Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What do I need to send with my application, and where do I send it?
A: Apply to the Graduate School online at http://www.graduateschool.vt.edu/admissions/applying/index.html. Please remember to select Creative Writing MFA as your option. Applications for the upcoming fall semester must be submitted by January 1.
Once you receive an offer, you should mail an original transcript to both the Graduate School and the Department of English at the address below:
Sally Wieringa
MFA Program Assistant
Department of English, MC 0112
180 Turner St., NW
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA 24061-0112
Please note that the MFA Program does not require GRE scores.
All materials must arrive at the English Department by January 1st.
Q: What financial help can I look forward to getting while I am pursuing my MFA at Tech?
A: All students will be offered graduate teaching assistantships (GTAs) which means they will teach composition in the English Department (0 sections first semester; 1 section second semester; 2 sections per semester thereafter, until the final semester, when they teach 1 section of creative writing).
Q: Do I need to take the GRE general test and the subject test?
A: We have revised our policy on this. We no longer require applicants to take the GRE. If you have taken it, it can help us to get to know more about you, but the test is no longer required.
Q: How important is my undergraduate GPA in my application?
A: Grades and scores are a necessary part of getting to know applicants from as many directions as we can, but the most valuable tool to us is your portfolio of work in determining your gifts as a writer. Of course your letters of recommendation and your list of publications/awards (if any) will be helpful also to us in getting a fuller picture of you as a dedicated writer.
Q: Are international students required to take the TOEFL exam for admission into the program, and what minimum score do they need?
A: International students may take either the TOEFL exam with a score of 213 (computerized), 620 (paper-based) or the IELTS exam with a score of Band 8.
Q: Can I pursue my MFA as a part-time student?
A: If your portfolio and other materials qualify you for our program, you may be accepted, but we cannot offer scholarships or GTAs to part-time students, so you would be required to pay your own way.