HOW TO APPLY
Applications for Fall 2026 will open on April 13, 2026.
STEP 1: PAY THE APPLICATION FEE
- Register for the certificate application on our website and pay the $80 application fee. Links will be posted here on April 13.
STEP 2: COMPLETE THE APPLICATION
- Fill out the application form. After you pay the fee, you will receive a confirmation email that includes a link to the application. All materials must be submitted by Friday, June 5, at 5:00 pm (PT).
- Writing Samples: The application form will include instructions to upload the writing samples described below.
- Personal Statement (300 words or fewer)
- Tell us a little about yourself. Describe yourself as a person, student, and potential member of the Certificate cohort. What do you hope to gain from the program, and what will you bring to the community?
- Tell us a little about yourself. Describe yourself as a person, student, and potential member of the Certificate cohort. What do you hope to gain from the program, and what will you bring to the community?
- Project Description (300 words or fewer)
- Tell us about the memoir that you are writing or hope to start writing in the program. In addition, please tell us the author and title(s) of 1-3 memoirs that have made an impact on you. Share a little about why these books moved you/what you loved about them.
- Tell us about the memoir that you are writing or hope to start writing in the program. In addition, please tell us the author and title(s) of 1-3 memoirs that have made an impact on you. Share a little about why these books moved you/what you loved about them.
- Writing Sample (3,000 words or fewer)
- Upload a sample of creative writing, ideally from a memoir-in-progress or personal essay, to give us a sense of how you write creative/narrative nonfiction. If you don’t have any such examples, you could submit a piece of critical writing (review, essay), a short story or section of a novel.
- Upload a sample of creative writing, ideally from a memoir-in-progress or personal essay, to give us a sense of how you write creative/narrative nonfiction. If you don’t have any such examples, you could submit a piece of critical writing (review, essay), a short story or section of a novel.
- Writing Exercise (300 words or fewer)
- Write to one of the following prompts. Include one image that makes an unexpected and vivid appeal to one of the five senses.
- Option 1: Write about a time you stole something.
- Option 2: What is the story you don't want your mother to know?
- Option 3: Tell us about a piece of clothing from your past and what it means to you.
- Write to one of the following prompts. Include one image that makes an unexpected and vivid appeal to one of the five senses.
- Classroom Feedback Sample (200 words of fewer)
- You will be provided with an excerpt from a memoir that a student in the program has been working on. Imagine that you are a member of this cohort, encountering this piece for the first time. Please provide a paragraph of constructive feedback intended to guide revision and help the student move forward.
- Personal Statement (300 words or fewer)
STEP 3: SUBMIT
If you’re interested in applying, we encourage you to join our mailing list to receive updates and reminders. |