Frequently Asked Questions

What are you looking for in my writing sample submission?

Your submission should be 500 words. Write a letter, a short story, a script, an essay--choose your form--but write about why this program interests you, what you hope to learn and gain from the program, and where you hope to go from here. We are interested in making sure that you can write with some fluency, but most of all we wish to know that this program is right for you and that you are right for the program.

What sort of computers do you use and do I need my own?

We use PC-Windows based computers. All Algonquin College students are provided with an e-mail account, access to the internet, dial-in access from home, and use of two Access Centres, rooms with over 150 computers dedicated to student access 24 hours a day. You will also have daily access, although we share it, to a lab with computers loaded with scriptwriting software. However, you are about to become a writer, or you already are one, so you will need your own PC or Mac at home as well. In the past, many students began the course without a computer and soon decided to invest in one. We provide MS Word formatting tutorials (for playwriting, broadcast, screenwriting) which will help you to format scripts properly without specialized software.

How many hours will I spend doing my work?

On average you will spend 19 to 20 hours of contact time with professors, and an additional 20 (or more) hours are required for your work outside of class. Students have spent far fewer hours, but one thing you will learn about writing: it takes time. In second term you will have slightly more classroom time to use for assignments as well as individual conferences with professors about your work.

I need to work while I am in school. How many hours can I spend at my job?

Many students work to help to support themselves to pay for their education. However, if you work more than 20 hours per week, you will likely begin to find your workload overwhelming. Some jobs are available within the College as part of government student work programs; information about these positions is available from the Students' Association.

What kind of assignments will I be doing?

You will be working on screenplays, stage plays, television and radio scripts, corporate videos, new media projects, as well as learning some basic video production skills. The work load is heavy. We have tried to stagger assignments to enable you to concentrate on projects, and as the year progresses, you will begin to focus more closely on your specific area(s) of interest. However, we are interested in introducing you to as many areas of writing as possible, because you never know where the work is. You never know what opportunities might arise, and we hope to prepare you for as many of these as possible.