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MFA in Creative Writing

Thesis FAQ

Deadlines

January 31 is the deadline for Fall admission applications. 

November 1 is the deadline for Spring admission applications. 

All applicants are automatically considered for Assistantships that begin the following academic year. 

Steps to Applying

1.) Complete an electronic application

2.) Pay $55 application fee

  • Payment  is made at the conclusion of the application.
  • Fee Waivers: If the application fee is a serious financial burden, you may request a graduate application fee waiver by emailing The Graduate College at gradcollege@txstate.edu. 

3.) Submit copies of official transcripts from each college or university you have attended. Please see instructions within the electronic application. 

4.) Submit three letters of recommendation that should address (1) your academic qualifications, (2) your commitment to good citizenship in a collegial and diverse academic community, and (3) your potential as a teacher.

5.) Submit statement of purpose (maximum 750 words) discussing your goals for your time in the three-year program:

  • How do you hope to use this time to grow as a writer? You might additionally choose to address scholarly goals, professional goals, and/or what you see as the benefits of living and working in a diverse community of writers.
  •  Discuss your experience and potential to be an effective teacher

6.) Submit a Resume or CV

7.) Upload a writing portfolio (via electronic application)

  • Fiction applicants should submit a maximum of 25 double-spaced pages of their work (short stories and/or a novel excerpts)
  • Poetry applicants should submit 12-15 poems
  • Fiction and Poetry applicants may, if they choose, also include one creative nonfiction essay or excerpt in their portfolio, subject to the same 25-page maximum for the manuscript in total
  • Please submit your portfolio as a single PDF file. The PDF must show your last name and your genre (e.g., Smith, Poetry). The writing portfolio is the single most important factor in determining admission to the MFA program.  

Please note: All applicants are automatically considered for MFA scholarships and Assistantships. You can learn more about Assistantships here. MFA applicants DO NOT need to submit a separate application for an Assistantship. 

Have questions? We'd love to answer them.

For general admissions inquiries, please contact Bianca Alyssa Pérez, MFA Assistant Director, at mfinearts@txstate.edu.