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
- Contact information for 2 Recommenders – Names and email addresses for two recommenders. This is a multi-stage process. Recommenders of applicants who progress to the second stage of consideration will be contacted for letters of recommendation in early 2024.
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.