money matters.

Okay....I almost wasn't going to write about this, and I'm still not sure if I should be doing this. That being said, if people are just going to post comments that provoke even more anxiety in me, please don't comment at all. I don't feel like getting into a discussion about this, I'm just venting some of my anxiety.

I was accepted to Columbia. Yes, it's one of - if not the - most expensive MFAs in the country. It is also one of the most well-known, with an excellent track record of publication. Some of the most amazing writers I can think of teach or visit to teach there. Are there many other programs like this? Of course. I applied to programs in areas where I wanted to live, and where I could see myself pursuing employment, and for a writer, nyc seemed like a good fit *for me*. I know it's not for everyone. But people love to tear the school down, and I'm wondering why this is necessary. Yes, there's shitty funding. Let's get over it. The majority of students DO take out loans to go there, so it's definitely not "just for rich kids." When I was there for social work, I knew of NO ONE who *didn't* have loans. In the world of graduate education, student loans are typically a given. There is a trend in the MFA world to want to not pay for the degree; an expectation that it should be funded. Needless to say, fully-funded programs are highly competitive, for the sheer fact that tons of well-qualified individuals apply for them. While I see the argument in this, I would also say that insisting on not paying for the degree kind of reinforces the idea that the MFA is a "frill" degree. Yes, it is an art degree, and therefore seen as somewhat "less than" something like an MS or JD or MPH. But the arts matter. We need to insist that they matter and be taken seriously. In my experience, I've never heard of someone not expecting to pay for an MA, MS, MPH, etc. It is an investment, and I believe - I have to - that it will yield returns. I can't help but feel that by insisting we shouldn't pay for an MFA, we are reinforcing the devaluing of the degree. But that's just my two cents. In fact, I can't even take credit for that - someone else mentioned it to me last week. I had never even thought of that before, but the more I did, it makes sense.

Is taking graduate loans out for everyone? No, and I can understand not wanting to be under the shadow of debt. But the majority of graduate students do it, and financial aid for higher education is a reality for most people.

This all being said, does the sheer enormity of the loans scare the shit out of me? Of course. My days are constantly full of anxiety about this. I still haven't decided what I am doing re:school, and the money will certainly be an issue. But as much as we may hate it, labels and branding matters. Will the Columbia name help me? Maybe. Maybe not.

Anyway, that's just my personal opinion. And again, I don't feel like rehashing this discussion over and over in the comments. That's been done on numerous websites, blogs and Facebook, and I'm not here to change anyone's opinion on the situation, or argue that one type of program is better than another. It all comes down to fit, in my opinion, anyway.