Admissions & Application

245 S. River Street 570-408-4547 (T) 570-408-3333 (F) Email

Admissions Requirements
Because admission to the program is highly dependent upon writing samples and because the program is a Master of Arts in Creative Writing, not a Master of Arts in English, any bachelor's degree* from an accredited institution will be accepted for admission. No GRE exams are required.

Admission to the master and certificate programs will be based most prominently upon the student's required writing samples. You must submit two writing samples, which are outlined below.

Students in the certificate program may apply for enrollment in the Master of Arts program. The credits in the certificate program automatically transfer into the Master of Arts program. Price per credit hours is the same as those of the Master of Arts.

Admission is selective and limited to a maximum of 50 students in the January and June residencies respectively.

* A bachelor's degree is not required for applicants for the 15-credit certificate program, but applicants must submit the same evidence of creative work as the master of arts applicants.

Applicants must

• be able to work well independently.
• be passionate about the writing life and patiently willing to receive developmental criticism.
• have basic familiarity with computers, e-mail and word processing.

Application Procedure

1. Completed Application for MA/MFA in Creative Writing
   AcrobatReader needed to download the application.
2. $35 non-refundable application fee
3. Official transcript of all college work, undergraduate and graduate
4. Two letters of recommendation (Optional: Only required to be considered for a Graduate Assistantship.)
5. Creative writing sample...
   Submit 15-25 pages of published and/or unpublished work in any form or genre, work that gives a sense of the applicant’s creative abilities.
6. Essay response
   In 5-10 pages, respond to the following three questions:
   
   1. Where are you in time and how did you
      get there?
   2. What are you going to do in the program?
   3. What will you do with your program accomplishments following graduation?
7. A current resumé that cites creative work study and accomplishment.
8. Applications can be e-mailed to cwriting@wilkes.edu, or mailed to Dr. Bonnie Culver, program director, or Dawn Leas, associate director, at the following address:
              M.A./M.F.A. Creative Writing Program
              Wilkes University
              84 West South St.
              Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766

Application Deadlines
Acceptance into the Master of Arts in Creative Writing program operates on a rolling admissions basis; however, to meet acceptance residency deadlines, completed applications must be received as follows:

• January Residency entrance into program
  • December 15 for regular admission; December 1 to be considered for Graduate Assistantships.

• June Residency entrance into program
  • May 15 for regular admission; May 1 to be considered for Graduate Assistantships.