Applicants to the Creative Writing option must have already declared, or be eligible to declare, the English: Language and Literature major.
Applications for the Creative Writing option are accepted in autumn, winter, and spring quarters only, and should be submitted through this online application form by the third Friday of the quarter at 4:00pm. Applications to creative writing are not accepted in summer quarter. While admission is competitive, the program is not meant to be exclusive. The application process is a way for faculty to ensure students accepted into Creative Writing are approaching writing intentionally and will be prepared for the intensity of upper-division workshops. If you are concerned about applying, feel free to connect with an HAS adviser at HAS
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible to apply for the Creative Writing option, you must have already declared, or be ready to declare, the English major program; have completed ENGL 202, 283 (beginning verse writing) and ENGL 284 (beginning short story writing) or transfer equivalents.
Application Procedure:
Please submit online ONE complete attachment that includes the items below, by 4:00pm on the third Friday of autumn, winter, or spring quarter (no applications accepted in summer).
1. Undergraduate Creative Writing Option Application. Fill out this Microsoft form.
2. Unofficial UW Transcript : Even if this is your first quarter after transferring to the UW, you should submit an unofficial UW transcript, available through the MyUW system.
Complete set of Unofficial transcripts from all schools from which you have transfer credit : We need the information contained in the complete transcript from each transfer school; the transfer summary on a UW unofficial transcript is not sufficient. Photocopies of transcripts are acceptable.
3. A Writing Sample of 3-5 poems and 5-10 pages of fiction, creative nonfiction, personal essay, or memoir. Plays, screenplays and academic essays are NOT accepted.
- Fiction, creative nonfiction, personal essay, and memoir should be double-spaced, with 12pt font (Time New Roman) and 1" margins. Poetry should be single-spaced
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Review writing sample guidelines and be sure to submit BOTH prose (fiction, creative nonfiction, personal essay, and/or memoir) AND poetry.
- Be sure to proofread carefully.
Combine the application form, transcripts and writing sample into a single PDF
Admission decisions are based primarily on the potential a student exhibits in his or her writing sample - grades and GPAs are usually not at issue. Admission decisions are sent to applicants by e-mail, normally within two weeks of the application deadline.
Completion of the requirements above does not guarantee admission.
Students who are denied admission to the Creative Writing option will continue to be English majors, and may complete the requirements for the literature BA in English. They may apply for the Creative Writing option one additional time, but if they are denied admission then, they must complete the literature major or elect another major in another department.