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It& #39;s getting to be MFA application season, and I know one of the parts of the application students always worry about most is the personal statement. In hopes of demystifying this, here& #39;s some of what I& #39;m thinking about when I look at one as part of an application.
(Disclaimers: I& #39;ve done seven years of MFA admissions, at two universities. What I read for might not be what someone else does. And remember: The personal statement matters, but always remember that the writing sample is the prime piece of the application.)
First and foremost: How will the writer use their time in the MFA? Sometimes it& #39;s "I want to write a novel about X." Sometimes it& #39;s more an area of inquiry: "I& #39;m writing stories in the tradition of Y and Z." But I want to see something more than "I want time to write."
Second: Where do they come from as a reader? I& #39;m excited to hear about students& #39; specific influences and inspirations. Many personal statements mention zero writers or books! There& #39;s no right answer here. It doesn& #39;t have to be cool or trendy. But I want to know who you love.
Third: What have you done as a writer since undergrad? If you& #39;re just graduating, no worries, but I& #39;m always curious to know how an applicant has made progress on their own. Students who can grow outside the structure of a program will usually also succeed inside it.
Fourth: Will this person be a good citizen in our community? There& #39;s no right or wrong set of evidence here, but if you& #39;ve been helping with a reading series or volunteering at mags or working in publishing or otherwise engaging your community, I& #39;d love to hear about it.
That& #39;s the big stuff! Who you are as a writer. Who you are as a reader. A sense of ambition and work ethic. A likely good community member. The personal statement is where you speak directly for yourself. Take advantage of that chance.
