How to Apply to an MFA in Creative Writing (Or Not)

There’s graduate school for Creative Writing? And sometimes, it’s FREE? Where do I apply? Why are all of these applications so different? Should I do low-residency? What the hell is a Statement of Purpose?

This vortex of questions started for me in 2018 when I was considering applying to an MFA, and eventually I figured it out enough to be accepted, attend, and (as of May 2023) graduate from a fully-funded in-resident Masters in Fine Arts in Creative Writing, focusing on Fiction, at the University of Pittsburgh. Since then, I’ve gotten questions from other would-be applicants who are wondering, “How do you even begin this process?”

Here are my answers, gleaned from the corners of the internet from my own application season, for applying to an MFA in Creative Writing in the United States.

[Updated: October 2022 with notes of letters of recommendation for Writing MFAs and advice on choosing between programs. Updated: May 2023 with additional advice on samples.]

Photo by Ren Ran on Unsplash

First, reflect on why you want to apply to the MFA and commit to that decision (or not).

The MFA application process is complicated and tiring, and requires you to put you and your art out there in a really vulnerable way. Most programs also ask for letters of recommendation, which require asking multiple someones for help (perhaps someone you haven’t talked to in a long time) and coordinating, and for many writer-introverts, that alone is stressful. There are also limited spots each year, especially in fully-funded programs in the United States whose budgets have been hit hard by COVID-19, and so the chances of getting in are lower.

And even once you get into the program, you’re committing to working hard (probably making less money than whatever job you held previously), building community with others, perhaps teaching an Intro to Composition course, and working on your craft for years.

But on the upside, you get to work on your craft for years, you get to work hard, you get to build community with others, and perhaps you get to teach an Intro to Composition Course. And at the end of it, you’ll have a Master’s in Fine Arts Degree in Creative Writing.

My biggest advice on choosing to apply: 1) crystallize to yourself really WHY you’re applying so you can keep yourself honest and grounded throughout this process, and 2) have a back-up plan for what you’d like to do instead. My first choice was to get into an in-residency MFA, and if not that, then I’d do a low-residency program and pay from my savings, and if I didn’t get in to one of those, then I’d double down on my freelance graphic design work. Knowing my “big why” and this back-up plan made the rejections (which will indeed come) easier to stomach.

Further Reading for Why (or Why Not) to Do an MFA in Writing:

• “Where Great Writers are Made: Assessing America’s top graduate writing programs” by Edward J. Delaney in The Atlantic
• “Why Writers Love to Hate the M.F.A.” by Cecilia Capuzzi Simon by in The New York Times
• Before and After the Book Deal: A Writer’s Guide to Finishing, Publishing, Promoting, and Surviving Your First Book by Courtney Maum — a great new comprehensive guide (which includes alternatives to doing an MFA)

Photo by Asa Akmelia on Unsplash

Second, choose which programs to apply to.

MFA programs, unlike undergraduate degrees, have a lot of variability. They often range from 1–3 years in length. Some are funded, some are not. Many programs are “in-residency” i.e. you live in that city and attend (and usually teach) class 2–3 times a week; others are called “low-residency” where you keep living your regular life except for attending a super intensive editorial summit 1–2 times a year. Programs sometimes have a special focus, like international journalism or environmentalism, and others have great travel opportunities.

Make a spreadsheet and prepare to track which programs you’re into and what the specific details are (when is the application due, how many letters of rec, do they require the GRE, etc).

Why you won’t find a list of “Best MFA in Creative Writing Programs:” there was a whole kerfuffle about ten years ago in the space, arguing about what it means to be “best” and commentary on who has funding and why. This all boils down to there being no active ranked lists, and that’s okay. As an alternative, look for writers you admire and see where they teach or where they went to school, and look at the department websites of current graduate students in the cities you want to live.

How to Find Creative Writing MFA Programs:

• I highly recommend using the Poets & Writers database https://www.pw.org/mfa to search for programs — you can choose by city, funding level, etc, and each has a good mini profile blurb.
• List of fully funded programs — https://readtheworkshop.com/resources/fully-funded-programs/
• List of partially or mostly funded programs — https://readtheworkshop.com/resources/partially-funded-programs/

Further Reading for How to Pick MFA Programs to Apply to:

• Blog by Jay Vera Summer: “How many MFA programs should I apply to? Which MFA programs should I apply to?”
• Blog by Eva Langston: “How NOT to Choose Your MFA Writing Program (And 7 Tips on How to Do It Right!)”
• The Author’s Guild: “How to choose the right MFA program for you”
• “Cheap, Distance Learning Alternatives to an MFA in Creative Writing” by Michael Earnest Sweet at HuffPost

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Third, gather your application materials and edit edit edit.

While the application requirements vary from program to program, you’re usually at least looking for 1) work sample (for fiction and nonfiction, it’s often around 20 pages double spaced, and for poetry it’s usually 10–20 poems), 2) a statement of purpose, 3) letters of recommendation, 4) transcripts from previous education, 5) a CV/resume of work-to-date, and 6) an application fee (many programs have fee waivers, especially for BIPOC writers; just ask). There are often additional application questions specific to that university.

My understanding is that the most important elements to an MFA in Writing application are your work sample and your statement of purpose, though of course all the pieces add up to one whole.

THE WRITING MFA APPLICATION: THE WORK SAMPLE

Prioritize time to revise your work sample. Print it out, edit it, print it out again…and again and again. Consider — does this sample reflect the kind of writer you want to be? Note: it does not (and almost never is) work that has already been published.

Additionally, it is important to practice that muscle of being uncomfortable by letting others see your work — share your sample and ask for feedback. Identify 2–3 people* you know well and trust with their creative taste; it will be most helpful if they have writing workshop experience, but anyone is better than no one! To guide non-writer friends, consider using this Liz Lerman’s fantastic “Critical Response Process” (as an easy and clear pdf) to help structure that conversation.

*Note: do not ask a stranger, distant acquaintance, or someone you have not talked to in a long while to read your sample, and especially not for free. This is not appropriate for so many reasons.

Take a local writing workshop if you haven’t already. Many cities have local writing organizations that offer 4–8 week workshops for a couple hundred dollars; especially since Covid, there are many options online. You can also pay a professional editor to help review your sample. Workshops are a great way to get a lot of feedback on your work (both from peers and from the teacher) and to also experience what an MFA would actually be like.

You want to submit your best work that you feel exemplifies your style as a writer, so it may be all of a novel chapter or short stories. Take care to keep track of the most-up-to-date file; I recommend saving different versions for different applications (because again, app requirements can vary a lot, perhaps there’s one with 30 pages with your name on it and a 25 page version without it, etc).

THE WRITING MFA APPLICATION: LETTERS OF REC

I recommend sending a version of your work sample that you feel good about when asking for your letters of recommendation. You want those (potential) letter writers to know what your work is all about, to vibe with your aesthetic, and to feel confident promoting your work.

In terms of picking letter of recommendation writers, most programs ask for 2–3. Consider what you hope your letter writers would write about (here’s advice on how to ask for a letter of rec). Think about someone who can speak to your work ethic as a student (since this is, after all, graduate school), so perhaps a past professor; someone who can speak to your aptitude for teaching and/or collaborating with others, so perhaps a past boss; and someone who can speak to your writing and/or presence in a workshop setting (i.e. receiving and giving feedback). If each letter writer can speak to one or more of those qualities or others, all the better.

I recommend keeping a spreadsheet where you can keep track of who is writing letters for which program, if you’ve requested the right link for them, and if they’ve submitted.

THE WRITING MFA APPLICATION: THE STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

For your statement of purpose, this is a version of a personal statement essay you may have written before for colleges or other programs. They are typically about a page or 500 words. You may need to create slightly differentiated ones for different programs. There’s a great example linked in further reading below. What makes this essay unique is that you have an opportunity to share with the department (and articulate for yourself!) a few factors I think are important:

1. what kind of writer you are: the styles and themes you focus on, how you edit and revise, what you read in your own time
2. what kind of literary citizen you are or want to be: are you active in events and creating casual spaces to discuss, or perhaps engage on Twitter, hyping up your favorite authors, or maybe you volunteer for a literary journal?
3. who you are excited to work with: if you know/admire a particular faculty member and their writing style
4. what you need to learn: a chance to be humble and articulate why the MFA, why now for your journey,
5. and if relevant, what kind of teacher you want and hope to be (most in-residency MFAs make funding happen by having you teach).

Further Reading on MFA in Writing Application Advice:

• Blog on The Workshop by Cady Vishniac: “How I Wrote My Statement of Purpose” — if you only read one “further reading” link from this piece, please read this one. It’s so helpful and generous.
• Blog on The Workshop by Stephanie Lane S.: “5 Frequently Asked Application Questions Answered By Current MFA Candidates”
• Blog by Dave Madden: “How Not to Write a Statement of Purpose for MFA School”

Photo by TOMOKO UJI on Unsplash

Fourth, apply.

You just have to hit “submit” at some point. Reward yourself with a cup of coffee, a chat with a friend, hugging a pet, or a walk outside when you do. Good luck!

A postscript: fifth, how to pick an MFA.

If you’ve been accepted to multiple MFA programs, congratulations! That’s awesome! When trying to pick one, I recommend having an honest conversation with yourself. Go back to your Statement of Purpose — which program will empower you to achieve those goals best? Perhaps you want to stay near family while working on your craft (prioritize location), or perhaps you want to finish a novel (prioritize programs with manuscript committees/timelines). Maybe there’s a literary hero of yours at a location (prioritize the faculty), or maybe you want a vibrant literary community (prioritize location and program reputation).

Further reading (also included Step #2 above):

• Blog by Eva Langston: “How NOT to Choose Your MFA Writing Program (And 7 Tips on How to Do It Right!)”
• The Author’s Guild: “How to choose the right MFA program for you”

Closing thoughts:
No program is perfect, and no pro/cons list is perfect. However, if you go into an MFA with a clear idea of 1) what is most important to you, 2) what you want to achieve during this program, and 3) how you best manage yourself with deadlines/goals/time/priorities, then trust that you will be successful wherever you choose to go. This is your time. Enjoy it!

Please let me know in the comments if this guide helped you, and/or if you have other resources/ideas I should add.