Hey everyone, rising sophomore here and I am applying to this summer program. It doesn’t look like there’s a thread for 2019 so I went ahead and started one! I was wondering if there were any alumni or people who have applied before who could answer a couple of questions. First, how difficult is it to get in? I heard this is a pretty prestigious camp but I read somewhere on here that only 2 percent of applicants get in which is ridiculous in my opinion. Next, on your writing sample, how should I format it and what kinds of writing did y’all submit?
Hi, this is very late but hope this helps nonetheless for anyone in the future-
IYWS is a highly selective program with an approximately 15-20% acceptance rate. It’s probably the most prestigious summer writing program in the country and most people who go there end up at top colleges. I submitted several poems in a pdf last year as part of my writing sample. I’ve heard from many that the writing sample is the MOST IMPORTANT part of the application so pick works that you believe best represent you as a writer. This was a very enjoyable and enriching experience for me last year; I met many amazing people who were passionate about writing, renowned authors and peers alike.
Good luck!
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