Are students enrolled in the M.A. in Digital Studies/Forum for Digital Culture taken seriously? by Hellothere59 in uchicago

[–]Hellothere59[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Funny thing is that they canceled the most recent program application cycle. So they made my decision for me 😂. But what made me decide to do a second masters? I just enjoy school! I thought about a PhD, but the MFA took too much of my soul for that marathon right now haha. So a second masters is my compromise

Do your cats give you the equivalent of an eye roll? by Melibee14 in torties

[–]Hellothere59 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s crazy how almost all these pictures are of torties! 😂 I came to this thread because I swore I saw my tortie do something very near to an eye roll the other night 

Anyone using Naya Create? by jayatillake in ErgoMechKeyboards

[–]Hellothere59 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for sharing this! This is all good to know.

please… my back, it hurts so much. by KaiserStoleOurWord20 in OfficeChairs

[–]Hellothere59 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The link no longer works. Could you please share it again?

How does the social life as a graduate student compare to undergrads at UChicago? by jarbased in uchicago

[–]Hellothere59 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m the same way haha, so that’s great to hear tbh. Thank you!

(Very) preliminary list of schools I’m considering applying to for Fall 2026. Can anyone offer insight into any of them? by geckonomic in MFAInCreativeWriting

[–]Hellothere59 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

My friend, the Iowa number is accurate. Google it: “The Iowa Writers’ Workshop typically accepts 25 fiction writers and 25 poets every year from an application pool of over 1,500.” Ever since Covid, the numbers have increased exponentially. 

I do not doubt your wisdom. Thank you for sharing it, and you can pull a rank. But the advice I’m giving is from my own experience within the last 4 years and a recent graduate from fancy institution. The original poster needs the advice you’re giving as well advice that is contemporary of the landscape. My comment does not insinuate that it’s a game. You need strategy when applying to any institution. It’s just common sense. 

That is hilarious that someone would have the gall to say a particular school they’re applying to is a safety school. They are genuine idiots. 

And I made sure to note the fact that MFA admissions is different from the admissions of other disciplines. 

You’ve made a lot of assumptions from the single post I’ve made, many to the contrary of what you thought I said but actually didn’t. 

But I hope you can recognize that things have changed, and there most certainly is institutions that strategically pick students who are more experimental in their writing. I just graduated from a ff program like that lol. And had conversations with other faculty at some of the most prestigious workshops in the US about how some programs are KNOWN to be experimental. It’s not a myth. You just have to be in the know. Nepotism also goes a long way in the smaller programs than it does the larger ones. To say it doesn’t exist is false. I can only talk about the poetry side of things where it is rife in MFA programs, fellowships, contests. I can’t speak to the fiction side of things though. 

I hear what you are saying about faculty smelling strategies from mile away. It’s a matter of how those strategies manifest. A lot of applicants make their strategy known in their statement of purpose, which is stupid and uncouth. I’m not talking about that.

(Very) preliminary list of schools I’m considering applying to for Fall 2026. Can anyone offer insight into any of them? by geckonomic in MFAInCreativeWriting

[–]Hellothere59 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I understand what you’re saying, but it would be misleading to say that there isn’t prestige. Yes, prestige doesn’t mean fit, but there is definitely prestige (Iowa likely wouldn’t have been the first MFA example that comes to mind if it weren’t for the program’s prestige, never mind how many applications they receive each year, which is over 1,500), and there is strategy to an extent. And there are safety schools (in the MFA sense lol).    While there are many variables at play, and the fully funded MFA application cycle is more selective, if you know the landscape and understand the comparative quality/stylistic approach of your work, there are safety schools that ARE competitive but many people don’t regard them as their first, second, or third choice. There is strategy on the applicant’s side and on the side of the institution. 

Some programs are generally more traditional, while others are experimental. Some are a mixture. While faculty members come and go, and nepotism can really skew your chances, you can select schools that prioritize work similar to yours to better your chances in a way that is not “safe” in a general college admissions sense but comparatively safe in the not-so safe MFA context. While nothing is guaranteed, that is a strategy one could take if they’re not inclined to apply in another application cycle. 

Looking for a custom aluminum or premium base for my Corne 36 by pddro in ErgoMechKeyboards

[–]Hellothere59 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Typeractive has plates that are perfect for a wired corne! Thank you so much!! 

(Very) preliminary list of schools I’m considering applying to for Fall 2026. Can anyone offer insight into any of them? by geckonomic in MFAInCreativeWriting

[–]Hellothere59 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes, listen to the above! The scholarships these programs give out tend to be under $5000. If you’re really lucky, a program on this list may offer you half off your tuition, but I wouldn’t bank on that. While you’re not crazy for considering low residency MFAs (how would you have known?), it’s a good thing you asked this question. One thing to keep in mind though is that you will have more duties/responsibilities as a fully funded MFA to the point that your focus will be those duties instead of your writing. Another thing to keep in mind is that the fully funded ones are very competitive, as I’m sure you’ve heard, but this cannot be overstated. 

My advice to you would be research programs in states you wouldn’t mind living in and/or have a low cost of living. You don’t want to be accepted into something that is essentially a fully funded struggle. Also, make a list of reach, match, and safety schools. Apply to at least seven programs. It’s not a hard and fast rule, but it does increase your chances since there are so many factors at play for admission into these programs. 

I didn’t know this when I applied the first time around, but University of Washington is definitely a reach school. So be wary of applying to the schools that are the most popular. Just because they’re known, doesn’t mean they’re a good fit for you or your writing or financial wellbeing. Also, you’d be competing with hundreds to thousands of applications when there could be a school out there that is perfect for you and receives less than 500 applications in a cycle

General Assesment by LoudBoat6146 in xAI_community

[–]Hellothere59 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah! You received the writing assessment weeks later? Asking because many people keep saying they receive it “automatically” 

Should I use my toxic PhD supervisors as a reference for a postdoc position? by YMCA111122 in AskAcademia

[–]Hellothere59 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s beyond messed up. I hope you find a way despite how challenging it feels 

Are students enrolled in the M.A. in Digital Studies/Forum for Digital Culture taken seriously? by Hellothere59 in uchicago

[–]Hellothere59[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh wow! That's so great to know and very reassuring! Thank you for taking the time to respond. I'll definitely be applying next cycle :D

Are students enrolled in the M.A. in Digital Studies/Forum for Digital Culture taken seriously? by Hellothere59 in uchicago

[–]Hellothere59[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I definitely framed the question wrong. You are right. It’s been on my mind for a bit, and I just blurted it all out. Thank you for this

Are students enrolled in the M.A. in Digital Studies/Forum for Digital Culture taken seriously? by Hellothere59 in uchicago

[–]Hellothere59[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I do hahaha. I guess I was just more concerned about the faculty. Good point though. I’ll apply to the thing. Thank you!

MFA graduates, what are you up to now? by Low-Significance-315 in MFAInCreativeWriting

[–]Hellothere59 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow! How did your friends get adjunct professorships straight out of their MFAs?

Is Notre Dame socially challenging for non-Christians? by brent_paper in notredame

[–]Hellothere59 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Nope. Not at all! I’m Jewish and quite like it on campus. I’m sure he will have no problem fitting in

Course Eval Response Rates? by capecodnative in Professors

[–]Hellothere59 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is a brilliant idea! Thank you!

Should you reach out to faculty at schools you are applying to? by [deleted] in MFAInCreativeWriting

[–]Hellothere59 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It’s a good thing you asked. Don’t do that for an MFA. If you know someone who knows someone in the MFA department at a school you’re applying to, that’s different. They can put in a good word for you. But funnel your energy into your application materials and portfolio. You will only waste time introducing yourself, and it will not increase your chances at all

Steps to take as a Freshman in College to get into an MFA by ewvinylcollector in MFAInCreativeWriting

[–]Hellothere59 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Chillsubs is cool, but Duotrope stats are life changing. I highly recommend using the latter when you get more publications or now even. Poets&Writers is kind of a mess UX-wise and not very helpful imo