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I'm seeing MFA talk on here, so a couple of my own quick thoughts in case they are helpful
1.) MFAs are best if you want time/money to work on a project. I don't think they are always the best places if you don't have a project already in mind.
1.) MFAs are best if you want time/money to work on a project. I don't think they are always the best places if you don't have a project already in mind.
2.) MFAs are good if you plan to teach/ want to teach/ are thinking about teaching. BUT, its likely that teaching jobs you get from them will be adjunct ones. I'm most grateful to my MFA for helping me find a love of teaching.
They do not prepare you for other jobs, at all.
They do not prepare you for other jobs, at all.
3.) Are MFAs good for community? I genuinely think a lot depends on your cohort. Look for places where years of cohorts mix a lot in classes, so if you get in a cohort that's not great--you'll still find people to form a community with.
4.) It's likely the loud white guy in your cohort will be favored a lot. It's also likely you'll have to read some of their terrible work and when they inevitably start making inappropriate jokes in the classroom/office, you'll be called "mean" for calling them out.
5.) If you write stuff that goes "outside" the literary norm, look for a program that you know supports this. Or be fine with having time to write but not necessarily getting helpful feedback.
6.) look into program's funding. My program is rarely recognized but had hands down the best funding package I was offered (and one of the best Ive seen in the country).
7.) your program likely won't teach you a lot about submitting or even necessarily encourage you to be doing so. Make a plan to learn this/ do this on your own.
8.) because of the fact that many MFAs are still taught by professors who have beeen in the writing game for a long time, that often means they don't really follow new writing/literary magazines/online stuff. Diversify your reading on your own!
9.) Even if you only write in one genre, look for programs that encourage you to take classes in multiple genres! This is one of the best things you can do for your writing
10.) know what you want out of your MFA experience going in. That helps you narrow down where you want to apply to and also helps you feel less stressed/more focused when you get in to one.
