Deadlines
For earliest consideration, MFA applications should be post-marked by January 16, 2010. The MFA application period will remain open until MARCH 15, 2010. Admission will depend upon the evaluation of the entire application packet, with emphasis placed on the manuscript sample. We will continue to review applications received by March 15, if space is available. Admission to our program is competitive.
All students begin their course of study during the 10 week summer semester, beginning mid-May, and culminating with an intensive 12-day on-campus residency in July. Core faculty in each genre will prepare students for the residency by conducting class activities using Blackboard, the university’s online course management system. Students will complete three summer residencies for credit and defend their thesis in a fourth and final residency.
2010 Summer Residency Dates: July 10—22
Residency Location: University of Alaska Anchorage
3211 Providence Drive
Anchorage, Alaska 99508
The Application Process
Applying to the low-residency MFA program at UAA is a two-part process. The first step is to apply to UAA’s Graduate School by following the on-line instructions at:
http://edit.uaa.alaska.edu/admissions/admis_grad.cfm
Note: Official transcripts are required and there is a $60 registration fee, payable to the Registrar’s Office. UAA’s MFA program does NOT require GRE scores.
Next, all MFA applicants will submit a group of documents directly to the Creative Writing & Literary Arts Department.
Application materials (described below) should be sent to:
Kathleen Tarr, Program Coordinator
Creative Writing & Literary Arts Dept.
Low-Residency MFA Program
3211 Providence Dr.
ADM 270
Anchorage, AK 99508-4614
For questions, please feel free to contact Kathleen Tarr at afkt1@uaa.alaska.edu
Phone: 907-786-4394.
Application Materials to Send to the Creative Writing & Literary Arts Dept:
1. A personal essay on the topic “Why Write?” This is not a complete autobiography—about four pages double-spaced maximum.
Include some things we’d like to know:
In what genre are you applying? (mandatory)
Why did you choose a low-residency program?
Why you write and wish to study your particular genre?
What is your writing history?
Where do you situate yourself in your writing?
What do you hope to accomplish in your program?
What are your writing strengths and weaknesses?
What aspects of “landscape” or “place” do you want to explore?
2. References
Please provide a list of three academic/professional references, including affiliation, contact information and e-mail addresses. No need to send reference letters.
3. Transcripts
OFFICIAL transcripts must be sent to complete your UAA graduate school application. However, to fulfill the department’s application requirements (CWLA), unofficial copies of your transcripts will suffice.
4. Writing Sample
Poetry: Your best work: Ten pages of poetry, no more than one poem to a page, please. (PLEASE DO NOT STAPLE. USE PAPERCLIPS ONLY.)
Prose: (double-spaced, one-inch margins) (PLEASE DO NOT STAPLE. USE PAPERCLIPS ONLY.)
Fiction: Your best work: One story 15 pages or less in length, or a chapter of a novel accompanied by a brief synopsis.
Literary Nonfiction: Your best work: Fifteen pages.
Late or incomplete applications may not receive immediate or full consideration.
The acceptance decision is made by the core faculty of the MFA program. CWLA will notify successful applicants no later than March 31, 2010.
Application Tips:
*Be sure and keep a copy of all your submission documents.
*Read the FAQ section on this web site for more detailed information on the new low-residency MFA program.
*Here’s an informative and helpful essay (http://www.unm.edu/~english/Graduate Studies/MFA/MakingCut.htm)on applying to MFA Programs by Linda Formichelli. Essay used by permission of The Writer magazine.
*Visit this great UAA “one-stop shopping” web site for direct links to all the most important university web sites for students, i.e., Financial Aid, Library, Registration and Enrollment Services, Graduate Studies, etc.
http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/onestop/index.cfm
LOW-RESIDENCY ESTIMATED TUITION & COSTS*
(*These figures are based on 2009-10 prices and are subject to change.)
Resident $316 per credit hour x 15 credits per year = $4,740/year
(5 credits per semester)
Non-Resident $646 per credit hour x 15 credits per year = $9,690/year
(5 credits per semester)
THREE SUMMER RESIDENCIES ARE REQUIRED. In the fourth “non-credit” residency, students defend their MFA thesis.
HOUSING
MFA students may choose to stay in UAA’s residency halls.
(Please also see the FAQ section on this web site for more details.)
On-campus housing per 12-day residency, including three meals per day, catered group meals, & special field-trip fees:
$1000-$1500 per student per residency (estimated).
MFA students may arrange for alternative housing OFF-campus, at their own expense. However, if staying off-campus, students will still be expected to pay for their mandatory group meals (several group functions are planned for each residency) upon arrival. (All students will pay a special residency fee of $275 at the time of registration.)
Transportation to and from Alaska, incidental expenses, extended stays in Alaska, etc., are extra charges which are the responsibility of each graduate writing student. Whenever possible, CWLA will provide transportation to and from the Anchorage International Airport.
Deadlines (again!)
After enrolling in the five-credit summer workshop, all MFA students begin their course of study in the 10-week summer session beginning in mid-May, PRIOR to arrival on campus. Academic preparations for the summer workshops are led by core faculty via UAA’s Blackboard (on-line course management system). The genre workshops then continue during the 12-day July residency when MFA faculty and students convene at UAA.
For earliest consideration, please post-mark your application materials by January 16, 2010. We will continue to review applications received through March 15, 2010 if space is available. Admission to our program is competitive.
2010 Summer Residency Dates: July 10—22
