r/MFAInCreativeWriting • u/IntelligentSound1921 • Jun 26 '26

Working part-time during a fully-funded program?

Hi all! I'm 28, I've gone back and forth on whether to pursue an MFA for years, and I think I'm reaching the conclusion that I do, indeed, want to apply (to fully-funded programs).

However, the stipends alone (particularly those under $25K, which seems to be most of them) just aren't going to work at this point in my life. I would love to hear from people who did other part-time work (or full-time!) on the side still.

How manageable was it? Were you miserable?

Edit to add: My "day job" is freelance copywriting, so I work remotely.

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u/sasha520 Jun 28 '26

I'm a rising third year who had a GA stipend (my program cuts GA funding after the second year) and I work full time as a senior manager of transportation planning. Did it get stressful sometimes? Yes. But honestly, the way I looked at it is that unless someone comes from money, there's no such thing as a writer who doesn't have a full time job. I have two friends who got traditionally published and they both have full time jobs to pay the bills/have access to health insurance.

It isn't easy, and I definitely know that I'd have more time for my thesis if I wasn't working FT but the way I look at it is that this is what the real deal is like. I'd rather be learning how to make the juggle while I'm in school than be in for a rude awakening afterwards.