Applicants for admission to the writing program must submit a portfolio when applying for admission. The portfolio can be a short story, a personal essay, a selection of poems, a script or a combination of these. Portfolios should be 10 to 12 double-spaced pages. We recommend putting your strongest work first.

We're trying to get a sense of what you can do as a creative writer. We'll be asking:

• Can this applicant make a scene or poetic moment come to life on the page, with vivid detail?
• Does s/he have a powerful and original voice?
• Can s/he create believable and interesting characters and/or poetic personas?
• Can s/he reflect deeply?
• Use language skillfully? Keep a story moving?

For full consideration, email it by Feb. 10 to Glen Retief, director of the Writers Institute. Late portfolios will be accepted until the program is filled.