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15 Best Creative Writing MFA Programs in 2024

May 15, 2024

Whether you studied at a top creative writing university or are a high school dropout who will one day become a bestselling author , you may be considering an MFA in Creative Writing. But is a writing MFA genuinely worth the time and potential costs? How do you know which program will best nurture your writing? If you’re considering an MFA, this article walks you through the best full-time, low residency, and online Creative Writing MFA programs in the United States.

What are the best Creative Writing MFA programs?

Before we get into the meat and potatoes of this article, let’s start with the basics. What is an MFA, anyway?

A Master of Fine Arts (MFA) is a graduate degree that usually takes from two to three years to complete. Applications typically require a sample portfolio, usually 10-20 pages (and sometimes up to 30-40) of your best writing. Moreover, you can receive an MFA in a particular genre, such as Fiction or Poetry, or more broadly in Creative Writing. However, if you take the latter approach, you often have the opportunity to specialize in a single genre.

Wondering what actually goes on in a creative writing MFA beyond inspiring award-winning books and internet memes ? You enroll in workshops where you get feedback on your creative writing from your peers and a faculty member. You enroll in seminars where you get a foundation of theory and techniques. Then, you finish the degree with a thesis project. Thesis projects are typically a body of polished, publishable-quality creative work in your genre—fiction, nonfiction, or poetry.

Why should I get an MFA in Creative Writing?

You don’t need an MFA to be a writer. Just look at Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison or bestselling novelist Emily St. John Mandel.

Nonetheless, there are plenty of reasons you might still want to get a creative writing MFA. The first is, unfortunately, prestige. An MFA from a top program can help you stand out in a notoriously competitive industry to be published.

The second reason: time. Many MFA programs give you protected writing time, deadlines, and maybe even a (dainty) salary.

Third, an MFA in Creative Writing is a terminal degree. This means that this degree allows you to teach writing at the university level, especially after you publish a book.

Fourth: resources. MFA programs are often staffed by brilliant, award-winning writers; offer lecture series, volunteer opportunities, and teaching positions; and run their own (usually prestigious) literary magazines. Such resources provide you with the knowledge and insight you’ll need to navigate the literary and publishing world on your own post-graduation.

But above all, the biggest reason to pursue an MFA is the community it brings you. You get to meet other writers—and share feedback, advice, and moral support—in relationships that can last for decades.

Types of Creative Writing MFA Programs

Here are the different types of programs to consider, depending on your needs:

Fully-Funded Full-Time Programs

These programs offer full-tuition scholarships and sweeten the deal by actually paying you to attend them.

  • Pros: You’re paid to write (and teach).
  • Cons: Uprooting your entire life to move somewhere possibly very cold.

Full-Time MFA Programs

These programs include attending in-person classes and paying tuition (though many offer need-based and merit scholarships).

  • Pros: Lots of top-notch non-funded programs have more assets to attract world-class faculty and guests.
  • Cons: It’s an investment that might not pay itself back.

Low-Residency MFA Programs

Low-residency programs usually meet biannually for short sessions. They also offer one-on-one support throughout the year. These MFAs are more independent, preparing you for what the writing life is actually like.

  • Pros: No major life changes required. Cons: Less time dedicated to writing and less time to build relationships.

Online MFA Programs

Held 100% online. These programs have high acceptance rates and no residency requirement. That means zero travel or moving expenses.

  • Pros: No major life changes required.
  • Cons: These MFAs have less name recognition.

The Top 15 Creative Writing MFA Programs Ranked by Category

The following programs are selected for their balance of high funding, impressive return on investment, stellar faculty, major journal publications , and impressive alums.

FULLY FUNDED MFA PROGRAMS

1) johns hopkins university , mfa in fiction/poetry.

This two-year program offers an incredibly generous funding package: $39,000 teaching fellowships each year. Not to mention, it offers that sweet, sweet health insurance, mind-boggling faculty, and the option to apply for a lecture position after graduation. Many grads publish their first book within three years (nice). No nonfiction MFA (boo).

  • Location: Baltimore, MD
  • Incoming class size: 8 students (4 per genre)
  • Admissions rate: 4-8%
  • Alumni: Chimamanda Adichie, Jeffrey Blitz, Wes Craven, Louise Erdrich, Porochista Khakpour, Phillis Levin, ZZ Packer, Tom Sleigh, Elizabeth Spires, Rosanna Warren

2) University of Texas, James Michener Center

The only MFA that offers full and equal funding for every writer. It’s three years long, offers a generous yearly stipend of $30k, and provides full tuition plus a health insurance stipend. Fiction, poetry, playwriting, and screenwriting concentrations are available. The Michener Center is also unique because you study a primary genre and a secondary genre, and also get $4,000 for the summer.

  • Location : Austin, TX
  • Incoming class size : 12 students
  • Acceptance rate: a bone-chilling less-than-1% in fiction; 2-3% in other genres
  • Alumni: Fiona McFarlane, Brian McGreevy, Karan Mahajan, Alix Ohlin, Kevin Powers, Lara Prescott, Roger Reeves, Maria Reva, Domenica Ruta, Sam Sax, Joseph Skibell, Dominic Smith

3) University of Iowa

The Iowa Writers’ Workshop is a 2-year program on a residency model for fiction and poetry. This means there are low requirements, and lots of time to write groundbreaking novels or play pool at the local bar. All students receive full funding, including tuition, a living stipend, and subsidized health insurance. The Translation MFA , co-founded by Gayatri Chakravorti Spivak, is also two years long but with more intensive coursework. The Nonfiction Writing Program is a prestigious three-year MFA program and is also intensive.

  • Incoming class size: 25 each for poetry and fiction; 10-12 for nonfiction and translation.
  • Acceptance rate: 2.7-3.7%
  • Fantastic Alumni: Raymond Carver, Flannery O’Connor, Sandra Cisneros, Joy Harjo, Garth Greenwell, Kiley Reid, Brandon Taylor, Eula Biss, Yiyun Li, Jennifer Croft

Best MFA Creative Writing Programs (Continued) 

4) university of michigan.

Anne Carson famously lives in Ann Arbor, as do the MFA students in UMichigan’s Helen Zell Writers’ Program. This is a big university town, which is less damaging to your social life. Plus, there’s lots to do when you have a $25,000 stipend, summer funding, and health care.

This is a 2-3-year program in either fiction or poetry, with an impressive reputation. They also have a demonstrated commitment to “ push back against the darkness of intolerance and injustice ” and have outreach programs in the community.

  • Location: Ann Arbor, MI
  • Incoming class size: 18 (9 in each genre)
  • Acceptance rate: 2%
  • Alumni: Brit Bennett, Vievee Francis, Airea D. Matthews, Celeste Ng, Chigozie Obioma, Jia Tolentino, Jesmyn Ward

5) Brown University

Brown offers an edgy, well-funded program in a place that only occasionally dips into arctic temperatures. All students are fully funded for 2 years, which includes tuition remission and a $32k yearly stipend. Students also get summer funding and—you guessed it—that sweet, sweet health insurance.

In the Brown Literary Arts MFA, students take only one workshop and one elective per semester. It’s also the only program in the country to feature a Digital/Cross Disciplinary Track.  Fiction and Poetry Tracks are offered as well.

  • Location: Providence, RI
  • Incoming class size: 12-13
  • Acceptance rate: “highly selective”
  • Alumni: Edwidge Danticat, Jaimy Gordon, Gayl Jones, Ben Lerner, Joanna Scott, Kevin Young, Ottessa Moshfegh

6) University of Arizona

This 3-year program with fiction, poetry, and nonfiction tracks has many attractive qualities. It’s in “ the lushest desert in the world, ” and was recently ranked #4 in creative writing programs, and #2 in Nonfiction. You can take classes in multiple genres, and in fact, are encouraged to do so. Plus, Arizona’s dry heat is good for arthritis.

This notoriously supportive program is fully funded. Moreover, teaching assistantships that provide a salary, health insurance, and tuition waiver are offered to all students. Tucson is home to a hopping literary scene, so it’s also possible to volunteer at multiple literary organizations and even do supported research at the US-Mexico Border.

  • Location: Tucson, AZ
  • Incoming class size: usually 6
  • Acceptance rate: 1.2% (a refreshingly specific number after Brown’s evasiveness)
  • Alumni: Francisco Cantú, Jos Charles, Tony Hoagland, Nancy Mairs, Richard Russo, Richard Siken, Aisha Sabatini Sloan, David Foster Wallace

7) Arizona State University 

With concentrations in fiction and poetry, Arizona State is a three-year funded program in arthritis-friendly dry heat. It offers small class sizes, individual mentorships, and one of the most impressive faculty rosters in the game. Moreover, it encourages cross-genre study.

Funding-wise, everyone has the option to take on a teaching assistantship position, which provides a tuition waiver, health insurance, and a yearly stipend of $25k. Other opportunities for financial support exist as well.

  • Location: Tempe, AZ
  • Incoming class size: 8-10
  • Acceptance rate: 3% (sigh)
  • Alumni: Tayari Jones, Venita Blackburn, Dorothy Chan, Adrienne Celt, Dana Diehl, Matthew Gavin Frank, Caitlin Horrocks, Allegra Hyde, Hugh Martin, Bonnie Nadzam

FULL-RESIDENCY MFAS (UNFUNDED)

8) new york university.

This two-year program is in New York City, meaning it comes with close access to literary opportunities and hot dogs. NYU also has one of the most accomplished faculty lists anywhere. Students have large cohorts (more potential friends!) and have a penchant for winning top literary prizes. Concentrations in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction are available.

  • Location: New York, NY
  • Incoming class size: ~60; 20-30 students accepted for each genre
  • Acceptance rate: 6-9%
  • Alumni: Nick Flynn, Nell Freudenberger, Aracelis Girmay, Mitchell S. Jackson, Tyehimba Jess, John Keene, Raven Leilani, Robin Coste Lewis, Ada Limón, Ocean Vuong

9) Columbia University

Another 2-3 year private MFA program with drool-worthy permanent and visiting faculty. Columbia offers courses in fiction, poetry, translation, and nonfiction. Beyond the Ivy League education, Columbia offers close access to agents, and its students have a high record of bestsellers. Finally, teaching positions and fellowships are available to help offset the high tuition.

  • Incoming class size: 110
  • Acceptance rate: not publicized (boo)
  • Alumni: Alexandra Kleeman, Rachel Kushner, Claudia Rankine, Rick Moody, Sigrid Nunez, Tracy K. Smith, Emma Cline, Adam Wilson, Marie Howe, Mary Jo Bang

10) Sarah Lawrence 

Sarah Lawrence offers a concentration in speculative fiction in addition to the average fiction, poetry, and nonfiction choices. Moreover, they encourage cross-genre exploration. With intimate class sizes, this program is unique because it offers biweekly one-on-one conferences with its stunning faculty. It also has a notoriously supportive atmosphere, and many teaching and funding opportunities are available.

  • Location: Bronxville, NY
  • Incoming class size: 30-40
  • Acceptance rate: not publicized
  • Alumni: Cynthia Cruz, Melissa Febos, T Kira Madden, Alex Dimitrov, Moncho Alvarado

LOW RESIDENCY

11) bennington college.

This two-year program boasts truly stellar faculty, and meets twice a year for ten days in January and June. It’s like a biannual vacation in beautiful Vermont, plus mentorship by a famous writer. The rest of the time, you’ll be spending approximately 25 hours per week on reading and writing assignments. Students have the option to concentrate in fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. Uniquely, they can also opt for a dual-genre focus.

The tuition is $23,468 per year, with scholarships available. Additionally, Bennington offers full-immersion teaching fellowships to MFA students, which are extremely rare in low-residency programs.

  • Location: Bennington, VT
  • Acceptance rate: 53%
  • Incoming class: 25-35
  • Alumni: Larissa Pham, Andrew Reiner, Lisa Johnson Mitchell, and others

12)  Institute for American Indian Arts

This two-year program emphasizes Native American and First Nations writing. With truly amazing faculty and visiting writers, they offer a wide range of genres, including screenwriting, poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. In addition, each student is matched with a faculty mentor who works with them one-on-one throughout the semester.

Students attend two eight-day residencies each year, in January and July, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. At $12,000 in tuition a year, it boasts being “ one of the most affordable MFA programs in the country .”

  • Location: Santa Fe, NM
  • Incoming class size : 21
  • Alumni: Tommy Orange, Dara Yen Elerath, Kathryn Wilder

13) Vermont College of Fine Arts

VCFA is the only graduate school on this list that focuses exclusively on the fine arts. Their MFA in Writing offers concentrations in fiction, poetry, and nonfiction; they also offer an MFA in Literary Translation and one of the few MFAs in Writing for Children and Young Adults . Students meet twice a year for nine days, in January and July, either in-person or online. Here, they receive one-on-one mentorship that continues for the rest of the semester. You can also do many travel residencies in exciting (and warm) places like Cozumel.

VCFA boasts amazing faculty and visiting writers, with individualized study options and plenty of one-on-one time. Tuition for the full two-year program is approximately $54k.

  • Location : Various; 2024/25 residencies are in Colorado and California
  • Incoming class size: 18-25
  • Acceptance rate: 63%
  • Alumnx: Lauren Markham, Mary-Kim Arnold, Cassie Beasley, Kate Beasley, Julie Berry, Bridget Birdsall, Gwenda Bond, Pablo Cartaya

ONLINE MFAS

14) university of texas at el paso.

UTEP is considered the best online MFA program, and features award-winning faculty from across the globe. Accordingly, this program is geared toward serious writers who want to pursue teaching and/or publishing. Intensive workshops allow submissions in Spanish and/or English, and genres include poetry and fiction.

No residencies are required, but an optional opportunity to connect in person is available every year. This three-year program costs about $25-30k total, depending on whether you are an in-state or out-of-state resident.

  • Location: El Paso, TX
  • Acceptance rate: “highly competitive”
  • Alumni: Watch alumni testimonies here

15) Bay Path University

This 2-year online, no-residency program is dedicated entirely to nonfiction. Featuring a supportive, diverse community, Bay Path offers small class sizes, close mentorship, and an optional yearly field trip to Ireland.

There are many tracks, including publishing, narrative medicine, and teaching creative writing. Moreover, core courses include memoir, narrative journalism, food/travel writing, and the personal essay. Tuition is approximately $31,000 for the entire program, with scholarships available.

  • Location: Longmeadow, MA
  • Incoming class size: 20
  • Alumni: Read alumni testimonies here

Best MFA Creative Writing Programs — Final Thoughts

Whether you’re aiming for a fully funded, low residency, or completely online MFA program, there are plenty of incredible options available—all of which will sharpen your craft while immersing you in the vibrant literary arts community.

Hoping to prepare for your MFA in advance? You might consider checking out the following:

  • Best English Programs
  • Best Colleges for Creative Writing
  • Writing Summer Programs
  • Best Writing Competitions for High School Students

Inspired to start writing? Get your pencil ready:

  • 100 Creative Writing Prompts 
  • 1 00 Tone Words to Express Mood in Your Writing
  • 60 Senior Project Ideas
  • Common App Essay Prompts

Best MFA Creative Writing Programs – References:

  • https://www.pw.org/mfa
  • The Creative Writing MFA Handbook: A Guide for Prospective Graduate Students , by Tom Kealey (A&C Black 2005)
  • Graduate School Admissions

Julia Conrad

With a Bachelor of Arts in English and Italian from Wesleyan University as well as MFAs in both Nonfiction Writing and Literary Translation from the University of Iowa, Julia is an experienced writer, editor, educator, and a former Fulbright Fellow. Julia’s work has been featured in  The Millions ,  Asymptote , and  The Massachusetts Review , among other publications. To read more of her work, visit  www.juliaconrad.net

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Creative Writing

  • Alumni & Faculty Bookshelf

General Questions

What is “newschoolwriting.org”?

It is a blog that features the accomplishments of Creative Writing Program faculty, alumni, and students at The New School, as well as events, news, and updates. To view official program information, visit The New School’s website . 

What is the writing community like at The New School?

Students come to The New School from across the United States and around the world to live the writer’s life in New York City. To study at The New School is to join a prestigious community of writers who are experimenting and evolving together.

In the tradition of New York City and creative culture, The New School offered the first academic creative writing workshop, and pioneered a new philosophy of education. The idea: students would contribute their own lives and their own stories to their educations. Long before the MFA program existed, The New School was committed to teaching and guiding new writers drawn to New York in search of inspiration, mentorship, and fellow writers. Today, students at all levels study writing as a living art. Our master teachers are themselves preeminent authors.

Is the Creative Writing Program at The New School really new ?

Yes and no. Creative writing has been taught at The New School since 1931, when The New School offered one of the first creative writing workshops in the world. We celebrated the 20 th anniversary of the MFA program in 2016. On the occasion of The New School’s Centennial, Robert Polito, the founding director of the MFA program, wrote an essay reflecting on the program’s history. You can find the essay here . 

Are there literary events at The New School?

Yes, The New School hosts an extraordinary calendar of literary events : readings, publishing panels, book releases, award ceremonies, and more. There are over over twenty public events each semester with additional events exclusively for Creative Writing students and alumni.

What are the Creative Writing Program’s offerings?

The New School offers an internationally renowned MFA in Creative Writing program , with concentrations in Fiction, Poetry, Nonfiction, and Writing for Children and Young Adults, as well a BA in Creative Writing and an undergraduate honors program, the Riggio Honors Program: Writing & Democracy.  The Creative Writing Program also offers the Summer Writers Colony and the New School Publishing Institute, and an extensive roster of on-campus and online workshops and seminars, open to both degree-seeking students and non-credit continuing education students, via Open Campus .

How does the Creative Writing Program forge connections with the larger writing and publishing world?

The New School is a vital force in Creative Writing—to New York City, to the nation, and to the world. The New School has established its excellence in all aspects of the writing life, from draft to publication.

Ongoing readings, lectures, forums, and other public programs bring visiting writers, teachers, editors, publishers, and literary agents to The New School. As an active player in today’s cultural conversation, The New School maintains long-standing relationships with foundational literary and cultural institutions, hosting awards ceremonies and events for the National Book Foundation, the National Book Critics Circle, PEN America, Cave Canem, the Poetry Foundation, the Council of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP), Strand Bookstore, the Poetry Society of America, the Story Prize, and the Publishing Triangle, among others.

The nationally-distributed literary journal LIT  is edited and staffed by current graduate students and recent alumni of the MFA program. 12th Street , the award-winning literary journal of the Riggio Honors Program: Writing &Democracy, is edited by undergraduate honors students and published online.

What is the Creative Writing Program’s publishing record?

In 2019 alone , 35 books were published by Creative Writing alumni and faculty. For more examples of the books, stories, poems, essays, journals, films, organizations, and numerous other projects of our students and graduates, visit us on Twitter and Instagram . 

Who are some people who have taught writing at The New School? Who teaches writing at The New School now? Who are some people who’ve gone to The New School?

The New School faculty for writing and literature is a veritable who’s who of American poets, novelists, and essayists. Past professors have included Robert Frost, W. H. Auden, Robert Lowell, Amiri Baraka, Frank O’Hara, Kenneth Koch, Stanley Kunitz, Kay Boyle, May Sarton, Horace Gregory, Marguerite Young, William Goyen, Richard Yates, John F. Bardin, Edward Hoagland, David Ignatow, Alfred Kazin, Anatole Broyard, Carolyn Kizer, Daniel Halpern, Carol Muske Dukes, Bernadette Mayer, Pearl London, David Markson, and Gilbert Sorrentino.

Current faculty are listed on The New School’s Creative Writing Program website , and include program director Luis Jaramillo; Helen Schulman, chair of the fiction program; Honor Moore, coordinator of the nonfiction program; Mark Bibbins, coordinator of the poetry program; Caron Levis, coordinator of the writing for children and young adults program; Robert Polito, professor of writing; Alexandra Kleeman, assistant professor of writing; Camille Rankine, visiting assistant professor of writing; and Mira Jacob, assistant professor of writing. 

Alumni of the MFA in Creative Writing include Jennifer Benka (Poetry ’07), Executive Director of the Academy of American Poets; Stephanie Danler (Fiction ’13), bestselling novelist; Yahdon Israel (Nonfiction ’16), founder of the Literaryswag Book Club; Patricia McCormick (Writing for Children ’99), a two-time National Book Award finalist; Sufjan Stevens (Fiction ’00), Academy Award-nominated singer-songwriter; and Jenny Han (Writing for Children ’06), author and executive producer of the Netflix film series To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before . Discover publications by our alumni and faculty network on our digital bookshelf .

Where are classes held?

Our courses are held at our campus in Greenwich Village, just a few blocks from Union Square. Online courses in our undergraduate and continuing education programs are open to students from around the world.

When do classes take place?

Creative Writing courses primarily take place on weekday evenings. 

Are there insurance options available to full-time students? Student discounts? What about funding? What about housing?

Yes. The New School’s Office of Student Services  offers extensive opportunities, assistance, and discounts. Programs include but are not limited to on- and off-campus housing, financial aid, work study, healthcare, transportation, software, free tickets, and local discounts. Specific questions should be directed to Student Services .

MFA Questions

What are the areas of study in the MFA program?

We offer four concentrations: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Writing for Children and Young Adults.

What will I get out of an MFA from The New School? Are your graduates well published?

Since 1996, The New School has established itself as one of the most discerning, informed, and engaged graduate writing programs in the country. It’s no accident that our alumni are among the most successfully published MFA graduates in the world, and have distinguished themselves as teachers, editors, publishers, and media professionals.

In 2019, 35 books were published by Creative Writing alumni and faculty. To view recent book publications by our community, visit our alumni and faculty bookshelf .

MFA in Creative Writing classes take place on weekday evenings. We also offer exclusive Saturday master classes and seminars on writing, teaching, and publishing.

What are the program requirements?

Degree requirements may be found on The New School’s official website. 

Does the program allow for “cross -genre” study?

Applicants with substantial accomplishment in more than one area of concentration may request that their application be considered for a dual concentration, but they must still declare a primary and a secondary field of study. (Students pursuing two concentrations should figure on three years of study.) Additionally, students may take literature seminars outside of their primary genre of study. Elective weekend workshops are available to students and include a mix of writing opportunities, including the study of hybrid and multi-genre texts. 

What is the program size?  What’s the student to faculty ratio? And what about class size?

Across all four concentrations, we currently enroll ~180 students, with ~35 full- and part-time faculty, which is ratio of just about 6 to 1. Our class size varies from 12 students in workshops to 16 in literary seminars.

What about Teaching and Research Assistant positions? Work study?

Teaching and research opportunities are available. Learn more on our official website. 

What about MFA Fellowships?

Scholarships and fellowships are available. Learn more on our official website. 

What are the application requirements for the MFA program? Do I have to take the GRE to apply?

The prerequisites to apply may be found on our website. The GRE is not required.

Prospective students who need to build a writing book before applying to the MFA in Creative Writing Program are encouraged to explore non-credit creative writing workshops offered through Open Campus at The New School.

What kind of writers are you looking for?  Is there a program “voice”?

Our students bring a diversity of life experiences and artistic voices to the program. We do not elevate any particular aesthetic over another; there is no “New School style”. Our program’s focus on developing each writer’s unique voice is what attracts students from across the country and the world.

Our students are of different ages, and come from many countries, backgrounds, and professions. We encourage the exploration of the practical and philosophical considerations of what it means to be a writer in the world.

Undergraduate Questions

Is there an undergraduate major?  Is the undergraduate major a good program for adults and transfer students?

Yes. The BA in Creative Writing , offered through our Bachelor’s Program for Adults and Transfer Students, is a 30-credit major comprised of writing workshops, literature courses, the Writer’s Life Colloquium, and a 4-credit capstone course. Visit the University Course Catalog to view all undergraduate creative writing courses. 

What is the Summer Writers Colony?

The Summer Writers Colony gives undergraduate and non-credit continuing education students the opportunity to discover the writer’s life in New York City. Each June, three short weeks transform the lives and creative practices of 36 students. Summer Writing Colony students participate in intensive workshops and literary salons with New School faculty members and visiting authors.

Past visiting writers include including Paul Beatty, Jericho Brown, Stephanie Burt, Anne Carson, Lucille Clifton, Teju Cole, Billy Collins, Lydia Davis, Jennifer Egan, Stephen Elliot, Jeffrey Eugenides, Mary Gaitskill, Sarah Gerard, Louise Glück, Jorie Graham, Jhumpa Lahiri, Layli Long Soldier, Leslie Jamison, Lisa Ko, Dorothea Lasky, Rick Moody, Maggie Nelson, Joyce Carol Oates, Jenny Offill, Robyn Schiff, Gary Shteyngart, Brando Skyhorse, Tracy K. Smith, John Jeremiah Sullivan, James Tate, Lynne Tillman, Hannah Tinti, Jean Valentine, Colson Whitehead, and Kevin Young.

The Summer Writers Colony is open to continuing education students and may be taken for 6 undergraduate credits or on a noncredit basis. The 2018 Summer Writers Colony begins June 4. 

What is the New School Publishing Institute?

The New School Publishing Institute is a week-long intensive in which students acquire the foundation they need to break into the world of New York City publishing — or launch their own venture.

Led by publishing veteran John Oakes and featuring visits from some of the top CEOs, publishers, agents, and publicists in New York City, the institute offers students and professionals an accelerated and immersive course of study engaging with one of the most popular creative industries in the city. The Publishing Institute enrolls graduate, advanced undergraduate, and non-credit continuing education students, and begins the week after the Summer Writers Colony.

What is the Riggio Honors Program: Writing & Democracy?

The Riggio Honors Program: Writing & Democracy is an innovative undergraduate honors program for students interested in writing, literature, culture, and politics. Writers in this program participate in a 32-credit curriculum of writing workshops, literature and culture seminars, and a thesis project. The Writing & Democracy students also edit and produce 12th Street , and host a monthly reading series. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis for both new students and current undergraduates from all colleges of The New School. Tuition assistance is available for students who undertake to complete the curriculum as part of their bachelor’s degree requirements.

Riggio program graduates have amassed an impressive array of accomplishments. An incomplete tally includes: a novel with Harper Collins; a book of poems with a coveted indie press; enrollment in fully funded graduate programs in creative writing and journalism; national publications in venues such as The Nation , The Paris Review , The New York Times .

Continuing Education Questions

What are the areas of study in Continuing Education?

The Creative Writing Program offers workshops to matriculated and non-credit continuing education students at all levels—in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, dramatic writing, journalism, writing for children—as well as special topics that focus on, for example, writing for New York Magazines, or the personal essay. Instead of lecturing at length, our practitioner-teachers provide guidance by focusing on student manuscripts in a rigorous but supportive environment. In workshop courses, students receive feedback from fellow students as well as written comments from the instructor, which not only works to improve the material at hand, but to broaden the writerly experience, and speed the creative evolution of each student.  Many of our continuing education students go on to publish articles with national newspapers and magazines, from The New York Times to Cosmopolitan to O: The Oprah Magazine  to The Paris Review to Granta to Vice and everything in between. Continuing Education students have gone on to sell books to large and small publishers. Our authorial success stories include some of the biggest names in writing: from Mario Puzzo to Jack Kerouac to Madeleine L’Engle.

The Creative Writing Program also offers fundamental writing courses designed for students addressing grammar, structure, and style. If you have not completed a college course in composition, we encourage you to enroll in a fundamentals course before moving on to a workshop.

Where can I find The New School’s offerings in Continuing Education?

Visit the The New School’s Open Campus website to view and register for continuing education courses in writing and literature.

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To apply to any of our Bachelor's programs (Except the Bachelor's Program for Adult Transfer Students) complete and submit the Common App online.

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Creative Writing (MFA)

Program description.

The MFA Program in Creative Writing consists of a vibrant community of writers working together in a setting that is both challenging and supportive. This stimulating environment fosters the development of talented writers of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. The program is not defined by courses alone, but by a life built around writing.

Through innovative literary outreach programs, a distinguished public reading series, an exciting public student reading series, special literary seminars with visiting writers, and the production of a high-quality literary journal, students participate in a dynamic literary community actively engaged in all aspects of the literary arts—writing, reading, teaching, publishing and community outreach. Students also have the opportunity to enjoy America's most literary terrain; New York University is situated in the heart of Greenwich Village, a part of the city that has always been home to writers.

The MFA in Creative Writing is designed to offer students an opportunity to concentrate intensively on their writing. This program is recommended for students who may want to apply for creative writing positions at colleges and universities, which often require the MFA degree. The MFA program does not have a foreign language requirement.

All applicants to the Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS) are required to submit the  general application requirements , which include:

  • Academic Transcripts
  • Test Scores  (if required)
  • Applicant Statements
  • Résumé or Curriculum Vitae
  • Letters of Recommendation , and
  • A non-refundable  application fee .

See Creative Writing for admission requirements and instructions specific to this program.

Program Requirements

Special project, program information.

Course List
Course Title Credits
Major Requirements
Select four graduate creative writing workshops 16
Select one to four craft courses taught by the members of the CWP faculty: 4-16
The Craft of Poetry
The Craft of Fiction
The Craft of Creative Nonfiction
Additional Courses
Select courses from any department 12-16
Total Credits32

Taken in four separate semesters. Students are required to take workshops in the genre in which they were admitted to the program.

Craft courses may be repeated provided they are taught by different instructors.

With the permission of that department and of the director of the CWP. 

Additional Program Requirements

A creative special project in poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction consisting of a substantial piece of writing—a novel, a collection of short stories or essays, a memoir, a work of literary nonfiction, or a group of poems—to be submitted in the student’s final semester. The project requires the approval of the student’s faculty adviser and of the director of the CWP.

The MFA degree may also be earned through the Low Residency MFA Writers Workshop in Paris. Under this model, degree requirements remain the same, although Craft courses and Workshops take the form of intensive individualized courses of study with the faculty, including three substantial packet exchanges of student work per semester. All students earning the MFA degree through the low-residency program must also participate in five ten-day residencies in Paris, which involve a diverse series of series of craft talks, lectures, readings, special events, faculty mentorship meetings, and professional development panels.

Sample Plan of Study

Please note : The following is a sample plan of study for a student enrolled in the poetry track. Fiction and creative nonfiction plans of study would parallel the below, substituting the Workshop requirements accordingly (i.e., Workshop in Fiction or Workshop in Creative Nonfiction, respectively).

Plan of Study Grid
1st Semester/TermCredits
Workshop in Poetry I 4
The Craft of Poetry 4
 Credits8
2nd Semester/Term
Workshop in Poetry I 4
General Elective or CWP Craft Course 4
 Credits8
3rd Semester/Term
Workshop in Poetry I 4
General Elective or CWP Craft Course 4
 Credits8
4th Semester/Term
Workshop in Poetry I 4
General Elective or CWP Craft Course 4
 Credits8
 Total Credits32

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will have achieved the following learning outcomes:

  • Graduate students in the Creative Writing Program at NYU work intensively with faculty mentors in writing workshops and individual conferences to learn and master the basic elements of the craft of fiction, creative nonfiction, or poetry.
  • Students are expected to read widely and deeply, and to acquire a broad practitioner’s knowledge of literature in their declared concentration (poetry, creative nonfiction, or fiction).
  • Students are taught to read carefully and critically, and in doing so learn to read as writers. By studying great novels, poems, and works of literary nonfiction by other writers, students learn how to write their own.
  • The two-year program of intensive study culminates in the completion of a creative thesis— a novel, a collection of stories or essays, or a collection of poems. The thesis manuscript, ideally, is a working draft of a first book. Many program alumni go on to publish books and win awards for their writing.

Grading and GPA Policy

Nyu policies, graduate school of arts and science policies, program policies.

To qualify for the degree, a student must have a GPA of at least 3.0, must complete a minimum of 24 points with a grade of B or better, and may offer no more than 8 points with a grade of C (no more than 4 points with a grade of C in creative writing workshops). A student may take no more than 36 points toward the degree.

University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages .

Academic Policies for the Graduate School of Arts and Science can be found on the Academic Policies page . 

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new school mfa creative writing

MFA Program in Creative Writing

The Creative Writing Program offers the MFA degree, with a concentration in either poetry or fiction. MFA students pursue intensive study with distinguished faculty committed to creative and intellectual achievement.

Each year the department enrolls only eight MFA students, four in each concentration. Our small size allows us to offer a generous financial support package that fully funds every student. We also offer a large and diverse graduate faculty with competence in a wide range of literary, theoretical and cultural fields. Every student chooses a special committee of two faculty members who work closely alongside the student to design a course of study within the broad framework established by the department.

Students participate in a graduate writing workshop each semester and take six additional one-semester courses for credit, at least four of them in English or American literature, comparative literature, literature in the modern or Classical languages or cultural studies (two per semester during the first year and one per semester during the second year). First-year students receive practical training as editorial assistants for  Epoch, a periodical of prose and poetry published by the creative writing program. Second-year students participate as teaching assistants for the university-wide first-year writing program. The most significant requirement of the MFA degree is the completion of a book-length manuscript: a collection of poems or short stories, or a novel, to be closely edited and refined with the assistance of the student’s special committee.

MFA program specifics can be viewed here: MFA Timeline Procedural Guide

Special Committee

Every graduate student selects a special committee of faculty advisors who works intensively with the student in selecting courses and preparing and revising the thesis. The committee is comprised of two Cornell creative writing faculty members: a chair and one minor member. An additional member may be added to represent an interdisciplinary field. The university system of special committees allows students to design their own courses of study within a broad framework established by the department, and it encourages a close working relationship between professors and students, promoting freedom and flexibility in the pursuit of the graduate degree. The special committee for each student guides and supervises all academic work and assesses progress in a series of meetings with the students.

At Cornell, teaching is considered an integral part of training for a career in writing. The field requires a carefully supervised teaching experience of at least one year for every MFA candidate as part of the program requirements. The Department of English, in conjunction with the First-Year Writing Program, offers excellent training for beginning teachers and varied and interesting teaching in this university-wide program. These are not conventional freshman composition courses, but full-fledged academic seminars, often designed by graduate students themselves. The courses are writing-intensive and may fall under such general rubrics as “Portraits of the Self,” “American Literature and Culture,” “Shakespeare” and “Cultural Studies,” among others. A graduate student may also serve as a teaching assistant for an undergraduate lecture course taught by a member of the Department of Literatures in English faculty.

All MFA degree candidates are guaranteed two years of funding (including a stipend , a full tuition fellowship and student health insurance).

  • Graduate Assistantship with EPOCH . Students read submissions, plan special issues and assume other editorial and administrative responsibilities.
  • Summer Teaching Assistantship, linked to a teachers' training program. Summer residency in Ithaca is required.
  • Teaching Assistantship
  • Summer Fellowship (made possible by the David L. Picket ’84 Fund and The James McConkey Master of Fine Arts Creative Writing Award for Summer Support, established by his enduringly grateful student, Len Edelstein ’59)

Optional MFA Lecturer Appointments Degree recipients who are actively seeking outside funding/employment are eligible to apply to teach for one or two years as a lecturer. These positions are made possible by an endowment established by the late Philip H. Freund ’29 and a bequest from the Truman Capote Literary Trust.

Admission & Application Procedures

The application for Fall 2025 admission will open on September 15, 2024 and will close on December 1, 2024 at 11:59pm EST. Please note that staff support is available M-F 9am-4pm.

Eligibility : Applicants must currently have, or expect to have, at least a BA or BS (or the equivalent) in any field before matriculation. International students, please verify degree equivalency here . Applicants are not required to take the GRE test or meet a specified GPA minimum.

To Apply:  All applications and supplemental materials must be submitted on-line through the Graduate School application system . While completing your application, you may save and edit your data. Once you click “submit,” your application will be closed for changes. Please proofread your materials carefully. Once you pay and click submit, you will not be able to make any changes or revisions.

DEADLINE: Dec. 1, 11:59 p.m. EST . This deadline is firm. No applications, additional materials or revisions will be accepted after the deadline.

MFA Program Application Requirements Checklist

  • Academic Statement of Purpose Please use the Academic Statement of Purpose to describe, within 1000 words: (1) your academic interests, (2) your academic background, preparation, and training, including any relevant professional experiences, (3) your reasons for pursuing graduate studies in this specific program, and (4) your professional goals.
  • Personal Statement Your Personal Statement should provide the admissions committee with a sense of you as a whole person, and you should use it to describe how your background and experiences influenced your decision to pursue a graduate degree. Additionally, it should provide insight into your potential to contribute to a community of inclusion, belonging, and respect where scholars representing diverse backgrounds, perspectives, abilities, and experiences can learn and work productively and positively together. Writing your Personal Statement provides you with an opportunity to share experiences that provide insights into how your personal, academic, and/or professional experiences demonstrate your ability to be both persistent and resilient, especially when navigating challenging circumstances. The statement also allows you to provide examples of how you engage with others and have facilitated and/or participated in productive collaborative endeavors. Additionally, it provides you with an opportunity to provide context around any perceived gaps or weaknesses in your academic record. Content in the Personal Statement should complement rather than duplicate the content contained within the Academic Statement of Purpose, which should focus explicitly on your academic interests, previous research experience, and intended area of research during your graduate studies. A complete writing prompt is available in the application portal.
  • Three Letters of Recommendation Please select three people who best know you and your work. Submitting additional letters will not enhance your application. In the recommendation section of the application, you must include the email address of each recommender. After you save the information (and before you pay/submit), the application system will automatically generate a recommendation request email to your recommender with instructions for submitting the letter electronically. If your letters are stored with a credential service such as Interfolio, please use their “online application delivery” feature and input the email address assigned to your stored document, rather than that of your recommender’s. The electronic files will be attached to your application when they are received and will not require the letter of recommendation cover page. Please do not postpone submitting your application while waiting for us to receive all three of your letters.  For more information please visit the Graduate School's page on preparing letters of recommendations .
  • Transcripts Scan transcripts from each institution you have attended, or are currently attending, and upload into the academic information section of the application. Be sure to remove your social security number from all documents prior to scanning. Please do not send paper copies of your transcripts. If you are subsequently admitted and accept, the graduate school will require an official paper transcript from your degree-awarding institution prior to matriculation.
  • English Language Proficiency Requirement All applicants must provide proof of English language proficiency. For more information, please view the  Graduate School’s English Language Requirement .
  • Fiction applicants:  Your sample must be between 6,000 and 10,000 words, typed, double-spaced, in a conventional 12- or 14-point font. It may be an excerpt from a larger work or a combination of several works.
  • Poetry applicants:  Your sample must be 10 pages in length and include a combination of several poems, where possible.

General Information for All Applicants

Application Fee: Visit the  Graduate School for information regarding application fees , payment options, and fee waivers . Please do not send inquires regarding fee waivers.

Document Identification: Please do not put your social security number on any documents.

Status Inquiries:  Once you submit your application, you will receive a confirmation email. You will also be able to check the completion status of your application in your account. If vital sections of your application are missing, we will notify you via email after the Dec. 1 deadline and allow you ample time to provide the missing materials. Please do not inquire about the status of your application.

Credential/Application Assessments:  The admission review committee members are unable to review application materials or applicant credentials prior to official application submission. Once the committee has reviewed the applications and made admissions decisions, they will not discuss the results or make any recommendations for improving the strength of an applicant’s credentials. Applicants looking for feedback are advised to consult with their undergraduate advisor or someone else who knows them and their work.

Review Process:  Application review begins after the submission deadline. Notification of admissions decisions will be made by email or by telephone by the end of February.

Connecting with Faculty and/or Students: Unfortunately, due to the volume of inquiries we receive, faculty and current students are not available to correspond with potential applicants prior to an offer of admission. Applicants who are offered admission will have the opportunity to meet faculty and students to have their questions answered prior to accepting. Staff and faculty are also not able to pre-assess potential applicant’s work outside of the formal application process. Please email [email protected] instead, if you have questions.

Visiting: The department does not offer pre-admission visits or interviews. Admitted applicants will be invited to visit the department, attend graduate seminars and meet with faculty and students before making the decision to enroll.

Transfer Credits: Transfer credits are not available toward the MFA program.

Admissions FAQ

For Further Information

Contact [email protected]

MFA in Creative Writing Graduation Readings

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MFA Programs Contact Form

Help us keep this database current. If you have updated information on one of the programs listed in the MFA database, let us know.

MFA Programs Database

  • Help Keep This Database Current

Our MFA database includes essential information about low- and full-residency graduate creative writing programs in the United States and other English-speaking countries to help you decide where to apply.

Adelphi University

Poetry: Jan-Henry Gray, Maya Marshall Prose: Katherine Hill, René Steinke, Igor Webb

Albertus Magnus College

Poetry: Paul Robichaud Fiction: Sarah Harris Wallman Nonfiction: Eric Schoeck

Alma College

Poetry: Leslie Contreras Schwartz, Jim Daniels, Benjamin Garcia Fiction: Karen E. Bender, Shonda Buchanan, Dhonielle Clayton, S. Kirk Walsh Creative Nonfiction: Anna Clark, Matthew Gavin Frank, Donald Quist, Robert Vivian

American University

Poetry: Kyle Dargan, David Keplinger Fiction: Dolen Perkins-Valdez, Stephanie Grant, Patricia Park Nonfiction: Rachel Louise Snyder

Antioch University

Poetry: Victoria Chang Prose: Lisa Locascio

Arcadia University

Poetry: Genevieve Betts, Michelle Reale Fiction: Stephanie Feldman, Joshua Isard, Tracey Levine, Eric Smith Literature: Matthew Heitzman, Christopher Varlack, Elizabeth Vogel, Jo Ann Weiner

Poetry: Genevieve Betts, Michelle Reale Fiction: Stephanie Feldman, Joshua Isard, Tracey Levine, Eric Smith

Arizona State University

Poetry: Sally Ball, Natalie Diaz, Alberto Álvaro Ríos, Safiya Sinclair Fiction: Matt Bell, Jenny Irish, Tara Ison, Mitchell Jackson, T. M. McNally Creative Nonfiction: Sarah Viren

Ashland University

Poetry: Dexter Booth, Marcelo Hernandez Castillo, Adam Gellings, Tess Taylor, Vanessa Angélica Villareal Fiction: Kirstin Chen, Edan Lepucki, Sarah Monette, Nayomi Munaweera, Vi Khi Nao, Naomi J. Williams, Kyle Winkler Nonfiction: Cass Donish, Kate Hopper, Lauren Markham, Thomas Mira y Lopez, Lisa Nikolidakis, Terese Mailhot

Augsburg University

Poetry: Michael Kleber-Diggs Fiction: Stephan Eirik Clark, Lindsay Starck Nonfiction: Anika Fajardo  Playwriting: Carson Kreitzer, TyLie Shider, Sarah Myers Screenwriting: Stephan Eirik Clark, Andy Froemke

Ball State University

Poetry: Katy Didden, Mark Neely Fiction: Cathy Day, Sean Lovelace Nonfiction: Jill Christman, Silas Hansen Screenwriting: Rani Deighe Crowe, Matt Mullins

Bard College

Jess Arndt, Shiv Kotecha, Mirene Arsanios, Hannah Black, Trisha Low, Christoper Perez, Julian Talamantez Brolaski, Simone White

Bath Spa University

Poetry: Lucy English, Tim Liardet, John Strachan, Samantha Walton, Gerard Woodward Fiction: Gavin James Bower, Celia Brayfield, Alexia Casale, Anne-Marie Crowhurst, Lucy English, Nathan Filer, Aminatta Forna, Samantha Harvey, Philip Hensher, Steve Hollyman, Emma Hooper, Claire Kendal, Natasha Pulley, Kate Pullinger, C.J. Skuse, Gerard Woodward Nonfiction: Celia Brayfield, Lily Dunn, Richard Kerridge Scriptwriting: Robin Mukherjee

Poetry: Lucy English, Tim Liardet, Gerard Woodward Fiction: Gavin James Bower, Celia Brayfield, Anne-Marie Crowhurst, Nathan Filer, Aminatta Forna, Samantha Harvey, Philip Hensher, Claire Kendal, Natasha Pulley, Kate Pullinger, Gerard Woodward Nonfiction: Lily Dunn, Richard Kerridge

Bay Path University

Mel Allen, Leanna James Blackwell, Jennifer Baker, Melanie Brooks, María Luisa Arroyo Cruzado, Shahnaz Habib, Susan Ito, Karol Jackowski, Yi Shun Lai, Anna Mantzaris, Meredith O’Brien, Mick Powell, Suzanne Strempek Shea, Tommy Shea, Kate Whouley

Bennington Writing Seminars at Bennington College

Poetry: Jennifer Chang, Michael Dumanis, Randall Mann, Craig Morgan Teicher, Mark Wunderlich Fiction: Peter Cameron, Jai Chakrabarti, Stacey D’Erasmo, Monica Ferrell, Rebecca Makkai, Stuart Nadler, Téa Obreht, Moriel Rothman-Zecher, Katy Simpson Smith, Taymour Soomro Nonfiction: Garrard Conley, Sabrina Orah Mark, Spencer Reece, Lance Richardson, Shawna Kay Rodenberg, Hugh Ryan, Greg Wrenn

Binghamton University

Poetry: Tina Chang, Joseph Weil Fiction: Amir Ahmdi Arian, Thomas Glave, Leslie L. Heywood, Claire Luchette, Liz Rosenberg, Jaimee Wriston-Colbert, Alexi Zentner Nonfiction: Amir Ahmdi Arian, Leslie L. Heywood

Bluegrass Writers Studio at Eastern Kentucky University

Poetry: Julie Hensley, Young Smith Fiction: Julie Hensley, Robert Dean Johnson Nonfiction: Robert Dean Johnson, Evan J. Massey Playwriting: Young Smith

Boise State University

Poetry: Martin Corless-Smith, Sara Nicholson, Taryn Schwilling Fiction: Mitch Wieland (Director), Anna Caritj Creative Nonfiction: Chris Violet Eaton, Clyde Moneyhun

Boston University

Poetry: Andrea Cohen, Karl Kirchwey, Robert Pinsky Fiction: Leslie Epstein, Jennifer Haigh, Ha Jin

Boston University—MFA in Literary Translation

Odile Cazenave, Yuri Corrigan, Margaret Litvin, Christopher Maurer, Roberta Micaleff, Robert Pinsky (advising), Stephen Scully, Sassan Tabatabai, J. Keith Vincent, William Waters, Dennis Wuerthner, Cathy Yeh, Anna Zielinska-Elliott

Bowling Green State University

Poetry: Abigail Cloud, Amorak Huey, Sharona Muir, F. Dan Rzicznek, Larissa Szporluk, Jessica Zinz-Cheresnick Fiction: Joe Celizic, Lawrence Coates, Reema Rajbanshi, Michael Schulz

Brigham Young University

Poetry: Kimberly Johnson, Lance Larsen, Michael Lavers, John Talbot Fiction: Chris Crowe, Ann Dee Ellis, Spencer Hyde, Stephen Tuttle Nonfiction: Joey Franklin, Patrick Madden

Brooklyn College

Poetry: Julie Agoos, Ben Lerner Fiction: Joshua Henkin, Madeleine Thien Playwriting: Dennis A. Allen II, Elana Greenfield

Fully Funded MFA Programs in Creative Writing

Cornell University in Ithaca New York

As part of our series  How to Fully Fund Your Master’s Degree , here is a list of universities that have fully funded MFA programs in creative writing. A Master’s of Fine Arts in creative writing can lead to a career as a professional writer, in academia, and more.

Fully funded MFA programs in Creative Writing offer a financial aid package for full-time students that includes full tuition remission as well as an annual stipend or salary during the entire program, which for Master’s degrees is usually 1-2 years. Funding usually comes with the expectation that students will teach or complete research in their field of study. Not all universities fully fund their Master’s students, which is why researching the financial aid offerings of many different programs, including small and lesser-known schools both in the U.S. and abroad, is essential.

In addition to listing fully funded Master’s and PhD programs, the ProFellow fellowships database also includes external funding opportunities for graduate school, including fellowships for dissertation research, fieldwork, language study, study abroad, summer work experiences, and professional development.

Would you like to receive the full list of more than 1000+ fully funded Master’s and PhD programs in 60 disciplines? Download the FREE Directory of Fully Funded Graduate Programs and Full Funding Awards !

Here is the list of 53 universities that offer fully-funded MFA programs (Master’s of Fine Arts) in Creative Writing.

University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL): Students admitted to the MFA Program are guaranteed full financial support for up to 4-years. Assistantships include a stipend paid over nine months (currently $14,125), and full payment of up to 15 credit hours of graduate tuition.

University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ): All accepted MFA students receive full funding through a graduate teaching assistantship for 3 years. This package includes tuition remission, health insurance, and a modest stipend (in 2018 it was about $16,100 per academic year).

Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ): 3-year program. All students admitted to the MFA program who submit a complete and approved teaching assistantship application are awarded a TA by the Department of English. Each assistantship carries a three-course per year load and includes a tuition waiver and health insurance in addition to the TA stipend ($18,564 per year). In addition, students have diverse opportunities for additional financial and professional support.

University of Arkansas (Fayetteville, AR): Four-year program. Teaching assistantships currently carry an annual stipend of $13,500 for students with a BA. TAs also receive a waiver of all tuition costs and teach two courses each semester. Nearly all of our accepted students receive TAs. Additionally, the students compete each year for several fellowships.

Boise State University (Boise, Idaho): 3-year fully funded MFA program dedicated to poetry and fiction. All students receive a tuition waiver, health insurance, and a Teaching Assistantship with a stipend of $11,450 per year.

Bowling Green State University (Bowling Green, OH): 2-year program, graduate assistantships (including stipend and scholarship) are available for all eligible face-to-face students. 100% tuition scholarship. Graduate stipend (the 2020-21 stipend is $11,500).

Brown University (Providence, RI): All incoming MFA students received full funding. All graduate students receive a fellowship that pays a monthly stipend and provides tuition remission, the health fee, and health insurance. The stipend for the 2020-2021 academic year is $29,926. Also, students in good standing receive a summer stipend of $2,993.

Boston University (Boston, MA): Tuition costs will be covered for every admitted student for the MFA degree in the BU Creative Writing Program. In addition, admitted students will receive university health insurance while they are enrolled, and all admitted students will receive stipend support of roughly $16,000 for the academic year.

Cornell University (Ithaca, NY): All MFA degree candidates are guaranteed 2 years of funding (including a stipend, a full-tuition fellowship, and student health insurance).

University of California Irvine (Irvine, CA): 3-year program. The Department is committed to providing 3 full years of financial support to all domestic students in the MFA Programs in Writing. Financial support for MFA students is given in the form of Teaching Assistantships providing full tuition coverage as well as University health insurance. Students will earn an estimated $22,569 for the academic year.

University of California San Diego (La Jolla, CA): MFA in Writing students are eligible for financial support if they study full-time, maintain good academic standing and make timely progress toward the degree. All students are eligible for full funding, including international students provided they meet the English language certification requirement for teaching assistants.

University of California Riverside (Riverside, CA): All incoming students are granted a full fellowship and stipend for their first year. After the first year, students receive full tuition and a salary through teaching assistantships.

Florida Atlantic University (Boca Raton, FL): 3-year program. All of the MFA students qualify for a position as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. The GTA position comes with a tuition waiver and a stipend. The standard stipend is $9,000, but some enhanced stipends are available. The Graduate College offers several fellowships for current graduate students.

Florida State University (Tallahassee, FL): The majority of students receive support in the form of a teaching assistantship and are provided with a stipend, a tuition waiver, and a health-insurance subsidy. MFA students receive a three-year assistantship. For 2022-23, MA/MFA stipends will be $16,400, and typically these amounts go up each year. Also, The FSU Graduate School offers several fellowships and awards.

Georgia College & State University (Milledgeville, GA): The MFA Program offers workshops in fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry, and students take cross-genre workshops. All students admitted to the MFA program receive a Graduate Assistantship for all 3 years that includes a stipend and tuition remission.

University of Houston (Houston, TX): MFA students can receive a teaching assistantship for 3 years. Starting salary for MFAs is $17,935/9 months. Students in the Creative. As part of the assistantship, students are awarded either a Graduate Tuition Fellowship, which remits tuition, or a Creative Writing Program Fellowship, which covers the cost of tuition.

University of Idaho (Moscow, Idaho): All English Teaching Assistants (TA’s) are offered full tuition waivers. Teaching Assistants are given a stipend of $14,000 per year. Also offers three scholarships and three outstanding fellowships to support qualified MFA, graduate students.

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (Urbana, IL): Three-year MFA program. Students accepted into the MFA program will receive full tuition waivers, guaranteed teaching assistantships.

Indiana University (Bloomington, IN): M.F.A. programs offer a generous teaching package to creative writing students. All applicants receive consideration for appropriate fellowships that will carry a stipend of about $19,000, plus tuition and fee-remission that covers roughly 90% of the cost of enrollment.

Iowa State University (Ames, IA): 3-year MFA program. Starting half-time 20 hours per week teaching assistantships for MFA students total $19,250 over 10 months and also receive a full-tuition waiver scholarship (approximate value $10,140) and health insurance coverage. The department has several resources available through which to offer fellowships and scholarships to qualifying new students.

University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA): 2-year residency program. Financial assistance is available for all students enrolled in the program, in the form of teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and fellowships. Most fellowships and assistantships provide either tuition scholarships or full tuition remission.

John Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD): 2-year program. All students receive full tuition, health insurance, and a generous teaching fellowship, currently set at $30,500 per year. Some students work as assistant editors on The Hopkins Review. They often win prizes such as Stegner Fellowships or grants from the National Endowment for the Arts.

University of Maryland (College Park, MD): This 3-year program accepts 8 applicants who are fully funded by Teaching Assistantships for up to three years of graduate study. Our aid packages include a stipend of about $20,000 per academic year and 60 credit hours of tuition remission.

Miami University (Oxford, OH): All students admitted to the MFA program in Creative Writing hold generous Graduate Assistantships (which include a summer stipend). Non-teaching assistantships may also be available.

University of Miami (Coral Gables, FL): An intensive two-year study with a third year option. The James Michener Fellowships and Teaching Assistantships support all our graduate students. Awards include a full tuition waiver and annual stipend of $18,915.

University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI): All MFA students accepted into the program are offered a full tuition waiver, a stipend of $23,000/yearly as well as $5,000 in summer funding, and health care benefits. Additionally, various fellowships and prizes are awarded each year to MFA students.

University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, MN): All admitted MFAs receive full funding, in the form of teaching assistantships or fellowships. Teaching assistantships carry a full tuition waiver, health benefits, and a stipend of about $18,600. Also, a variety of fellowships are available for graduate students.

University of Mississippi (University, MS): All of our students are fully funded.  We offer two main sources of funding, the Grisham Fellowships and Teaching Assistantships.

University of Nevada Las Vegas (Las Vegas, NV): 3-year program. All MFA students admitted to the Creative Writing International program at UNLV are offered Graduate Assistantship funding of $15,000 per year (which includes in-state tuition and provisions for health insurance).

Northwestern University (Evanston, IL): Funding is provided for 3 full years, summers included. Tuition is covered by a tuition scholarship during any quarter in which you are receiving a stipend.

University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame, IN): Every student admitted to the MFA receives a full-tuition scholarship, a fellowship that carries a full stipend of $16,000 per year and access to a 100% health insurance subsidy.

North Carolina State University (Raleigh, NC): A two-year, fully-funded program, They accept only about a dozen students each year and offer full funding in the form of a graduate teaching assistantship to all eligible admitted applicants.

Ohio State University (Columbus, OH): All admitted students are fully funded for our 3-year MFA program in Creative Writing. In addition, all students receive either a graduate teaching associateship, a Graduate School fellowship or a combination of the two. For graduate teaching associateships, the student receives a stipend of at least $17,000 for the nine-month academic year.

University of Oregon (Eugene OR): A two-year residency MFA program. All incoming MFA students funded with a teaching appointment. Student instructors receive tuition remission, monthly stipends of approximately $18,000.

Oregon State University (Corvallis, OR): All students admitted to the MFA program will automatically receive a standard teaching Graduate Teaching Assistantship contract, which provides full tuition remission and stipend of approximately $12,800 per year to cover living expenses. In addition to tuition remission, all graduate students have the option to receive 89% coverage of health insurance costs for themselves and their dependents.

University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA): 3-year MFA program. All students admitted to the program will receive Teaching Assistantships for two or three years. All Teaching Assistantships include salary, medical benefits, and tuition remission.

Rutgers University–Newark (Newark, NJ): Each full-time incoming student receives in-state Tuition Remission and a Chancellor’s Stipend of 15K per year. Students are also eligible for Teaching Assistantships, and Part-Time Lectureships teaching Comp or Creative Writing. Teaching Assistantships are $25,969 (approximate) plus health benefits.

University of South Florida (Tampa, FL): 3-year program. MFA students receive a tuition waiver, a teaching assistantship that comes with a stipend, and enrollment in group health insurance.

Southern Illinois University (Carbondale, IL): Almost all MFA students hold graduate assistantships, which provide stipends for the academic year and full remission of tuition. The annual stipend, which comes with tuition remission, ranges from $13,000 to $14,500.

Syracuse University (Syracuse, NY): Three-Year M.F.A. in Creative Writing. All students are fully funded. Each student admitted receives a full-tuition scholarship in addition to an annual stipend of $17,500.

University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC): 3-year MFA program. The MFA at Carolina is pleased to provide fellowship and/or assistantship funding to all accepted students, earning our program the designation of “fully funded” from Poets and Writers.

University of Tennessee — Knoxville (Knoxville, TN): There is no cost to apply to the MFA program. All of our PhD candidates and MFA students are fully funded, with generous opportunities for additional financial support.

University of Texas in Austin (Austin, TX): All students in the New Writers Project receive three years of full funding through a combination of teaching assistantships (TA), assistant instructorships (AI), and fellowship support. The complete package includes full tuition remission, health insurance, and a salary.

University of Texas James Michener Center (Austin, TX): A three-year, fully funded residency MFA program that provides full and equal funding to every writer. All admitted students receive a fellowship of $29,500 per academic year, plus total coverage of tuition.

Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN): Each year a small, select class of talented writers of fiction and poetry enroll in Vanderbilt’s three-year, fully-funded MFA Program in Creative Writing. The University Fellowship provides full-tuition benefits, health insurance, and a stipend of $30,000/yearly. In 2nd year and third-year students have the opportunity to teach for one semester.

University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA): Three-year MFA program. Students will receive fellowship support and/or teaching income in the amount of $20,000 each academic year, as well as full funding of your tuition, enrollment fees, and the health insurance premium for single-person coverage through the university.

Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, VA): Three-year MFA degree offers tracks in Poetry and Fiction, and all students are fully and equally funded via GTA-ships of more than $20,000 per year.

Washington University in St. Louis (St. Louis, MO): Because of selectivity and size they are able to offer all the new students full and equal financial aid for both years in the program in the form of a University Fellowship, which provides a complete tuition waiver plus a stipend sufficient for students to live comfortably in our relatively inexpensive city. All MFA students receive health insurance through Washington University.

Western Kentucky University (Bowling Green, KY): Three-year, fully-funded, residential MFA program in creative writing offering generous assistantships, which will allow MFA students to gain valuable experience tutoring and teaching.

West Virginia University (Morgantown, WV): A three-year program. All Master of Fine Arts students receive a full tuition waiver and an assistantship, which includes a stipend valued at $16,750.

Wichita State University (Wichita, Kansas): Most of the MFA students are GTAs who teach two composition classes each semester. They pay no tuition, receive $4,250 each semester and may buy discounted health insurance. The MFA program also awards two $12,500 fellowships each year.

University of Wisconsin–Madison (Madison, WI): All accepted MFA candidates receive tuition remissions, teaching assistantships, generous health insurance, and other financial support. In addition to the approximately $14,680 paid to each MFA annually in exchange for teaching, every MFA candidate will receive another $9,320 in scholarships each year.

University of Wyoming (Laramie, WY): All of our full-time MFA students are fully funded with two-year graduate assistantships. Currently, assistantships include a stipend of $12,330 per academic year, a tuition and fees waiver, and student health insurance. Students also receive summer stipends of up to $2,000 for the summer.

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Stony Brook University

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The MFA Program in Creative Writing and Literature accepts applications for admission on a rolling basis, but to be considered for funding, you must apply by January 7.

All applicants for the summer and fall semester should apply by May 1 . Spring semester applicants should apply by October 15 .

International applications may not apply for spring or summer admission, only fall, and only as a full-time student. The international deadline for all fall admissions is January 15 .

How to Apply for the MFA

Application Form Instructions. Please use SUNY Stony Brook Graduate School’s online application . Create an account to begin a new application.

  • In the program drop-down menu, please choose Creative Writing and Literature--MFA.
  • Only admissions to fall semester will be considered for funding.
  • Indicate whether you are applying as a part-time or full-time student. Only full-time applications received by January 1 will be considered for funding.
  • Interested in the Manhattan Track? Type “Manhattan Track” in the “Specialization” line.
  • Even though the application will ask, you do not need GRE scores. 
  • You will need email addresses for the writers of your letters of recommendation. See below for more information.

Additional Documents to Upload. Be prepared to upload the following:

  • A statement of purpose discussing your reasons for study, your evolution as a writer, and your reading life. This should be one to two pages, the length of a good letter.
  • A writing sample . Admission to the program is based primarily on the evaluation of your creative writing. Your sample may be in fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, scriptwriting, or a combination of genres. Please send up to 10 pages of poetry, single-spaced, or 25 pages of prose, double-spaced, with your name on every page. Send your best work, and disabuse yourself of any requirement to submit the maximum number of pages if they are not all of equally high quality. Please prepare a cover sheet for your writing sample, listing your address, phone number, e-mail address, genre(s), and title(s) of your submission.
  • A résumé or C.V.   This document can be combined with your statement of purpose into one upload. 

Letters of Recommendation.  Your three letters of recommendation should be from writers, professors, or writing professionals who are familiar with your work. They do not necessarily need to be professors from whom you took undergraduate courses. We've received wonderful recommendations from leaders of informal workshops at libraries, from long-time fellow members of writing groups, from teachers in continuing education programs, and from writers conference faculty. Whomever you choose to write for you, the application system will email your recommenders with a link and instructions to upload their letters. If you are using Interfolio for your letters of recommendation, please have the dossier emailed to Peggy Grigonis, our Departmental Coordinator, at  [email protected]

Official Transcripts . Finally, you will need to have an official transcript from any undergraduate and graduate institutions you have attended. Electronic official transcripts should be sent to Office of Graduate and Health Sciences Admissions, at [email protected] . Hard copy official transcripts should be sent to the Graduate and Health Sciences Admissions office at:

If you have your school(s) send your hard copy official transcripts to you, do NOT open the envelopes. The unopened envelopes should be sent  to the address above.

Please send your items via a service that provides tracking.  If it is close to the submission deadline,  a courier such as FedEx or DHL, is recommended as these couriers will deliver directly to the Office of Graduate and Health Sciences Admissions. Items mailed using the US Postal Service (USPS) are delivered first to the University’s Central Receiving Office, which can cause the package to arrive at the Graduate Admissions Office after the intended date of receipt.

Eligibility

Applicants to the Master of Fine Arts program must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and, except in special circumstances, have earned a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4-point scale. It’s fine to have an undergraduate degree in an area outside of the humanities. A candidate with outstanding promise in creative writing but a less-than-stellar academic transcript may be admitted on a conditional basis.

Stony Brook Southampton is part of the State University of New York (SUNY). As of Fall 2023, tuition is $471/credit for New York State residents and $1020/credit for non-residents. A New York resident who takes a full-time load of three courses for 12 credits would pay $9,177.90 for the semester, inclusive of fees and health insurance.  The Office of Student Financial Services  has more detailed breakdowns of tuition scenarios. 

The cost compares favorably to any number of writing programs charging up to five times as much. Unless you are getting fully funded somewhere, our rates are pretty hard to beat. Or maybe going full-time to an MFA program doesn't work in your life. You can take just a course or two each semester. Many programs don't allow a part-time option. But we offer a cost-effective way to incorporate only as much high-quality and rigorous writing instruction as your full-time life can accommodate.

Out-of-state residents pay more, but if you are accepted to the program, you will  establish residency in New York State, a process that takes one year, and you'll pay the in-state rate going forward.

Teaching Assistantships/Graduate Assistantships 

In lieu of a couple fully-funded spots, we award a number of  partial Graduate and Teaching Assistantships to our incoming students. All applications for full-time study in the Fall term are considered, provided that the application is submitted by January 7. These GA/TA awards are extremely competitive. In 2019-2020 2 students were fully funded and 14 were partially funded.

A partial TA/GA offer comes with a 50% tuition scholarship and academic-year stipend of approximately $13,000, as well as subsidized health insurance and an 8-10 hour/week workload. A full TA/GA offer, while rare, comes with an academic-year stipend of approximately $26,000, a 15-20 hour/week workload, full tuition waiver and subsidized health insurance. Students in good standing can expect to have their funding renewed for their second year, when they teach creative writing courses to Stony Brook undergraduates.

Recipients of funding offers who can contribute to the diversity of Stony Brook may be eligible for the  Turner Fellowship . Those with outstanding academic promise may be eligible for the Graduate Council Fellowship . These fellowships award an additional $30,000 over the course of three years to their recipients, along with tuition waiver and stipend. We have a high rate of success in identifying candidates for these prestigious awards. Every year since 2015 we have had Turner and GCF fellows among our cloudy trophies hung.

Other Financial Support

All of our students receive partial scholarships to the Southampton Writers Conference.

The Deborah Hecht Memorial Prize in Fiction, Jody Donohue Poetry Prize and Joseph Kelly Prize in Creative Writing are   cash prizes of $500-$1,000 each awarded to incoming MFA in Creative Writing students of exceptional promise in fiction, poetry and/or creative nonfiction. All applicants, both full- and part-time, are eligible. Winners are chosen based on their application writing samples and will be notified in their acceptance letters.

From time to time, our program is able to raise additional funds that we can distribute to our deserving students in the form of prizes, service awards, or scholarships for current students. For example, this past year we added the Sally Martell Award of $1,000 for mid-career, returning women students.

To favor one incoming student over another, by awarding assistantships or prizes, runs counter to our philosophy that we are all in this together, faculty and students alike, struggling with the extraordinarily difficult work of putting words together. If you earn admission to our program, with funding or without, we guarantee that you will be treated with the same respect as every other member of our community.

Applicants are also encouraged to explore opportunities for external funding independent of our program's limited resources. For more information on other types of financial aid, contact the Office of Student Financial Aid Services at (631) 632-6840.  

For More Information

The fine print about transfer credits, international students, and other admissions arcana is revealed in the Graduate Bulletin .

Or contact us:

MFA Program in Creative Writing and Literature Chancellors Hall, Room 238 Stony Brook Southampton 239 Montauk Highway Southampton, NY 11968 Phone: (631) 632-5030 Fax: (631) 632-2576 E-mail: [email protected]

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The University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas at Austin offers two MFA programs in creative writing through the New Writers Project (NWP) and the Michener Center for Writers (MCW). While they share courses, faculty, events, and communities, the programs have separate admissions processes and distinct plans of study. Some applicants choose to apply to both programs, while other applicants find that only one of the two programs meets their needs. Information about the Michener Center for Writers can be found on  their website .

The differences between the two programs include:

  • NWP is housed within the Department of English. Our students are funded through teaching assistantships in both literature and creative writing contexts for five out of their six semesters in the program, with one semester funded through a non-working fellowship. MCW students are funded through nonworking fellowships and do not teach.
  • NWP offers concentrations in fiction and poetry, while MCW offers concentrations in fiction, poetry, playwriting, and screenwriting. Additionally, MCW students are required to work in two genres, whereas NWP students may elect to work in a second genre, but are not required to do so.
  • NWP typically accepts three poets and three fiction writers into the program each year for a total cohort of eighteen students. MCW accepts an incoming class of twelve students per year distributed across four genres (typically with more fiction writers and poets than screenwriters or playwrights) for an overall cohort of thirty-six students. However, given shared courses and events, the cohorts of both programs intermingle to create one community.

Please note that applicants who apply to both MFA programs do not need to pay the application fee twice. When submitting their second application, applicants should select the option that says “I will pay The University of Texas at Austin directly, outside of ApplyTexas.” Once the second application has processed, the graduate school will automatically waive the application fee.

UT Austin offers two MFA programs in creative writing through the New Writers Project (NWP) and the Michener Center for Writers (MCW). While they share courses, faculty, events, and communities, the programs have separate admissions and distinct plans of study. Some applicants apply to both programs, while other applicants find that only one of the programs meets their needs. Information about MCW can be found here .

Below is a comparison of the two programs:

  • Tab Option 3
  • Tab Option 4
  • Tab Option 5
  • NWP students earn valuable experience as teaching assistants in both literature and creative writing. This experience includes a teaching practicum that provides students with hands-on instruction before they lead their own workshops.
  • Students are funded through their teaching assistantships for their first five semesters. For their sixth and final semester, they receive funding through a non-working fellowship.
  • NWP is housed within the Department of English.
  • NWP offers concentrations in fiction and poetry.
  • Students may elect to work in a second genre, but are not required to do so.
  • NWP typically accepts three poets and three fiction writers into the program each year for a total cohort of eighteen students.
  • MCW students only take classes and do not gain teaching experience.
  • Students receive generous funding through non-working fellowship.
  • MCW is housed in the historic J. Frank Dobie House on the UT campus.
  • MCW offers concentrations in fiction, poetry, playwriting, and screenwriting.
  • Students are required to work in two genres.
  • MCW accepts an incoming class of twelve students per year distributed across four genres (typically with more fiction writers and poets than screenwriters or playwrights) for an overall cohort of thirty-six students.
  • Housed in the Department of English.
  • Students are funded through teaching assistantships in both literature and creative writing contexts for five out of their six semesters in the program, with one semester funded through a non-working fellowship.
  • Offers concentrations in fiction and poetry.
  • Students may elect to work in a second genre, but are not required to do so.
  • Typically accepts three poets and three fiction writers into the program each year for a total cohort of eighteen students.
  • Housed in...
  • Students are funded through nonworking fellowships and do not teach.
  • Offers concentrations in fiction, poetry, playwriting, and screenwriting.
  • Accepts an incoming class of twelve students per year distributed across four genres (typically with more fiction writers and poets than screenwriters or playwrights) for an overall cohort of thirty-six students.

Through shared courses and events, the cohorts of both programs intermingle to create one community.

Please note that applicants who apply to both MFA programs do not need to pay the application fee twice. When submitting their second application, applicants should select the option that says, “I will pay The University of Texas at Austin directly, outside of ApplyTexas.” Once the second application has been processed, the graduate school will automatically waive the application fee.

The New School News

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new school mfa creative writing

MFA Creative Writing Faculty Alumni and Faculty Land on New York Times, NPR Best Book Lists

2017 was a big year for alumni and faculty authors from the MFA Creative Writing program. Of the 37 books published by those authors this year, 10 of them landed on several Best Books of 2017 lists.

Among the most listed was faculty member Katie Mitamura, whose book,  A Separation   was named to   The New York Times “100 Notable Books of 2017,”  NPR ‘s  “Best Books of 2017,”  Huffington Post ‘s “The Best Fiction Books of 2017,” and  The Brooklyn Rail ‘s “Best Books of 2017.” Sarah Gerard was among the most listed alum: her book,  Sunshine State , made it to both the NPR and  Brooklyn Rail  lists, as well as  The New York Times “Times Critics’ Top Books of 2017.

Check out the full list:

The New York Times “100 Notable Books of 2017”

Katie Kitamura, MFA faculty,  A Separation

The New York Times “Times Critics’ Top Books of 2017”

Sarah Gerard, MFA ’12,  Sunshine State

NPR “Best Books of 2017”

Katie Kitamura, MFA faculty,   A Separation

Renee Watson, BA ’09,  Piecing Me Together

Jenny Zhang, BA faculty,  Sour Heart

Kirkus Reviews “Best Indie Books of 2017”

Yorker Keith, MFA ’09,  The Other La  Bohème

Huffington Post “The Best Fiction Books of 2017”

The brooklyn rail “best books of 2017”.

Ahmad Al-Ashqar, MFA ’17,  Advances in Embroidery

Patricia Carlin, BA faculty,  Second Nature

Sarah Gerard, MFA ’12,  Sunshine State

Seventeen Magazine “27 Best Young Adult Books of 2017”

Jenny Han, MFA ’05,  Always and Forever, Laura Jean

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To apply to any of our Bachelor's programs (Except the Bachelor's Program for Adult Transfer Students) complete and submit the Common App online.

Graduates and Adult Learners

To apply to any of our Master's, Doctural, Professional Studies Diploma, Graduates Certificate, or Associate's programs, or to apply to the Bachelor's Program for Adult and Transfer Students, complete and submit the New School Online Application.

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How to Apply

On this page, you'll find a checklist of required application materials and instructions. All required materials should be submitted before the posted deadlines. Our Office of Admission has created videos  to help you prepare the various elements of your application file.

Application Deadlines

Fall Priority Deadline: January 15; rolling admission after this date

FAFSA (U.S. Citizens and Eligible Non-citizens) Fall Applicants: February 1

The Creative Writing MFA does not accept spring applications. 

To be most competitive for admission and merit scholarship consideration, please apply before the priority deadline. The Admission Committee will make a decision on your application only after all the required materials have been received. We will continue to review applications submitted after the priority deadline if space is available in the concentration and program. Please email us at [email protected] to ask if we are still accepting applications.

Prior Degree Completion

Graduate degree applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university or an equivalent degree from a  university outside the United States. Applicants in the process of completing the bachelor's degree may apply for admission.

Applicant Profile

Our master's program in creative writing is based on the principle that writing is a skill that can be learned through practice. Good writers can come from any background. We are a community that cares deeply about literary excellence and about the influence writers can have beyond the world of letters. Whether or not you are already published, we welcome your interest in developing your life as a writer.

The Application Process

Applicants are required to apply online . You must complete all required fields and upload materials prior to submission. Most materials can be submitted electronically via the online application. Any additional supporting documents that need to be sent electronically or by mail must include an Application Materials Cover Sheet . All supporting materials must be received before your application can be reviewed.

If you're planning to apply using a school email address, please confirm you can receive our email first. Some schools block email from outside their domains. 

The 2025 application will become available in mid-September.

The application fee for U.S. domestic applicants and international applicants is $50. Application fees are paid through the online application and are non-refundable. The New School waives application fees for those who meet the eligibility guidelines listed in the Application Fee Waivers section of our university-wide How to Apply page.

In approximately 500 words, explain your interest in and preparation for pursuing graduate study in creative writing. Discuss your relationship to contemporary literature and how your graduate work will help you attain your academic and/or professional goals. Consider this statement another sample of your creative writing and an opportunity to tell us something about yourself that your application might not otherwise show. 

Submit a one to two-page résumé/curriculum vitae summarizing your academic qualifications, relevant work experience, published writing, volunteer/community work, professional networking, public speaking, and/or any other relevant experiences that may relate to your field of study, including dates and positions held. Please also note any special language or computer skills that you have.

At least two letters of recommendation from professional and/or academic references are required. Recommendations must be submitted by recommenders directly via the online application portal. Instructions are included in the online application.

Applicants must upload an unofficial transcript, mark sheet, or academic record for each institution (even if you didn’t receive a degree) in the Academic History section of the online application.

All uploaded transcripts must be accompanied by a key, a legend, or the back copy of the transcript. Non-English transcripts must be accompanied by an English translation. Records from non-U.S. institutions must have grades or marks and contain a copy of diploma if the degree has been conferred. Make sure your name appears on the transcript/record. Scanned documents must be clear and legible.

If you experience trouble uploading your transcript, email [email protected] and give a detailed description of the issue and attach the document in question.

The New School reserves the right to require official transcripts or an official NACES course-by-course evaluation at any time during the admission process. Any fraudulent activity or discrepancies found between uploaded and official transcripts will result in the immediate revocation of admission and/or dismissal from The New School. 

Applicants offered admission will be required to submit official, final transcripts with proof of their degree conferral prior to enrollment. Admitted applicants must submit all official transcripts pertaining to their entire academic career. Transcripts uploaded with the online application are considered unofficial and do not satisfy this requirement.

Students with International Credentials Seeking Transfer Credit

Graduate and postgraduate applicants who are seeking transfer credit and attended postsecondary institutions outside of the United States are required to submit official transcripts and translation (if transcript is not in English). 

While not required, students may have their transcript(s) evaluated by World Education Services (WES), by Education Credential Evaluators (ECE), or by another member of the National Association of Credit Evaluation Services (NACES).  Follow all document requirements as outlined on the evaluation service providers’ websites. Evaluations completed by WES or ECE will be sent directly to us electronically by the vendor.  All other NACES provider evaluations should be mailed directly by the vendor to the address for Supplemental Materials.

How to Submit Electronic Transcripts The New School accepts electronic transcripts only from our approved vendors:

  • National Student Clearinghouse
  • Parchment Exchange
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We do not accept electronic transcripts sent directly by a student or school offices. All international academic credentials must be submitted as indicated in the Additional Information for Specific Applicant Populations section.

Whenever possible, please send all official communication electronically, including transcripts, letters of recommendation, and tuition deposits.

In rare circumstances where items must be mailed, please send to:

The New School Office of Admission 55 West 13th Street New York, NY 10011

All materials and documents submitted in association with a New School application become the property of the New School and cannot be returned to you or transmitted to a third party.

Your writing portfolio should demonstrate your skills and a body of work of a quality sufficient to allow you to advance to graduate-level study.

  • Arts Writing:  Submit 10 to 12 pages of writing about any kind of culture or the equivalent of 10 pages of a text/image or hybrid work, such as text/audio, or text/moving image with media embedded in the document.
  • Poetry: Submit 10 pages of poetry.
  • Fiction or Nonfiction: Submit 12 to 20 pages of prose.
  • Writing for Children and Young Adults: Submit 12 to 20 pages of prose or a draft of a book for children or young adults.

Portfolio manuscripts must be set in type (or printed-letter quality) and double-spaced (for prose). If the submitted materials have been published, please provide a brief statement with the materials that includes publication history, as well as any major editorial assistance (such as paid editorial or use of AI). Applicants with substantial accomplishments in more than one area of concentration may request that their application be considered for a dual concentration. In those cases, applicants should provide a writing sample appropriate for the second concentration and declare primary and secondary fields of study.

All applicants whose first language is not English must submit valid English language proficiency test results taken within the past two years. 

We permit applicants to submit one of the following tests:  TOEFL iBT ,  IELTS Academic ,  PTE Academic , Duolingo English Test , or Cambridge English Test .

Minimum required scores are:

  • TOEFL iBT- 92
  • IELTS - 7.0
  • Duolingo English Test - 115
  • Cambridge English - 185

Our TOEFL institution code is 2521.

The New School does not require TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, DET, or Cambridge English scores for applicants who have earned a four-year degree from a U.S. college/university or from a university where English is the primary language of instruction, with a minimum of three years attendance (transfer students only). Completion of a master’s degree at university where English is the primary language of instruction does not satisfy this requirement. 

After reviewing your application, the Office of Admission may require you to submit an English Language Proficiency test score to evaluate your candidacy. 

We accept test scores taken within the past two years. If your scores are older, you must retake the test.

Prospective students with disabilities or health-related needs may consider requesting to their testing agency directly for reasonable testing accommodations for their English language proficiency test. Students are encouraged to make these requests to their testing agency as early as possible to meet admission deadlines.

Applicants also have the option of enrolling in The New School English as a Second Language (ESL) program. Students must pass Level 6 to waive the English language test requirement. Visit the ESL website for more information.

Applicants must indicate their interest in being considered for merit tuition scholarship. These awards are determined by their application’s strength.

If you are a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to be considered for need-based financial aid. The FAFSA is available each year on October 1. The New School’s federal school code is 002780. You don’t need to wait for an admission decision to apply for federal aid. Our Financial Aid staff are available to guide you through the process of applying for financial aid.

Applications become complete and ready for review once all required items have been received by the Office of Admission. You can check your application status in the Admission Hub .

Allow at least 14 days from the date you submitted your application for items to be marked as received in your Admission Hub. Applicants are responsible for following up with schools and recommenders to confirm that transcripts and recommendations have been sent.

The Office of Admission will periodically notify applicants by email if their file is missing any documents and again when their file is complete for review. These notifications are sent to the email address provided in the online application.

If you need to change your email address, mailing address, or other contact information, email the Office of Admission .

Decisions will be released on a rolling basis starting in mid-March.

Additional Information and Instructions

The Office of Admission is here to help you navigate the application process. Email  [email protected]  if you have any questions.

In any given academic year, a student can apply to only one department or program within The New School. Applicants who file more than one application in an academic year will be required to withdraw one of the applications, and application fees will not be refunded.

All materials and documents submitted in association with The New School application become the property of The New School and cannot be returned to you or transmitted to a third party.

Students who wish to return to a graduate degree program after an absence of four semesters must reapply via the graduate application. They must first confirm that their program is still accepting applications and that they are meeting time limit requirements (if applicable), before completing the application.

The New School welcomes undocumented students and students who hold DACA status to apply. Undocumented status does not affect the admissions process or your final admission decision. For questions about financial aid, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at [email protected] .

Learn more about how we support undocumented students.

Tips From Our Team

Our admissions team has created this collection of short how-to videos to help guide you through the process of preparing a successful graduate degree application.

Writing a Strong Statement of Purpose

Writing a Strong Statement of Purpose

Preparing Your Academic Writing Sample

Preparing Your Academic Writing Sample

Contacting Faculty Before You Apply

Contacting Faculty Before You Apply

Requesting Letters of Recommendation

Requesting Letters of Recommendation

Financing Your Graduate Education

Financing Your Graduate Education

Submitting Academic Transcripts Video Image

Submitting Academic Transcripts

Preparing a Solid Portfolio for Parsons

Preparing a Solid Portfolio for Parsons

Applying as an International Student - Video Still

Applying as an International Student

Take the Next Step

  • Request Information

Admission Contact Merida Escandon Gasbarro 72 Fifth Avenue, 1st floor New York, NY 10011 646.909.1108 [email protected]

Program Contact Creative Writing Program 66 West 12th St. New York, NY 10011 [email protected] 212.229.5611

Related Links

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Undergraduates.

To apply to any of our undergraduate programs (except the Bachelor's Program for Adults and Transfer Students and Parsons Associate of Applied Science programs) complete and submit the Common App online.

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To apply to any of our Bachelor's Program for Adults and Transfer Students and Parsons Associate of Applied Science programs, complete and submit the New School Online Application.

To apply to any of our Master's, Doctoral, Professional Studies Diploma, and Graduate Certificate programs, complete and submit the New School Online Application.

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Admission Steps

Professional writing - professional creative nonfiction writing - ma, admission requirements.

Terms and Deadlines

Degree and GPA Requirements

Additional Standards for Non-Native English Speakers

Additional standards for international applicants.

For the 2025-2026 academic year

See 2024-2025 requirements instead

Fall 2025 quarter (beginning in September)

Final submission deadline: August 1, 2025

International submission deadline: May 5, 2025

Winter 2026 quarter (beginning in January)

Final submission deadline: November 21, 2025

International submission deadline: September 8, 2025

Spring 2026 quarter (beginning in March)

Final submission deadline: February 13, 2026

International submission deadline: December 8, 2025

Summer 2026 quarter (beginning in June)

Final submission deadline: May 1, 2026

International submission deadline: February 23, 2026

Final submission deadline: Applicants cannot submit applications after the final submission deadline.

Degrees and GPA Requirements

Bachelors degree: All graduate applicants must hold an earned baccalaureate from a regionally accredited college or university or the recognized equivalent from an international institution.

University GPA requirement: The minimum grade point average for admission consideration for graduate study at the University of Denver must meet one of the following criteria:

A cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the baccalaureate degree.

A cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits (approximately two years of work) for the baccalaureate degree.

An earned master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution or the recognized equivalent from an international institution supersedes the minimum GPA requirement for the baccalaureate.

A cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all graduate coursework completed for applicants who have not earned a master’s degree or higher.

Official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), C1 Advanced or Duolingo English Test are required of all graduate applicants, regardless of citizenship status, whose native language is not English or who have been educated in countries where English is not the native language. Your TOEFL/IELTS/C1 Advanced/Duolingo English Test scores are valid for two years from the test date.

The minimum TOEFL/IELTS/C1 Advanced/Duolingo English Test score requirements for this degree program are:

Minimum TOEFL Score (Internet-based test): 80 with minimum of 20 on each subscore

Minimum IELTS Score: 6.5 with minimum of 6.0 on each band score

Minimum C1 Advanced Score: 176

Minimum Duolingo English Test Score: 115 with individual subscore minimum of 105 for Literacy, Comprehension, and Conversation and minimum subscore of 95 for Production.

Additional Information:

Read the English Language Proficiency policy for more details.

Read the Required Tests for GTA Eligibility policy for more details.

Per Student & Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) regulation, international applicants must meet all standards for admission before an I-20 or DS-2019 is issued, [per U.S. Federal Register: 8 CFR § 214.3(k)] or is academically eligible for admission and is admitted [per 22 C.F.R. §62]. Read the Additional Standards For International Applicants policy for more details.

Application Materials

Transcripts, letters of recommendation.

Required Essays and Statements

Writing Sample

We require a scanned copy of your transcripts from every college or university you have attended. Scanned copies must be clearly legible and sized to print on standard 8½-by-11-inch paper. Transcripts that do not show degrees awarded must also be accompanied by a scanned copy of the diploma or degree certificate. If your academic transcripts were issued in a language other than English, both the original documents and certified English translations are required.

Transcripts and proof of degree documents for postsecondary degrees earned from institutions outside of the United States will be released to a third-party international credential evaluator to assess U.S. education system equivalencies. Beginning July 2023, a non-refundable fee for this service will be required before the application is processed.

Upon admission to the University of Denver, official transcripts will be required from each institution attended.

Recommendations are optional and not required as part of admission materials. The admission committee reserves the right to request recommendations when reviewing an admission application.

Essays and Statements

Personal statement instructions.

At University College, we strive to foster a collaborative and engaging learning environment that emphasizes the practical application of knowledge and supports self-directed, motivated learners. Our programs are designed to build upon the unique background and experiences of adult learners.   A personal statement (two pages double-spaced, 450-500 words) written in your own words and unique voice, without the help of AI-based assistance, is required and should be submitted via the application status page. In your personal statement please answer the following questions: 1. How does your chosen program/concentration align with your personal and professional goals? 2. In what ways will your work experiences, professional background, previous education, or other lived experiences enable you to contribute to an engaging learning environment?

Résumé Instructions

The résumé (or C.V.) should include work experience, research, and/or volunteer work.

Writing Sample Instructions

The Master of Arts in Professional Creative Writing requires a sample of your creative writing, preferably in the genre of the concentration to which you are applying. The sample may comprise 2-3 double-spaced pages of prose (fiction or creative nonfiction), 30-40 single- or double-spaced lines of poetry, or 1-2 single-spaced pages of dramatic writing (monologue, play, or screenplay).

Start the Application

Online Application

Financial Aid Information

Start your application.

Your submitted materials will be reviewed once all materials and application fees have been received.

Our program can only consider your application for admission if our Office of Graduate Education has received all your online materials and supplemental materials by our application deadline.

Application Fee: $75.00 Application Fee

International Degree Evaluation Fee: $50.00 Evaluation Fee for degrees (bachelor's or higher) earned from institutions outside the United States.

Applicants should complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 15. Visit the Office of Financial Aid for additional information.

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  • 10 Things To Do In...

10 Things to Do in Sochi If You Love Nature

Lake Kardyvach. Sochi

Host to 2014 Winter Olympics , Sochi is now mostly known for the snowy slopes of Krasnaya Polyana and Rosa Khutor Alpine resort. However, the “Russian Riviera” is much more than a glorified ski-resort. With its picturesque waterfalls and pristine lakes, alpine meadows and spruce-fir forests, snow-capped mountains and dreamy river valleys, Sochi is an ultimate nature lover’s dream.

Aul tkhagapsh.

Founded in the middle of the 19th century, this village only consists of two streets and two lanes. Circled by a picturesque chestnut forest, Aul Tkhagapsh is surrounded by many visually-arresting natural landmarks – a mysterious rock formation called “the canyon of a hundred crying eyes”, beautiful waterfalls with organically formed stone basins and the Tiger cave, which is called so because of the whimsical clay dripstones. Despite its tiny size, the village itself has a lot to offer. You can see the only wooden mosque on the coast, learn about the customs and traditions of the Adyghe people, try on traditional clothes and taste authentic food and local wines.

Aul Tkhagapsh, Krasnodar Krai, Russia

Aul Tkhagapsh. Sochi

If you love picturesque ancient ruins put the Loo Temple on your must-see list. Drowning in the lush greenery of the Sochi National Park, Loo Temple is the remains of a 10th-century Byzantine temple, that’s been ruined and reconstructed multiple times. The temple was used as a place of worship and a fortification over the years.

Loo Temple, Bolshoy Sochi, Krasnodar Krai,Russia

The ruins of an early medieval church in Loo, Sochi

Aibga Ridge

This spectacular mountain ridge stretches for 23 kilometers and has the Rosa Khutor Alpine Resort nestled at its feet. The ridge comprises of 10 peaks, with the four tallest being the best known: Aigba peak I (2391 m), peak II (2450,5 m), peak III (2462,7 m) and Black Pyramid (2375,3 m). Save a day or two to explore the ridge, full of rapid rivers, alpine meadows and waterfalls.

Aibga Ridge, Krasnodar Krai, Russia

people cheering on a mountain

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Aibga Ridge, Sochi

Achepsinskie Waterfalls

To admire the spectacular views that Achepsinskie Waterfalls offer, you’ll have to endure a pretty tiring trekking route through the Achishkho Mountain to the Achipse River. But those striking panoramas are totally worth the sweat and while the trekking may be tough going, it has a very decent infrastructure.

Achipse River, Krasnodar Krai, Russia

Achishkho mountain, Sochi

Khmelevskie Lakes

Located almost 2000 meters above sea level, Khmelevskie Lakes is an alpine lake system, named after the Russian botanist Vikenty Khmelevsky. Spread around emerald-green alpine meadows and surrounded by lush green forests, there are four rather sizable overgrown lakes and a few smaller ones.

Khmelevskie Lake, Krasnodar Krai, Russia

Khmelevskie Lakes, Sochi

Lake Kardyvach

Arguably the most popular tourist spot near Sochi, Lake Kardyvach is simply breathtaking. Situated 44 kilometers from the Krasnaya Polyana resort at the altitude of 1838 meters, the lake stays frozen for seven to eight months a year and even in summer the water temperature is never hotter than 12℃. The water in the lake changes its color depending on the time of year: in spring it turns green and in autumn it becomes dark blue, and no matter what season, it’s unbelievably clear. Lake Kardyvach, Krasnodar Krai, Russia

Akhshtyrskaya Cave

A unique monument of prehistoric architecture, Akhshtyrskaya Cave is set on the right side of Akhshtyrskaya Gorge, about 120m above the Mzymta River and 185m above sea level. The cave begins with a 20m corridor and then gets divided into two halls, 10m and 8m wide. The cave has been heavily explored by archaeologists, who discovered traces of Neanderthal culture dating back to 40,000 BC.

Akhshtyrskaya Cave, Bolshoy Sochi, Krasnodar Krai,Russia

Akhshtyrskaya Cave, Sochi

Shakhe River

Sochi’s second most significant river, Shakhe begins high in the mountains and flows down to the Black Sea . 59 kilometers long, the river has some amazing natural attractions in its valley: Dzhegosh Gorge, 33 waterfalls, stone lake basins, ancient oak trees, rare plant life and so much more.

Shakhe River, Krasnodar Krai,Russia

Shakhe River, Sochi

Agura Waterfalls and Orlinyye Rocks

This is one of the most exciting hiking routes in the area. Taking you through spruce fir forest, to three cascading waterfalls and the sheer cliffs of the Orlinyye Rocks with head-spinning views. Agura Waterfalls, Bolshoy Sochi, Krasnodar Krai,Russia

Agurskie Falls, Sochi

Words can’t do justice to the virgin beauty of the Khuko Lake and scientists are still puzzling over the absence of any life in it. Set between Adygea and Krasnodar Krai, the lake offers incredible views of the mountains Fisht, Oshten and Pshekha-Su.

Khaki Lake, Krasnodar Krai,Russia

Lake Khuko

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new school mfa creative writing

I will be staying in Adler during the Olympics but going frequently to Rosa Khutor for the alpine skiing. Any idea what is the best public transport to get there? Is the train to Krasnaya Polyana the best solution? How long will it take? Best thanks your advice!

You can find lots of information about the spectator transportation system here:

http://www.sochi2014.com/en/games/spectator/transport/

Will any of the ski resorts near Sochi be open in January or February? I'll be working at the Olympics and would love to get some skiing in. Thanks

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.

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  • GreenLeaders

● ● ●



The climate of Sochi ( Russia ) Sochi is a large city located in the southwestern part of Russia on the Black Sea in the northern part of the Caucasus. It is an important seaside resort on the Black Sea which is also known as the Russian Riviera. Sochi is both a popular seaside resort and a popular winter sports destination. This combination is very unique in the world. Mainly Russian tourists visit Sochi. However, since it will host the 2014 Winter Games the city is aiming for more foreign tourists. Sochi is known as one of the longest cities in the world. The agglomeration stretches for 150 kilometers. Most tourists visit the city during the summer. Summers are very pleasant with temperatures far above 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) Peaks in temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) are not uncommon. During the summer the temperature of the Black Sea is also above 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit). Sochi has a warm continental climate which is very warm by Russian standards. Several sources even state that Sochi has a subtropical climate. However, this is incorrect, but with an average annual temperature of 14 degrees Celsius (57 degrees Fahrenheit) the climate is anything but cold. If you travel to the north toward the northern part of Caucasus temperatures are much lower. This is mainly caused by high altitudes here. This also causes this part of the Caucasus to be an ideal winter sports destination. Because of the influence of the Black Sea extremes are much more uncommon here than in the more northerly located cities in Russia. Precipitation figures are highest during the winter. Average annual precipitation figures are low in Sochi.


temperature (°C)


temperature (°C)

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per month
per month
temperature (°C)
9 2 3 16 10
9 3 4 14 9
11 4 5 14 9
16 8 6 15 11
20 12 7 14 16
24 15 9 12 21
26 18 9 9 24
26 18 9 10 25
23 15 8 10 23
19 11 6 11 19
15 7 4 14 15
11 4 3 17 11
 

weather (cyclones)

here

Disclaimer The information at this site was carefully composed from climate data collected by meteorological services, meteorological offices, climate experts and other sources. “More climate info” is based on statistics, climate data and personal experience. No rights can be derived from this site. Weather has no memory and gives no guaranties. Nothing is as changeable and unpredictable as the weather. The authors of this site feel in no way responsible for any damages caused by misinterpretation or other circumstances that may influence your holiday or trip to a certain destination. We provide information, it’s up to the reader to use it to it’s benefit.  

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  1. Everything you need to know about an MFA in creative writing!

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  4. The New School MFA in Creative Writing (AWP Campus Visit Video Series

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  5. Creative Writing Degree (MFA)

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  6. MFA in Creative Writing Update: Time and Perspective

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  1. Creative Writing MFA Program in New York

    The New School invites you to join a community of diverse writers, become part of New York City's publishing world, and build a network of support on campus and beyond. Our prestigious MFA Creative Writing program is designed to help you develop your writing in supportive workshops and literature seminars led by an internationally recognized ...

  2. Creative Writing MFA Program in New York

    Creative Writing Program. The New School invites you to join a community of diverse writers, become part of New York City's publishing world, and build a network of support on campus and beyond. Our prestigious MFA Creative Writing program is designed to help you develop your writing in supportive workshops and literature seminars led by an ...

  3. Creative Writing Curriculum

    Curriculum. The Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing is awarded for the successful completion of 36 credits in one of the following concentrations: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Arts Writing, or Writing for Children and Young Adults. Popular graduate minors include Impact Entrepreneurship and Transmedia and Digital Storytelling.

  4. 15 Best Creative Writing MFA Programs in 2024

    1) Johns Hopkins University, MFA in Fiction/Poetry. This two-year program offers an incredibly generous funding package: $39,000 teaching fellowships each year. Not to mention, it offers that sweet, sweet health insurance, mind-boggling faculty, and the option to apply for a lecture position after graduation.

  5. FAQ: The New School MFA in Creative WritingCreative Writing

    Yes and no. Creative writing has been taught at The New School since 1931, when The New School offered one of the first creative writing workshops in the world. We celebrated the 20 th anniversary of the MFA program in 2016. On the occasion of The New School's Centennial, Robert Polito, the founding director of the MFA program, wrote an essay ...

  6. Creative Writing (MFA)

    The MFA Program in Creative Writing consists of a vibrant community of writers working together in a setting that is both challenging and supportive. This stimulating environment fosters the development of talented writers of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. The program is not defined by courses alone, but by a life built around writing.

  7. MFA Creative Writing Students Collaborate with Parsons ...

    December 16, 2021 MFA Creative Writing Students Collaborate with Parsons Scholars to Help High School Seniors Applying to College. This fall, fellows from the WriteOn NYC program at the Schools of Public Engagement offered assistance to students in the Parsons Scholars program who were going through the college application process. The fellows—MFA Creative Writing students who have been ...

  8. MFA Creative Writing Alums Are Transforming The Publishing Landscape

    The New School's students, alums, and faculty engage in groundbreaking scholarly research, creative practice, and scholarship that has a global and social impact. Our 34 academic centers and institutes defy disciplinary boundaries to address the world's most pressing problems. Research & Creative Practice

  9. MFA Program in Creative Writing

    The Creative Writing Program offers the MFA degree, with a concentration in either poetry or fiction. MFA students pursue intensive study with distinguished faculty committed to creative and intellectual achievement. Each year the department enrolls only eight MFA students, four in each concentration. Our small size allows us to offer a ...

  10. The Creative Writing Program's Writing for Children ...

    This access to a writing community was a strong draw for Eleanor Owens, MFA Creative Writing '21. "I believe one of the most important things I possibly could have gotten out of The New School's MFA program is the group of like-minded writers who have critiqued me, recommended incredible books, pushed me to grow, and changed me in ways I ...

  11. Creative Writing, M.F.A

    The M.F.A. fiction specialization at Brooklyn College is a two-year course that maintains an enrollment of 30 students. While every member of the ongoing and visiting faculty works according to their methods, we are united in our conviction that newer writers need a balance of encouragement and serious, thoroughly considered feedback.

  12. Creative Writing, Master

    The Creative Writing MFA program offered by The New School allows students to choose a concentration in Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, or Writing for Children and Young Adults. You receive personalized faculty mentorship and manuscript critiques, focusing on the creative acts of revision and self-editing.

  13. Admissions and Aid

    Financial Aid & Funding Opportunities. The New School is committed to alleviating the cost of graduate education whenever possible. Students admitted to the MFA Creative Writing program are eligible for an array of funding opportunities including merit-based institutional scholarships that cover up to 75 percent of tuition cost. Learn More.

  14. The New School Creative Writing

    The New School Creative Writing (@newschoolwriting) • Instagram photos and videos. 3,141 Followers, 1,098 Following, 406 Posts - The New School Creative Writing (@newschoolwriting) on Instagram: "The MFA - Creative Writing Program @thenewschool • Find us on Twitter @NewSchoolWrites • Connect with our community #nswrites • Discover more ...

  15. MFA Programs Database: 255 Programs for Creative Writers

    Our list of 255 MFA programs for creative writers includes essential information about low-residency and full-residency graduate creative writing programs in the United States and other English-speaking countries to help you decide where to apply. It also includes MA programs and PhD programs.

  16. Fully Funded MFA Programs in Creative Writing

    Here is the list of 53 universities that offer fully-funded MFA programs (Master's of Fine Arts) in Creative Writing. University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL): Students admitted to the MFA Program are guaranteed full financial support for up to 4-years. Assistantships include a stipend paid over nine months (currently $14,125), and full payment ...

  17. Admissions

    The MFA Program in Creative Writing and Literature accepts applications for admission ... Please use SUNY Stony Brook Graduate School's online application. Create an account to begin a new application. ... A New York resident who takes a full-time load of three courses for 12 credits would pay $9,177.90 for the semester, inclusive of fees and ...

  18. Which MFA?

    The University of Texas at Austin offers two MFA programs in creative writing through the New Writers Project (NWP) and the Michener Center for Writers (MCW). While they share courses, faculty, events, and communities, the programs have separate admissions processes and distinct plans of study.

  19. MFA Creative Writing Faculty Alumni and Faculty Land ...

    The New School's students, alums, and faculty engage in groundbreaking scholarly research, creative practice, and scholarship that has a global and social impact. Our 34 academic centers and institutes defy disciplinary boundaries to address the world's most pressing problems. Research & Creative Practice

  20. How to Apply

    The New School offered the first academic creative writing workshop in 1931 and pioneered a new philosophy of education. The idea: Students would make their own lives and their own stories part of their education. Today, The New School continues to celebrate and cultivate daring and diverse new voices through its creative writing program. Learn ...

  21. Professional Writing

    The Master of Arts in Professional Creative Writing requires a sample of your creative writing, preferably in the genre of the concentration to which you are applying. The sample may comprise 2-3 double-spaced pages of prose (fiction or creative nonfiction), 30-40 single- or double-spaced lines of poetry, or 1-2 single-spaced pages of dramatic ...

  22. 10 Things to Do in Sochi If You Love Nature

    Shakhe River. Sochi's second most significant river, Shakhe begins high in the mountains and flows down to the Black Sea. 59 kilometers long, the river has some amazing natural attractions in its valley: Dzhegosh Gorge, 33 waterfalls, stone lake basins, ancient oak trees, rare plant life and so much more.

  23. Sochi, Krasnodar, RU Climate Zone, Monthly Averages, Historical Weather

    The district's yearly temperature is 15.4ºC (59.72ºF) and it is 10.13% higher than Russia's averages. Sochi typically receives about 92.67 millimeters (3.65 inches) of precipitation and has 141.92 rainy days (38.88% of the time) annually. Average annual precip.

  24. Rosa Khutor

    I will be staying in Adler during the Olympics but going frequently to Rosa Khutor for the alpine skiing. Any idea what is the best public transport to get there?

  25. Sochi climate info

    During the summer the temperature of the Black Sea is also above 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit). Sochi has a warm continental climate which is very warm by Russian standards. Several sources even state that Sochi has a subtropical climate. However, this is incorrect, but with an average annual temperature of 14 degrees Celsius (57 ...