Graduate Admissions
Admission to New England College’s graduate programs is selective; however, the College takes into consideration all aspects of the applicant’s background and talents, including professional experience, writing ability, and other accomplishments that are relevant to particular programs of study. Standardized tests are not required.
Admission to graduate programs at New England College is done on a rolling basis, meaning that decisions are generally rendered within two weeks of an applicant’s file becoming complete. Programs begin at different times of the year—most follow the traditional semester sequence but others, such as the MFA in Creative Writing, have a brief residency period (see description of the program).
Application requirements vary for each Master’s degree program; however, all require submission of at minimum:
1.Completed application form either printed out and mailed / faxed (pdf) or completed online.
2.Application fee of $35 in check or money order (in U.S. dollars)
3.Official transcripts of all post-secondary institutions attended.
4.Current résumé
5.Personal statement (see specific requirements for program)
6.Two letters of recommendation.
Some programs require additional documentation as part of their application process. These are described below. NOTE: these requirements are in addition to those described above:
For MFA in Poetry
Submit in addition the following materials:
1. Typewritten manuscript of 10 pages of recent poetry.
2. Personal statement topic: Brief (2 to 3 pages) essay citing your literary influences, an assessment of your writing in terms of its strengths and weaknesses, your experience with critical evaluation of your work, and what you hope to gain from attending the program.
3. Brief (1 to 3 pages) critical essay on a particular poem of your choice other than your own.
4. List of the 10 most influential books you have read in relation to your creative work as a writer.
MFA Financial Aid for MFA Program in Poetry
New England College offers graduate students in the MFA Program in Poetry several opportunities for financial aid. The primary source is the federal government through subsidized or un-subsidized Stafford loans. Full-time graduate students who receive an award based on the eligibility of their FAFSA report can expect to cover all or part of their costs through Stafford loans, if they choose.
Stafford Loan
Following the amounts allowed for low-residency programs, students may also receive additional loan monies to cover extra costs like travel and books and other expenses associated with being in graduate school. Graduate students are allowed to borrow monies up to the cost of attendance. Upon graduation, one can expect a repayment schedule of approximately $115 per month per $10,000 borrowed over a ten-year period. This estimate is based off a 9 per cent loan over a ten-year period. Stafford loans are currently at 3.46 per cent.
Other Graduate Loans
Please contact the Financial Aid office at NEC to discuss additional Plus loans that recently became available to graduate students, should you wish to increase your borrowing capacity.
Scholarships
New England College MFA Program in Poetry is deeply committed to offering merit scholarships for MFA poetry students who qualify based on their financial need. These merit-based scholarships are awarded annually on the basis of either academic achievement or artistic accomplishment with consideration for financial need. All students applying for financial aid are automatically reviewed for scholarship eligibility upon acceptance into the MFA program. In order to be considered for a scholarship, prospective students must file their FAFSA. These scholarships are awarded to incoming accepted students and are annually renewable based on satisfactory progress and faculty recommendations.
New England College Joel Oppenheimer Scholarship
The Joel Oppenheimer Scholarship is in memory of distinguished Black Mountain poet, Joel Oppenheimer, who taught at New England College from 1982 to 1988. He lived among the poets and artists of Greenwich Village, and was a columnist for The Village Voice from 1969-1978 before settling in Henniker, New Hampshire, where he was a popular presence in the local community. His most important publications include Collected Later Poems of Joel Oppenheimer (1997); Names and Local Arbitrations (1988); Drawing from Life: A Selection of Joel Oppenheimer's "Village Voice" Columns (1997); Don't Touch the Poet: The Life and Times of Joel Oppenheimer (1998); Just Friends: Friends and Lovers Poems, 1959-1962 (1980); New Spaces Poems 1975-1983 (1985); and Poetry: The Ecology of the Soul (1983). He is buried in the Henniker, New Hampshire cemetery.
TMA Payment Plan
In addition to financing and scholarship options New England College also offers a ten-month payment plan for any tuition costs that are not covered by financial aid. For the annual cost of $65.00 students can make monthly payments to Tuition Management Systems that will allow them to spread out the cost of attendance. Students that wish to sign up for this program should contact the Student Accounts Office at (603) 428-2226 and visit www.afford.com.
