Application Info and Deadlines
We're thrilled that you are interested in the Bennington Writing Seminars, one of the top low-residency MFA programs in the country. Take the next step by applying to join us for a rigorous two years of reading, writing, workshops, mentoring, and friendship.
Apply
Use Bennington's online application to submit your materials to the MFA in Writing program. Admission is based solely on the quality of your writing. Bennington does not require that you have an undergraduate degree in order to earn an MFA.
If you'd like to know more about us, please join our communities on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to learn about our students, graduates, and faculty members, and to get a feel for what a residency is like. Our students and faculty publish widely and in some of the most prestigious literary journals and magazines. Take a look at our publications news to see what your peers and our graduates are writing.
Here's a summary of everything you need to know to apply:
Deadlines
- March 1: MFA admission applications due for Summer term (beginning with June residency). Financial aid application due April 1.
- September 1: MFA admission and financial aid applications due for Winter term (beginning with January residency).
Application Checklist
Applications are considered complete when the following have been received:
- $75 application fee or $100 Dual-Genre application fee (both are non-refundable and cannot be waived). After you submit your application, you'll see a link on your status page directing you to make your application fee payment online.
- Application form with supporting written materials.
- Three recommendations from people who are familiar with your writing and/or your ability to work independently and collaboratively.
- Official transcript from each college or university you have attended (if any). Transcripts can be emailed to writing@bennington.edu, or mailed to Bennington MFA in Writing, Bennington College, One College Drive, Bennington, VT 05201. The Writing Seminars does not require an associate or bachelor’s degree to apply, however they add to the robustness of your application and are encouraged.
- Essay: A two- or three-page essay discussing your reading life and your engagement with the literature of other writers is required. Your essay should be double-spaced and in a readable font, such as 12 point Times New Roman.
- Writing Sample: A manuscript of your work (for fiction and nonfiction applicants, 20 pages of fiction or nonfiction, double-spaced, in a readable font such as 12 point Times New Roman; for poetry applicants, 10 pages of poetry) must be submitted. Dual-genre applicants must submit a manuscript for each genre in which they are applying.
- Resume/ Work History (Optional): You may upload your resume if you feel that this information will enhance your application, though you will not be negatively impacted for not doing so.
- Financial Aid: Graduate students who are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens may use federal student loans to help finance their studies at Bennington. When applying for admission, interested students should complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the online Bennington College Application for Financial Aid. More information available here.
Questions?
Would you like further information? Check out prospective student frequently asked questions. If you have more on your mind, then please inquire here and one of our staff members will be in touch. For applicants interested in transferring credits from another MFA program, see our complete transfer credit policy here.