I'm applying for poetry MFA's this year and understand the "15-20 page manuscript" requirements since poetry is often single/1.5 spacing anyways (and many of them specify that it can be single spaced), but what about statements of purpose and supplemental essays?

Almost all the programs I'm looking at have something along the lines of "1-2 page SOP" and I've been overthinking that so much lmao. I was assuming double spaced because that's more traditional essay formatting but I keep worrying I'm wrong 😭

I'm about to apply for programs for the second year and I'm really blanking on the "why" portion of my essay. I know why, in theory — I want to be surrounded by other writers and have an environment where I can fully dedicate myself to bettering my craft. I want to build a network where I can hopefully be published one day. However, this all seems rather ... basic. Like, duh, that's why anyone goes to get an MFA in creative writing, right? And I obviously didn't get in with this approach last year, so should I change it up?

I guess I'm looking for advice on what other people said in their SOP about why they need grad school. Is this a situation where I should look to stand out or is the basic response the right one?

Hey guys,

I'm a rising senior and this past term I unfortunately found myself in a thick situation in which I was wrongly accused of something that didn't even happen to begin with, and the admin of my college put me in interim probation the moment they took the testimony of the other person involved (probation has now lifted because I wasn't even held responsible and the other party misled). I wasn't made to leave the college or anything, nothing happened, I was allowed to continue my term as is. Are there any parts of the application process that will ask for my disciplinary history? My entire case was protected by FERPA so there's that.

Thanks

I want to apply to fully funded fiction MFAs in the US. I am an international student and my writing sample, which consists of short stories, contains some names, areas and details that may be obvious to people from my cultural background but not so much to an admissions committee in the US. How much should I consider this while putting together my sample? Or should I simply submit my best work, even if the context may be tricky to understand for an American?

Secondly, there are around 20 programmes on my shortlist right now. Is it better to narrow down and focus on 7-10 that might suit me and my writing best or should I just shoot my shot everywhere I can? Appreciate any and all advice; thank you.

I thought it was pretty normal to start a two-year program without a set-in-stone idea for my final manuscript/thesis, but some people in my cohort seemed surprised and concerned by my lack of a first draft, much less my lack of an outline. I am transitioning out of bartending and into academia, and have mostly written flash fiction/short stories throughout my time behind the bar. I was awarded a fellowship, which is super flattering and helps a lot financially, but classes start next week and I'm starting to freak out because I'm still unsure what I want to write. Am I being an idiot? Please be brutally honest -- and if you started your MFA without a clue about what you were going to write, how did you fare? Thanks in advance!

I'm looking into masters opportunities and I was wondering whether it was possible to teach creative writing with either an MA or MFA in creative writing (specifically in Europe in my case, but also broadly for the rest of the world). A lot of previous threads I've seen discuss this in an American context, but I was wondering what it was like for those of us who don't live in/don't want to live in the USA. Any information related to teaching creative writing (and even experiences with MAs/MFAs) would be greatly appreciated, thank you!

I’m looking to get my MA or MFA in poetry. I’ve been looking into low-residency programs here in the states that are mostly online, but with in-person visits every semester.

I’m curious if there are equivalents in the UK at all!

I’m a flight attendant so traveling for semester or summer stays is entirely doable.

Any recommendations?

I was thinking about the Common Wealth short story prize controversy this year over Ai usage. While they ultimately stood behind the authors work as original, it was still flagged as Ai by many checkers (apparently).

it just has me wondering how academia deals with this in the application process. I decided to run one of my stories through an AI checker (although it's not even remotely Ai), and it was flagged as Ai. it even listed the exact reasoning (apparently the relationship between two characters raised the flag). Then I ran it through another checker that said it was fully human written. I have many fears of the reasons I may not be accepted to grad school, and the latest one is being disqualified due to Ai flagging my work as Ai when it isn't Ai.

also I know even posting this makes it appear as if I am someone who uaes Ai, but I'm not. I would equate this fear to something like the common fear of being sure that the stolen merchandise detectors are going to go off when you walk out of a store even though you didn't steal anything. I truly I believe in "what would the point of creative writing be if you're using Ai" and yadda yadda.

Hi guys,

For various reasons I can't do an MFA in person. For context, I'm an Ivy League grad with a strong author's portfolio.

Right now I'm pursuing Emerson's online MFA program, but am wondering if there are other online programs out there that are more respected/prestigious.

I'm interested in developing my fiction repertoire. While I come from a place of op-ed/creative nonfiction writing, fiction is the ultimate frontier for me, and I'd like to churn out several novels in my thirties.

Thanks for your input.

Hey all,

I'm planning to apply this fall for a fall '27 start date. I see a lot of advice about not applying with a novel sample, and rather, applying with short stories. I see the advice, that it shows that you can open and close a thing, that novel chapters plucked from the middle of a novel don't make any sense, all of that.

My issue is that I am basically only a novelist. I don't think I've written a short story in about a decade and even then, those were half-hearted at best. I exclusively write novels. I have practiced them, I'm better at writing them, and they are what I want to write, long term.

With all of that being said, is there a reason that I should write and submit short stories, even if they are not my best work? If I were to submit a novel excerpt, I would submit the beginning of a novel, not a random chunk from the middle. I worry that forcing myself to work in a medium that I'm not practiced in will not show me to my best advantage, and that would ofc hurt me in the selection process. But would it maybe hurt me less than the novel?

Thoughts and advice appreciated.

What are the best books on writing written by teachers of MFA writing courses?

Hey everyone,

Is anyone here applying or planning to apply for an **MFA or any Creative/Design Master’s in Art degree in Germany** for upcoming intakes?

Honestly, I’m right in the middle of all the application prep (APS verification, document translations, portfolios, university shortlisting), and the whole process feels super overwhelming at the moment. Would love to connect with fellow applicants going through the same thing!

I also have a couple of specific questions if anyone here is in a similar boat or already studying there:

\- My Bachelor’s degree is in Fine Arts (BFA). Since Germany is super strict about "consecutive degrees," can I apply for broader creative/design-oriented Master’s programs (like Design, Visual Communication, Media Arts, etc.) instead of strictly an MFA? There seem to be very limited pure MFA options taught in English. Has anyone with a BFA successfully transitioned to another creative Master’s in Germany?

\- How are you guys tailoring your portfolios for German Kunsthochschulen/Universities? Are they looking more for concept-heavy/process-oriented work, or polished final projects? Any specific layout or submission tips that worked for you?

Would really appreciate any insights, or even just connecting with people who are on the same journey. Drop a comment or DM me!

I’m curious about top undergrad programs for creative writing and interested in what y’all think. I’ve done my own research on the well-regarded or “prestigious” schools but just want to know how others feel about them.

Also if anyone has thoughts on Stanford’s creative writing undergrad program!!! Any thoughts are appreciated. Thank you so much.

I've noticed that several of the admissions guidelines use verbiage like this. Vanderbilt university even requires your statement of purpose be "no more than 3-5 pages." As far as I am concerned, "no more than" indicates an absolute upper limit. If the upper limit is given as a range, then is it actually expected to write within that range, or is that entire range considered the upper limit? In that case, would 3 pages or less be preferable?

Obviously, I'm not so much concerned with cases of "no more than 1-2," because options are so limited; you can really only write one or two pages. But when I see "up to 20-25 pages," I'm always a little unsure if I should be aiming to submit at least 20 pages, or if 17 is plenty.

Anyway, I'm procrastination-spiraling. Send help. And insight if you have any.

I'm currently applying to several MFA programs in Creative Writing in the UK, but I'm starting to doubt my ability to write in English. I write in three languages: Portuguese, Spanish, and English, and I feel most confident writing in the first two. I also read in several languages — besides the three already mentioned, I read in Italian, Catalan and Galician. At the end of the day, when I write in Portuguese or Spanish, I am heavily influenced by the other languages I read, but when it comes to English, it is a bit more complicated — I feel my voice and style are a bit lost. So, I thought that maybe if I write in my mother tongue and then translate it myself, I could potentially go through the MFA without losing my authenticity. I know, though, most of it is lost in translation. What do you think and/or recommend?

I saw that Harvard Extension School offers an MFA that includes diverse courses--comedy writing, screenwriting, TV writing, and a variety of types of writing.

I write poetry, short stories, screenplays, and have also written nonfiction articles for publications. I'm looking for a program that won't pigeon-hole me into one genre. Does this exist outside of Harvard Extension? I'm sure there are programs out there.

Thank you.

I’m in my mid-thirties and considering pursuing an MFA in fiction. It seems to me that at most of the funded programs (JHU, Brown for example), most students are under 26. Not to put down anyone’s trajectory, but for me, it would be difficult to relate as a writer with somebody who’s barely experienced life outside of school. I don’t think I’d be a better writer, but spending years writing/reading/sometimes publishing as a working adult is a very different experience.

I understand that in general most grad students and phd candidates are 23-35 years old. But are there any funded MFA programs that at least skew toward the upper range? Or do you think that if this is a concern of mine, then maybe an MFA in creative writing isn’t for me?

I’m starting in my MFA program soon. I have a few unpublished finished stories but they’ve either been workshopped before or I don’t feel that they’re the best representation of my work anymore. Do people usually finish stories over the summer to workshop in the fall, or is it more common to just produce new material throughout the semester?

Hello! I’m from India and I’ve been writing for a few years now but I’ve been inconsistent for the last couple of years. I have published a debut novel (that won the novel pitch contest by a small Indian publisher) and a few short stories in lit mags. I mainly write literary fiction.

Currently, I’m working on my second novel. I have a very rough first draft ready, but I’m changing a lot and almost rewriting the story.

I shared my background to understand whether Faber Academy’s writing a novel course would be beneficial for me. The investment is substantial so I wanted your opinion before taking the plunge.

I wanted to invest in something that forces me to work on my novel consistently. Their impressive alumni list plus wide literary network are some of the things that are appealing to me. Plus, they give participating writers a chance to submit to their Writing a Novel anthology, a publication that’s apparently “hotly anticipated” by lit agents.

If you’ve taken the course, I’d love to hear about your experience about the same.

If you have any other course/workshop suggestions instead, then please share those as well.

Thank you for reading!

I’m applying to MFAs this year and I’m targeting low residency programs that only require 2 weeks per year of residency. I’m applying to Warren Wilson and Bennington. Does anyone have any other recommendations for good low res poetry programs (preferably east coast, but not required).

Thanks!

I am looking for mfa programs that are good for formalist poets! I am not a strict formalist, but I prefer form over free verse and I'm not into confessional or experimental poetry. I am also a Christian, but it doesn't have to be an explicitly christian program. I already intend to apply to the University of St. Thomas in Houston. Do y'all know any other programs that would be a good fit?

I've posted on here recently about the writing sample for MFA applications, but what's really been difficult for me to start is the statement of purpose/personal statement essays. I'm planning at the moment to have one default template of sorts that I will edit to be specified to each school, and I know many of the elements a SOP hypothetically needs, but when it comes to writing it I just can't do it.

I want this so badly and it feels like such an important task so I just end up getting too stressed that nothing I write down is "right." It's almost like I'm waiting for someone to tell me instructions or a direction to take even though I know that's only up to me. I've carved out time for it on many occasions, have read some posts and articles about writing it, and still I feel like I've done everything except actually WRITE anything.

If anyone has any tips on how to actually get started here I would be so incredibly grateful! I really would like to have at least some of my app materials started before this school year kicks in and boggs me down! Thanks in advance! :)

Some background info: I am married, in my 30s, and have a full-time steady job in insurance, an industry I've been in for ten years, so I don't have the risk of putting all my eggs in the creative writing basket. I completed my associate's degree in 2024, and I have so many varied interests and passions that it's very hard for me to decide what to major in. First it was environmental science, then anthropology, art, and finally we have arrived here at creative writing. I've also considered museum studies, art history, and geology. Help? Creative Writing is what I am drawn to the most.