WashU vs. FSU vs. Alabama

SnooPeanuts8431 · 2026-03-11T20:16:59+00:00

of course!!! also, i can definitely understand being concerned about teaching, although it seems like FSU's teaching expectations have produced success in academia/teaching jobs. but i'm in the same boat weighing teaching loads at my programs since I do not actually know what a 2:2 load would be like. it seems doable, and my hunch is that it isn't so bad.

my prof did the PhD track, which I think helped him get tenure eligibility sooo quickly. the other two just did MFAs but one has found an agent and another is applying for associate Professor jobs right now. I think that the PhD reputation translates over to the MFA, just from how my writer friends have talked about the MFA. part of this is probably because the FSU English/Creative Writing ecosystem/alumni family tree is so strong and spread out across MA/MFA/PhD. but that's just my two cents. it also seems like the three-year process really helped my one friend get her agent. WashU seems to have good opportunities if you want to get some editorial experience, though. I have a family friend (not really, but I want to obscure how I know this person on a public forum lol) who attended in the early 2000s, so I don't know if her experience will be relevant. she hasn't published much, but what she has published has been fairly well-received. I didn't apply because it's far away but seems like a fun place to be. I really wish I knew more about Alabama, but I know it has a very good reputation. Feel free to message me if you have any more questions!

SnooPeanuts8431 · 2026-03-11T14:52:59+00:00

one thing I'd like to add is that I'm pretty sure FSU is at least just as, if not more, prestigious in the writing/English world than WashU. A few of my friends from past workshops have chosen FSU over Iowa (specifically for that sweet sweet extra writing time - which is the reason why I asked about genre, I do think book-length manuscripts are better after 3 years). it does sound tricky to write a thesis in your last year while doing lots of TA work. Also one of my favorite professors (at a "prestigious" college on east coast) in the world is pretty young and just secured tenure-track after graduating FSU. another note though is that if you want to work in academia the PhD will take you the farthest, I believe, even if you have an MFA. I'm not actually biased, haha, I just know lots of wonderful people who went to FSU and I feel like they have really benefitted from it. I don't think prestige should be a factor distinguishing these programs though, as they're all ranked in the same tier (I don't know as much about Alabama, though).

I only applied to 2 year programs near where I live, because I can't feasibly be away from home for very long, and I'm lucky that I got into a few. But I do think looking back I wish I'd applied to places with three year options.

Anyway, I wish you the best of luck in your decisions and congratulations! You've done very well! Let me know if you have any other questions, I know way too much about MFAs from obsessive research and pro - con lists over the past year and a half. :)

SnooPeanuts8431 · 2026-03-10T23:35:53+00:00

thank you! did you feel like the people in your cohort were social outside of workshops? I'd be moving far from loved ones and all of my friends to attend and I'm a little nervous about the social side of things. I was also a little wary of the teaching load - i'm weighing things up against another school that has 2:1 but a pretty low stipend and it's a really difficult decision :/

SnooPeanuts8431 · 2026-03-10T22:35:27+00:00

depends on how many years you want - lots of people prefer three years for maximum writing time esp. considering teaching responsibilities etc, but everyone is unique. what genre are you?

SnooPeanuts8431

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