<p>laurapoet - I’m applying! It’s my first year, and I’m currently working on my statement of purpose (the most difficult for me). My mother attended the program when she was younger, then continued to study at the University of Iowa for college, where she met my dad. Now my sister attends their College of Nursing. Good luck on your application! :)</p>
<p>I want to get in soooo bad. xD I’m applying to others (Sewanee, Kenyon, and UVA if they ever get their darn info up) but Iowa works best with my schedule and it just sounds amazing. I’m tearing my hair out over the application though! I hate statements of purpose; I fear I’ll end up sounding generic with the “I want to enrich my writing,” etc, or really melodramatic with the “I live and breathe writing and I just want to lose myself in the words.” Maybe I’ll be able to come up with something original and quirky in time, haha!</p>
<p>Which writing samples do you guys plan to submit? I wish we could send more than ten pages-- I have a fifteen page short story I’m really proud of but there’s no real way to chop it up. 
And which genres are you signing up for? I think I’ll put fiction first, poetry second, and creative writing third, only because I’m not interested really in dramatic scripts or nonfiction.</p>
<p>I had that problem with my statement of purpose last year, too. They are really hard to do well. I think you really just have to discover what writing means to you. When you write it try to imagine that you’re just writing about your own experience, not trying to impress someone. You can go back in a add the little things that might impress them later. Your statement of purpose is just a way for them to make sure you are serious about your writing, and to see if you’ll add something to the group. If you write from the heart (which I’m sure you already are), it will turn out better than you expected. I guess thats the best advice I can give. Hope it helps 
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<p>As far as my writing sample goes, I’m finding it really hard to choose the best pieces. I keep wanting to write something new, but I haven’t had the time! Ahh! Good luck!</p>
<p>I’ve done so many of these programs over the years. In my opinion, Kenyon was by far the best, though Iowa was really great too. Write a decent letter, decent portfolio and you shouldn’t have any trouble getting in. I doubt it’s all that selective.</p>
<p>-and by portfolio, i meant sample**</p>
<p>Iowa postmark deadline is this Saturday! Everyone finishing up their samples and statements of purpose?</p>
<p>Hi everyone(: I’m new to CC, but thought I’d try to revive this thread since I found it so helpful. I’m guessing everyone else is freaking out too over acceptances about now? I just got one from Kenyon, for session one! Anyone else heard anything?</p>
<p>Hey Bayfly- I’m new to CC too I’ve actually heard from Iowa already. Because my teacher made a mistake with the recommendation, my dearest mother (who is probably reading this, with all her preparedness) emailed the director. He’s incredibly nice! I got accepted to Session 1! I’m so excited, and, frankly, very relieved to miss out on the last minute stress and nervousness.
Is anyone else planning on going to Session 1? Anyone else hear anything yet?</p>
<p>Congrats to all accepted students! I just got my rejection letter from Iowa. My sample writing was, in all fairness, subpar. In my defense, I found out about the program, like, two days before the official deadline. </p>
<p>Anyway, I got accepted to the Kenyon Review’s program, and I’m Gambier bound! :)</p>
<p>Have an awesome time in Iowa.</p>
<p>Just got my rejection letter Ah well. My writing sample wasn’t phenomenal, although I was rather proud of one or two of my pieces. Congratulations to everyone who was accepted, though! Have fun in Iowa! :)</p>
<p>I just received my acceptance letter to Iowa, so now I have to decide between it and Kenyon. Are there any of you who have gone to both, and if so, would you be willing to elaborate in detail on the merits and drawbacks of both, which you preferred and why? Any insightwould be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Also, if you attended Iowa, which workshop were you in? </p>
<p>And, for both, what was the general format of the workshops?</p>
<p>I live in NH and have yet to hear–should i call or wait 1-2 days?</p>
<p>I would wait if I were you. I’m pretty sure they ask you not to call on the website. It might be torture, but it’s only another day or two. I know of someone not too far from NH that heard today, so your letter can’t be far behind!</p>
<p>I’m in TX and just got my acceptance in the mail today - session 2, hopefully with Zhang or McDonnell. So many forms…ugh. Still, from what I’ve heard, it’s an experience you don’t want to miss.</p>
<p>But yes, intrinsically, I would wait. They only mailed the letters three days ago, and there’s still plenty of time. (:</p>
<p>i’m in MO and i got in for session 2! hooray! i can’t decide whose workshop i want to take. i think jenny zhang and i would be BFFs, but my fiction is lousy. i want to take them all!</p>
<p>Aw, congrats! Choose Zhang if you want to write fiction! See you in Iowa(:</p>
<p>How was she?</p>
<p>In for session 2 (:</p>
<p>That’s awesome! See you there!</p>
<p>Hey guys- just got my official acceptance packet! While I was filling out the roommate form, I couldn’t help but wonder if it would be someone from here… Anyway, I’m interested in writing fiction, but I don’t see Zhang on the list. Actually, on the teacher bios, I see Dybek, McDonnell, and Haberkern. But on the actual selection sheet, it says Zhang instead of Haberkern. Hmm. I’m confused. Also, has anyone had any of the other fiction teachers? What did you think? Were they the best there, the worst? I’m sure they’re all really good, I just thought it would be prudent to check!</p>