University of Southern California Masters in Professional Writing

Reviewer's Name:

LA

Review Date

March 18, 2009

Year of Graduation:

2007

Review Title:

California Pulp

Full Review of the Program:

I began the program in 2005 before the administration changed. I witnessed some bad things about the program: bad teachers favored, not picky enough admissions, and a malfunctioning TA program for those of us who attempted to teach undergrads. However, this is a moot point, because the school has made amazing transformations and is well on its way to earning the reputation it deserves.

The faculty, for the most part, is the best in the country. Where else could you take classes from working TV writers and some of the best screenwriters in the world? No other program employs Syd Field as a regular faculty member! Furthermore, if you write fiction, I doubt you'll ever get the unique instruction and support from writers like Gina Nahai and Janet Fitch anywhere else than MPW. They are amazing writers and teachers! If you haven't read their work, you're missing out.

And now that the program is developing into what it was meant to be all along, the current administration is hand-chosing the best student writers for the program. And the TA program, as I understand it, is fantastic for both MPWs and undergrads.

As for some of the worse teachers I had, I do think they are still there. Thus, if you go to MPW, ask around, ask other students who are a year ahead of you before you sign up for the wrong classes. There are a few to avoid. But even more that you won't want to miss! I didn't have the time to take everything I wanted to.

I think MPW could be the best of the best. It really is a unique experience and I loved being in the program, in LA, and I appreciate every day what I learned and the relationships I made. I have close relationships with my former teachers, all of whom have helped me get jobs since I graduated. And I made some of the best friendships with fellow writers/grads that I will have for life. We all guide each others careers and stories, editing and critiqing our works constantly. We've traveled together, the fellow writers, and we really are an MPW family.

Advice to Prospective Students:

If you're looking for such an experience, if you want to work as a writer every day and with your friends, apply to MPW. If you want to write a Pulitzer prize winning novel during your lifetime, maybe you should consider Iowa or Columbia. Then again, remember, most MPWs work, and only one Pulitzer is chosen a year.