FAQ – Juniper

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does my $20 app fee cover?
A: Submittable will take $1.99 of each app fee. The rest of the application fee will be put towards paying our outside readers – those who are not already compensated staff members or institute fellows. Any funds remaining after our outside readers are paid will be used exclusively for scholarship funding for Juniper participants.

Q: What if I want to apply in more than one genre?
A: You are welcome to apply to more than one genre, but please note that you would need to submit separate applications (including your writing sample, statement, and application fee) for each genre to which you are applying.

Q: Can I apply to a Workshop and to the Independent Writing Residency?
A: You are welcome to submit an application for a workshop and a residency. There are separate application portals for Workshop applications and Residency applications, with slight variation in the writing statement criteria. Note that you will not be able to participate in both a Residency and a Workshop.

Q: When will I receive an admissions decision?
A: Application decisions are made on a rolling basis. We expect that admissions decisions will be released starting in March, but we encourage you to keep an eye on your email as soon as applications close in February. Initial offers of admission will come via Submittable, so please add their email to your address books so the notice doesn’t get marked as Spam. If you haven’t received notice from us by April 1, you’re welcome to check in regarding your application status.

Q: Who reads my application?
A: Juniper’s reading team consists of members of staff, institute fellows, and outside screeners affiliated with the UMass Amherst MFA and wider English department. At least three members of the Juniper staff and team will read each application. Scholarship applications are read by a wider portion of the team.

Q: When will I know if I have received funding?
A: We expect scholarship decisions to be made by early February. Scholarship offers will be made via phone call and email, and you will have one week to accept the funding offer. If we are unable to offer you a scholarship, we will let you know via Submittable. You may still be offered admission to Juniper, even if we are unable to provide you with scholarship funding.

Q: My application wasn’t selected for a scholarship, but I still want to attend Juniper. What other funding options are there?
A: In the past, some Juniper participants have received funding from their own academic or workplace institutions; if this is an option for you, we encourage you to reach out to your institutions. Additionally, Poets & Writers has a database of literary grants that writers can apply to, accessible here.

Q: When will I find out who my workshop leader is?
A: When you are accepted into the Juniper Summer Writing Institute, you will receive a notification about your workshop placement. Typically, you will be placed into either your first or second-choice workshop.

Q: Are workshops generative or feedback-focused?
A: This depends on the instructor; before you apply to Juniper, we encourage you to review the Workshop Descriptions to see what is being offered this year, and which Workshop you would prefer.

Q: When should I submit my pages for Workshop?
A: If you are in a traditional workshop, you should be prepared to submit your pages to your workshop instructor 3-4 weeks before the Juniper Institute begins, to give yourself and your peers ample time to read and prepare feedback. The Juniper office will reach out with instructions for material submission in late April/early May. If you are in a generative workshop, there is not typically a page submission deadline in advance of the Institute, but please follow any submission guidelines and deadlines sent to you by your instructor. To review which workshops are traditional and which are generative, please visit the Workshops page.

Q: Am I required to attend all events?
A: You are only required to attend Orientation and Workshop if you’re an Institute Participant, or Orientation and Mentor Meetings if you’re an Independent Resident. The other events are optional; while we encourage you to make the most of your week at Juniper, you also have the flexibility to opt into whichever events work best for you.

Q: How much writing time is there during the week?
A: This varies depending on your schedule for the week. Each morning, Juniper staff will run a “write-in” in the dining commons at breakfast (7:30 am), with prompts available if you’d like, or you can do your own writing during this time. There is no scheduled programming on Wednesday afternoon, so you can use this time as writing time.

Q: What are manuscript consultations like?
A: You can learn more about what to expect during a manuscript consultation here.

Q: What is on-campus housing like?
A: Please view detailed housing information on our Housing page.

Q: If I miss a craft session, can I take it a different day? Will I still receive the handout?
A: Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee craft session switches or makeups during the week of the Institute. Our craft sessions are capped based on classroom capacity, and we ask that you attend only the craft sessions you sign up for. If you miss a craft session you have registered for, you can reach out to the Juniper office for a copy of the relevant handout, but we cannot distribute recordings or lecture slides.

Q: I won’t be driving to Juniper. What’s the best way to travel to campus?
A: The Amherst area can be reached by bus, train, or plane. The closest airport to the University of Massachusetts, Amherst is Bradley International Airport (BDL), located just outside of Hartford, CT. By car, Bradley is about 45 minutes from campus.

From the airport, participants should make use of various Ground Transportation services to get to campus. Please note that these services, including Valley Transporter, must be booked in advance of your travel.

Valley Transporter: (413) 253-1350, provides airport transportation services to and from Bradley and Logan airports.
Seemo Shuttle: 413-586-1120, provides shuttle service to and from Bradley, Logan, and New York airports.
Exclusive Car Service Inc.: 877-695-4665, provides private car services to and from Bradley, Logan, and New York airports.
Bluebird Transportation: 413-221-4512, provides airport shuttle and car services from Bradley, Logan, and JFK airports.
Rideshare apps such as Uber and Lyft can also be used. We recommend booking in advance, as availability can vary.

If arriving by train, bus, or another vehicle consult the UMass Visitor Info page — here you’ll find more detailed directions to campus by car, by bus, and by train.

Amtrak: note that the closest Amtrak train station is in Northampton, MA. From there you would need to take a taxi, Uber, or bus to campus.
Bus: Peter Pan and Megabus offer service directly to Amherst, with some buses going to the UMass Amherst campus, while Greyhound offers service to Northampton, MA.

Q: Will we have access to fitness facilities?
A: Yes! As a UMass Conference attendee, you are eligible for a discounted rate at the UMass Recreation Center. Passes will be available at registration on Sunday, and in the Juniper office in South College (E354) during the Institute week. Payment is collected at the Rec Center front desk (card only, no cash). Please be advised that the summer hours are sometimes inconsistent. Please call the Rec Center to confirm hours ahead of time.
The Amherst area also has lots of great hiking options (The Notch, Seven Sisters, and Mount Tom are noteworthy) and trails (Robert Frost Trail, Amethyst Brook, and Quabbin are nearby). The Norwottuck Rail Trail is an 11-mile paved biking and walking trail running from Amherst to Northampton.

Frequently Asked Questions

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