I Got Into an MFA Program! Now What?

by Jasmin Darznik, Chair of MFA Writing at California College of the Arts

It is that time of year, the time of year where the acceptances start to come in from various MFA programs. As exciting as it is, it can be a little bit confusing too. How do you decide between the offers you have? How do you make the most of the offers presented to you?

Having led the MFA program at CCA and been involved in the admissions process for a few years now, I’ve learned a few things, so here are five tips to help you decide on the best MFA program for you.

#1 Meet with an Admissions Counselor

Most will be happy to meet with you one-on-one in person, by phone, or over Zoom. Simply write to the graduate admissions office and let them know that you have some questions. Each program should have a dedicated person who can walk you through your package and answer your questions.

For many students, questions about financial aid are at the top of their list of considerations. The place to go with these questions is an admissions counselor. Even if you've talked to a counselor before, this is a really good time to go back in because you will definitely have new questions once acceptances start coming in.

By the way, the best way to parse the information you’ll be collecting is to create a spreadsheet. That way you can just plug in the questions you have and easily compare the information you’re gathering on each program.

#2 Go Visit

Not everyone can go and do an in-person visit, but if it's possible, particularly if it's within driving distance, there's really nothing that will give you more insight into what a program's like than actually being there in person.

Ask yourself: Can you picture yourself in this place? This will be your home not just during your two years in the program, but ideally it will be your life-long community. Check out the environment. Walk around the neighborhood. Where do students hang out? Give yourself a nice few hours to just soak it all in and get as much on-the- ground insight as you can.

If you can't visit in person, take a virtual tour. These are super savvy these days. At our college you can text someone and they will take you around the campus right there and then. This will also give you a chance to ask questions in real time about the campus culture.

While you’re visiting, ask about extracurricular offerings. Does the program have an ongoing speaker series? An open mic? At CCA we host a coffee hour every Tuesday and prospective students are always welcome to join. That’s the kind of thing that will tell you so much about a program and the people in it.

#3 Get to Know the Program’s Culture

Each program has its own culture—a culture made up of the history of the institution, the former and present faculty, and the city where it's located. When you’re considering where to go for your MFA, ask about the values of the programs you’re considering. What are the philosophies and world views that are embedded in the curriculum? Where does the program stand on issues that you care about?

Look at course descriptions, see if you can find reading lists for classes. Go the program’s social media accounts—that a great as-it-happens view of a program and its culture.

No program will be a perfect fit, but these questions will go a long way toward finding a program that will support you and your writing.

#4 What Are Alumni Publishing?

If you poke around a little bit online, you can find references to alumni work. What kinds of books or articles are people from the programs you’re considering publishing? What kinds of careers are people pursuing after their MFAs? Go beyond the program’s own website and research recent alumni whose writing sparks your interest.

Next look into what kind of professional development opportunities will be available to you as a student. At CCA, we have a class dedicated to professional development and we regularly host editors, publishers, and other professionals. Ask about alumni networks and support after you graduate. You’re looking for a place that will champion you long after your graduate.

#5 Get to Know the Faculty

I am astonished that people don't do this more often! You don't necessarily have to read every faculty member’s entire oeuvre, but try to read some work by faculty members whose work resonates with you. At the very least, check out the faculty website page on the program's website. What’s the ratio of tenure-track professors to adjuncts? Is there a high turnaround among the faculty?

Don’t stop there! Dig deeper. You want a solid sense of who you will be working with. Go to the faculty members’ individual websites. Are they publishing actively? That’s very important. You want to study somewhere where your mentors are steeped in the literary scene. You want professors who offer you the perspective and the connections of writers who are not just talking the talk, but actually doing the work out there in the world.

I also think it's fantastic if you can sit in on a class to get a sense of faculty members’ teaching philosophies and styles. I'm always happy to host people in my own classes at CCA. Ask the chair or program director if that’s an option.

What are the professors’ teaching styles? What classes are offered?  What's the vibe in the program's workshop environment? These aspects of a program will impact you hugely, so you want do your research and hit upon as many of these sources of information as you can.

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Getting into an MFA program is a splendid achievement. You’re about to enter—and help create—a place where you can do your best work as a writer. Now take a breath and craft a plan that will get you there. Good luck!

P.S. We're hosting our admitted students’ day on April 5. Hope to see you if you're in San Francisco and considering CCA! If you have other questions, I’m always super happy to answer your individual queries. You can reach me at jdarznik@cca.edu