Top 5 Low-Residency M.F.A. Programs That Aren't Just for Uppity 20-Somethings
All with upcoming deadlines!
Okay, maybe Iām an uppity 20-something, but according to Jane Austen, Iām on the wrong side of 20 (with a baby!) So, Iām kind of also not one perhaps? In any case, this list is for people who are interested in pursuing a Master of Fine Arts but do not have three years of their lives to pledge to an institution. Which is not to say thatās all that traditional M.F.A.s are. They are worthwhile and can be wonderfully life-changing if you can get into one (preferably one thatās fully funded) and show up consistently.
The reality is that many people come back to creative writing or start getting into it long after crossing their post-BA eras. Theyāll have families, full-time jobs, and households to maintain. But they still want to write! And they still seek community and instruction. This is commendable and beautiful. This is also where the low-res MFA comes in.
So weāre all on the same page, this is how Wikipedia sums up ālow-residencyā:
A low-residency program (or limited residency program) is a form of education, normally at the university level, which involves some amount of distance education and brief on-campus or specific-site residenciesāresidencies may be one weekend or several weeks.
Iāve collected five of the best such programs here that provide just that for all you word-lovers out there. There are details on application requirements, deadlines, faculty, the affiliated college or university, notable alumni, and much more!
Letās dive in!
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
Over two years, students and faculty convene regularly in Paris for five intensive ten-day residency periods held biannually in January and July (clickĀ hereĀ for a sample residency calendar). While in residency in Paris, students participate in a vibrant community engaged in all aspects of the literary arts, including workshops, craft talks, lectures, individual conferences and manuscript consultations, as well as a diverse series of readings, special events and professional development panels. During the intervals between residencies, students pursue focused courses of study, completing reading and writing assignments under the close supervision of individual faculty members. These ongoing dialogues with faculty are tailored to specific student interests and needs; students are mentored by a different professor each term and work closely with four different writers during the two-year program.
Deadline: February 12, 2024
Application Fee: $110
Waiver: More information here
Duration: 2 YearsĀ
Enrollment: 10-20
Funding: https://vcfa.edu/admissions/tuition-scholarships-financial-aid/
Financial Aid: More Information Here
Tuition: ~ $34,500 per year
Housing: Students must arrange their own accommodations in Paris during the residency periods.
Faculty: Catherine Barnett, Ken Chen, Meghan OāRourke, Nicole Sealey, Katie Kitamura, Darin Strauss, Brandon Taylor, Alex Dimitrov
APPLICATION MATERIALS
3.0 GPA minimum
Transcripts (official transcripts required)
up-to-date CV
3 Letters of Recommendation: Recommenders should be chosen from people who know your academic qualifications and are most familiar with your former studies, research interests, or work ā preferably in the field in which you expect to study.Ā If you have been out of school for some time, a letter from an employer or supervisor should be provided.Ā We do not accept letters of recommendation via InterfolioĀ and other credentials services.
Statement of Purpose: In a concisely written statement, please describe your past and present work as it relates to your intended field of study, your educational objectives, and your career goals. In addition, please include your intellectual and professional reasons for choosing your field of study and why your studies/research can best be done at the Graduate School of Arts and Science at NYU. The statement should not exceed two double-spaced pages.
Personal History Statement (Optional): The purpose of this optional essay is to get to know you as an individual and as a potential graduate student, and how your lived experience will significantly contribute to our goals ofĀ equity, inclusion, andĀ academic excellence at the Graduate School.Ā Please describe how your personal background has motivated you to pursue a graduate degree. Please note that the Personal History Statement is not meant to be a general autobiography.Ā The statement is optional and should not exceed two double-spaced pages. It should not duplicate the Statement of Academic Purpose.
Portfolio ā 10 pages of poetry / 25 double-spaced pages of prose
Lit Mag ā Washington Square Review
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