Comments on: New issue of Crab Orchard Review plus my 2 cents on the MFA ranking debate

By: Elisa

Elisa — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 16:43:46 +0000

I largely agree — more information is better. I’m sure the ranking system could be improved. I’d definitely like to see some input from alumni — I don’t think this would automatically be positive. I’d be critical of the school I went to and I know many of my fellow graduates would as well. Alumni satisfaction seems like an important metric to me. I’d trust this more than testimonials from the faculty. I can’t see faculty being critical, since their jobs might be on the line….

By: Jeannine

Jeannine — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 01:01:00 +0000

Sorry to hear about your experience, Anonymous. It shouldn’t be the norm – but I’ve heard many similar stories. Too bad we can’t put a check mark for that kind of stuff in the rankings! I think you’re right, too – there was a certain amount of partying and such that went on at my MFA program, too, but I just ignored it and did my writing work and that was the path for me.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 00:44:51 +0000

I went to a program where the very prominent male poet/prose/personality writer spent decades lecherously attaching himself to the female students, where the new hire married poet proceeded to have an affair with a student in her workshop to the nonchalant whatevers of the rest of the university, and then her lover was awarded the best thesis and a post-doc for good measure. Lesson to be learned is choose wisely, focus on your own writing, find your people, ignore the other naysayers. Ultimately, I profited from the experience. The bitter taste is going away.

By: Jeannine

Jeannine — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 23:58:31 +0000

Hi Northwestern MFA! I actually teach at a no-residency MFA program myself – and that group is not listed in the rankings, either, so I understand your dismay.
I’m not sure though that rankings by professors would be right on for prospective students, either. Don’t we professors have a different perspective than student might? Maybe the alumni? But wouldn’t they vote automatically for their own schools? It’s problematic but I’m just open to the idea of trying to do a better job of getting students more info!

By: Northwestern MA/MFA

Northwestern MA/MFA — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 23:51:56 +0000

As co-director of a part-time evening program (one of just a few in the US), I’m dismayed at the rankings because I don’t think it’s fair to compare us w/ full-time programs. It would probably make more group us w/ lo-rez programs, or to have a separate part-time category. (We have great faculty and happy students, but we have to charge tuition.) But–and this is the main point–I don’t know of any other ranking systems that rely on *applicants.* I think that programs in other fields do surveys of profs around the country.

By: Jeannine

Jeannine — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 23:32:49 +0000

Karen – Did you see Crab Orchard’s call for submissions for poems of the North? Your work would be perfect!

By: Brad Smith

Brad Smith — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 23:24:56 +0000

Can’t argue with any of this. Here’s a petition to show support for the rankings. If you feel so inclined: please sign it and share it. People should know how we, as applicants (now and in past years) feel.

http://www.change.org/petitions/continue-publication-of-poets-and-writers-annual-mfa-rankings?utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=own_wall

By: Karen J. Weyant

Karen J. Weyant — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 23:13:32 +0000

I stopped reading all the MFA stuff…only because it confuses me. I’ve never been told that I wasn’t a real writer because I didn’t have a MFA — but people have been surprised that I didn’t have one!

(Can’t wait for my copy of Crab Orchard Review — no, I’m not in it, but I have a subscription)