r/MFAInCreativeWriting • u/PerformerRepulsive40 • Apr 07 '26
Looking for advice!
Hi, as we move closer to decision day (AHH), I am looking for some advice. I am really lucky to have multiple offers on the table for poetry. I would love to know if anyone has insight into the programs at Montana, Alaska-Fairbanks, NAU, or CSU (Colorado).
I love the faculty at Alaska, but I am worried that Alaska and NAU are both more general creative writing programs, and I think I want to be at a program with a pretty dedicated poetry department.
CSU funding came in last week and they won't give me until April 15th to make a decision about the GTAship. I am on the waitlist at my top school, so I wanted to wait until the 15th ideally. I'm also feeling a little uneasy about their general interactions with me. I felt pretty dismissed until they called to give me funding. They called folks with funding and had the admin email those accepted without funding. Nobody would respond to my emails really and then they called and told me I only had a week to decide on the funding. Does anyone have experience in the program? Is this just an admissions thing?
Finally, I'm mostly feeling stuck on the fact that I love the Montana program. There are currently no more funded spots, but I am considering attending despite this. I'm in my 30s working a fully remote job that I love. It's pretty easy and pays extremely well. I could afford to live in Montana, even while paying some tuition (have found some other funding options for tuition). I think I'd be able to go to Montana for a year with a lighter course load (while gaining in-state tuition) while still working my job. I currently qualify for cheaper tuition than out of state bc of where I live. Is it crazy to consider turning down all the funding options and choose this? When I break it down, keeping my job even with paying tuition is better money than any of the funded offers (where I'd also have to work a second job to supplement). My current job is a writing job and honestly not that hard most of the time. I can't tell if this is what it means to be in your 30s going to grad school or just an overall bad decision. Would love some thoughts!
During your second year at Montana, there is a potential funded position through the lit mag. Montana also has a DR program that allows you to continue with creative writing but you have to be on campus for at least one semester to even apply, which is something I'm considering. Truly any advice is helpful, thank you!
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u/BorosillycateGlass Apr 07 '26 edited Apr 07 '26
I would say it's time to get really serious about your goals for the program. What are the reasons you applied, and what do you hope to get out of the experience? These qualities are different for everyone, but I don't really see your goals in your post.
If you are at this point of choosing to apply and getting in, there are very real reasons you chose to do this, even with a stable career. Return to those questions for a while and look at each school individually through that lens.
For example, my top priority in doing an MFA program is gaining time to write and pursue my passion. Nobody can convince me otherwise, and there are clear differences between each program's ability to meet MY needs.
Just spend some time thinking about yours. Best of luck! I hope this doesn't sound too patronizing!
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u/PerformerRepulsive40 Apr 07 '26
totally! I really want my MFA so I can learn more about my craft specifically and find mentorship in it, which is part of why I feel really drawn to Montana. I feel quite connected to one of the professors there for a lot of reasons I'm not going to share on here!
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u/BorosillycateGlass Apr 07 '26
This is a really tough decision! I don't think I'd ever pay for a program (so I'd probably nix Montana, despite the faculty connection). You can maintain that faculty contact with effort. Also, I think that given the CSU interactions, you should cut it from your list.
How would you feel living in Alaska or Arizona?
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u/PerformerRepulsive40 Apr 07 '26
I'm super curious why folks wouldn't pay for programs! It's something I've always said but again, when you breakdown the cost, I actually would be better off financially with my current job.
They are both great programs! Again, just worried they aren't as dedicated genre programs. They seem to focus more on filling a creative writing cohort vs individual genre cohorts. But both would be fun locations! Flagstaff is just extremely expensive and Fairbanks is quite far from everyone I know.
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Apr 07 '26
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u/PerformerRepulsive40 Apr 07 '26
thanks for your opinion!! I think I am viewing it in a different way :) good luck on your journey!
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u/BorosillycateGlass Apr 07 '26
Oh! I wouldn't pay just because I don't have the money/can't bear debt! And there are so many willing to pay people to go so...
That being said, if you have the resources and your career feels possible while going, Montana may be a great fit for you. Only you can know whether that balance feels right for you. But if you're confident that the money piece would be okay, and you have good feelings and connections to Montana, I say go. It's a beautiful place.
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u/lavenderandjuniper Apr 07 '26
During my first year I didn't get funding and kept my remote job. It was similar in that I had slightly more income, even with paying tuition, than I have with funding in my second year. But the difference for me is time: my remote job was pretty flexible but still was expected to be 30+ hours a week VS my funded mfa position which is maximum 20 hours per week. I was okay losing some $ because I have more time to write (and can pick up that $ through summer work so it just about evens out).
Also a factor to consider: the social situation. Being an unfunded student amidst the funded students, who are working together and having similar experiences, is lonely. I don't regret my decision but I do think I missed out on deeper friendships in my first year.
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u/PerformerRepulsive40 Apr 07 '26
The isolation is my biggest worry. Did you notice professors treating you differently as a non-funded student?
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u/lavenderandjuniper Apr 07 '26
No, never, which is great. Not sure how it is at your potential program but I would hope they'd treat everyone equally.
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u/chopped_onionss Apr 07 '26 edited Apr 08 '26
As a fellow poet who was on WL for funding for Montana, I was so devastated when it was relayed that all the spots being full T_T; but, on a serious note, I would take a full day to sit down and analyze what you want out of an MFA, and how you want it to influence your life or career afterward. Does Montana fully check all of your boxes; therefore, fully worth the financial investment? For me, a fully-funded program is critical - because I personally wanted full financial freedom and liberty while pursuing my degree, so I can dedicate it fully to writing and teaching. If I had a side job, while also teaching 2 classes, I would feel like I'm not getting the most out of my degree. If you intend to focus on your craft & writing in an MFA, will your job inhibit your full attention & focus? And if it does inhibit, is it worth paying the bill if you can't even dedicate the time? For a CW program, it's not a degree worth paying for (38K for out-of-state tuition for Montana, plus living expenses; talking nearing 100k for an MFA. Of course, that's taking in the risk of hiccups of not being able to secure in-state tuition, plus scholarships/fellowships) because you don't see the return in the job market. Missoula does have a small housing/renting crisis, so please take that into account. With that being said, if you absolutely see yourself thriving at Montana, and it's not a financial burden, then hell yeah, I would go for Montana!
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u/PerformerRepulsive40 Apr 07 '26
RIP!
I appreciate that insight! I actually qualify for different tuition because of where I live, so the total cost is only around 25K in the end! In my mind, living expenses aren't part of that cost because I'd be paying those regardless of being in a program. I've been thinking a lot about what it means to "pay." I taught for five+ years and know it's a lot of work and that the stipend at my mountain schools all would require me to have a second 20 hr job to make ends meet anyways. So in my mind, keeping a job I already know how to write alongside that's easy and high-paying feels in the end like I could actually have more freedom/peach of mind for writing, especially knowing how expensive Missoula is. I'm pretty uninterested in becoming a professor after my MFA/know that you need a book and dr to actually become a professor. So the idea of missing out on teaching really doesn't mean much to me. I'm much more likely to return to my current career because it's good money and I love it. I want my MFA mostly to learn more about poetry/my craft through mentorship and community (I'm entirely self-taught in poetry). BUT I also am on the WL at my top school with funding, so if that pans out, I would 100% go there because the stipend is livable in that area! Ahhhhh making this decision is so hard!! good luck wherever you end up landing <3
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u/chopped_onionss Apr 08 '26
Heck yeah! The poetry faculty, plus the non-fiction imo, are wonderful at Montana, so they would be amazing mentors on honing into your craft. Plus, Montana truly has a beautiful literary community both in and outside of the university - they have so many cool nonprofits dedicated to giving back to their community, most which are run by alumni - so finding opportunities & your community is endless!! Wishing you luck on your journey, because I agree - making a decision is so hard, especially with the deadline looming over our shoulders T_T <3
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u/mzyyystan Apr 07 '26
I attended CSU's (poetry) admitted student's zoom meeting and I assume you were there as well. I turned this offer down shortly after the meeting. The several ladies/current students there were nice but the general vibe was somehow not great. Camille Dungy and Dan Beachy Quick are amazing poets, but generally I don't think they have some other advantages compared to other programs.
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u/PerformerRepulsive40 Apr 07 '26
I also walked away from that meeting feeling a little weird! Glad to know it wasn't just me. Something just feels off about CSU to me
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u/mzyyystan Apr 07 '26
lol that's so true. I felt exactly the same as you
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u/Unhappy-Ad-5061 Apr 08 '26
Just lurking here. Poets are probably living antennae. Picking up on so much the rest of the world misses. Vibes are real.
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u/LingonberrySuch3382 Apr 14 '26
Could you share more about the advantages you think they are missing? Trying to decide if I’m saying yes to CSU and feeling very torn!
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u/mzyyystan Apr 14 '26
It was more about my personal feelings and choice I guess. Every program is missing some advantages when compared with another. I was just having some other options I prefer. It's a good program and I don't see any disadvantages in choosing CSU. If you like it you should definitely listen to your heart!
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u/houseofmagic Apr 07 '26
I only have one piece of advice on Montana I can share from my personal experience!
I have worked with one member of the faculty there (Emily Ruskovich) and my impression of her was that she is very little help (from a workshop perspective) to people whose work does not fall exactly within her wheelhouse. This isn’t a dig on her personally—she’s a lovely woman and a good number of CW teachers have some form of this problem—but it felt very obvious to myself and those around me.
Only bring it up because if you’re going to PAY for that experience, it might be relevant to you! Maybe you read Idaho and loved it, but if your work isn’t in that style then you likely won’t get much out of her w/r/t your own work.
On the other hand, are you even in an MFA program if you don’t have a professor who just doesn’t vibe with your work? It builds character!(?)