Lindenwood U. or U. of Arkansas-Monticello

For an MFA in creative writing, between the two following schools, which would you choose and why: Lindenwood University, or the University of Arkansas at Monticello?

Lindenwood University - Online Programs - MFA - Writing

University of Arkansas at Monticello

I'll appreciate all replies and opinions.

 

Guess no one has an opinion.

 

Neither school has a highly recognizable name. If you live in the STL metro area I'd chose Lindenwood, if you live in SW Missouri (around Springfield) or the state of Arkansas I'd go with UA-Monticello. If you're not near either school/out of state, choose the cheaper of the two.

 

Thanks for your reply.

I live in Mississippi, so I'm closer to Arkansas-Monticello. Also, it's a lot cheaper than Lindenwood, but Lindenwood offers 50% tuition scholarships for students over 55, so that would make the cost about the same or maybe somewhat cheaper than A-M.

 

I agree with AUTiger00; however, I would choose UA-M because at least UA system has reputation.

Also, it is the first time I ever heard of Lindenwood University.

 

Thanks for your thoughts on this.

 

Honestly, just choose the cheaper of the two. Both I'm sure are fine schools, it's just that neither has a reputation outside of it's immediate area.

 

Lindenwood's MFA program has existed since 2003, although the online MFA option is probably more recent. According to College Navigator, LU issued 35 MFAs just last year. Since the program is 10 years old, it's likely that LU has educated hundreds of MFA students since the program was established.

The Arkansas-Monticello MFA program, on the other hand, is brand new -- it's starting up as of June 2013. So the UAM program has no track record as yet. In fact, UAM has a relatively limited track record with graduate education in general. According to College Navigator, they only issued 48 master's degrees total last year (mostly in education with a handful in forestry). For comparison, LU issued over 1,400 master's and doctoral degrees last year, in a wide variety of disciplines.

At UAM, you would be one of the very first students in the program. UAM has never done this before, so you would be something of a "guinea pig". This has the potential to be exciting if things go well, but it also has the potential to be frustrating if things go wrong. So UAM seems like the more "adventuresome" choice, while LU seems like the "safer" choice.

 

You may want to also consider?

University of Texas-El Paso: MFA Creative Writing (no residencies required)
MFA Program Online

Goddard College: MFA Creative Writing (one 8-day residency required in either Vermont or Washington).
MFA in Creative Writing | Goddard College

 

Thanks, Steve. Good advice.

 

CalDog,

I appreciate your analysis, information, and thoughts -- very helpful.

 

major56,

I couldn't consider Goddard because I couldn't attend the residency.

As for UTEP, I looked at their program previously and eliminated it. They don't accept transfer credit, and I have nine hours from Adams State College. Also, I want to concentrate in poetry, and they require courses in fiction, screenwriting, and playwriting which I have no interest in.

But I do appreciate your reply. I always welcome any information and opinions given to me.

 

In general I am a big believer in state university systems. That would be my choice.

 

I am a state certified teacher in English, social studies, and special education. I was going to use the MFA degree, or whatever master's I go for, to upgrade my teacher's license; this would result in a pay raise of over $4000 a year. Well, I got some astounding news today. I talked with a person at the state department of education, and she said they did not at this time accept MFA degrees for purposes of upgrading to AA certification! This is perhaps the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. I must say that I do not have a high opinion of public education anyway, and this doesn't help my opinion. This is just stupid.

I might get the MFA anyway, just because I want to, and because it might help get me out of the public school, k-12 system.

 

I agree -- strange, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Common sense and public education don't often go together.

However, I now have to rethink my decision. I could go for an MALS, but the in-state one I've looked at costs more than an MFA, and I believe a terminal degree would do more for me than an MALS, in regard to helping me get out of k-12 public education.

I thought about certification or a master's in gifted, but that would only confine me to k-12 public ed.

So, back to the drawing board, as it were.

 

Arkansas-Monticello raised their tuition, so now the degree would cost me about $3000 more than the Lindenwood degree -- except for this: UAM offers a complete tuition waiver for students 60 years old and older. I will be 60 in February of 2014.

I'm trying to decide whether to enroll soon in Lindenwood and pay $9000 for the degree or wait 19 months and go with UAM for free tuition. UAM is on the semester system, so it would take two years plus maybe a summer to finish their degree, taking 6 hours a semester. Lindenwood has four quarters, so i could finish their degree about six months sooner taking the same number of hours, per quarter.

What would you do -- go with Lindenwood, enroll sooner and finish much sooner, or wait 19 months and go with UAM with the tuition waiver?

 

Unless there is a pressing need to have the degree done ASAP, I would wait 19 months for the tuition waiver.

I am a fan of free.

 

I am, too, but I'm not getting any younger.

And I meant to say I'd be 60 in Feb. of 2015, not 2014.