I love teaching in a low-residency MFA program (Converse College) and can see that the mix of community/workshops and focused individual attention can reap powerful results. If you’re curious about these sorts of writing programs, you may want to check out this helpful new book: The Low-Residency MFA Handbook: A Guide for Prospective Creative Writing Students (Continuum Books) by Lori A. May.
The website wouldn’t let me cut-and-paste the blurb about the book, but you can read more here. The book is available everywhere from indie booksellers to Borders and B&N, or you can order from Amazon or Continuum Books.
For more about Lori A. May, please go to her website: www.loriamay.com
Disclosure: I was quoted in the book, talking about Converse College.