It’s not a swipe at Iowa. It’s an acknowledgment that that’s probably the best network around — you’re there, you’re pretty set with contacts. (I don’t know how you read it as a swipe. The swipe was actually at the fantasy of an MFA program setting someone up for success. It really depends on the program, doesn’t it?)

I’m not trying to be obnoxiously argumentative. I think a lot of people consider spending a lot of money on MFAs because they think it will secure their publishing, and financial, future. Because of networks. It’s helpful to them to know that that may not necessarily be true.