How to Apply

The application process is entirely online. Please complete and/or upload all of the items listed below to your application account. There is no need to mail items to our office.

Bachelor's Degree

A Bachelor's degree in any field is required.

Transcript (Academic Record)

Upload a copy of your transcript from each university and college attended. Transcripts from any transfer schools and study abroad programs must be submitted since Bachelor's Degree institutions typically do not list transfer and study abroad courses with grades. If still enrolled in your Bachelor's program, submit a copy of your transcript showing in-progress courses. If admitted, an official transcript with proof of graduation is required. USF undergraduates upload their unofficial transcripts for admission review and do not need to send an official USF transcript.

Two Letters of Recommendation

Please obtain these from people who have worked with you on writing projects, for example, critique partners, editors, or instructors at writing and continuing education programs. We are interested in how you respond to feedback, as well as your work ethic and commitment to writing craft.

Short-Answer Questions (no more than 200 words each)

• Our program requires students to annotate a bibliography, briefly summarizing a book and remarking on craft elements the author uses. List two books you’ve read recently and annotate them.
• Describe the education you’ve undertaken to this point to improve your writing craft.
• What professional development activities have you undertaken—formal and informal—to make yourself a better writer?
• What do you hope to get from this program?

Critical Thinking

• Share an example of an author using a craft technique that interests you, and state clearly why it is effective. (Up to 100 words)
• Show examples from the text or texts written by the above author, and explain how they affect readers. Use at least three direct quotations from the text to support your claim. (Up to 400 words)
• What can another writer learn from this craft technique, and how might you use it in your own work? (Up to 200 words)

Creative Work

Please submit up to 10 pages of your creative writing, but no more than five from a single project. You may submit from a novel, short story, picture book, graphic novel script, poetry collection, or nonfiction work. We want to see writing that has: style and a sense of purpose; that establishes a world; a sense of narrative; and uses essential craft elements such as characterization, dialogue, and action.

State Authorization

Residents of U.S. states and territories: The MFA for Young Readers program has confirmed that applications can be accepted for enrollment into online degree programs from residents in the following states and territories: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia.

See state authorization status list.

We would love to work with students from everywhere. If you do not see your state, please contact the Office of Graduate Admission at asgraduate@usfca.edu. We are working to include additional states in the near future. If you would like to apply but your state is not currently listed, please let us know.