Graduate
Prospective Students
Supplemental Info: Admissions FAQ
Below you will find a list of frequently asked questions regarding admission to our graduate programs. Click on a link to view the answer for each question.
What are my chances of admission for the PhD in English Language and Literature? How many students are admitted each year?
In order to support all students with full six-year financial packages, including two years of fellowship support, we aim for an incoming class of 12 students. During the fall 2009 admissions process, we received 353 applications.
How many students are admitted for the MFA in Creative Writing?
We admit a total of 24 students, 12 in poetry and 12 in prose. During the fall 2009 admissions season, we received 780 applications.
What can I do to strengthen my application for the PhD programs?
Please see A Note from the Director of Graduate Studies.
When is the application deadline?
For the English Language & Literature and the MFA programs, the deadline is January 1.
For the English & Women’s Studies program, the deadline is December 15.
For the English & Education program, the deadline is January 15.
Do I need to take the GRE?
The Language and Literature PhD program requires the general and subject test scores.
Both the Joint Program in English and Education and the Joint Program in English/Women’s Studies only require the general GRE subject test scores.
Neither program requires the subject test.
Please note that the test date must be within 5 years of the application deadline.
The MFA program does not require GRE scores.
What type of scores do I need on the GRE?
Our program is very competitive. The students who were accepted to the Language and Literature Program in 2009 had an average score of 718 for the verbal portion of the general exam and an average score of 670 on the subject exam.
How important are the GRE scores in relation to the rest of the application?
The GRE scores have no more significance than any other single segment of the application. The averages listed above are not determinative, but they do provide a useful sense of the kinds of applications that have typically been successful.
What is the correct GRE institution number and department code for the English department?
The institution number is 1839, the department code for English Language and Literature is 2501 and the department code for the MFA program is 2503.
What do I need to submit online?
The following items must be submitted online: application, statement of purpose and personal statement, and CV. The GRE scores must be submitted electronically and the letters of recommendation can either be submitted online or mailed.
What do I need to mail to the English department?
You need to mail official transcripts from every university or college you have attended and your writing sample. Letters of recommendation may be mailed or submitted online.
Mail to:
English Language & Literature, Graduate Office Admissions, 435 S. State Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
What do I need to send to Rackham Graduate School?
One set of official transcripts from every university or college you have attended.
Mail to:
Rackham Graduate School, 0120 Rackham Bldg., 915 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Do I need to send a transcript from every school, even if I did not post a degree there?
Yes, one complete set of official transcripts from each college or university you attended must be mailed to the English department and one complete set must be mailed to Rackham Graduate School.
Do I need to send a transcript from a school I attended abroad for one semester?
If your courses and grades appear on the official transcript from the university or college granting your degree, you need not send transcripts for study abroad. However, if they courses only appear as transfer credits without grades, you must submit transcripts from these schools as well.
What GPA do I need to get into the program?
There is no minimum GPA for any of our programs. The average GPA for admitted students in 2009 was 3.80.
How long should my statement of purpose be?
One to two pages long, single or double spaced.
How many pages should my writing sample be?
Send your best work. Most samples are about 25 pages for a PhD application, 30-40 pages for the MFA in prose or 15 poems for the MFA in poetry. Please do not submit any bound materials.
Can I transfer into the graduate program?
We do not accept transfer students into any of our programs. You may speak to the Student Administration Manager, Jan Burgess, if you have further questions about previous experience at other institutions.
What is the language requirement?
Once admitted into one of the PhD programs, you must pass 2 basic language exams (demonstrating in each the equivalent of 2 years of college course equivalency) or 1 advanced exam (demonstrating three years of college course equivalency).
Where do I find information about financial aid?
Currently every graduate student in our programs receives some form of financial support. The types of funds you might receive are listed on our web site. Additional funds may be applied for through the Financial Aid Office, which you can reach at 734-763-6600.
If I’m an international student are there special language requirements?
If your native language is not English, you must take the TOEFL. The minimum score is 620 on paper, 260 on the computer version and 106 on the internet. The test date must be within two years of the application deadline. We do not accept MELAB or TSE scores.
Can I apply to both poetry and prose MFA programs?
No, applicants must choose either poetry or prose, and apply for study in that genre.
When will I be notified if I’m accepted?
You will be notified in late February by U.S. mail.
For additional questions, please feel free to contact us at 734-763-4139 or e-mail us at sec.eng.grad@umich.edu.
