Rita Williams-Garcia, the author of seven award-winning novels including Jumped, Like Sisters on the Homefront and Every Time...
The following are semester application priority deadlines:
The MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults Program reviews applications as they are received, so you may submit your application whenever it is ready. Please allow 4–6 weeks for your application to be reviewed.
Admission to the program is based primarily on the quality of original work submitted by you and the judgment by the faculty committee that your goals are compatible with the program’s design and ideals. You must also hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Candidates without undergraduate experience in literature or writing may be considered for acceptance into the program on a case-by-case basis.
You may request an application form sent by mail, or access the application form online. To be considered for admission, you must submit the following:
The program will accept up to two semesters’ worth of credits from a student transferring from another MFA in Writing program, provided (a) the student applies for admission to the program and is accepted and (b) the Faculty Chair or his/her appointed representative from the Faculty Advisory Committee deems the student’s writing to be at least equivalent in quality to that of VCFA students at a corresponding stage in their progress toward the MFA degree. In addition to creative and critical writing samples and letters of recommendation, applicants for transfer credit should submit (a) BA and MFA transcripts and (b) a personal essay describing their previous plan of study, evaluating their work at the previous MFA program, and explaining their reasons for wishing to transfer.
For information about tuition and fees, please click here.
Rita Williams-Garcia, the author of seven award-winning novels including Jumped, Like Sisters on the Homefront and Every Time...
"During each semester the word that echoed in my head was 'relentless', relentless learning with all parts of my brain, the creative and the analytical, the literary and the lyrical. And relentless reading, thinking, and writing. The third part was relentless positive encouragement and support to risk writing way beyond the envelope."