Application Checklist
What do I need to apply?
In addition to your regular Stony Brook university application, you will need:
- a statement of purpose
- a writing sample
- name of a recommender who knows your creative writing (optional)
1. Statement of Purpose: 1-2 pages, double-spaced
We're interested in getting to know you as a person, as a writer, and as a reader.
Tell us about a book that changed you in some way, even if you hated it. How does
it fit with what you write and, perhaps more importantly, with how you write? What
do you want to get out of this major?
2. Writing sample: 10-15 pages
Submit 10-15 pages of your creative work. This can be fiction, creative nonfiction,
poetry, or a combination of genres. Aim for quality over quantity. It's better to
submit one strong 10-page short story than two weaker seven-page stories.
3. Name of a recommender (optional):
If you have a teacher or mentor who can speak directly to your work as a creative
writer, you can have them submit a letter on your behalf.
Formatting:
- Submit as a single PDF. Place your Statement of Purpose at the beginning. The Statement of Purpose does not count toward your page count for the writing sample.
- Use 1-inch margins, 12 point font (Times New Roman or similar).
- Prose, including the Statement of Purpose, should be double-spaced.
- Poetry can be single or double-spaced.
- Put page breaks between poems and, if you are submitting multiple stories, between each story.
Submit your Stony Brook application by November 1 (early action), selecting “Creative Writing” as your intended major. After submission, you’ll receive an acknowledgment email with log-in details for the Stony Brook portal. In the portal, upload your statement of purpose and writing sample (combined in one PDF) under “CW Supplemental.”
