It seems to me that among the more "scholarly" writers I know, the MFA is a highly-regarded honor much akin to the coveted Green Beret of the Army's Special Forces soldier.
While this may or may not be due to hype thanks to those who have made it through an MFA program and are able to mention it in passing to those of us who, well, haven't, there do have to be some useful things to going through such an education.
If you're interested in learning more about continuing your education and earning an MFA, consider using some of the following links as starting points:
- Vermont College: MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults
- New York University: M.F.A. Degree in Creative Writing
- Warren Wilson College: MFA Program for Writers
- University of Nebraska: MFA in Writing
- Antioch University (Los Angeles): Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
On the flip side, if you're looking for reasons to support your non-MFA status (whether because you're choosing not to earn one or keep getting those fool rejection slips [you're right, you're a genius, they just don't see it!]), ponder this quote from David Hollander's article about "Plan B" in the Jan/Feb 2006 issue of Poets & Writers:
"MFA programs are self-perpetuating and homogeneous, and they exist in symbiosis with an American publishing industry that grows more conservative each year."
Are these three letters worth it? You tell me!
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