[saralee]

Looking at their MFA in Creating Writing. Any thoughts on the school as a whole?

Any insight appreciated.

Thanks!

[Sherylcatmom]

Originally Posted by saralee

Looking at their MFA in Creating Writing. Any thoughts on the school as a whole?

Two friends who graduated from there loved it. That was nearly 20 years ago. A friend who is in the MFA program now also loves it. Sorry, I've got nothing more specific.

[sundialstreet]

Excellent MFA program. Engaged, thoughtful advisors who provide both craft development and practical skills to help writers be savvy business people as it relates to their projects.

Good Luck.

[MRVphotog]

Goddard has evolved into a very unique but a kinda strange college IMHO. There is very little activity on campus. I was in the library awhile back, beautiful building, looking for someone to help me. When I finally found someone he kinda laughed and said all the program are basically independent study off campus so the campus sits their basically empty accept for some administrators and other non college programs they can bring in to help pay the bills.

You should Google Goddard which should tell you alot about the school. Not sure if it has the standard accepted college accredation anymore. Assume you have already looked at their website which I assume makes the college look pretty good.

A friend, who is an alumni, says you now just pay them $30,000, maybe more and you can get a degree in pretty much anything you want to make up. The greener the better, of course.

An independent study program, probably mostly computer based now, might work great for what your looking for. An onsite visit is definately needed IMHO as just the basic intel for your decision, tho there might not be anyone left on campus to talk to you.

That type of program wouldn't have been good for me as, for example, having John Irving(before he became a famous author) as my English Lit professor was an amazing experience that you just don't get in the computer based college programs.

I didn't do very well in his class, being that I got a BS degree in Math/Physics. English Lit was perceived as an unfortunate requirement :lol:

I wanted to take his class cause everyone knew he was an All American wrestler from Syracuse in his college days so I figured it would be an easy class....wrong! :lol:

[sundialstreet]

You're conflating computer based with low residency. Two different animals. Most students from the MFA come from NY and many of the faculty are also from that area. Which means there's lot of interaction and most of it is face to face. It's not an English degree, it's a CREATIVE WRITING degree. They are not teaching you Grammar or Mechanics. They are helping you craft your novel, play, or creative non fiction work. One doesn't need loads of in class instruction for that. Writers need to hunker down with their work and get it done.

Past visiting writers include:
Christopher Durang, Samuel R. Delaney, Jessica Hagedorn, Stephen Kuusisto, Deena Metzger, and Robert Morgan, Dorothy Allison, Claudine Rankin, Chris Abani, Walter Mosley, Mary Gaitskill, David Rakoff, Tracie Morris and Rick Moody.

If you're not a writer (and preferably a working writing) this program, which requires lots of autonomy is probably not for you.