My Dilemma, to MFA or not?
In a world of such vast technology, it makes one wonder as a writer, is an MFA really necessary? All the tools you need to become a better writer are available outside the confinement of academia. The higher costs of graduate school and the now self-publishing makes you stop to think twice before going to graduate school.
Writers face a fierce amount of competition in the publishing world. Every day, thousands of books are published. Publishers and agents alike look for a writer’s credentials. This mostly means if they have a higher education. In 2018, higher education costs are soaring and self-publication is becoming increasingly popular by the day. It dares ask the question, is higher education truly necessary? What is learned in academia is available outside of workshops that are free, so why pay for it?
Higher education has become a privilege only available to the higher class. It has become impossible to study beyond a Bachelor’s without a scholarship or having access to money. Whilst some universities will help cost your studies with positions as a Teacher’s Assistant, it doesn’t cover the cost of food and board. Students at the end, end up in debt unable to pay back their studies affecting the economy, and unable to achieve their goals. This leads to further poverty and these writers’ voices are silenced. After all, how can a writer get their work out to the public when they are working grueling hours to come home, some to families, others to chores, or even go to a second job? Writing then becomes a privileged job as well.
Writers have incredible power and versatility when it comes to choosing how to make a living. The tools are out there for them, everything from blogging and editing to applications that allow you to sell your services. Some people live off it, others use it as a way to gain experience as a freelance writer. For most things, an MFA is no longer required of writers. What employers are looking for is to see that you’ve been published in magazines, that you have a portfolio, and that you are versatile and knowledgeable in your area. If you haven’t done these things, an MFA is worthless. All you learn in college is to do those things and anything else can be learned in workshops online, or by connecting with writers in person. Academia is no longer the only place learning can take place. Authors have seen success out of it and continue seeing success outside of the world of academia.
As we head into the future our thoughts shouldn’t only be on technology. They should also include on how we choose to educate ourselves. We are still behind thinking credentials are a stepping stone. In writing, practice, knowledge, and talents can all be achieved outside academia. With the resources available why be confined in a classroom? Instead, meet other writers, converse. You can learn just as much or more than you do with an MFA. Higher education is no longer the stepping stone it used to be. It is becoming obsolete. As writers, we should not become part of this trend.
