My MFA Experience, Part 1: Choosing a Program

The year I graduated from college, I decided that I wanted to get an MFA in creative writing . I knew that I wanted to go to grad school, and after debating between an MA in English literature and an MFA in creative writing, I chose the latter because I knew that what I really wanted to be was a writer. It was a difficult choice, because it is a lot of time, money, and effort to spend on a degree that won't help you much with finding a job or bettering your financial situation. But I was committed enough to the idea of being a writer that I knew that studying the craft further was something I wanted to do. I also worried (perhaps unnecessarily) that if I jumped straight into the working world after graduating from college, I might never get around to doing an MFA.

I had a hard time getting information about which programs to apply for. My professors generally recommended the Iowa Writers' Workshop, which is considered the best creative writing MFA program in the United States. They also recommended UC Irvine and the University of Virginia. But when it came to British universities, all I got were blank stares. So I ended up doing a lot of research online. I wasn't confident enough to apply for the best programs (though I did apply for a couple as "reach" schools), but I didn't want to be right at the bottom either.

Based on this experience, I've come up with a list of things to consider when choosing an MFA:

1) Money: How much can you afford to spend? What kind of financial aid will you realistically be able to get? Does the university offer scholarships or teaching assistantships?  How much student loan debt are you comfortable with getting yourself into?

2) The program itself: Look at the courses on offer for each program you are considering. Do they meet your requirements as a writer? If you're unsure, consider what you want to get out of the program. Some offer more practical courses on the publishing industry in addition to workshops and masterclasses. My program offered a day when we could all meet individually with either a literary agent or a publisher for feedback on our work. This was a huge factor in me choosing my univerisity. My program also had authorship theory classes, which focused on literary theory and the philosophies surrounding fiction. Some programs combine creative writing with critical writing, or with another related subject. Take your time in considering which kind of program would best suit your needs.

3) Location: Is the location of the university right for you? Would you be happy in a tiny town? A bustling metrpolis? Would you be bored/lonely/intimidated/overly distracted in the location you are considering? Is it near enough to your family and friends (or far enough away)? Being comfortable and happy in your new home can make a huge difference in your ability to work, which is what you've put all that effort into being able to do in the first place!

I ended up applying to several schools in the US and several in the UK. Many of the US schools rejected me. Looking back, this was because a) my portfolio at the time wasn't strong enough (I was great at characterization, but pretty clueless about plot and structure) and b) the competition is a LOT fiercer in the US, not just for MFAs but for graduate school in general.

In the end I decided to study in Brighton, England. In the UK, a master's degree generally lasts one year instead of two, so even though it is more expensive to study abroad, it being only half the time makes the cost actually a bit less:

Total international tuition for an MFA at a British university: $15-20K
Total tuition for an MFA at an American public university (in-state): $18-25K
Total tuition for an MFA at an American public university (out-of-state): $30-48K*

However, this doesn't take into account the fact that financial aid may be easier to acquire in the US (at least for US citizens), nor the fact that US universities tend to offer teaching assistantships, which can be a lot of help financially. Also, it doesn't factor in living expenses, which can make a huge difference in the overall cost of a program.

But the real reason I chose to study in the UK was pretty simple: I wanted an adventure. I had spent a year abroad in the UK during my junior year of college, and I had loved it. I wanted to return and continue to explore the UK and the rest of Europe while working on developing my writing skills. I had also heard and read a lot about Brighton, my chosen city, and I felt pretty confident that it was somewhere I would enjoy living.

With that in mind, I signed all the paperwork, sent off my housing deposit, and, nervous and excited, I boarded a plane one day in September with my laptop and my stuffed elephant in tow.

Next time: My MFA Experience, Part 2: Reality Check

*These costs are averages for a few different universities I looked into. Tuition fees can vary depending on the university and location, and may well fall outside these ranges.