If you have been debating pursuing an MFA but your lifestyle, be it business, personal, or simply an overload on life in general has prevented you from doing so, you might want to consider pursing an MFA at one of the top Low Residency MFA Programs. Low Residency MFA Programs offer flexibility in that you are able to complete a two-year degree with little residency time on the campus, combined with organized computer classroom interaction, and specific writing projects to be completed by specific deadlines within the two year period.
The first rule of thumb is to determine what your long-term goal is as a writer. Do you want to teach? Are you pursuing an MFA as part of your creative and professional experience as a writer? Or is it simply one of the many dreams you have always wanted to pursue but haven’t taken the steps to do just yet? Either way if you have seriously considered pursuing an MFA over a period of time, chances are you are serious about your craft, and are looking for the right community, creative structure, mentors, and creative exposure you so want as a part of a writer.
It may be that by considering one of the top Low Residency MFA Programs, that you just may accomplish your goals. You will need to prepare yourself thoroughly to be competitive. MFA Programs generally accept the top 5%. With those numbers it is imperative that your statement of purpose, and writing sample reflect your talents and goals. To present a strong representation of who you are as a writer, the Low Residency MFA Program at which you are applying will prefer that your letters of recommendations come from those that are familiar with your writing talents. Timeliness is very important so you will want to request any transcripts far ahead of time in advance of the closing date for acceptance of applications.
Which programs should you apply to? You will need to research the Top Low Residency MFA Programs to see exactly what they are looking for. Whether you are pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing in Fiction, Non-Fiction, or Poetry certain schools veer in different areas. Some of the MFA Programs are interested in Experimental Writing such as Fantasy, Speculative Fiction and Realism. Others on the other hand may only be interested in Socially Conscious Writing. Do your research. Don’t apply at a Top Low Residency MFA Program simply because of location, reputation, or because your friends are. You want to be a fit. You want to benefit from the community, guidance, creative mentoring and leadership that the University can offer you. At the same time it is important to know your focus and present your best creative work possible in that specific focus. It is also equally important to look at the faculty and the work they have previously published. An assessment of all of these considerations should give you some idea of which Low Residency MFA Program is a good fit for you.
Currently the top MFA Low Residency Programs are as follows: Antioch University, Bennington, Goddard, Leslie, Mass Art, University of New Orleans, Pacific, Pine Manor, Queens, Ranier, Spaulding, Stonecoast, Warren Wilson, and Whidby. These programs allow students to complete a two-year MFA in Creative Writing in a low-residency format. All programs will require several residencies on campus, usually twice a year. Other than that the rest of the curriculum is completed by way of computer classroom and writing projects, which must be followed precisely to complete the program successfully with a finished manuscript. Just a note, where these are not the only Low Residency MFA Programs, they are certainly of the top caliber. There are many more excellent Low Residency MFA Programs offered in this wonderful creative cyber age.
When the quest to pursue an MFA, whether Low Residency or not, funding is important. Where funding is certainly paramount particularly if a student already has mounting student loan debt, only the writer can decide if funding is more important than being accepted into the top Low Residency MFA Program desired. Be creative and start a year or two ahead of time looking for funding. Look for grants, work-study, and anything else feasible.
One other thing that should seriously be considered is the acceptance rate. MFA Programs – ALL MFA Programs, be they Low Residency MFA Programs or traditional, only accept the top 5%. Some students are admitted by way of waitlist. Don’t be discouraged. Reapply and apply to several schools. Where application fees add up, you will have to weigh what is more important, pursuing one of the Top Low Residency MFA Programs or – well looks like we’re back to funding. Seriously with the competition allow yourself a backup plan, and apply to the schools that are a fit for you and your writing portfolio.
