University of Alaska - Fairbanks M.F.A. (Creative Writing) Chances?

Graduate School
1

<p>Hi all…</p>

<p>Just curious, another “chance me” thread.</p>

<p>I am interested in the University of Alaska at Fairbank’s M.F.A. Program in Creative Writing. </p>

<p>My writing is solid (that’s what got me into the Honors College at my institution), but I will list other statistics as well:</p>

<p>Majors:

  1. Creative Writing
  2. History</p>

<p>Minor:

  1. English</p>

<p>Cumulative G.P.A.:
3.4</p>

<p>Dean’s List:
1 semester so far (I will be a sophomore in the fall of 2009).</p>

<p>Extracurricular Achievements:

  1. Waldorf Wind Symphony (first-year at large and Associate Principal Bass Clarinet)
  2. Mostly Alive Poets Society (club for English and Creative Writing majors and minors - Vice President)
  3. Waldorf College Student Senate (first-year senator, will be in the Senate chamber next year)
  4. Writing Center tutor
  5. Will hopefully be graduating magna cum laude and Waldorf Scholar (from the way things look now this will happen)
  6. Will be completing the Honors Inquirere (a undergraduate dissertation given in front of the faculty about a chosen research topic), and hopefully do some Undergraduate Research with my advisor, Professor Joe Wilkins.
  7. I will be presenting a short story along with other Creative Writing majors from my College during the Streamlines Conference, a conference of college writing programs all around Iowa.</p>

<p>Do graduate institutions even look at the extra things (in my case, Wind Symphony, Senate, etc) that I have done in college? Does that even matter in the admissions process? Do they like to see that you are involved or are they only looking for evidence that you are a strong writer and have applied yourself in that field (for example, being a writing center tutor or doing undergraduate research?)</p>

<p>I know that Creative Writing M.F.A.'s view the writing sample as the key factor, but to note, I have polished off a novel(historical fiction being my main genre) , and am currently working on two more (again, historical fiction). Short stories abound…poetry, however, is not my strong point. Do you think that UAF would accept me?</p>

<p>Thanks! :slight_smile:
Dean</p>

2

<p>56 hits and no one responds? Really?</p>

3

<p>Maybe because grad schools are too subjective for anyone to really be able to “chance” you. Especially as a rising sophomore. It’s still too early. Try again when you’re a rising senior.</p>

4

<p>As someone who has an M.F.A. in creative writing, I’ll tell you that your submitted writing will count for almost everything. Learn about the professors in the program. Read their writing. Will yours fit with theirs? If they are all experimental writers, and you write traditionally structured fiction, you most likely won’t get in.</p>

<p>Remember that M.F.A. programs train academic writers, not bestselling ones. (Yes, you sometimes get both, but it’s rare.) You have to have an interest in the theories of technique in addition to a love of writing.</p>

<p>Order of importance: 1. writing sample 2. recommendations 3. GPA</p>

<p>I doubt the rest will matter much at all, even the GREs, although you’ll have to meet some minimum standard.</p>

5

<p>It’s way too early to start asking this question-- come back in your senior year. I’ve said it on this board before, but I’ll say it again-- the MFA process is brutal. I went through it this past year and it was the longest, most draining process I’ve been through. </p>

<p>Asking for your chances for an MFA program is completely useless-- it’s very subjective. The committee could hate your writing or love it; you can’t predict that. Your writing sample, is, quite literally, 90 percent of your application. Your statement of purpose makes up 5% and your grades, GRE scores, and recommendations make up the other 5%. They could care less about your grades-- they just want to see that you graduated. It’s all up to your writing sample. Make sure that it’s the absolute best that it can be.</p>

<p>MFA programs are also brutal to get into (as I’m sure you’re aware)-- statistically, the hardest MFA to get into in the US is Cornell; they accept 4 people out of around 600 applicants. That’s a 0.7% acceptance rate. Most MFA programs hover between 5 and 15%. Below 5% are the super selective and above 15% are the less selective-- yup, a 16% acceptance rate is considered “less selective.” The program you are applying to, Alaska, I believe hovers right in between the 5-15% range-- around 10. Don’t quote me on that, though. I do know, however, that Alaska has an excellent program.</p>

<p>Since MFA programs are notoriously brutal to get into, it’s wise to apply to as many programs as you can afford. The average number of programs people apply to is usually 8-12. 10 seems to be the magic number. There are alot of people, however, who apply to 15-20. If you look on the MFAblog online, conducted by Seth Abramson, you will find the results of those who applied this past admissions cycle-- you will find people who applied to 15 places and got rejected at all 15. In fact, that’s pretty common. One guy applied to 22 places one year and 22 places the following year-- 44 different MFA programs, and he got rejected at all 44. He’s trying again for a third year.</p>

<p>Since you sound like a serious writer, I’m sure you’re very aware that writers constantly face rejection–haha. Be prepared for lots of rejection, but also, I think, be prepared for the process to harden you and make you an even better writer. After rejection after rejection started to pour in, I felt even more motivated to finish my current story and I, honestly, owe the completion of that work to the rage I felt from those rejections.</p>

<p>I applied to 8 places, and after 6 rejections and a waitlist rolled in (which later turned out to be a “sorry we don’t want you” letter), an acceptance came. It was definitely an amazing feeling. Some of my friends who went through the same process and didn’t make it this year were a bit envious, I guess-- though, I must admit, I spent many hours preparing my writing sample and making it the best it could be.</p>

<p>If you work hard on that sample-- and I mean getting it workshopped and letting it sit for a few months, maybe even a year or two since you have time-- and if you write a great S.O.P. ( the biggest advice I can give for the S.O.P. is not to write a sappy, sob story) AND if you apply to at least 7 or 8 places, you should be good to go. It won’t be a secure lock, because nothing is ever secure in the MFA world… but you’ll be as ready as you’ll ever be.</p>

<p>I’m not trying to scare you-- just, perhaps, warn you since I just went through this process. If you truly are a writer, you won’t stop applying 'till that acceptance comes. And when it does, it’ll be incredible, I can guarantee you that.</p>

<p>I know this was a long message, and I hope at least part of it was helpful. If you have any questions at all about the process, I might be able to guide you. I’m definitely not an expert on this, though I’ve spent many hours this past year researching and applying. </p>

<p>Good luck with your writing and, for now, keep writing your brains out and enjoy your undergrad. years. I’d start to worry about apps. during your senior yr.</p>

6

<p>Thank you very much! All of my professors know that I want to go on to graduate school and they have told me that they are willing to work with me on my writing to make it the best that it can be for the M.F.A. admission committees. </p>

<p>Again, thank you very much. All of your posts have been extremely helpful.</p>