Illustration of a person running with a yellow and pink bag and balancing a stack of books on one finger.
SO, YOU WANT TO KICK ASS ON YOUR
M.F.A APPLICATIONS?

Now that we’ve been running our little poetry magazine independently and to gratifying success for almost 20 months, people sometimes ask us things like:

“So what do you think is the future of poetry and writers at large?”

Our answer, something Karan and I talk about on slower afternoons (a rare occurrence in our small apartment full of our daughter’s laughter and tears and demands and never-ending to-do sticky note vines), is that…well…poetry and writing will go on, just like it has since time immemorial.

In different forms and riding different waves, perhaps, but poetry is song is art is expression is human is divine. And until the androids take over and the earth swallows us all up, we’ll still have poems, poems of all shapes and sizes and varieties and tastes and purports and vibes and jibes and messages and propaganda and ruffled blurred edges ad infinitum.

That’s a good thing. Please don’t worry. There will always be great art and good artists. And people who can truly appreciate them.

Thank you for being a wonderful reader.

And to serve you, we’re here with a daily, simple newsletter. One beautiful poem, every day, forever (until you part ways with us, when we’ll send you off with all the virtual sunflowers we can pick). 🌻

Below, we’ll outline what you can expect every day, but in general, you’ll get a poem each day. That’s it. Something you can snack on for your soul instead of diving into the endless scroll.

We know the process of applying for an MFA in creative writing can be overwhelming, confusing, and downright terrifying. From choosing programs and writing your statement of purpose to assembling a killer portfolio, the path is rarely straightforward. While traditional college application advising can cost thousands, every editor at ONLY POEMS has been through this journey, and we’re here to make it a little less daunting. Our personalized MFA consultations and application reviews combine real experience, editorial insight, and genuine care.
“Through working with Karan, I was able to build confidence in my MFA application materials. I came in with a barebones concept of what an SOP should look like and his advice launched me into a fully-realized statement I'm proud of. He gave insightful feedback and edits on my portfolio to help me take it to the next level. I truly appreciate the time he invested in me and my work to better prepare me for applying!”

Lauren Emo (made it to Virginia Tech)
"I'm thrilled to say I made it to my program of choice! Working with Shannan for my MFA application was hands down the best decision I made. Her insights were spot-on, and she's efficient and effective. The whole experience was not just a great learning experience but also genuinely enjoyable—I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat. Shannan breathed life into my SOP and totally opened my eyes during the portfolio review. She kept us on track with a smooth workflow, and made everything easy and clear. I absolutely, wholeheartedly recommend her!”

Camille Nava (made it to UC Davis)
“Karan’s feedback on my statement of purpose and critical analysis were invaluable to me when applying for MFA programs. As someone coming back in to academia from a career in tech, it was pretty clear to me that I was out of practice. Karan helped me tighten up and revise my application materials and get them to the place I wanted them to be. Thank you, Karan!”

Zachary Forrest y Salazar
“Working with Karan on my MFA applications was invaluable. From our first meeting, he approached my work with rigor, care, and an exceptional understanding of what admissions committees are looking for. He helped me clarify my SoP by pushing me toward specificity, personal stakes, and concision, asking the exact questions that unlocked what had been missing. His guidance on portfolio strategy—sequence of poems, strength over volume, and tailoring materials across programs—was instrumental. Karan was deeply attentive, generous with his time, and invested in my growth as a writer. I cannot recommend his services highly enough.”

Paula Gil-Ordoñez Gomez
MFA CONSULTATION + APPLICATION REVIEW
The cost for the MFA Consultation and Application Review is $999, with options to add on other items (i.e. review and revision of different versions of your Statement of Purpose, essays specific to a program, etc.) for an additional cost.
$999 includes:
30 minute “get the ball rolling” Zoom call to discuss your program list and intentions for study (i.e. what genres you’re interested in, specific projects you’re working on, etc.)
Developing your “Statement of Purpose” from the ground up
Review of and revision suggestions for your Writing Portfolio
Review of and revision suggestions for your CV/resume
Review of and revision suggestions for your teaching statement/diversity statement/etc.
30 minute “you’re ready to go!” Zoom call to discuss questions about the suggested revisions and anything else related to the application process
Apply
a bit about who you’ll be working with...
Our Creative Director & Founding Editor, Shannan Mann, has worked as an editor and educator for over 10 years and has extensive experience with CVs, Statements of Purpose and college essays. She is currently enrolled as a fiction candidate in the fully-funded MFA program at Virginia Tech (although she received offers for both fiction and poetry).

Our Editor-in-Chief, Karan Kapoor, is doing his MFA in fiction at Virginia Tech, fully funded for all three years. When he was applying, he was accepted into three other fully funded programs as well as waitlisted into seven.

You can read our detailed bios on our masthead here.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email us here editors@onlypoems.net