Below are common questions asked by past applicants to the MFA Program.
Application Process / Writing Sample & Personal Statement / Recommendations / Transcripts / Foreign Students / Contact Information
Online Application Process
For questions regarding the electronic application process, please refer to Online Application on the Graduate School website.
What are my chances of getting in?
In the past few years, the department has received between 650 and 900 applications. This year, the department anticipates offering admission to four or five fiction writers, four or five poets, and one or two electronic writers, and one cross-disciplinary writer.
Can I get advice from a faculty member regarding my application?
We’re sorry to say that the department is not in a position to critique an applicant’s manuscript, either before or after the application process takes place.
What is the suggested length for my writing sample?
The suggested length of a writing sample is:
- Fiction: 30 – 40 pages (any format)
- Poetry: 15 – 20 pages (any format)
- Electronic Writing: One or two electronic projects
- Cross-Disciplinary: 30 – 50 pages (any format)
How do I get the writing sample to you?
Applicants submit a writing sample in plain-text format (preferably as a PDF document) less than 5 megabytes in size as part of the online
application. If your work cannot easily be sent in this format (i.e.,
it has sculptural elements that you do not feel you can document in
any but three-dimensional models), send it by regular mail to:
Graduate School, Brown University, Box 1867, Providence, RI 02912. You
may also include web address links for works that are best read
online.
I want to send three short stories, but can only upload one document. What should I do?
Format your three stories into one document – start each story on its own page, and run the story title in a larger typeface than the rest of the text, so we can tell there are multiple texts.
I want to send my writing sample by hard copy, but apply through the online system. What do I do when I come upon the electronic spaces for the writing sample on the electronic application?
The electronic system will not let you submit your application without uploading something in the Writing Sample field. If you want to submit this by hard copy, when you get to this part of the online application, you should upload a document that says “Writing sample is coming as hard copy” and another (if applicable), “Personal statement coming as hard copy.” Once you have done so, you will be able to move forward and submit the electronic application.
What should I say in my Personal Statement – and how long should it be?
We suggest that you think of it as an introduction to your writing sample. You can talk about yourself, your aesthetics, your past experiences, why you think Brown Literary Arts is a good fit for you, etc. While the Graduate School asks that your personal statement be no more than two pages, our Department recommends that your personal statement be 1-4 double-spaced pages.
If I am applying online, where do I get the recommendation forms for my referees?
When completing the application, you may register your referees’ names and electronic mail addresses. The referees will receive email telling them that they’ve been registered and by whom, and will be provided with login information so that they can visit the site and upload the recommendations.
What if I am using a dossier service for my letters of reference?
Research whether or not the dossier service can upload letters on your behalf. If the service can do so, follow the directions provided by that service for completing this information on your Brown application.
If your dossier service cannot upload letters on your behalf, you may have them sent to the Graduate School in hard copy to: Brown University, Graduate School, Box 1867, Providence RI 02912.
Do my letters of recommendation have to be from my college professors?
While the Graduate School suggests that at least two letters come from instructors with whom you have worked, we encourage you to arrange for letters from any three people who can speak cogently about you as a writer, whether or not they have been your teacher.
What if a recommendation is sent after the 15 December deadline?
If your application form, personal statement and writing sample are sent on time, then your application will be reviewed, even if a letter of reference hasn’t yet arrived. Of course, letters that arrive on time may affect your candidacy.
Do I need to submit original transcripts?
No - you should upload your transcripts as a PDF file. If you are accepted to Brown, you’ll need to have original transcripts sent from your schools to Brown prior to enrolling.
I believe that I should be eligible for an application fee waiver. What should I do?
Your completed application must be submitted 14 days in advance of the program’s application deadline in order to be considered for a fee waiver. Please choose the “Request a fee waiver” option as your method of payment on the payment information page.
For more information on waivers see Application Fee Waiver on the Graduate School website.
Is there a foreign language requirement/exam?
No.
I'm an international student. Do I have to submit TOEFL results?
Language proficiency exams are not required of those students who have earned a degree from a non-U.S. university where the primary language of instruction is English, or from a college or university in the United States, or in any of the following countries: Australia, Bahamas, Botswana, Cameroon, Canada (except Quebec), Ethiopia, Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, New Zealand, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Tanzania, Gambia, Uganda, United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales), West Indies, Zambia. Students with degrees from universities in countries not on this list should have their university Registrar or Dean provide an official letter to the student, referencing the applicant's name and proposed area of study, stating that English is the primary language of instruction for that institution. The applicant should submit a scanned copy of this letter along with the transcript at the time of application.
What are Brown's codes for reporting TOEFL scores?
The Brown code is 3094; the department code is 2503.
I applied for entry to Brown’s Literary Arts Program last year and was not accepted. Do I have to start over?
Yes, you will need to reapply. You must complete a new application, submit a new application fee, and send in new supporting materials.
What if I miss the Dec. 15 deadline?
We don’t have rolling admission, nor do we have spring admissions. If you miss the Dec. 15 deadline, you will have to wait and apply next year.
I just have to send my package by courier. Where do I send it?
We do not encourage you do this, as it may, in fact, slow down the processing of your application. However, if absolutely necessary, send to: Brown University, Graduate School, 47 George St., Providence, RI 02912.
Contact Information
You may contact the Brown Graduate School at (401) 863–2600. To reach the Literary Arts Program, our phone number is (401) 863-3260, email us at writing@brown.edu, or write to us at Box 1923, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912.