Interlochen opens creative writing scholarship competition for 2027-28

Interlochen Arts Academy is accepting entries through Nov. 15, 2026, for its Virginia B. Ball Creative Writing Scholarship Competition, which offers a full-tuition award for the 2027-28 school year. The contest is open to eligible students in grades 8-11 and includes financial aid consideration for all entrants.

Why it matters: - The top prize covers full tuition at Interlochen Arts Academy, creating a rare, full-ride opportunity for young writers. - The competition can help students access an arts boarding school setting focused on creative writing. - All entrants receive financial aid consideration, which broadens the impact beyond the first-place award.

What happened: - Interlochen Arts Academy opened submissions for the Virginia B. Ball Creative Writing Scholarship Competition for the 2027-28 school year. - The deadline is Nov. 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. - Eligible applicants are students in grades 8-11 during the 2026-27 school year, except current Interlochen Arts Academy students. - Applicants must also submit an Academy admission application by the same deadline. - Application fee waivers will be provided.

The details: - Entrants must submit five to seven original pieces written or revised within the past year. - Portfolios must include work in at least two genres. - Eligible forms include poetry, fiction, scripts and comics. - Submissions are limited to 4,000 words or 20 pages. - Complete formatting and submission instructions are available on the competition website. - Awards are subject to the published competition rules. - Prospective entrants can use the submission portal and guidelines on the Virginia B. Ball Creative Writing Scholarship Competition page. - Admission questions can be sent to admission@interlochen.org.

Between the lines: - The competition has been running since 2000 and is supported by grants from the Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Foundation. - Interlochen announced Julia Rosen as the 2026 winner in September and awarded her a full-tuition scholarship. - The creative writing program dates to 1975 and pairs students with faculty who are published authors. - The program also helps students build portfolios, enter contests, apply to colleges and present their work. - Past scholarship recipients have gone on to Cornell, Yale, Princeton and the University of Michigan. - Alumni work has appeared in literary publications, and some have earned honors including the PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize.

What's next: - Students who want to compete need to complete both the portfolio and the admission application before the Nov. 15 deadline. - Interlochen will review entries under the competition rules and award financial aid consideration to all entrants. - The next winner will join the Academy for the 2027-28 school year.

The bottom line: - Interlochen is using the scholarship competition to recruit young writers with strong portfolios and give one student a full-tuition path into its creative writing program.