Application Deadline:   January 15

The single application deadline for entrance into all graduate programs in the Department of English is January 15 of the year in which the applicant wishes to begin study. Normally, students start their programs during the fall semester. The deadline for assistantship applications and other forms of financial aid through the Department of English is also January 15. For information on spring entrance  (M.A. only), contact the Graduate English Office (englgrad@iastate.edu; 515-294-2477).

(Note: Please refer to TESL Certificate graduate program information.  Application requirements are the same as for M.A. applicants.  Rolling admission with the application deadline being Monday of the last week of classes of the semester prior to the requested entry term.)

Applicants are responsible for compiling and mailing all application materials in two mailings as indicated below. General application information is available at:

http://www.admissions.iastate.edu/apply/

Please be sure your self-managed application with all supporting materials is received no later than January 15 to ensure your application is considered for admission and financial aid available from the Department of English (i.e. assistantships, scholarships, fellowships). However, we strongly recommend that your materials arrive early to allow adequate time to process your application prior to the Department of English evaluating your application.

Preference is given to applicants who meet the included preferred or minimum criteria. Applicants for admission to graduate study are also evaluated on other factors, including the student's performance on writing samples, the quality of the cover letter and letters of recommendation, as well as program match--all of which influence the student's admission status.

Application Requirements

Please send the following application materials to the Office of Admission, 100 Alumni Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-2011 USA:

• Online graduate application and fee payment (do not send a copy of your online application).

• Official academic transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work. Top quartile of undergraduate graduating class is preferred.

• Official GRE General Test scores (no Subject Test scores required) for an exam taken within five years of your application date. You may register to take the exam online at www.ets.org. Preferred minimum criteria:

  M.A.: 65th percentile or higher in Verbal OR Analytical Writing

  M.F.A.: 65th percentile or higher in Verbal AND minimum of 4.5 Analytical Writing

  Ph.D.: 80th percentile or higher in Verbal AND Analytical Writing

(Note: GRE scores not required for nonnative speakers of English who are applicants to the M.A. TESL/Applied Linguistics program and who do not wish to be considered for assistantships, fellowships, or scholarships.)

• **Official TOEFL (or IELTS) score report. Required of nonnative speakers of English who have not received a bachelor's or master's degree from a U.S. institution or in a country where the only official language is English (or if not currently enrolled in such a degree program). Minimum requirements:

  M.A. and M.F.A.:  100 IBT/250 CBT/600 PBT minimum required for admission (IELTS 7.0)

  Ph.D.:  111 IBT/273 CBT/640 PBT minimum required for admission (IELTS 7.5)

(Note:  Minimum required score of 25 on IBT Writing Section or 5.0 on CBT Essay Rating section to be considered for teaching assistantship positions).

Please send the following application materials to the English Department, Graduate Studies Program, 403 Ross Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-1201 USA:

• A copy of your online application form.

• A second set of official academic transcripts OR photocopies of official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate work.

• Photocopy of GRE General Test examinee score report.  (See above for more information.)

• **Photocopy of TOEFL (or IELTS) examinee score report.  (See above for more information.)

• Resume highlighting education background, awards, accomplishments, and teaching/tutoring experience.

• Cover letter/personal goals statement (1-3 pages; addressed to Graduate Admissions Selection Committee). Be sure to state preparation for graduate study, including reasons and objectives for study in one of the following graduate programs:  M.A. in English; M.A. in Rhetoric, Composition, and Professional Communication; M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language/Applied Linguistics; M.F.A. in Creative Writing and Environment; Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics and Technology; or Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Professional Communication.  If you seek a teaching assistantship, elaborate on your relevant experience.

• Three letters of recommendation. Online letter of recommendation process is preferred, but not required. If not, please use the Letter of Recommendation form . These letters should be from persons qualified to comment on your preparation for graduate study in the program to which you are applying. If you are applying for a teaching assistantship, at least one of your references should comment on your teaching experience and abilities or your potential to teach.

• Writing sample(s). Required of all applicants according to the program specifications below.

  M.A.: Expository writing sample (5-10 pages) which demonstrates your critical and research skills. Applicants typically submit an essay they produced for an undergraduate or graduate course in English. In addition to the expository writing sample, you may submit a second writing sample (2-5 pages) that demonstrates ability in one of our majors. For example, applicants to the M.A. in Rhetoric, Composition, and Professional Communication may submit a practical document (proposal, manual, brochure). Applicants to the M.A. in Rhetoric, Composition, and Professional Communication or the M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language/Applied Linguistics may submit pedagogic materials (e.g., a course the applicant has designed).

  M.F.A.: 1] Prose writing sample (5-10 pages) displaying a command of accepted grammatical rules for written English (such as a paper for a literature class, an article published in the Amicus Journal, or a letter to the editor). 2] Creative writing sample (25 pages maximum) in addition to the prose writing sample. This sample of creative writing should demonstrate  exemplary ability in one genre, although once admitted, students will not be restricted to working in the genre.

  Ph.D.: Writing sample demonstrating your critical and research skills with cover sheet contextualizing the document. You may include two documents totaling 35 pages with at least one document demonstrating your critical and research skills.

• Hogrefe Fellowship in Creative Writing Application Form. Required of all applicants to the Hogrefe Fellowship. Fill out form and attach to your cover letter/personal goals statement. Hogrefe Fellowhip application information is available at:

  http://engl.iastate.edu/programs/creative_writing/fellowship

• **Audio, video, or CD demonstrating your competence in spoken English (a data file as an email attachment to englgrad@iastate.edu is also acceptable). Required of nonnative speakers of English who have not received a bachelor's or master's degree from a U.S. institution or in a country where the only official language is English (or if not currently enrolled in such a degree program). This speaking sample should include 3–5 minutes of extemporaneous speaking. You might, therefore, begin by talking informally about your educational background and your reasons for pursuing graduate study.
  

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