Writing: How to Apply
California College of the Arts admits students who have demonstrated intellectual promise and creative achievement. Candidates are evaluated based on a thorough review of their qualifications and preparedness for graduate study.
The 2012 application deadline has passed.
Please contact Noel Dahl, Director of Graduate Admissions at ndahl@cca.edu to inquire about submitting a late application.
Application Requirements:
- Application ($70 nonrefundable fee required)
- Portfolio
- Personal essay
- Résumé / Curriculum vitae
- Two letters of recommendation
- Official college transcripts
Application
Applicants must complete and submit the application online; hard-copy, or paper, applications are no longer accepted. Apply online now. All applicants are required to pay a nonrefundable $70 application fee. (Note: Due to the volume of applications received, CCA is unable to return any materials; please do not submit any original artworks or writings.)
Personal Essay
A personal essay of 500 to 1,000 words must accompany the application. Indicate why you want to study writing at the graduate level. Describe your writing experience and your general writing and educational objectives.
Portfolio
Applicants should submit their portfolio online as a PDF document by registering for a SlideRoom account specifically for CCA applicants. Once an account is registered, instructions on how to create the online portfolio will be provided.
The portfolio should consist of a selection of writing samples (totaling no more than 25 double-spaced pages) that reflect your main areas of interest. You may include poems, short stories, a section of a novel, text for performance (include video, if available), creative nonfiction, or writing for new genres.
You are welcome, but not required, to submit visual materials in support of your application, including book art, videos, CDs, or DVDs. DVDs should be in NTSC format.
Due to the volume of submissions received, we are unable to return portfolios. Applicants should not submit originals of image files, artworks, or writing samples.
Résumé / Curriculum Vitae
Please outline your educational and professional background and relevant experiences and activities, including community work.
Transcripts
Official, sealed transcript of undergraduate coursework must be sent to the Enrollment Services Office—Graduate Admissions (address below). Applicants who have taken graduate coursework are welcome to also send transcripts in support of their graduate application.
For international applicants, all transcripts must be in English or accompanied by a certified English translation of the original.
All admitted students who were still in the process of completing a bachelor's degree at the time of applying must send the final transcript before enrolling to verify completion of the bachelor’s degree, including official notation of date of graduation, no later than August 1, 2012. Unofficial (unsealed) copies are not accepted.
Letters of Recommendation
Two letters of recommendation are required from academic or professional sources. No personal recommendations please. We highly recommend that you take advantage of our electronic recommendation process. This will ensure that we receive your recommendations in a timely fashion and it is convenient for your recommenders.
When submitting your electronic application, you can provide the email address for your recommenders. Your recommenders will receive the recommendation form electronically and then return it electronically to CCA.
Interview
Applicants may be contacted to arrange an interview with the graduate MFA Program in Writing Program manager or a faculty member.
In addition to these requirements, international students must submit the additional requirements.
We do recommend, when it is possible, to mail your portfolio, transcripts, and other supplemental documents together by the deadline date.
All documents and portfolio are due by January 5, 2012:
Application material should be mailed to:
California College of the Arts
Enrollment Services Office—Graduate Admissions
1111 Eighth Street
San Francisco CA 94107-2247
Phone: 415.703.9523
Fax: 415.703.9539
graduateprograms@cca.edu
Graduate Writing Merit Scholarships
The graduate writing admissions committee selects a limited number of outstanding students for the prestigious graduate merit scholarships. For the 2011–12 academic year the renewable award was $18,000 per year.
Diversity Scholarships
The graduate division awards several entering students special diversity scholarships. Last year these renewable awards ranged from $11,000 to $24,000 per year.
Teaching Assistantships
Teaching assistantships are based on merit and are awarded by the graduate chairs in conjunction with graduate faculty in the second year.