<p>Bleh, sorry for all of the ETAs - I keep forgetting stuff - but for anyone uncertain about what exactly these programs entail, there are some really great reviews of some writing programs here: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/summer-programs/645318-creative-writing-summer-programs-22.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/summer-programs/645318-creative-writing-summer-programs-22.html</a> and over that entire CC thread. That thread is really long but I’d recommend reading it and bookmarking some of its pages because there is some good information on there.</p>
<p>@mumfor</p>
<p>Basketweaver covered all of this exceptionally well. Just to put in my two cents, I attended IYWS the summer between my sophomore and junior years. I’m a senior now.
At my session, there were maybe 3 rising college freshman, 20 rising high school seniors, 25 rising juniors, and 3 rising sophomores. That might be totally inaccurate, but I remember the proportions being something along those lines.</p>
<p>There were a few students there who had been accepted after most (I’m not exactly sure what the waitlist is/how it works, other than through word of mouth), but most who are accepted choose to attend. It’s difficult to get be accepted. Like basketweaver said, the acceptance rate is only about 20%. The year I went, I also applied to Sewanee, Alpha, and Kenyon, which are all exceptional programs as well. I would highly encourage your son to apply to a few. Even if he’s an absolutely brilliant and mature young man, room is made for the older students first.</p>
<p>I wish him (and you!) good luck in the process! IYWS was one of the best experiences of my life; I’ve watched the older students graduate and decorate the Ivies, written my college essays about growing after attending the program, and stayed in touch with the friends I met there. I’d encourage anyone who loves to write to apply.</p>
<p>Hello all,</p>
<p>I’m currently a junior in HS and my English teacher recommended the Iowa Young Writers Studio to me last week when he got a flyer for it in the mail. I’ve loved to write my whole life and they say I’m good at it, so I figured I’d go for it! Does anyone have any advice on the application process?</p>
Hello. I am new at College Confidential. Anyone who applied for IYWS (perchance, for Session 1) this year? I am getting increasingly nervous. I also applied to Sewanee and got accepted there. Therefore, I would still have somewhere to go to this summer. Has anyone else also been accepted at Sewanee, by any chance?
My daughter was accepted at Sewanee. She is also waiting for Iowa, session 2… What are you going to do about the fact that Sewanee wants everything back to them by April 1, and Iowa doesn’t release decisions until April 1st?
Same with me. Got into Sewanee but haven’t heard back from Iowa, although I applied for session II.
@sfijm23 @VictorianLass
Iowa is emailing results on April 1st. It is really too late because the other programs want their deposit in hand by April 1. What are you all going to do about that? We aren’t sure what to do.
Also, if you go into the manager/submittable website, what does it say for the Iowa application? Does it say “in-progress” or “received” or something else?
Well, I got into the poetry workshop at Sewanee. And I have applied for Session I of IYWS. You see, I am an international student from India and even the packet and acceptance letter fromSewanee haven’t yet reached. Thus, I was informed by email. Maybe that’s also one of the reasons as to why there was no particular mention of the deposit to be handed over by April 1. I was informed earlier that no Indian student has previously attended the Sewanee Young Writers’ Conference, though I don’t know how many really ‘applied’ or were ‘accepted’ but did not attend.
@desie1 It actually says ‘In-Progress’ solely for my Application and ‘Received’ for my Letter of Rec and Transcript
Anyone getting extremely nervous? Hardly a week left to go for April 1. I wake up every day in the morning and count the days left! I cannot put up with it any longer. How many applications do they expect this year, anyway?
@victorianlass My daughter’s site only changed to “in progress” a few days ago. I think it means that they just downloaded it now - that’s why I was so surprised. There’s less than a week to go and it appears as if they are just beginning to review it now!
My daughter isn’t worried at all about Iowa because she is happy with the Sewanee acceptance. Everybody who has previously attended has told her how amazing it is! I’m just nervous because we can’t have the money to Sewanee on 4/1 if we don’t hear from Iowa until 4/1. I don’t like the idea of not answering and paying Sewanee on time.
Wonder how everybody else is handling this?
Is the Sewanee deposit definitively due by April 1st? We got a call from them today to call back, but I haven’t been told that there is a date they need a confirmation/deposit by. I got into UVA today (for which the deposit is due April 1st), but I’d rather go to Sewanee, and Iowa is my first choice. Hopefully they actually send acceptance letters out before because they said by April 1st on the website, but I have a feeling we won’t hear back until the day of.
Edit: My App is in-progress/Transcript reviewed. I’m assuming Submittable will send an email once they Accept/Deny students as it lists on the site.
@desie1 Congratulations and good luck to your daughter, anyway. I am more keen on attending Iowa than Sewanee, primarily because I have a gut feeling it might suit me better.
I asked Sewanee to give me some more time to decide since there is a chance that my first semester examinations at school might clash with the conference dates. And I cannot miss my exams under any circumstances. My school hasn’t yet put up the academic schedule for the year, therefore, I cannot know for certain whether I will be attending Sewanee.
@sfijm23 My transcript has been received, not reviewed. I am wondering whether that’s a reason for me to be worried. Congratulations for getting into UVA! I will be going to Sewanee in case I don’t make it to Iowa. I am just wondering, due to the time difference when I will receive my email on April 1, about which, as it is, I am getting more nervous than I ever have. Just the very thought of being rejected/waitlisted makes me shiver.
@victorianlass So did you call Sewanee to ask for the extension or did you email them? Were they nice about it? The Iowa session 1 is before Sewanee’s session. So your exams take place after Iowa session 1?
@sfijm The acceptance letter says that you must call to reserve your place in the program and pay the money by April 1st. Did your letter not say that? My daughter didn’t get a phone call from Sewanee; I wonder if they are going to ask you if you are attending. .I’m not sure the email will be from submittable. I think that it is going to be right from Iowa.If all of these programs are due on April 1st, I wish Iowa would let students know one day earlier. The submittable website still says "in-progress"on the application and “received” (not reviewed) for the transcript. Can’t see the letter of recommendation since it was sent directly by the teacher.
@desie1 No, I didn’t call or request an extension. They had mentioned so in the email they sent me. But I think you ought to email them and ask for an extension if you want it. They seem really friendly and will definitely cooperate. Yes, my exams take place after Session I of IYWS. But the Sewanee dates collide with my exams and missing two weeks of school coupled with assessments in my junior year, doesn’t seem too good an option.
The status of my application is the same. ‘In-Progress’ for the application and ‘Received’ for the transcript and letter of recommendation (since I uploaded it on my teacher’s behalf).
One question: Does anyone know how many international students Iowa or Sewanee have welcomed in the past? Or are likely to?
@victorianlass Thanks for the information. My daughter will email them. She didn’t really want to ask for an extension because it looks like Sewanee isn’t a top choice, and it is, but she just wants to make sure she reviews all her options before she makes a final decision.
Her application status hasn’t changed either - it’s exactly like yours.
Sorry, but I have no idea about international students at either program. Maybe someone else can chime in?
@desie1 I am not sure if this would make sense. But this is what I did. Well, saying a ‘Yes’ to Sewanee would actually mean simply depositing $50 to reserve your place. And I thought that if I don’t get into IYWS, I shouldn’t miss the opportunity of attending Sewanee just because the dates clashed with the IYWS decision. So, I have deposited $50 and reserved my place for the time being so that I don’t miss out. If I get into IYWS, I basically have nothing to lose and I might send a letter to Sewanee expressing that I can’t come and if I do get rejected by Iowa, I can go to Sewanee which is just as good and I would’ve reserved my place, at least.
@VictorianLass that completely makes sense but my letter asks for $500 not $50 and we will lose $200 if they can replace my daughter’s spot if we cancel… If not, we will lose the whole $500. if it were only $50 that would do it in a minute!