Frequently Asked Questions for MFA Applicants and Prospective Students
status of application
money matters
How many new students are admitted each year?
We receive over 300 applications, out of which we enroll a total of 20-24 students—or seven or eight students in each of the three genres.
When are new students admitted?
Applications received by January 1st are considered for August enrollment. New students are only enrolled in the Fall semester; we do not do mid-year (i.e. Spring) admissions.
What are the minimum admissions requirements?
Applications for admission to the MFA program in Creative Writing must meet the general admission guidelines for the UNCW Graduate School. More details can be found in the online Graduate Catalogue, beginning on page 60. Though a specific GPA score is not listed, guidelines suggest a 3.0 or better.
Do I need to send my GRE scores?
The UNCW Graduate School does not require GRE scores for admission; that requirement is up to individual graduate programs. The MFA program in Creative Writing does not require applicants to take the GRE. If GRE scores are included in an application, they will not figure in our admissions decision.
Is there a particular style or type of writing that you are looking for?
No. We look for originality and quality in the writing, though not perfection. Like editors and publishers, the writers on our faculty have widely varying opinions and literary tastes, but ultimately are looking simply for the strongest writing. We do not generally admit students who want to focus exclusively in highly specialized areas such as children’s literature or science fiction/fantasy, because we do not offer writing workshops in these areas.
How do I apply?
Your application to the MFA program in Creative Writing at UNC-Wilmington will be submitted online to UNCW’s Graduate School. Along with your online application, you are required to upload an electronic copy of your manuscript (the writing sample), your personal essay (also called a statement of interest, purpose, or intent), and three letters of recommendation (the application process will make clear the procedures for requesting an electronic reference letter from your recommenders). If you are interested in being considered for an assistantship in teaching, publishing, or research, please upload a brief (one-two page) supplemental statement of relevant experience and interest in the autobiographical information section. In addition to the application materials submitted online, you will need to mail transcripts to the Graduate School.
A $60 non-refundable application fee is submitted online as part of the application.
All application materials (including the application fee) must be posted to the online application system no later than midnight on January 1st. Late applications cannot be accepted as the system closes at that time. You may begin to apply as soon as the system allows applications for the following year. (Around September 15)
DO NOT SEND transcripts or letters of recommendation to the Creative Writing Department as this will delay the Graduate School from receiving and recording your application materials.
The Graduate School receives floods of requests for confirmation of receipt of application materials. Please note that you will be contacted if missing items are needed (i.e. please consider waiting to hear from UNCW before requesting a receipt-confirmation). If you are having trouble with any part of the online application, please note that the Creative Writing Department will not be able to provide technical support. Please refer to the technical support options available through the online application or you may contact Kimberly Goerne in the Graduate School at (910) 962-7449. Delays in response time should be expected though the Graduate School will do their best to assist you with your application.
Finally, we appreciate your interest and hope you will continue reading!
How can I find out about your courses?
The Creative Writing Department provides course descriptions for classes offered in the current/coming semester; please see our MFA website.
Additionally, you may search the campus registration portal, SeaNet, to see what courses are offered at UNCW. Select the semester for which you wish to look up courses, and then choose the subject that interests you and ‘graduate’ as the course level. You may then narrow your search by any other fields relevant to your needs (for example, classes meeting on Wednesdays), or leave the rest unchecked to see all graduate classes offered for that subject. Aside from Creative Writing courses, you may also wish to review course offerings for English or Graduate Liberal Studies. The MFA program requirements allow for up to six, optional “interdisciplinary” credits (generally, two classes) to be applied towards the MFA degree. For more details about our MFA degree requirements, see the FAQs for Current MFA Students.
What can I do with an MFA in Creative Writing?
Poets & Writers offers this resource: http://www.pw.org/content/mfa_programs. Also noteworthy is an article found in the November/December 2007 issue of Poets & Writers: “In Defense of MFA Programs” by Joshua Henkin.
What kind of job could I get with a degree in Creative Writing?
UNCW's Career Center offers this: http://www.uncw.edu/stuaff/career/Majors/creativewriting.htm
I would like to change part of my online application. Is this possible?
If you haven’t yet submitted your application, you may log in to your in-progress application and delete the file you’d like to change and replace it with the corrected file. If you have already submitted your application, changes may be requested (i.e. aren’t guaranteed) by emailing Kimberly Goerne in the Graduate School
Can I send a résumé?
You may upload any supplemental materials that you feel are relevant to your application. A résumé is fine.
How many pages should my manuscript be? Should I send a cover page?
The manuscript should not be longer than 30 pages for fiction or creative nonfiction. It can be as short as you feel confident in the representation of your work, and may be made up of more that one piece of writing. Novel excerpts should be able to stand alone and feel like complete stories. Poetry manuscripts should not be longer than 10 total pages, with one poem per page (though multi-page poems are acceptable). Published work is fine but needs to be submitted in manuscript format, i.e., typed and double-spaced. (Poetry does not have to be double-spaced, but should be typed.) Please send a cover page with your name and the genre to which you are applying.
Can I apply to the MFA program in more than one genre?
Mixed-genre manuscripts will not be considered. You will need to fill out an application twice (in affect, applying to the MFA program in each genre), though you will not need to pay the application fee twice, nor will you need to submit two sets of transcripts or letters of recommendation (unless any of your letters of recommendation only address one genre of writing, in which case you’d need to provide a different letter in the second genre). You will create a second username and password to complete the second online application, and to the question ‘have you previously applied to the UNCW Graduate School?’ you will answer ‘yes’. This should bypass the application-fee requirement for the second application. If you have any trouble with your online application, please contact the Graduate School. Kimberly Goerne may be reached at (910) 962-7449 or at goernek@uncw.edu.
Can I work in more than one genre in the MFA program?
We encourage cross-genre study in our MFA program (in fact, it's a requirement); however, students in the program must choose one focus genre: poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction. For more details about our MFA degree requirements, including the cross-genre study requirement, please see FAQs for Current MFA Students.
I am an international student. What special information do I need to know?
Click here for information regarding international student requirements. Please note there is no special funding for international students through the Creative Writing Department --all applicants are considered for all available funding; the FAQs listed below give more detail regarding financial aid. Please see the information found in the online Graduate Catalogue, page 61, titled "Admissions - International Students." The University code for the TOEFL is 5907. For the Department code, list 98 for ‘other humanities.’
I am an international student, and I am not sure if my degree/ my credits meet requirements.
The UNCW Graduate School requires a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution. The most effective method to determine whether or not you meet these criteria is to request a course-by-course evaluation from WES http://wes.org/. This company evaluates international coursework and converts to semester credits and to U.S.-equivalent degrees.
My manuscript is in a specialized genre (science fiction/fantasy, children's literature, etc.). Will this hurt my chances of being accepted?
The writing sample is the most heavily-weighted element of the application, and most represents your potential as a writer in our program. Submitting a manuscript in a specialized genre likely won’t help demonstrate your suitability, as we do not offer writing workshops in these areas and therefore do not generally admit students who want to focus exclusively in such areas.
Can I submit a screenplay for my manuscript?
Though we occasionally do offer a course in screenwriting, since we don’t have a concentration or focus in screenwriting as part of our MFA program, submitting a screenplay may be viewed as too specialized by our faculty reviewers. It is, of course, up to you what you choose to submit.
Should I send a hard copy of my manuscript?
A hard copy is not necessary or requested. We receive all application materials electronically from the Graduate School.
I see that recommenders should submit their letters online. What should I tell them to do?
The online process for uploading letters of recommendation and other materials will become clear once you begin your application. (You will provide the contact information of your recommenders, and your recommenders will receive instructions via the application system to fill out a brief form and to upload their letter.) Please contact Kimberly Goerne in the UNCW Graduate School at (910) 962-7449 if you or your recommenders are having trouble.
Will mailed recommendation letters be accepted?
Applicants are strongly encouraged to have the recommender complete the online form; however, if for some reason the recommender is not willing to re-do a recommendation, the Graduate School will accept a paper copy (no additional forms are needed), sent to:
Graduate School
University of North Carolina Wilmington
601 South College Road
Wilmington, NC 28403-5955
My recommender misplaced the link to upload their recommendation to my online application. What should I do?
The recommender may contact the applicant to send a re-notification from the applicant’s online application. The applicant may access the application with the established user name and password, and follow the directions under the recommendation section to send a re-notification. The re-notification would include the link with password/pin. This is the preferred method. The Graduate School can send a re-notification if the above method fails; the applicant’s full name and the recommender’s name will be required.
Some of my letters of recommendation are several years old, or from work supervisors
rather than professors. Is this a problem?
More recent is better, of course, but it is appropriate to submit letters that are a few years old. The most effective recommendation letters come from individuals who are experienced at assessing writing, who know your work and your potential for graduate-level study, and who have some knowledge of the nature of MFA programs.
Do I need to include transcripts from all colleges attended?
The Graduate School requires transcripts of all college work. (Please note that transcripts from study-abroad programs won't be necessary, as long as the transferred credit is included on the transcripts from your home institution.)
Will you accept CDs or videos that accompany my application?
Creative materials (such as CDs or tapes) are generally not considered by our faculty reviewers.
Can I request confirmation of receipt of my application materials?
The Graduate School receives floods of requests for confirmation of receipt of application materials. Please note that you will be contacted if missing items are needed (i.e. please consider waiting to hear from UNCW before requesting a receipt-confirmation).
I did not major in English or creative writing as an undergraduate. Will this hurt my chances of being accepted?
Our MFA students come from widely varying academic and professional backgrounds; a major in an unrelated field will not hurt your chances.
How are MFA applications reviewed?
Applications are reviewed by our graduate faculty in each genre. The manuscript—i.e. your writing sample—is given the most consideration. We also review your statement of purpose, academic transcripts, and letters of recommendation, but your writing is the most important component.
When and how will I be notified whether I am admitted?
Notification letters are sent from UNCW’s Graduate School via regular mail, but because these letters take several business days to process, as a courtesy we will also email you directly as soon as we have an admissions decision regarding your application. We admit on a rolling basis* and generally notify all applicants by April 15. We request that you please do not contact us to ask for the status of your application—you'll receive a call and/or email just as soon as we have made a decision on your application. We won't be able to give additional information until that time.
*We will not review applications until after the January 1st deadline has passed; we'll most likely begin to offer admission in February and conclude in April.
I have been accepted at another program and must respond by a deadline, but I haven’t received notification from UNCW yet. What should I do?
Please contact our MFA Coordinator by email or phone and let us know the details of your competing offers.
If I am accepted, can I defer and enroll next semester or next year?
We do not permit deferrals. New students are only enrolled in the Fall semester; we do not do mid-year (i.e. Spring) admissions.
If I am not accepted, can I reapply?
Yes. Applicants often reapply and are admitted on the second or third try. Having previously applied will in no way affect your chances of being admitted.
If I am not accepted, can I find out why? Can I get comments on my manuscript and/or application, so I know how to improve it?
The high volume of applications and confidential nature of the review process make it impossible for us to provide comments or feedback.
I want to visit campus. Can I meet with faculty or students?
Meetings with faculty or students can be arranged on a limited basis. We recommend visiting during our annual Writers Week—this is a great opportunity to get a feel for our vibrant writing community! Please also see our resource guide for visitors and be sure to check out the events page of our website at http://www.uncw.edu/writers/news_calendar.html for a listing of the current goings-on. We’re always happy to have visitors at our department events! Also, be sure to check the UNCW academic calendar at http://events.uncw.edu/mastercalendar/ for University breaks and closings.
Can I get a brochure in the mail?
Please email mfa@uncw.edu to request more information about the Creative Writing Department and the MFA program.
Can I get a catalogue in the mail?
The UNCW Graduate Catalogue is available online via the Graduate School's website, or at http://www.uncw.edu/catalogue. Creative Writing information can be found on page 73 of the 2009-2010 catalogue, and please also see our FAQs for Current MFA Students for more detailed information.
Can I enroll part-time in the MFA program?
Our MFA program is a full-time, residency-based program. Most of our classes are held in the afternoons, and completion of the program requires 48 hours of coursework, generally completed within three years. While students occasionally take an extra semester or two to finish, a student who lives beyond daily commuting distance, or who works full-time during the day, will likely have difficulty completing the program. Perhaps more importantly, we encourage students to immerse themselves in the full range of events and opportunities offered by our literary community; we believe such involvement is as valuable to the life of the writer as what goes on in the classroom.
What are the MFA degree requirements?
The overall course requirements for the MFA degree are as follows: 48 hours, broken into 21 hours of writing workshop (CRW 530, 542, 544, 546, 548, 550), 21 hours of electives (anything that's not a writing workshop), and 6 thesis hours. Most MFA students take courses full-time (9 hours) and finish their degree in 3 years (6 semesters). For more details about our MFA degree requirements, please see FAQs for Current MFA Students.
How many students are there in the MFA program?
There are generally between 60–75 students in the MFA program.
How many students are there in workshops?
Workshop courses usually have around 15 students.
Can I transfer-in graduate credits?
You may not transfer-in coursework that has counted toward another degree. If you have taken graduate-level courses that did not count toward another degree, a maximum of six hours may be eligible to count as transfer credit. However, all requests regarding transfer credit must be made in person to our MFA coordinator after you are admitted to and enrolled in our program. We will not consider or process transfer credit during the application process.
How much does the program cost? What if I am out-of-state?
If you are classified as an in-state student, the amount for graduate tuition and fees is approximately $5000 per year (out-of-state is around $15,000). For specifics, please see the current tuition and fees schedule:
An estimate of total living expenses can be found at http://www.uncw.edu/finaid/costofattendance.htm.
Here’s an additional link to Financial Aid’s out-of-state student page http://www.uncw.edu/finaid/Outofstate.htm that has helpful information as well.
Please contact the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid at finaid@uncw.edu for more information.
Do I need to fill out a FAFSA to apply for federal loans?
Yes. You can fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. UNCW's university code is 002984.
Does your program offer teaching assistantships and scholarships? How do I apply for these?
Currently, we support approximately 40 percent of our MFA students with teaching assistantships and other types of awards; we continue to work energetically toward our goal of providing support for all MFA students. All applicants to our MFA program are automatically considered for available teaching assistantships and scholarships, which are awarded on a competitive basis. Teaching experience is not necessary.
Teaching assistantships currently pay $14,000 per year ($1400 per month August–May), and in the first year we also award scholarships and remissions to cover 100 percent of tuition and fees for all TAs, whether in- or out-of-state. In the second and third year of the program, teaching assistants are responsible for paying their own tuition, but all MFA students are eligible to apply for in-state residency after the first year.
We do not offer fellowships (or 'full-ride' funding) at this time.
How many and what type of classes do teaching assistants teach?
Our TAs teach a range of introductory-level Creative Writing (no composition) classes. In their first year, TAs enroll in a Pedagogy course (designed as a teaching resource and staff meeting) in their first semester, and assist a professor in one intro-level course per semester. In the second year, TAs teach one independent course per semester and assist a professor in one intro-level course per semester. In the third year, TAs teach two independent sections of introductory-level creative writing courses per semester.
**TAs (that do not have either an MA or a teaching license) must take a total of 18 hours in their first year in order to qualify to independently teach a course in their second and third years. The Pedagogy course counts towards the 18-hour requirement.
Will teaching experience help my chances of getting a teaching assistantship?
We consider all students whom we admit to our MFA program to be well-qualified for assistantships, regardless of prior teaching experience or lack thereof.
If I am not awarded a teaching assistantship, can I get one in my second or third year?
Because our teaching assistantships are based on a three-year training trajectory, we do not award them in the second or third year. However, other types of assistantship positions occasionally do become available. Our department’s Publishing Laboratory employs a small number of second- and third-year MFA student assistants; interested students should enroll in a publishing class or internship in the first year. Second- and third-year MFA students may also apply for part-time tutoring positions in UNCW’s Writing Center; these positions come with a small stipend. Keep reading to the next FAQ.
Are other types of financial aid or awards available for students who don’t receive
teaching assistantships?
We offer some partial scholarships, as well as a limited number of tuition remissions for out-of-state students. All applicants are automatically considered for all available financial awards, though in the case of specialized assistantships such as those in The Publishing Laboratory or directing one of our outreach programs, a supplemental statement of interest and relevant experience may prove helpful to faculty reviewers.
The Graduate School and our department also provide travel funding on a competitive basis for currently enrolled MFA students to do thesis research and attend or present at conferences.
Job openings in other departments on campus are listed on UNCW’s Human Resources website, and the Graduate School frequently announces available graduate assistant positions. For information about loans and federal aid programs, please see the Financial Aid Office website at http://www.uncw.edu/finaid/ and be sure to check out the Federal Student Aid Portal at the bottom.
How can I get help finding a job?
The Career Center has great resources: http://www.uncw.edu/stuaff/career/jobsearch.htm
I already have an MA in English or creative writing; will that help my chances of admission and/or getting a Teaching Assistantship?
Having an MA won't necessarily affect your chances of being admitted or receiving an assistantship. Your manuscript (writing sample) is the part of your application we consider to be most important. All applicants are automatically considered for all available scholarship and assistantship awards.
Does UNCW provide health insurance for MFA students and/or teaching assistants?
UNCW graduate students have free access to the university's Student Health Center, which includes the Counseling Center, Disability Services, and the Crossroads substance-abuse program. We recommend that students use the Health Center as the first stop for most illnesses and tests, because many services there are covered by student fees, while others (including many medical tests) are offered at dramatically reduced rates. Also, the Health Center has a pharmacy that fills most prescriptions at lower costs than commercial pharmacies do. Here’s the Student Health Center link: http://www.uncw.edu/stuaff/healthservices/
UNCW offers graduate student health insurance through a vendor company, Pearce & Pearce: https://www.pearceandpearce.com/PearceSite/Schools/NC/UNCW/. The policy currently runs about $1,500 a year (12 months, not simply a school year). You can get the details by clicking ‘Benefits (Plan Summary),’ then ‘Plan Brochure.’
UNCW’s Graduate Student Association, GSA, is in the process of negotiating for a new (and presumably better) plan, so watch for an updated brochure to be posted on the Graduate School or GSA website this summer. Currently, the fee is payable by semester and monthly, and the policy covers a full calendar year.
An alternative policy worth considering is BlueAdvantage, from Blue Cross/Blue Shield North Carolina: http://www.bcbsnc.com/plans/individuals/index.cfm
**Special note: beginning July 2010, NC legislation will require all students on campus to provide proof of health insurance, or the University health insurance premium will be automatically added to the student account/ tuition bill. For more information, see http://www.uncw.edu/stuaff/healthservices/shc_studentins.htm.
What type of housing is available for MFA students?
Housing is available both on-campus and off-campus. In recent years nearly all MFA students have chosen to live off-campus. Many MFA students find apartments in historic downtown or at the beach . The Wilmington area offers a wide range of affordable, attractive housing options; available rentals are regularly publicized by current MFA students and faculty via e-mail.
How can I find out about your courses?
For the most updated course descriptions (and current class offerings), please see our website at http://www.uncw.edu/writers/mfacourse_descriptions.html. For more details about our MFA degree requirements, see the FAQs for Current MFA Students.
If you have additional questions, please contact the MFA Coordinator or Lisa Bertini,
MFA Program Assistant, bertinil@uncw.edu or 910.962.3070.
