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Welcome to the University of Massachusetts Amherst MFA Program. This brief orientation guide has been assembled by MFA students and staff as a way of giving you some practical help in getting established in the academic program as well as in the community at large. The Area: Located in west-central Massachusetts, the Pioneer Valley combines a rural setting with relatively sophisticated cultural trappings. There are great restaurants, cafes, bookstores, music venues, and movie theatres. New York is about three hours away (car, bus, train). Boston is less than two hours away. The Connecticut border is 30 minutes south and the Vermont border is 30 minutes north. General Atmosphere: The MFA experience is different for each student. The sort of writing one decides to undertake, the level of purely academic course study, and the kind of ancillary work done while here (internships, teaching, research, etc.) are factors that significantly inform one’s time here. The program has, for the most part, a non-competitive feel. The faculty does a good job of not picking favorites, and the MFA students are generally very supportive of each other. At present, the students in the program have created an active social atmosphere that is inclusive of all MFA students. Course Load: Students most often take a course load of 9-12 course credits per semester. One workshop (6 credits) and two academic courses (3 credits each) might be regarded as a "normal" load. However, it is not unusual for a student to take more or less than this, depending on circumstances. Funding: Each year the program offers a few fellowships to incoming writers, but most students seek stipends and tuition waivers through Teaching Assistantships. Within the English department, MFA TAs teach composition, creative writing, and some literature courses. Eligibility and job openings vary; information is disseminated each year. As an incoming student, you can apply to the Writing Program (application included with acceptance materials). Assistantships outside the department are generally sought out by the individual. The Graduate English Department office keeps a list of departments that have hired MFA students in the past, and current job information is posted on the MFA bulletin board across from Bartlett 456. Financial Aid Work-Study awards are especially useful in landing jobs around campus, because the hiring department is then responsible for approximately one-third of the stipend for the student. Listings for available assistantships around campus can be found at the Graduate Assistantship office in Goodell, and at the Student Employment Office next to the Financial Aid Office in Whitmore. It is important to note that even if a position does not carry a tuition waiver, that if you earn enough money in a given year (approximately $3600) in a position related to your course of study (which does not necessarily have to be on-campus), the Graduate School will provide you with a tuition waiver. The University of Massachusetts is the largest employer in the Pioneer Valley, however, students have also been known to get jobs at one of the other colleges in the Five-College system. Five Colleges: The academic community in the Amherst area is known as The Five Colleges. Smith, Mt. Holyoke, Hampshire, and Amherst College are all located within about ten miles of UMass, Amherst. The five institutions have highly cooperative policies. Students of any one school may take courses at any of the others, however, not all courses offered count for graduate credit. Many theatrical performances, concerts, readings, etc. are available to the students through the various campuses, and most of the events are well advertised. Your UMass student ID entitles you to check out books, videotapes, etc. from any of the colleges' libraries. Additionally, the public libraries (Jones in Amherst, Forbes in Northampton) are of exceptional quality for libraries in a small city. Off-Campus Housing: Most MFA students choose to
live off-campus, usually in Amherst, Northampton or the outlying areas.
Rent in Amherst is usually a bit less than in Northampton. Possible
housing includes large apartment complexes, sharing situations, and
apartments in restored houses. In addition, there are many lovely towns
within 30 minutes away that offer lower rents and equally easy access
to hiking and biking trails, rivers and swimming holes.
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