Murray State University MFA Creative Writing

Reviewer's Name:

Scott L. Woodham

Review Date

April 25, 2009

Year of Graduation:

2009

Review Title:

Best Kept Secret

Full Review of the Program:

I'm a poet finishing his thesis this semester.

I'm an extremely independent learner, and Murray's program has allowed me a measure of self-sufficiency that would have been difficult to find at a full-res program. I love to be left somewhat alone to do my own work, and I love being challenged when I'm going wrong somewhere. Murray faculty have never failed me on either count.

Upon undertaking an MFA, I was mainly worried about finding a culture of unfriendly competition among students, about meeting a bunch of brilliant dolts who cared more about looking smart than moving their art forward. Luckily, Murray's spirit of challenging collaboration defuses that stance, enables everyone to do the hard work necessary to move to a higher level, and grants permission to make useful mistake after useful mistake.

I had a breakthrough last semester that will facilitate the abiding art I know I'm capable of. My time at Murray State will be with me the rest of my writing life. In terms of cost, that lasting effect was a screaming bargain.

Advice to Prospective Students:

Before you apply to any MFA program, ask yourself if you're really interested in moving your art forward. If not, wait until you are.

Murray's program is still young, so if you want a chance to contribute to a program's growing reputation, come here. We take this responsibility to our 'best-kept secret' seriously.

Honor the form and trust the process.