Keara Driscoll is a Marist alumna who now attends the New School in New York City. The school is actually comprised of seven separate schools. Driscoll is attending to complete her M.F.A. in poetry. Dr. Graham recommended speaking with Driscoll who came from the Marist programs and is in a successful, competitive M.F.A. at this point.
Driscoll told me how she always wrote a lot of poems, but until she really got to the end of her college career, did she realize that that was what she wanted to be doing. She said she needed to find what “impassioned” her. Grad school was a way of her being able to continue in this field and maybe take it somewhere further than just an undergraduate degree.
Interesting was one of her comments about how she chose poetry. It appears that it more likely chose her. “I wrote a lot of nonfiction and fiction in workshops at Marist, but it always felt as if I were just looking for new ways to write poetry,” Driscoll said.
Driscoll was drawn to the M.F.A program because she felt it “encouraged students to have a life outside of a day job, even outside of the classroom […] you need a life to make art.” This really resonated with me because it really made me think about how searching for programs that fit what you want to do are crucially important moments. Driscoll explained how, for her particular program, she attends poetry readings with her classmates, listens to certain authors and even gets to speak with them afterward. Discussion and attending readings are a huge part of the program, not just the personal writing process.
I asked Driscoll about what her homework and daily life were kind of like. Really, I was just curious about what she does every day for her program and what it’s like at the New School. Her main comment: the workload is what you make of it. She explains that for her workshop classes, there’s a poem and a writing assignment due each week. Seminar classes are different. She has to read a book and supporting articles a week, write a two to three page response paper or creative piece. Sometimes, both. It sounds daunting, but then when you take a moment to think about it, it’s a field you WANT to work in and enjoy. So really, the program should be working toward the goal of broadening and sharpening skills.
Driscoll stated how grades aren’t the issue. Students need to take initiative in these programs and revise their work, read for their assignments as well as outside works, “explore, experiment.” There are assignments that are due, such as the workshop assignments.
“You could not care about the work, not challenge yourself, participate little,” Driscoll said. “You may get a few warnings, but no one is going to hold your hand. Then what? You’ve just spent two years of your life coasting, making very little and all in all wasting a chance to engage in a community of young writers who are passionate, crazy and in love with what they do.”
Driscoll had one final word of advice for prospective graduate students after filling me in on her own experiences.
“My advice: KNOW that you are willing to put a lot on the line for the chance to make art before applying,” Driscoll said. “Don't be afraid to talk to other people. If you wind up in NYC, remember it's the type of place that challenges you to explore on your own. Go to readings alone, come out with a couple of Facebook friends at least. Mainly, speak out about what moves you in writing. And most of all, don't take yourself too seriously, but take your work seriously. Be completely fearless--making mistakes is the only ONLY way to get better at something. Remove all fear, never let the phrase ‘I can't write about that!’ pop into your head. If you fail, you're in good company.”
After graduate school? Driscoll has discovered she actually does want to teach. She’s been doing a little at the New School and feels it’s been working out well. She hopes to stay for a little while in South America, teaching English. She’s also always got Ph.D. programs in the back of her mind. But it’s all a journey about trying out other things.
As for publishing her own writing? “Getting published would also be pretty rad,” Driscoll said.
Keara’s advice was really interesting and insightful. It helped me think about WHY I’m applying and what I want from my own programs. I think it’s really important to create a checklist of what you’re looking for in a program. That way, when you find one, it needs to meet the requirements. It’ll help pinpoint the search a bit. Here’s a few links. The New School has an EXCELLENT program. And despite my fear of the city, at Pat Taylor’s prompting, I’ve added it to my own list. See you all next week! I’ll have a post on my interview with Dr. Graham and hopefully a revised writing sample. However, I may start the process for my statement of purpose. Little nervous for that one. I’ll also be in Pittsburgh this weekend and if time allows, I will hopefully get to check out the university and maybe get an idea of what their program is like.
Link to the program:
http://www.newschool.edu/writing/
YouTube video!!!
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