Admissions

Each year, we receive hundreds of applications to fill only a handful of spots in fiction, poetry, and literary translation. Our admissions committees review each manuscript carefully. Though the process takes time, we consider it a privilege to read your work.

Applicants should not expect to hear about their admissions status until mid- to late-March. If you have not heard from our program by May 1, please contact us at mfa@uark.edu.

Required Application Materials

Below is a list of materials that you'll be required to submit:

• A Creative Writing Sample:
  Fiction applicants – 20 pages of short fiction or a novel excerpt
  Poetry applicants – 8-10 poems
  Translation applicants – 5-6 pages of poetry OR fiction translated into English, together with copies of the original texts
  
  
• Statement of Purpose – a statement approximately 300 words in length that gives us a sense of who you are as a writer and a person
  
  
• Two Letters of Recommendation - Letters should come from educators and mentors who are familiar with you and your work and can speak to your potential as a writer, a member of the MFA cohort, and a teaching assistant.
   
  Recommenders should submit letters in single pdf, labeled with your name (last name first)
  followed by “LoR” to cwmfaapp@uark.edu by midnight on 12/31/24.
   
  Ex.: Jones, Sarah LoR

Please note: there is no application fee for the first step of our application process. Initially, applications will be evaluated solely on the merits of the writing. You should not apply for admission to the UA Graduate School until you receive permission from the MFA program to do so.