Admissions
Admissions Policies and Fellowships and Awards; Fairleigh Dickinson University Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing
Low-Residency MFA Creative Writing , Fairleigh Dickinson University, admission
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Admissions

Students holding undergraduate degrees from an accredited four-year institution in the U.S. or abroad may apply.

DEADLINES FOR ADMISSION:

The program admits students year-round, and once you apply, you should receive a decision within 4-6 weeks.

Apply by June 15 for the summer residency/fall semester and by November 15 for the winter residency/spring semester. Faculty will review applicants for scholarships based on the strength of their application materials.

THE APPLICATION PROCESS:

  • If you are considering financial aid, complete a FAFSA online as soon as possible. You do not have to accept any funds if you don’t attend.
  • If you are an FDU undergraduate applying for the BA/MFA in Creative Writing Program, please contact the MFA office at writingmfa@fdu.edu. You don’t need to complete an application.
  • All applications require a personal statement and a writing sample. They should be uploaded when completing the online application. We do not evaluate applicants until their writing sample, personal statement, and official transcripts have been received. 

1. Have your college or university send your official undergraduate transcript directly to the graduate admissions office on the Florham Campus. They can be sent electronically or by mail. Click here for the email and mailing address. We only need the college transcript where you completed your B.A. or B.S. degree (if you transferred a lot, this will save you time and money). 

2. Complete the Online Application.

When completing the application please note:

  • Students are required to begin the program with a residency. The fall semester begins with the summer residency and the spring semester begins with the winter residency.
  • When choosing the semester on the FDU application site, choose either summer or winter.
  •  GRE Scores are not required.
  • Indicate your genre on the application: Fiction, Poetry, Nonfiction, YA, or Translation.
  • We welcome letters of recommendation (personal, professional, or academic) but they are not required.
  • The MFA program is housed on the Florham Campus in Madison, New Jersey.
  • In making admissions decisions, the greatest weight is given to the writing sample.
Once the online application is submitted, the system will prompt you to upload any required documents.

    A. Upload a personal statement telling us why you wish to pursue an MFA and what you hope to gain from the degree.

    B. Upload a writing sample in the genre you are applying to. You may upload any other materials you wish to include, such as a resume or recommendation, in PDF or MS Word format.

For your writing sample, use the following guidelines:

  • Fiction or Young Adult and Children’s Literature: 15-25 double-spaced pages that can include short stories or part of a novel.
  • Creative Nonfiction: 15-25 double-spaced pages that may include essays or an excerpt from a memoir.
  • Poetry: 5-7 poems, totaling not more than 150 lines in all.
  • Translation: following the appropriate prose or poetry guidelines above, include a short sample of the original and a short (paragraph long) description of the project.
  • Be sure to paginate the document (top, right) and include your name on every page.

Many graduate students are eligible for State and/or Federal loans and aid.
Our Financial Aid Office (974-443-8701) can assist with this.

Apply here

Tuition and Aid

For information about tuition and fees, see the FDU website here.

Travel to and from the residencies is not included in tuition or fees.

Assistantships and Awards

The Director’s Award, Baumeister, and Ronald J. Doerfler Memorial Scholarship are all awards that are given by the Faculty Admissions Committee in recognition of students whose work shows significant promise.