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How to Apply to
the M.F.A. Program
 

 

Applications for Fall 2009 admission to the University of Oregon’s Creative Writing Program
will be accepted beginning October 1, 2008.

Students applying to the M.F.A. in Creative Writing program are required to submit two packets of materials: one to the Office of Admissions and one to the Creative Writing Program.

Submitting to: Office of Admissions

  1. UO Graduate Admission Application. Application for Admission to Graduate School at the UO is through an online application. The online application requires payment of a $50.00 application fee using VISA or MasterCard.

    NOTE: We realize that, in some instances, it may not be possible for an applicant to use the online process. Although the paper application may take several weeks longer to process, you must have access to a computer where you can download the application in a PDF format, complete it online, and then print it to mail with your check to the Office of Admissions. Handwritten applications will not be accepted. Please make two copies: one for your records and one for Step 1 of Submitting to the Creative Writing Program below.

  2. Application Fee. A $50.00 application fee must accompany your application to the Office Admissions. If applying online, the application fee must be made using VISA or MasterCard; however, if applying by mail, a check or money order must be included.

  3. Official Transcripts. Submit by mail, official transcripts from all institutions from which you have earned a degree.
Office of Admissions
1217 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403 -1217

Mail the following to the Creative Writing Program:

  1. UO Graduate Admission Application. If you submitted your application online, it is not necessary to send a copy of the application; the Office of Admissions automatically forwards a copy to our office where we then match the materials you send with your application. If mailing your application to the Office of Admissions, please mail a copy to the Creative Writing Program (see address below).

  2. Personal Statement. Describe your background and interest in creative writing, teachers and/or writers who have influenced you, your goals beyond graduation, and your specific interest in the UO Creative Writing Program. Also state if you wish to be considered for a Graduate Teaching Fellowship. The personal statement should be no longer than three pages, double-spaced in 12-point font with one-inch margins.

  3. Writing Sample. Submit one copy of the creative writing sample. For poetry, the sample should consist of 10 poems or up to 14 pages of poetry. For fiction, send two short stories, or a chapter of a novel, or a substantial portion of a sustained work, up to 25 pages in length. Writing sample pages should be double-spaced in 12-point font with one-inch margins.

  4. Official Transcripts. Submit official copies of transcripts from ALL institutions you have attended. (Note: This is different from the Office of Admissions requirement.)

  5. Letters of Recommendation. Submit three confidential letters of recommendation from persons familiar with your writing, intellectual ability, academic record, and who can provide an estimation of your success as a teacher if applying for a Graduate Teaching Fellowship. Provide each recommender with a copy of the Graduate Evaluation Form after completing and signing the first page. The recommender may choose to give you the letter to include with your application packet or send his or her letter directly to the Creative Writing Program. Either way, each letter should be in a sealed envelope with the recommender's signature across the seal. We recommended that you request these letters well in advance (2-3 months) of our application deadline as most professors have numerous obligations to fulfill.

  6. Application for Graduate Teaching Fellowship. If you wish to be considered for a teaching fellowship, you must complete and submit the Application for Graduate Teaching Fellowship. Please note that only three references are required to be listed on the application form. The references may be the same individuals who write your letters of recommendation.

  7. POSTMARK DEADLINE: January 15, 2009

    To minimize lost documents and incomplete applications, we use a self-managed application process. You, the applicant, are responsible for gathering all documents required to complete your application and submitting by the deadline. All materials must be postmarked by the postmark deadline.

    All application materials become the property of the University of Oregon and will not be returned.
Creative Writing Program
5243 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403

Additional Notes:

  1. Applicants may apply to both genres. Although only one online application and fee is required, two complete and separate packets must be submitted to the Creative Writing Program for consideration.

  2. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are NOT required.

  3. There is no foreign language requirement.

  4. You need not have been an English major as an undergraduate, but you should be familiar enough with English and American literature to satisfactorily complete graduate literature courses.

International Students
All international students applying for graduate admission at the University of Oregon are required to complete a Supplementary Application and Financial Statement for International Students. Upon verification of the student's financial ability to pay for the educational and living experiences, the UO will issue a Certificate of Eligibility, which is required in order for a student to apply for a visa. Send the Supplementary Application and Financial Statement to Office of Admissions, 240 Oregon Hall, 1217 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-1217.

Application Status
Upon receipt of your Graduate Admission Application form by the Creative Writing Program, the department will issue you an I.D. and password. You can then view the status of your application by accessing our online admission status web site. The website is updated daily (Monday through Friday), and allows you to ensure that we have received all of your application materials, including letters of recommendation and transcripts. It is your responsibility to ensure all materials are postmarked before the deadline.

Notification
Admission decisions will be made by mid-March. All notifications will be sent by mail. We will not discuss admission results via e-mail or phone.

  
   
 
 
   


Creative Writing Program
5243 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403-5243
Phone: (541) 346-3944
Fax: (541) 346-0537
crwrweb@uoregon.edu