Admissions

Admission to The University of New Orleans' Creative Writing Workshop is highly selective and is based primarily on the quality of the applicant’s writing.  Your writing sample, therefore, is the most important part of your application.  In putting your sample together, you should emphasize quality rather than length.  Your writing sample should be in a single genre, the one in which you intend to specialize. Students may download application material on this page or request that an application packet be sent to them through the mail.

CWW applicants must submit the following items to the UNO Graduate Admissions Office:

(1)  A paid application for admission to the Graduate School (online) (2) Official notification of GRE scores (3) An official copy of college transcripts All Graduate School materials (items 1-3 above) not transmitted electronically should be sent to:

Office of Graduate Admissions
205 Administration Building
University of New Orleans
2000 Lakeshore Dr
New Orleans,LA 70148

(504) 280-1155 is the number for the Graduate School if you have questions.

CWW applicants should submit the following to the Director of the Creative Writing Workshop:

(1) A Personal Information Sheet.

• download the Personal Information Sheet as a PDF Document HERE.

Print out and mail the Personal Information Sheet with your other documents.

(2) A writing sample with a coversheet clearly labeled either “Fiction,” "Nonfiction," “Poetry,” “Playwriting” or “Screenwriting.”  The specifications for manuscripts are:

• Fiction applicants should send two short stories or a 30-page novel excerpt.
• Nonfiction applicants should send two pieces or a 30-page book excerpt
• Poetry applicants should send ten poems
• Screenwriting appplicants should send a feature-length film script
• Playwriting applicants should send 2 plays of any length

 (3)  Three letters of recommendation. There is no form required, and letters may arrive separate from other application materials. Each letter should arrive in a sealed envelope that has been signed on the flap.

(4) An essay, also called the Statement of Purpose, detailing your reasons for applying to our M.F.A. program. This statement of purpose is in addition to the one required for the graduate assistantship application. Generally, statements are one to two pages and should give us a sense of who you are beyond what you can tell us by filling in blanks on a form.

(5) There are a number of assistantships available. If you'd like to apply for a graduate assistantship, you can:

• download the Graduate Assistantship Application as a PDF document HERE

The assistantship application will ask for a statement of purpose. You must write a separate statement for that application.

You should make sure your name appears on every page that you submit. All items must be postmarked by February 1st.  No late additions or revisions will be accepted.

All CWW Personal Information material (items 1-5 above) should be sent to:

Rick Barton, Director
Creative Writing Workshop
Department of English
The University of New Orleans
New Orleans, LA 70148

504-280-5421 for questions

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Having trouble keeping all that information straight? Take a look at our CWW Application Checklist and our list of frequently asked questions:

• download the CWW Personal Information Sheet Checklist as a PDF document HERE
• download the CWW FAQ's as a PDF document HERE