University of Southern California Masters in Professional Writing

Reviewer's Name:

Dante

Review Date

March 18, 2009

Year of Graduation:

2008

Review Title:

The program is a mixed bag, but the real problem is the students.

Full Review of the Program:

There are some great professors and some weak ones, there are ways in which the program is good, and ways in which it's bad, but the fatal flaw is really the lack of competition among students.

The program spent decades accepting far too many people, and the talent pool is so watered down at this point that the classes are awash in mediocrity. The quality of craft was better at my undergraduate college -- and I went to a science school. Far too often, the good professors seem to have their hands tied with students who have read little, and seem to be very early in their development. As a result, most courses feel introductory. It's supposed to be a graduate program, where students are polishing the skills they've already acquired, but it seldom feels that way. Friends of mine in other programs always talk about how the most helpful part of the MFA experience was the community that develops between the students, how their work influences and challenges each other, and that crucial piece is missing at USC.

Beyond that, a lot depends on your goals. For screenwriters, there are ample opportunities to work with experienced faculty, to network and make contacts in the industry. On the other end of the spectrum, the poetry section is an absolute joke. Which might make sense -- after all, this isn't an MFA, it's a Master's in PROFESSIONAL Writing, with the emphasis on making a living off of stringing together words. You can't make a living writing poems, so why should a professional writer spend much time on that?

The new regime is making some great changes, and this review may have been different had I graduated in 2010. But at the same time, I don't think the problem will be solved until the number of students enrolled is cut in half.

Advice to Prospective Students:

If your goal is to make a living as a writer, this is a great program. Whether you want to freelance in nonfiction or be the next Charlie Kaufman, you'll find good guidance along the career path from people who've been down it before. But if your goal is to contribute something to the cannon of English literature, don't waste your money.