Programs and Areas
Creative Writing
MFA Program: Admission Requirements
The Creative Writing Faculty and the Graduate Studies Committee of the Department of English will consider anyone with a 4-year bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university for admission to the M.F.A. program. Applicants are required to have:- 40 quarter hours (27 semester hours) of work in English or creative writing or a related field (such as an area of the humanities, foreign languages, journalism, communications, etc.);
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a G.P.A. of at least 3.2 overall;
- a score of at least 600 on the verbal portion of the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination; this should be taken no later than the end of November if at all possible, to assure timely receipt of test scores; Institution Code: 1592; Department Code: 2503; scores are sent to us via the Educational Testing Service;
- at least three letters of recommendation (on official letterhead) submitted to the Creative Writing Program, from persons acquainted with the applicant's writing and academic abilities;
- a brief autobiographical statement, submitted to the Creative Writing Program, describing the applicant's educational and professional goals and objectives;
- a statement that addresses the applicant's teaching interests and abilities (this statement, which may be incorporated within the autobiographical statement or presented separately, is meant to aid in the assignment of teaching for first-year students, whose many opportunities and responsibilities are likely to include the teaching of freshman composition);
- a curriculum vitae or resume no longer than two pages (required of all applicants who wish to be considered for a Graduate School Fellowship);
- a sample of critical writing, eight to ten pages in length (sent to the Creative Writing Program), which should demonstrate the applicant's ability to write clear expository prose and to construct a persuasive argument;
- and—most important—a sample of creative writing (sent to the Creative Writing Program), that demonstrates the ability to produce work of extremely high quality. The creative writing sample should consist of no more than 15-25 pages of poetry or 20-40 pages of prose or a combination of poetry, fiction, or nonfiction prose.
Important: Graduate applicants are required to send official transcripts for every college or university attended. A copy must be sent to both the Graduate Admissions Office, and to the MFA program (address above). Applicants must additionally submit a completed on-line graduate application form with the application fee, and any required test scores.Please Note: This procedure must be followed closely; otherwise, the processing of your application by the Admissions Office may be delayed and not released to the MFA Program. The remaining application materials, as listed above, should be sent to the Creative Writing Program Office.
If an applicant does not meet the suggested requirements of academic preparation, G.P.A. or G.R.E. score, he or she will be considered for admission if the writing sample gives evidence of exceptional creative ability.
The Creative Writing Program strongly encourages minority applications.