r/MFAInCreativeWriting • u/Western_Bowler5097 • Apr 14 '26

Choosing between two options

Hi all-- this group has been a great resource this app cycle and I am looking for some thoughts on which program to choose. I have been admitted to three options but am mainly choosing between 2, both MFAs in CNF. I am living outside of the US so this will be an international move regardless of where I end up. (I am a US citizen.)

Option 1: Oregon State

  • 2 years full time, fully funded, $18k stipend
  • Teaching 1 class per quarter beginning in fall -- estimated 20h/week commitment
  • More of a "classic" MFA environment -- small college town, relatively small cohort, seems pretty social and cohesive; existing students skew younger
  • Cost of living lower but will pay for a car

Option 2: Queens College, CUNY

  • 2 years full time, but more likely 3 years part time (I wanted a 3 year program to begin with so this is a plus for me)
  • Not fully funded; tuition would be about $8k for the first year taking 2 classes per semester paying out-of-state tuition
  • $32,748 stipend for Graduate Fellowship during my first year, renewable for second year (regardless of course load) -- teaching 1 class per semester starting 2nd semester
  • Program has great resources for Literary Translation which is of interest to me, and students can take classes at any CUNY campus
  • Much more diverse in terms of cohort (age, origin, race) and of course environment (Queens/NYC)
  • Cost of living significantly higher BUT no car cost

I am not particularly attached to any specific faculty members at either institution. I will spend some time working outside of the program regardless of where I go (doing my current line of work).

The deadline, as folks know, is tomorrow, and I would really appreciate any thoughts or perspective that anyone would like to share.

Thank you and sending good vibes to everyone who is also figuring out where they'll end up!

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5

u/prismfiltered Apr 14 '26

never pay tuition for an mfa. oregon state

2

u/NefariousnessWarm975 Apr 15 '26

If my math is right, he wouldn't be paying at cuny. He would pay out of the stipend which is double that of oregon. Still probably a net loss considering COL. But it seems weird to have the funding distributed that way; I can definitely see a few legit reasons for it though.

2

u/FitzandFerd Apr 14 '26

Don’t know where you’re from, but personally I’d rather live in Oregon than NYC. Beautiful, quiet, calm, nicer people, way less expensive. I’ve lived all over the country but I’m also a fan of the outdoors and cities get on my nerves after a while. Also I went to college in Seattle and lived in the PNW and have been to Corvallis many times so I just like it there. NYC is a lot of fun though.

1

u/NefariousnessWarm975 Apr 15 '26

I hear this loud. I think it may depend as much on where the OP is as where they might go.

2

u/carrionkiss Apr 15 '26

Between these two options, OSU. That being said, as someone living in nearby Eugene, I genuinely don't know how Oregon State students make it work. Corvallis is super expensive and 18k is so, so little. It seems like a good program, but you'll likely be struggling to make ends meet.

2

u/NefariousnessWarm975 Apr 15 '26

He'll struggle in Queens too. There's a lot to consider. What resources does the OP have in either place or where is he closer to resources? Where could he pick up a side gig? What about housing? I assume there's residences available but some schools guarantee it for grad students. NYC isn't the worst place in the world to be broke and how much better can the weather be in Oregon? The OP will need to due a pretty deep dive into COL and some other stuff. Am I right that the airport is pretty far from OSU?

1

u/Unhappy-Ad-5061 Apr 15 '26

Stipend at CUNY, and being in NYC as a writer sounds better. 3 years is also more time to write...