Checklist: Creative Writing - Fiction
- Online Application, with application fee.
- Self-Assessment essay: The essay gives us an opportunity to get to know you. Please discuss your reading and writing background, why you want to study fiction writing at Columbia College Chicago, and your professional goals. Tell us a story about yourself. If you are applying for either the MA in the Teaching of Writing or the combined MA/MFA, you should also discuss your goals in teaching writing at the secondary or college level.
- Two letters of recommendation
- Resume
- An official transcript from any and all colleges/universities attended
- Work sample: Applicants must submit thirty pages of manuscript in roughly equal amounts of of fiction and expository prose. The Committee does not accept poetry, plays or screenplays. For the expository manuscript, you may submit any form of professional writing, although photocopies of essays written for college courses are preferred, if recent. Written work samples are not returned. All written submissions must be typed and double-spaced.
Please remember: Letters of recommendation should be from individuals familiar with your fiction writing ability and should comment on such. In the case of the MA or the combined MFA/MA, the letters should also comment on your ability and interest in secondary or college teaching.
A reasonable background in Literature and the Humanities is desirable. This background should include major period novel courses or the equivalent. Admitted students without this background may be required to take undergraduate Critical Reading and Writing make-up courses, which may be taken concurrently with graduate enrollment.
If you are an international student you will need to submit all of the above materials as well as the additional International Application Materials.