresident; 54 credits to graduate.

Faculty: Michael Adams, Oscar Casares, Laura Furman, Stephen Harrigan, Elizabeth Harris, Rolando Hinojosa-Smit, Peter LaSalle, James Magnuson, Kurt Heinzelman, A. Van Jordan, Judith Kroll, Thomas Whitbread

Application (Deadline Jan 15):

Official transcript with minimum of 3.0 GPA (for all upper-division work both in undergraduate and graduate work) Students with an MFA or PhD not eligible.
GRE required
Online application using Major Code: 693500
$50 application fee
3 letters of recommendation
Statement of Purpose: In it, clearly state what your primary and secondary fields of study will be (in bold or underlined, or as a header). Make sure your name is on your statement. Limit to 250 words!
Cover sheet
Fiction manuscript consisting of 1-2 stories (up to 30 pages; Poetry manuscript consisting of 10 poems (up to 25 pages)

Admission: 10-12 students across all genres including play/screenwriting; acceptance rate is less than 2%

Website: http://www.utexas.edu/academic/mcw/mfa.shtm

Welcome

2008-05-21T12:34:00.000-07:00

Hi friends, I've just started a new compilation of MFA programs with the best funding for poetry and fiction. I will be working on this blog for the next few weeks. If you know of a certain school with excellent funding let me know. Best of luck to all of the new applicants!

Warmly,
R.P.

Florida-Gainesville

2008-05-21T10:23:00.000-07:00

University of Florida-Gainesville
Three-year program

Funding: A writing program should be easily affordable. All MFA students here receive a full tuition waiver as well as either a fellowship or a teaching assistantship for the duration of the three-year program worth $13,200 per year. Each year two MFA students receive an Alumni Fellowship worth $30,000. One graduating student in fiction receives the $10,000 Henfield Prize. (Florida has no state income tax, and the cost of living in Gainesville is modest.)

Tuiton Per Credit: $311.60 for residents and $941.79 for nonresidents; 48 credits to graduate

Faculty: Debora Greger, Michael Hoffman, William Logan, Sidney Wade, Jill Clement, David leavitt, Padgett Powell, Mary Robison

Application (Deadline Jan 16):

Online application
$30 application fee
MFA manuscript cover
Fiction manuscript consisting of two short stories or two chapters of a novel; Poetry manuscript consisting of 6-10 poems
2 Letters of recommendation using the Form
2 official copies of transcripts
General GRE (required) Institution: 5812, Dept: 2501

Admission: 15 students admitted across both genres; 7.5% acceptance rate

Website: http://www.english.ufl.edu/crw/

Michigan-Ann Arbor

2008-05-21T09:46:00.000-07:00

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Two-year program

Funding: Each student gets $16,000 for year 1, at least $14,700 for year 2, and $6000 for the summer in between through a Gradership or Fellowship. Full tuition waiver and "health benefits" for the second year through Grad Student Instructorship. Several scholarships available to MFA students during the year.

Tuition Per Academic Year: $15,558 for resident and $31,468 for nonresident

Faculty: Michael Byers, Peter Ho Davies, Nicholas Delbanco, Lorna Goodison, Linda Gregerson, Ryan Harty, Laura Kasischke, Khaled Mattawa, Thylias Moss, Julie Orringer, Eileen Pollack

Application (Deadline Jan 1):

2 copies of official transcripts (1 to Rackham Graduate School, 1 to English Dept)
Fiction manuscript consisting of short stories or novel excerpt (40 pages) and Poetry manuscript consisting of up to 15 poems
Online application
Statement of Purpose: academic and intellectual, 2 pages, well-written statement about your academic and research background, your career goals, and how Michigan's graduate program will help you meet your career and educational objectives. (submitted online)
Personal Statement: 2 pages, well-written statement about how your personal background and life experiences, including social, cultural, familial, educational, or other opportunities or challenges, motivated your decision to pursue a graduate degree at the University of Michigan. (submitted online)
Curriculum vitae/resume (submitted online or mailed)
Admissions Conduct Code (submitted online)
3 Letters of recommendation (submitted online or by mail)
Letter of recommendation form (for mail)
$60 application fee

Admission: 12 students for both genres

Website: http://www.lsa.umich.edu/english/grad/mfa/theProgram.asp

Johns Hopkins

2008-05-21T09:34:00.001-07:00

Johns Hopkins
Two-year program

Funding: Each student receives a teaching assistantship each academic year carrying a $18,900 stipend. Full tuition remission and full health insurance. Opportunities to teach a winter intermission course (3 weeks for $1500) or a summer course (5 weeks for $3400) based on teaching performance during the semester.

Tuition Per Academic Year: $38,000 for residents and nonresidents

Faculty: Dave Smith, John Irwin, Alice McDermott, Jean McGarry, Mary Jo Salter, Tristan Davies, Brad Leithauser, Ann Finkbeiner, Greg Williamson, Matt Klam.

Application (Deadline Jan 15)

Online application
$75 application fee
3 Letters of recommendation (either electronically or through mail)
Fiction manuscript consisting of up to 3 short stories or a novel excerpt (40 pages); Poetry manuscript consisting of 10 poems (up to 25 pages). Must be submitted electronically.
Statement of Purpose/Critique of Work: a two-page introduction and critique of their work. This statement should give admissions faculty a view to the scope and thoughtfulness of the work submitted and a sense of the student's ability to contribute in the writing workshops.
1 official copy of transcript
General GRE (required) Institute: 5332, Dept.: 2503

Admission: 8-12 students for both genres (2 fiction applicants accepted 2007; 6 fiction applicants accepted for 2008); 3.3% acceptance rate

Website: http://web.jhu.edu/writingseminars/

New York

2008-05-21T09:20:00.000-07:00

Cornell
Two-year program

Funding: All MFA students receive two-year funding combining a first-year Graduate Assistantship working at Epoch, a summer teaching assistantship, a second-year Teaching Assistantship, a second summer of support though not guaranteed, full tuition remission for two years and health insurance. All assistantships include an unspecified stipend. Degree recipients are eligible to apply for further teaching for one year in The First-Year Writing appointments.

Tuition Per Academic Year: $29,500 for residents and nonresidents

Faculty: Lamar Herrin, Alice Fulton, Molly Hite, Phyllis Janowitz, Alison Lurie, Dan McCall, Kenneth McClane, Maureen McCoy, Robert Morgan, Edgar Rosenberg, Stephanie Vaughn, Lyrae Van Clief-Stefanon, Helena Maria Viramontes

Application (Deadline Dec 15):

Online application
Statement of Purpose
3 Letters of recommendation
1 official transcript
General GRE (required) Institution: 2098, Field: 2503
Fiction manuscript consisting of 6,000-12,000 words, Poetry manuscript consisting of 10-12 poems
$70 application fee

Admission: 8 students (4 per genre); 1.5% acceptance rate

Website: http://www.arts.cornell.edu/english/graduate/mfa/

Wisconsin

2008-05-21T09:00:00.000-07:00

University of Wisconsin-Madison
Two-year program *Fiction and Poetry students admitted in alternating years*
(2010 accepting fiction; 2011 accepting poetry)

Funding: Each student gets $10,300 for the first year, $10,800 for the second year, $3,000 for the summer in between and teaches 1 course per semester. Full tuition remission for both years and "generous health benefits."

Tuition Per Credit: $604.40 for resident and $1558.78 for nonresident; 36 credits to graduate

Faculty: Amaud Jamaul Johnson, Jesse Lee Kercheval, Ron Kuka, Judith Claire Mitchell, Lorrie Moore, Ronal Wallace, Quan Barry

Application (Deadline Dec 15):

Fiction manuscript consisting of 1-2 short stories or section of a novel (under 30 pages) Poetry manuscript up to 10 pages
Single cover sheet listing your name, address, phone number, email address and the title(s) of your writing sample(s).
3 recommendations (submitted online)
Two official copies of transcripts
Personal statement (submitted online)
GRE not required
Online application (major code: 243)
$45 application fee

Admission: 6 students per year for one genre; 1.5% acceptance rate

Website: http://creativewriting.wisc.edu/index.html