Application Guidelines

The following are the Department of Literature's guidelines for applying for the MFA Program. See also: UCSD Graduate Admissions guidelines.

Application Period

UC San Diego is on the academic quarter system. Applications are accepted during the fall quarter of the current year (September-December) for admission in the fall quarter of the following year.

Geisel Library

Applicants are advised to submit their completed applications as early as possible—ideally one month in advance of the deadline—to allow sufficient time for communication regarding missing documentation.

The deadline to apply for admission in September 2010 is December 1, 2009. Late applications will not be accepted.

Supporting documents(transcripts, letters of recommendation, TOEFL scores) will be accepted after the application deadline. However, it would be wise to submit your supporting documents early so the admissions committee will have your complete information on hand during the review process, which may begin immediately after the application deadline.

Applications must be submitted online. You may complete the application over the course of several weeks. [How to Apply]

Statement of Purpose

The Statement of Purpose is very important and is given careful consideration in the selection process. Be concise and specific—your statement should be no longer than 2500 words. Give information that will aid the selection committee in evaluating your potential for completing the MFA program.

Think of the Statement as an opportunity to discuss your work and goals in both a personal and critical context. You can talk about your

  • Aesthetics
  • Politics
  • Past experiences
  • Background in writing
  • What you hope to get from the MFA Program in Writing at UCSD
  • What you have read that has been useful or influential to you as a writer
  • What you are currently working on
The Statement of Purpose is part of the online application.

Writing Sample

Content

In putting the writing sample together, you should emphasize quality rather than length. You may submit fiction (comprised of one or several stories, a portion of a novel, or a combination), poetry, or hybrid texts (which could include forms such as the graphic novel or visual poetry).

Formatting

  1. Clearly label the cover sheet of the writing sample either "Fiction," "Poetry," "Hybrid/Cross-Genre with an Emphasis in Fiction," or "Hybrid/Cross-Genre with an Emphasis in Poetry."
  2. Your name should appear on every page.
  3. Suggested page length:
    • Fiction – 30 to 40 (if submitting a novel excerpt, attach a brief plot synopsis)
    • Poetry – 15 to 20
    • Hybrid/cross-genre – 30 to 40
  4. Double-space, unless the formatting of your material requires otherwise.
  5. Number all pages.

The writing sample is not part of the online application. It should be mailed to the Literature Department. [Address]

Letters of Recommendation

You must provide a minimum of three letters of recommendation from individuals who are in a position to analyze your academic ability and potential for success in a rigorous graduate program.

Online letters of recommendation are preferred but paper letters are accepted. The completed Paper Letter of Recommendation.pdf and Waiver of Letter of Recommendation Access.pdf should be mailed to the Literature Department. [Address]

Academic Records and Transcripts

One set of official transcripts of record from each college level institution attended must be provided, including transcripts for coursework completed at UC San Diego or another UC campus.

Applicants with academic work in progress who expect to complete a degree program before the intended date of enrollment at UCSD must provide evidence of degree conferral and a final academic transcript as soon as it is available.

Transcripts are not part of the online application. UC San Diego does not accept online transcripts at this time. Transcripts should be mailed to the Literature Department. [Address]

English Language Test Scores (Foreign Students Only)

The minimum TOEFL score for admission is 550 for the paper-based test (PBT), 213 for the computer-based test (CBT), or 80 for the Internet-based test (IBT). The minimum IELTS score is 7.0.

International students are strongly advised to choose a test that has a Speaking component (TOEFL iBT or IELTS), if possible. The Speaking test helps foreign students provide a reliable measure of proficiency in spoken English. (Proficiency with spoken English is a prerequisite for fulfilling the apprentice teaching requirement for the MFA degree.)