How to Apply: English Undergraduate Programs

Creative Writing Option Applications:

Applicants to the Creative Writing option must have already been admitted to, or be eligible to apply to, the English: Language and Literature major. A student may apply to the English major and for the Creative Writing option simultaneously, but admission to the Creative Writing option will be contingent upon acceptance to and declaration of the English major. (The Creative Writing option is not available to Evening Degree Program students; it is offered in the day program only.)

Applications for the Creative Writing option are accepted in Autumn, Winter, and Spring Quarters, and should be submitted to the Creative Writing office, B-25 Padelford, by the third Friday of the quarter at 4:00pm. Applications are not accepted in Summer Quarter.

Eligibility Requirements:

To be eligible to apply for the Creative Writing option, you must

1. Have been admitted to and declared (or be ready to declare) the English major in the day program. (You may apply to the English major and for the Creative Writing option simultaneously, but admission to the Creative Writing option will be contingent upon acceptance to and declaration of the English major.)

2. Have completed ENGL 283 (beginning verse writing) and ENGL 284 (beginning short story writing) or transfer equivalents.

Application Procedure:

Submit two sets of the following application materials:

1. Undergraduate Creative Writing Option Application (2 copies) (PDF format. Applications are also available in the English Advising office, A-2B Padelford);;Transcripts for all college work completed, both at the UW and elsewhere (these are additional sets of transcripts, separate from the transcripts you will have supplied as part of your application for the major):

Unofficial UW Transcript (2 copies): Even if this is your first quarter after transferring to the UW, you should submit an unofficial UW transcript, available through the MyUW system;
Complete set of transcripts from all schools from which you have transfer credit (2 copies): We need the information contained in the complete transcript from each transfer school; the transfer summary on a UW unofficial transcript is not sufficient. Photocopies of transcripts are acceptable. You should be able to obtain copies of your transfer transcripts from the Gateway Center in 171 Mary Gates Hall if you are a premajor. If you already have a major, your transcripts should be available from the advising office for your current major.

2. A Writing Sample (2 copies) of 3-5 poems and 5-10 pages of fiction (preferably a complete story).

Do not include genre fiction (i.e., science fiction, horror, romance, etc.)
Be sure to proofread carefully.
Click here for some basic guidelines on Writing Samples.

Admission to the Creative Writing option is competitive; completion of the requirements above does not guarantee admission.

Students who are denied admission to the Creative Writing option will continue to be English majors, and may complete the requirements for the literature BA in English. They may apply for the Creative Writing option one additional time, but if they are denied admission then, they must complete the literature major or elect another major in another department.

Application forms are available for download in Portable Document Format (PDF). To view and print forms in PDF format, it is necessary to have Adobe Acrobat Reader Software. If you do not have the software, it can be obtained free of charge from Adobe (or go directly to the Acrobat download page by clicking on the following image). Please follow their instructions for installation on your computer.

top