by Steven Tagle
Six Factors to Consider When Choosing Creative Writing MFA Programs
Creative writing Master of Fine Arts (MFA) programs are designed to offer an emerging writer the time, support, structure, and community to develop their craft, experiment, and produce a long work with the goal of publication.
Traditionally, creative writing programs have been two- to three-year full-residency programs with specialties in fiction, poetry, and occasionally nonfiction. But the structure, concentrations, and course offerings of these programs are expanding every year. Low-residency and online programs are becoming more popular, as well as MFAs that allow writers to blend genres or expand beyond the usual fiction/poetry binary to try playwriting, screenwriting, popular fiction, translation, and other types of creative expression.
With more than 250 creative writing MFA programs in the Poets & Writers MFA Programs Database, how might an applicant begin to narrow down their search? What are the most important factors to keep in mind when creating a list of ten to 15 programs? While the information here is geared toward MFA students, considering these six factors more broadly can help any prospective graduate student draft and whittle down their list of possible schools:
1. Program Structure and Duration
Perhaps the most important factor to consider is the structure and duration of the MFA program. In other words, how will it fit into the rest of your life? Are you looking for a one-year, two-year, or three-year full-residency program? Longer programs, especially when fully funded, give you more time to settle into a new environment, build community with other writers, experiment with your writing, and devote yourself to a longer work – holding the responsibilities and pressures of the real world at bay. On the other hand, low-residency and online programs give you more flexibility, especially if you’re balancing coursework with a job or family.
When I was applying to MFA programs, I was specifically looking for a three-year, full-residency program because I was single and I wanted to move to a new part of the country and spend as much time as possible writing and learning about writing in the company of other poets and writers. But if I were applying to programs now – while being married and living in Switzerland – the slate of programs I’d consider would probably be more focused on low-residency, Europe-based MFAs.
2. Funding
In my opinion, funding is the second-most-important criterion aspiring MFA students should consider. Unless money is not an issue for you, I don’t believe it makes sense to go into debt to attend an MFA program – especially since the life of a writer can be unpredictable after graduation, as no program can guarantee that you will sell your first novel for six figures. If you narrow down your search to fully funded creative writing programs only, you’ll end up with a list of about 50, which is much more manageable.
Keep in mind, though, that spots at fully funded programs are fiercely competitive – usually accepting between 1% and 6% of applicants. In addition, as I wrote in “The Myth of the Fully-Funded PhD,” full funding isn’t the same as a scholarship or full ride. Most programs require students to teach undergraduate composition, literature, or creative writing courses in order to receive a tuition waiver and graduate stipend. Non-working fellowships are rare and highly coveted. Graduate stipends can also vary widely, from $15,000 to $40,000, so confirm whether the financial package offered will meet your needs and allow you to make rent. Most low-residency and online programs are more affordable but not funded.
3. Faculty
Program faculty can make a big difference in your MFA experience, even before you arrive at a university. Faculty set the tone of the program, so it’s important to learn who is teaching when you apply, who you would be excited to work with, and who might be a good mentor for your work. Since writing is so subjective, finding a faculty member who champions your work can have long-term career repercussions and open doors even after you graduate.
4. Location
When choosing your MFA programs, consider the location of the schools. Location might not seem like a big deal at first – especially for a program that’s only two or three years long – but it can have a subtle, yet pervasive effect on your quality of life, mental health, and enjoyment of the MFA program. For example, if you love living in cities, you might soon find a rural college town to be too small and stifling. If you’re from a warm, sunny part of the country, you will need to adapt to the freezing winters of the Northeast.
One thing I didn’t expect when I moved from California to Massachusetts for my MFA was the lack of diversity. Having spent most of my life in Southern California and the Bay Area, I took that diversity for granted. In my program, I was one of the few people of color. By the end of my three-year program, I was ready to leave rural Massachusetts and move back to a city.
5. Cohort Size
MFA programs’ incoming classes can range in size from four or five students to 60 or more. Larger cohorts mean a greater diversity of students and a greater chance of finding writers whose work you love and identify with. On the other hand, larger programs can be more competitive for funded positions, fellowships, and other opportunities. Smaller cohorts can feel more intimate, with a better student-to-teacher ratio that allows for more individualized attention. But they can also feel cliquish – and if you have a falling out with a member of your cohort, interpersonal drama can be more difficult to avoid.
6. Reputation and Opportunities
Last but not least, I would consider a program’s reputation and the opportunities it provides to both students and graduates. That’s because while everyone applying to a creative writing MFA program in the United States is probably aware of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, there are many other fully funded programs that will make you a better writer and give you time to practice your craft. Within the small writing community, the name and reputation of the program you attend matters, but the work you write and publish matters more.
What’s often more helpful to prospective students is learning the opportunities each program offers and the track records of recent graduates. Does a program have connections to an exciting literary magazine or summer writing conference? Is a faculty member engaged with a New York writing organization? Do recent graduates win external fellowships? Do they go on to publish their books? This can tell you a great deal about the culture and focus of a program.
A Stanford graduate and the recipient of prestigious fellowships from the Fulbright Program and the Institute of Current World Affairs, as well as a Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans, Steven has taught and mentored students for 20 years. As a published writer, journalist, and former speechwriter for the U.S. ambassador to Greece, he knows how to draw out applicants’ unique stories and craft compelling personal statements that help their applications stand out from the pack. Click here to get in touch with Steven!
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