For centuries, writers honed their craft without formal education. Today, there are over 350 MFA programs in Creative Writing across the U.S., and they’re not cheap, with costs ranging from $20,000 to $100,000. But are they really worth it?
If you’re an aspiring writer, you’ve probably asked yourself that question. I know I did before I enrolled in my creative writing program. Here, I want to share what I learned from my MFA experience and whether it’s something you should consider. Here are the major pros and cons of enrolling in an MFA. I could have sent a whole, but I want to focus on the dealbreakers.
Pros:
The best part of the MFA for me was the community. Before I enrolled, I didn’t have friends or know anyone who was a writer, and I mean someone who took writing as a lifelong apprenticeship. I come from an immigrant community, so most of the people in my circle are in business, medicine, engineering, or law. The weird ones are in accounting or finance. So trying to be a writer was like a fish trying to learn how to (I couldn't find the metaphor, and also struggled with deleting the sentence). However, being surrounded by people who shared a passion for reading and writing was a huge help. I often talk about my writing group, and I personally think it’s extremely hard to write without one.
Another major benefit was the structured time to write. With deadlines, I had no choice but to write regularly, even when life got busy. I became a father during the second year of the program, yet I managed to find time to write late at night or early in the morning because there were people waiting for my feedback or for me to submit my story later in the week.
Cons:
While the program focused on craft, it didn’t emphasize the business side of writing—things like finding an agent or getting published. So even if I have a manuscript today, I wouldn’t know what my next steps would be. Now, if I had to choose, I would pick a program that focuses solely on craft over publishing. Because at least now I have people in my network to ask in case I’m ready to publish a big project.
And then there’s the cost. I was lucky to get a scholarship, but for many they have to go into debit to enroll in a program. An MFA doesn’t guarantee publication or a job, so the financial investment is something to seriously consider. After I graduated, I couldn’t even bargain with my employer to get paid more, even though I was doing relevant work like writing speeches and proofreading marketing materials. Still, an MFA isn’t a degree people are familiar with, and it’s hard to put a value on its return.
So, is an MFA worth it? It depends on what you need. If you’re looking for a supportive community and structure, it could be a great fit. But if you’re hoping for a clear path to publication, it might not be the best investment. I would also highly consider taking craft or workshop classes or even applying to writing fellowships. I wasn’t, and still am not, so great at applying to these things, although they are cheaper and can give you a small taste of the commitment a writing program requires.
At the end of the day, writing is a journey. Whether or not you pursue an MFA, the key is to keep writing, keep learning, and keep pushing to write the stories you’re afraid to write.
💎 New From Me
I went on a rabbit whole of researching a story about the New York Times Bestseller list, and made a video about it: What Really Makes a Book a NYT Bestseller
🔖 Quote I’m pondering
“When you forgive others they may not notice but you will heal. Forgiveness is not something we do for others; it is a gift to ourselves.”
— Kevin Kelly
Source: Excellent Advice for Living: Wisdom I Wish I'd Known Earlier
📸 Through My Lens
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Thank you for reading!
Mohamed