Robert Montoya

“… Antioch University’s MFA program has been one of the most fulfilling and challenging academic experiences I could have asked for. The low-residency model offers a changing, diverse faculty that has allowed my writing to absorb various influences from many different voices. My advisors came from nearly every corner of the United States, educated at (and affiliated with) some of the finest institutions in the country: Bennington College, Brown University, Carnegie Mellon University, the Iowa Writer’s Workshop, The Johns Hopkins University, the University of Virginia, USC, and Warren Wilson College. Point being, that the faculty has been of impeccable quality. Working one-on-one with these mentors has been the highlight of my experience at Antioch—never before have I gotten such close attention to my work by a faculty member. The time and effort put forth by the faculty on behalf of each student at Antioch is astounding. In fact, the staff and faculty have become more than mere colleagues—they have become cherished and close friends, fully invested in my growth as a writer. The balance between creative and critical academic work has fostered my intellectual growth in immeasurably beneficial ways.

As my time at the University comes to an end, I feel fully equipped with the skills vital to succeed as a writer and an ongoing student. I realize that many people have reservations regarding MFA programs; they wonder whether they are necessary, or even if they are detrimental to the pool of poetry and writing in current America.

From my experience, I can without a doubt, attest to the fact that Antioch never once steered my work in any specified direction. My voice has been my own and nothing more. What I can say is that my relationship with each and every one of my mentors has been one of mutual respect, even if our poetics or voices differed significantly. The individually catered curriculum allows for the utmost incorporation of personal interest, growth, and challenge. Furthermore, I could not have asked for a more skilled and dedicated cohort of students, with whom I’ve conversed and learned with these past two years. I recommend this program to any and all interested—it is truly a spectacular, unique experience.… ”