The Next Chapter: Graduate Schools for Creative Writing Students

How most university grads feel

Graduating from university can be scary. Trust me, I know.
However, graduating as a creative writing undergrad can be even scarier because there are so many options out there that you don't know where to start looking. I created this post as a starting point for anyone who might be looking into graduate programs in creative writing.
    As writers, we're often told to start with what we know. So, my first pick is something found in my own backyard--the Masters in Creative Writing offered at the University of New Brunswick. It can be completed in 20 months.

UNB Fredericton Campus

Like most Creative Writing MA's, this program is intense. In those twenty months, you complete two writing workshops and three academic courses. You also have to take some research methods courses, and work on your thesis (in whichever genre you choose). Another  feature of the Creative Writing MA is that you are able to go onto a doctoral program in English if you chose to do so. For more info, you can click here: http://www.unb.ca/fredericton/arts/graduate/english/index.html

The next thing you should check out is the Creative Writing program at the University of British Columbia. This is said to be the best program in Canada. At the Vancouver campus, UBC offers a MFA (Master in Fine Arts). The advantage of the MFA program is they focus on original writing instead of the study of literature. You would also look into eleven different genres of writing.
And if that doesn't make you want to go, the creator of  the TV show Bones is a grad of the MFA program. They also have an off-campus option and joint MFA's in Screenwriting and Playwriting.
If you want to know more, click here: http://creativewriting.ubc.ca/prospective-students/graduate/
For info on the off-campus program, choose this: http://creativewriting.ubc.ca/prospective-students/graduate/optional-residency-mfa-program/

UBC Vancouver Campus

My third and final pick would be the MFA program offered at New York University. Like the MFA program offered at UBC, this program allows students to intensively focus on their writing. It also allows them to choose from a wider selection of courses that will help them develop as writers. It's also tailored towards students who might want to apply for creative writing positions at universities.
NYU also offers a MA in English with a concentration in Creative Writing similar to the one at UNB. It, too allows students to apply to a PhD program and to teach creative writing at a high school level.
Also, all students who apply to the Creative Writing program will receive scholarships ranging from half to full-tuition coverage. Who doesn't want free money?
Want more info? Click here: http://cwp.fas.nyu.edu/page/graduate    

Free money? Why not?

Just remember, this is just a starting point. Happy hunting!

Graduate School: Taking Writing to the Next Level

So, you’ve just graduated from an undergraduate program in university. You’ve dedicated the past few years of your life to maxing out your academic profile with an honours degree in English. Throughout these rewarding years of post-secondary education, you’ve developed a growing interest for creative writing, considering it as a focus when choosing your courses for each semester. The question that will probably arise at this point is: Do I want to find easy work at the local McDonald’s while I strenuously search for a job in my field, or is there something more that I can do? Well, if fast-food isn’t your strong suit, another option is graduate school. Why not take that interest in creative writing and put it to use in order to further your education?

It is important to remember that graduate school is not the type of decision that one should make without some thorough thought. There are a number of reasons for one to attend a graduate program besides the fact that they are heavily interested in their area of study, such as better pay and more job opportunities, and all of these reasons should be taken into account before making the final decision. For more information on this matter, visit the following link:

http://www.embark.com/articles/Pages/WhyGotoGraduateSchool.aspx.

            If graduate school is absolutely something that you would like to pursue, you’re probably wondering which schools offer these programs for creative writing. There are a number of schools throughout Canada that can be considered, stretching from University of Toronto to University of British Columbia. However, one doesn’t even need to leave the Maritimes to complete a graduate degree in creative writing; these programs are offered at University of New Brunswick as well. Visit this link for information, such as course options, how to apply, and financial aid: http://www.unb.ca/fredericton/arts/departments/english/creativewriting/index.html.

            Graduate school is a commitment that can’t be taken lightly. It involves plenty of hard work and a number of years of one’s life; however, when taken seriously, it can be one of the most rewarding decisions you will make.   

Grad School - How To Know Where To Go

            So, you're well on your way to graduating with your BA, but then the question dreaded by undergrads everywhere is raised: What next?

            If you're anything like me, you likely have no sweet clue what you're doing or where you're going after graduation. However, that's no reason to despair! If you want to follow your aspirations as a writer, but don't feel your work is strong enough to make it in the world of publishing just yet, you can always look into taking a masters in creative writing at grad school. Grad school offers not only the chance to improve the skills required by a professional writer, but also to make contacts within the industry. That being said, if you're simply trying to stave off having to make any actual decisions in what you're doing with your life by hiding in school for another few years, I'd recommend against it. Grad school will run you hard in order to make sure you're up to snuff. If you're just trying to avoid responsibility, this should not be your plan.

            If you're still interested though, the first step is clearly to start looking around for universities that offer creative writing programs. A simple google search will turn up plenty of results, and you can find lists of potential schools all over the place. Now, chances are, your initial search will look something like this, which will prove to be utterly useless unless you filter through it. You'll want to look through articles like this, this, and maybe this, which are far more helpful. However, it's worth noting that these sorts of articles often only consider American universities. Not only are American schools generally fairly pricey, but there's also the issue of travel. For those of us who don't want to abandon our maple syrup and free healthcare to go and live in the sweltering southern heat of Boston or New York, it helps to look into Canadian options as well. This handy list shows us the options for schools north of the border.

            One of the most promising schools on the list (in my opinion, anyways) is UNB. Not only is it just down the hill from where you're currently studying, but the testimonies we've received from graduates of the program have spoken very highly of it. Besides, Andrew Titus took it when he was in school. You want to be like Titus, right? Of course you do. As you can see in the description of the program on the UNB website (scroll down a bit to find it), the program offers small, focused workshops of your peers and respected writers, as well the opportunity to help edit for The Fiddlehead and QWERTY, providing both skill-building and professional experience.

            While this is only a brief overview of options for grad school, hopefully it should serve as an excellent starting-off point for prospective students looking to find the right school for their needs.