The Insider’s Guide to Writing Personal Statements for MFA Programs

Writing the MFA Personal Statement: How to Stand Out

Let’s face it—writing a personal statement for MFA applications is hard.

You already know your writing is strong. But turning your entire creative identity into a 2–3 page statement that captures your potential, conveys your passion, and convinces a committee to choose you over hundreds of others? That’s a different skill altogether.

Here’s the truth: every year, as Chair of CCA’s MFA Writing Program, I read hundreds of personal statements. Most are forgettable. Some are painful to read. But a few make me sit up and think: We need this person in our program.

What’s the difference? It’s not talent—it’s strategy.

In this intimate, practical workshop, New York Times bestselling author and CCA MFA Writing Chair Jasmin Darznik pulls back the curtain on what truly makes a personal statement stand out. Drawing on her experience both as an applicant and as someone who now makes admissions decisions, Jasmin will show you exactly what works—and what doesn’t.

You’ll learn:

• The insider framework top applicants use to craft powerful statements
• Common clichés that make committees internally groan
• How to open with a hook that grabs attention—and hold it
• What to say (and what not to say) in the “Why this program?” section
• How to shape your story so your application feels authentic and unforgettable

You’ll also have the chance to get live feedback during a Q&A focused on your specific challenges.

By the end of this session, you’ll walk away with the tools and confidence to write a statement that showcases not just your writing ability, but your distinct voice and potential as a graduate student.

About Jasmin Darznik
Jasmin Darznik is a New York Times bestselling author and the Chair of the MFA Writing Program at California College of the Arts. She is the author of three acclaimed books: the memoir The Good Daughter, and the novels Song of a Captive Bird and The Bohemians, with a forthcoming novel about Rita Hayworth. Darznik holds an MFA in Fiction from Bennington and a PhD in English from Princeton. As both an accomplished essayist and program director, she’s read hundreds of MFA applications and knows exactly what makes committees say yes.