All Student Success Letters

Haley Fullerton

Dear Gotham,

Before I enrolled in the spring 2025 Fiction I workshop, I was preparing to apply to MFA programs in Creative Writing (Fiction), but I wasn’t sure what that path would look like or whether I was ready for it. I didn’t know it yet, but those ten weeks with Gotham would bring structure, guidance, momentum, and most importantly, a sense of belonging.

The workshop I took gave me a community of writers who quickly became essential to my creative life. Even after the course ended, a group of us continued meeting to share work; these women supported me through the MFA application process by reading my portfolio, challenging me, encouraging me, and reminding me why I wanted to write and to apply in the first place.

I was also fortunate to study under Philip Cioffari at Gotham, whose influence extended far beyond the classroom. During the course, he created an environment that was generous and deeply engaged. Afterward, he continued to offer his time and support, writing letters of recommendation for my MFA applications, and keeping our cohort connected to a wider literary world through invites to readings, plays, and other events across New York. His belief in my work made a lasting impression, and his mentorship has meant the world to me.

There are many singular moments during my Gotham course that stood out, but what stays with me most is my confidence that grew out of the experience. I knew I wanted to pursue writing more seriously, but building the practice into my week alongside peers who would become friends and advocates gave me the push I needed to take the next step.

This fall, I will begin my studies in an MFA program in Creative Writing (Fiction) at American University. I am so grateful for the lessons and relationships that began at Gotham that have gotten me to this point.

Thank you for creating a space where writers can find both their voices and each other!

Warmly,

Haley Fullerton