My graduate school experience began with an MFA application to various American universities. When I received my acceptance letter to the MFA program at Long Island University, Brooklyn campus, I could not believe it at first because I switched my major from Communications to English with a specialization in Creative Writing.

Prior to this moment, I only wrote mostly cultural and feature articles, news reports, and interviews for a contract job that I had. And sometimes, I published poems and short stories on my blog site too. I did not think much of my writing but I just knew that I wanted to develop and improve my skills as a creative writer.

As a member of the Association of Nigerian Authors, I was encouraged to travel to the states to pursue my writing career because the creative writing industry in Nigeria is still experiencing its growth. It has actually grown right now compared to when I left the country. Anyways, I submitted my writing portfolio and all the other required documents to about four schools before getting accepted into LIU Brooklyn just when I thought there was no way for me to pursue my creative writing dreams.

During my time at the MFA program, I was just really excited to learn more about writing and to work with other writers and an amazing faculty who are as passionate as I am about fiction and poetry. I learned a lot about the American educational system, American fiction and poetry, and published writers. Another thing that I gained was getting to meet already published authors, listen to them read their work and share their experiences. Through this program, I built relationships with some talented writers whom I still chat with once in a while to this day. While working on my writing, attending book launches, and readings, it did not occur to me that I needed to get a Ph.D. until my last year in the program.

My MFA started in 2018 and ended in 2020. I submitted my application to seven Ph.D. programs here in America in the Fall of 2020 with the hope I would get accepted before my OPT ended as an international student. When I decided to apply, I spoke with the faculty members I was close with at my MFA program and they gave me a lot of helpful advice. Some range from how difficult the program is to the fact that they only accepted a small number of people with experience and a strong portfolio. The thing is I was not sure that I had either of those things—the experience and a strong portfolio. What I did have however were determination, faith, and dedication to the craft. I spent a lot of time rewriting, revising, and editing my creative writing portfolio to make sure that it was the best quality work that I submitted. I reached out to my professors and employer at the time to write recommendation letters for me.

Despite everything, it was hard not to doubt a little that I was hoping for the impossible. My dream to switch from tutoring to teaching was a constant motivation for me. so, after submitting my application to the seven American universities, I prayed every single time that the impossible became possible in my life. The following year in 2020 as I prepared for my graduation from the MFA program, all I got was rejection upon rejection from the schools I had applied to. Then finally around I think February of that same year, I got waitlisted at Illinois State University. For me, it was a sign that there was still hope. Then it went silent, no university got in contact with me. A month before my MFA graduation, my mom called me to pray that the university that was yet to get back to me will give me a positive response. As soon as we ended the call, I checked my email and saw a congratulatory message from Texas Tech University with an offer letter to the Ph.D. program. I called my mom back immediately and all I did was cry on the phone as I shared the news of my acceptance and offer letter. It was unbelievable.

I was reading on Quora recently that only the best, get accepted into Ph.D. programs. This should not deter you from applying, nonetheless. No matter how many times you get rejected, keep applying, and like me, wait for your eleventh-hour miracle. If you believe you are the best, then you are the best.

Side Note: Every step I have taken on my journey through life has not been without the help of the Holy Spirit. He has been my helper throughout my high school, college, and graduate school.

“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible,

but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26.

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Below are some other students’ experiences and what they did after receiving the acceptance, and links to other information sources:

• Giving Props for my SC Acceptance

• PhD Admission Guide

• What If I Am Not Accepted Into a PhD Program (U.S.)?

Photo Credit: Leeloo Thefirst