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FAQs

Are creative writing applicants required to take both the GRE general and subject tests?

Yes. All applicants must provide scores for both the general and English subject GREs.

Will you consider my application without GRE scores?

We will consider applications without the subject test (the general tests are easy to do, on-line; the subject test is much more irregular). Applicants who have not taken the subject test by January 1, must have signed up for the April test to be considered. Acceptance into the program is contingent on taking the April subject test. Don't worry about the analytic and math scores. The only ones that matter are the language and subject scores, and we can be forgiving about low scores if the student's writing is brilliant.

Must creative writing students submit both an academic and a creative writing sample?

Yes.  There is no minimum or maximum page requirement for the academic sample, however, please keep in mind that the review committee will be reviewing many applications and may not be able to read your entire piece if it is very lengthy.

How long should creative writing samples be?

For fiction, no more than 30 pages. For poetry, 5-10 poems.

How often do you admit graduate students? Can I enter the program during the Winter or Spring quarters?

We have only one admissions period during the year and admit only for the Fall quarter.

Where do I send my letters of recommendation?

All application materials should be sent electronically to the Office of Graduate Studies.  Your recommenders should also be asked to submit their letters electronically.

What is the schedule for application decisions?

Typically, we begin evaluating applications in mid-January and make initial decisions in February.

How many new graduate students do you admit each year?

We usually admit 10 new PhD graduate students a year, and we receive roughly 150 applications a year.  We also admit three or four MA graduate students in literary studies.

How do I apply for a teaching assistantship?

There is no separate application for our assistantships and fellowships.  All applicants are automatically considered for those awards during the admissions process.

Do all admitted students receive teaching assistantships?

All students accepted into the PhD program receive teaching assistantships.  MA students do not receive any teaching assistantships, but they frequently get significant tuition reductions.

Can I attend part time?

Yes, but all departmental financial awards (teaching assistantships, fellowships) require full-time attendance.

Do you offer on-line classes and/or degree programs?

No.

Is there an opportunity for travel (e.g., conferences, MLA, or AWP)?

We have a small fund that helps to pay for some of the travel expenses to conferences.

Is it possible to contact current or former students to ask them questions?

We prefer to wait until we've accepted a student to the program to give out the names and e-mails of current students. Otherwise current students might be swamped with queries, and that's not their job.