I'm looking to further my education by obtaining an MFA in Creative Writing. I applied for 2009 and got into a school. However, for numerous reasons, I had to decline. For 2010, I want to do it right. My problem is this: I have no clue which poems are strong enough to put into my portfolio! Most of my friends are not writers, and the small few who are aren't crazy about poetry as a genre. I was wondering if there was anyone out there who would be willing to read over a fat sum of poems and tell me which they dig, which they'd ditch, et cetera. If there is anyone else out there in my boat, I could do the same for you. I'm looking for all kinds of opinions--I've been out of a workshop setting for two years now and I'm completely hurting over it. If anyone is interested, leave me a comment and we can exchange e-mails and such. Thanks a lot. xx charlotte
no problem, i'll work on it and let you know through a message on here. here's the break down on the schools from what i've researched: NYU: 10 pages Emerson: 15 pages Hunter: 10 pages U Mass: 10 pages Brooklyn: 20 pages Queens: 10 pages BU: 10-12 poems
Maybe once you've narrowed down the list you could send some to me via a message here on SW? Also (personally interested in this question): Approx. how many poems does each school request?
hey kate--thanks for reading this blog post and responding! i'm applying in new york and boston: umass boston, emerson, BU, queens college, brooklyn college, hunter, and NYU. i realize i'm kind of playing hard-ball with my MFA applications but i'd like to stay near my family for numerous reasons. i have an excel sheet of the requirements for each school (how many pages/poems each school wants as well as everything else they could possibly want from me) so tailoring my needs to a certain school would be no problem and i sort of anticipate it. anyway, my e-mail is [email protected], so if you want to drop me an e-mail there, i can send you a big fat word document of a ton of poems i've been considering for this process. thanks again and i really appreciate your help!!!
Hey Charlotte. I'm the poetry editor of University of Rhode Island's The Independent Scribe, an arts and literature publication. I considered looking into an MFA program for along time (and still plan to persue it in the future) but alas will head to law school in 2010. Nevertheless, I am extremely devoted to poetry - and editing! I'm currently helping two of my peers prepare their portfolios for MFA program applications and would gladly take a look at your work and make suggestions! I also study Rhetoric coupled with my poetry focus at school, so I feel the following question is necessary: Where do you plan to apply? Sometimes tailoring your portfolio (what is included, in what order, etc.) to the school (and its program) is a wise choice. Really, each portfolio should be a smart document, developed in response to the rhetorical situation presented by each school's program. In the end, your porfolio (in my opinion) is a combination of work you love, work that does lots of different things, work that reflects an understanding of traditional technique and finally texts that take innovative risks. Finally, this wide range of poetry should reflect your personal poetic style, statement and beliefs. Have fun with it! If you're looking into an MFA, you already love poetry - and that love is a valuable tool in assembling a portfolio.
Wow, go Brooklyn and their willingness to read tons of poetry! Sounds excellent - looking forward to your message Charlotte.
no problem, i'll work on it and let you know through a message on here.
here's the break down on the schools from what i've researched:
NYU: 10 pages
Emerson: 15 pages
Hunter: 10 pages
U Mass: 10 pages
Brooklyn: 20 pages
Queens: 10 pages
BU: 10-12 poems
Maybe once you've narrowed down the list you could send some to me via a message here on SW? Also (personally interested in this question): Approx. how many poems does each school request?
hey kate--thanks for reading this blog post and responding! i'm applying in new york and boston: umass boston, emerson, BU, queens college, brooklyn college, hunter, and NYU. i realize i'm kind of playing hard-ball with my MFA applications but i'd like to stay near my family for numerous reasons. i have an excel sheet of the requirements for each school (how many pages/poems each school wants as well as everything else they could possibly want from me) so tailoring my needs to a certain school would be no problem and i sort of anticipate it. anyway, my e-mail is [email protected], so if you want to drop me an e-mail there, i can send you a big fat word document of a ton of poems i've been considering for this process. thanks again and i really appreciate your help!!!
Hey Charlotte. I'm the poetry editor of University of Rhode Island's The Independent Scribe, an arts and literature publication. I considered looking into an MFA program for along time (and still plan to persue it in the future) but alas will head to law school in 2010. Nevertheless, I am extremely devoted to poetry - and editing! I'm currently helping two of my peers prepare their portfolios for MFA program applications and would gladly take a look at your work and make suggestions!
I also study Rhetoric coupled with my poetry focus at school, so I feel the following question is necessary: Where do you plan to apply? Sometimes tailoring your portfolio (what is included, in what order, etc.) to the school (and its program) is a wise choice. Really, each portfolio should be a smart document, developed in response to the rhetorical situation presented by each school's program. In the end, your porfolio (in my opinion) is a combination of work you love, work that does lots of different things, work that reflects an understanding of traditional technique and finally texts that take innovative risks. Finally, this wide range of poetry should reflect your personal poetic style, statement and beliefs.
Have fun with it! If you're looking into an MFA, you already love poetry - and that love is a valuable tool in assembling a portfolio.