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Apply to the Creative Writing Program

The Application

Apply to the fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction sequences HERE. The application will be open until May 6, 2025.

Starting in Fall 2025, students will no longer need to apply to the Creative Writing major or minor. Students can simply to fill out a Declaration of Major or Declaration of Minor form at any time to be placed in the Cross-Genre track of the major or minor. This form should be emailed to the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) in Creative Writing. You can declare the cross-genre tracks of the major and minor year-round.

Students still need to apply for the course sequences in poetry (ENG 393-1,2,3), fiction (ENG 394-1,2,3), and creative nonfiction (ENG 395-1,2,3). These sequences are required for the poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction tracks within the Creative Writing major and minor.  

Creative Writing majors who have been admitted to one of the sequences can switch tracks by consulting their advisor and/or the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

 
Applying to the Sequence-track Major and Sequence-track Minor

Admission to the creative writing sequence can be competitive. Students must fulfill the following prerequisites before applying:

  1. You must be a sophomore, junior, or senior to apply. Freshmen are not eligible to apply. Seniors may apply, provided they plan to continue taking classes the following academic year.
  2. Take at least one 200-level genre-based creative writing course and either have taken or be enrolled in another 200-level genre-based creative writing course for the genre in which you are applying. You must complete the 200-level course in your chosen genre (poetry, fiction, or creative non-fiction) before applying to the major or minor track in that genre. You must also either have completed or be enrolled in another 200-level genre-based course (ENG 206, 207, or 208) by the time you apply. For example, a prospective poetry student must have taken ENG 206 and have taken or be enrolled in either ENG 207 or ENG 208 at the time of application. 
  3. Prepare a writing sample. You will need to submit a sample of your writing in your chosen genre with your creative writing application. Students often submit work from their 200-level creative writing classes, and are in fact encouraged to do so. This sample should be 7-15 pages for fiction or creative nonfiction, 4-5 poems for poetry.
  4. Application will be available HERE in Spring. See application site for specific instructions. Students applying in multiple genres must submit an application in each genre in which they're applying.
Declaring the Cross-genre Major and Minor

The cross-genre tracks of the major and minor are open to all and can be declared at any time, without prerequisites.

If you want to pursue the cross-genre track of the major or minor:

  1. Fill out the corresponding form, available here. 
  2. Once you have completed this form, you should e-mail it to the current Director of Undergraduate Studies: Creative Writing. The DUS will then sign the form and submit it to the WCAS Office of Undergraduate Studies on your behalf.