Comments on: When to Get Your MFA. Or Not. [Part 2]

By: Creative Writing Programs Are Not a Complete Waste of Time | Idiotprogrammer

Wed, 22 Dec 2010 11:29:46 +0000

[...] Dec 2010 Update. See Alexander Chee’s essay about whether to go for the MFA. (That’s part 3; see also part 1 and part 2). [...]

By: The Mis-Education (Perhaps) of Louis Menand – When to Get Your MFA or Not, part 3 « Koreanish

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:41:44 +0000

[...] The Mis-Education (Perhaps) of Louis Menand – When to Get Your MFA or Not, part 3 Jump to Comments [This is the conclusion, part 3 of a series, When to Get Your MFA. Or Not] [...]

By: The Mis-Education (Perhaps) of Louis Menand – When to Get Your MFA or Not, Part 3 « Koreanish

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:36:09 +0000

[...] When to Get Your MFA. Or Not. [Part 2] Generation Born in 80s Now [...]

By: The Worst Part of Being Dead Must Be the First Night – American Short Fiction blog

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:21:49 +0000

[...] there were some CIA-esque procedures with the mailing of questions and replies). And in a recent post on his terrific blog Koreanish, Alexander Chee talks about having heard that Williams, before [...]

By: koreanish

koreanish — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:49:36 +0000

Victoria: Amherst College has no MFA program, but U Mass Amherst remains one of the country’s best. It is 3 years instead of 2, and has more of an intellectual focus than some. And Chris Bachelder, Sabina Murray and Noy Holland, the fiction faculty there, are all wonderful. The reading series is great as well. If I were applying this year, I’d definitely have them on my list.

By: Victoria

Victoria — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:34:32 +0000

Oh wait, I just realized you teach at Amherst College and not at UMass Amherst…I meant the college where you teach!

By: Victoria

Victoria — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:46:24 +0000

Ha, to this day my parents ask me when I’ll apply to med school or law school. For some reason, my undergraduate degree in film never convinced them that my path strays far from the traditional Korean’s!

I’ll be in touch when I apply. I’m looking at schools that provide funding too. Perhaps this is already answered in another post, but what is UMass Amherst’s program like?

By: Emily DB

Emily DB — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 22:41:32 +0000

Thank you for the explanation–that was more or less what I suspected.

I can’t wait for the third part of this series.

By: koreanish

koreanish — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:14:12 +0000

Victoria, you’re great. Thanks. I wanted to address your question in particular as it’s hard for many Asian Americans to commit to careers in the arts, writing especially, due to family pressure to commit to high-status careers with high salaries. I was very fortunate–my late grandfather Chee only laughed when I told him I’d be a writer. You’ll be happy, he said. But very poor.

He didn’t, for example, order me to be a doctor instead. Which has happened to many Korean American students of mine.

Anyway, I wish you luck, and it was nice to meet you also. Keep that excitement, too.

By: Victoria

Victoria — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 20:48:41 +0000

Your post addressed every one of my concerns in a wonderfully clear and positive tone, and brought immense clarification; I must apply! As you mention, I cannot let programs say no for me. I had my doubts, but I lose nothing by applying! (Well, some time and some money, but the amount is minimal when my future is at stake.) I can always say no! I don’t consider not showing up an option in other parts of my life, and I realize this is no different.

I’m so grateful for your 2nd moral. I too feel that my writing may be considered not that of a typical MFA candidate and was impressed and encouraged by the contents of your writing sample! Thank you for sharing your application process. I am also relieved to hear that contrary to my beliefs, MFA programs do acknowledge and encourage individuality.

It was great to hear you read at Greenlight, and look at what has become of that exposure! Enlightenment! I posted a link to your blog on the MFA Handbook blog. I think this post will clarify many of those readers’ concerns, just as it has clarified mine, while being extremely optimistic and supportive.

Thanks again!