MFA, Creative Writing & Publishing Arts
What should I include in my portfolio? Is academic writing acceptable? Can my writing sample be part of a larger work?
A portfolio is a collection of your creative writing in ONE genre — fiction (10-15 pages), poetry, or literary non-fiction. Academic writing is not acceptable. You may submit part of a novel or memoir. If your short story runs longer than 15 pages, don't worry. Submit it in its entirety.When should I apply?
Apply as soon as you have your materials ready. It takes the Admissions Office a few weeks to process applications, and they would rather process them as they come in, rather than receive all of them on Feb 1. So, if you can, get your materials in before the deadline.
Are there assistantships?
We have a very limited number of graduate assistantships, unfortunately. Most are in the School of Communications Design's Graphics Production Lab. A few work as assistants on literary publications. We have no teaching assistantships at this time. Students who come from out of town find jobs in the Baltimore/Washington area in teaching, non-profit, editing, food service, etc.
Should I make an appointment to have an interview with the director?
That's not necessary, but feel free to contact her (kkopelke@ubalt.edu) with questions.
Can I visit a class?
Yes. If you let us know when you want to come in (all our classes are in the evenings, a few on weekends), we will check to see what is offered and make arrangements with the professor. We welcome visitors!
We also recommend you join us for one of our evening events — we have a good reading series each semester. Let us know you're interested and we'll put you on our mailing list. Attending a reading is a good way to get a feel for our program — if you let us know you are coming, we can introduce you to some of our grad students.
I have been out of school for a while. Do my letters of recommendation have to be written by my former college professors?
No. You can get letters from employers as well. No family members, please!
My undergraduate GPA is below 3.0; however, it is higher than 3.0 for the graduate work I've completed. Will the higher GPA in graduate work count?
Yes. But only if you can adequately explain the reason for your low undergraduate GPA.
Is an academic background in English or writing necessary to apply to the program?
No. The quality of your writing portfolio is a significant part of your application. Students come from a range of backgrounds and careers.
Do I need to be a published writer to be considered for admission?
No. You need to be a committed, serious writer and a strong student, but not a published writer. One of our goals is to help you to become a published writer.
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