MFA personal statements
I'm applying to MFA programs for fiction, and most of the personal statements aren't too bad (just "describe yourself as a writer" sorts of things) but I'm having trouble with a couple that ask about program fit. My main reasons for applying to these programs are location and funding, which...yeah, I'm an honest person, but I feel like I need to come up with something else here.
I know that it's good to drop some names and talk about professors who are doing stuff relevant to your research/interests, so would you twist that for an MFA? Like "I am familiar with Professor X's work and I like their style" or "Professor Y writes about stuff I want to write about" or "Professor Z seems like a real swell guy/gal," I don't know. I get that those things are good for academic programs where you're doing legit research and stuff, but does it fit for MFAs?
I feel weird throwing out names when I'm only familiar with like one or two of the professors at these universities and I haven't read much of their work. And I don't feel like the point of MFA programs is to team up with a professor who writes like you do, or one who writes about the same stuff. In this case, is it just better to talk about how the program at This University is so great and so prestigious and has the best resources and it would be a wonderful opportunity to improve myself as a writer etc. etc.?
I know that it's good to drop some names and talk about professors who are doing stuff relevant to your research/interests, so would you twist that for an MFA? Like "I am familiar with Professor X's work and I like their style" or "Professor Y writes about stuff I want to write about" or "Professor Z seems like a real swell guy/gal," I don't know. I get that those things are good for academic programs where you're doing legit research and stuff, but does it fit for MFAs?
I feel weird throwing out names when I'm only familiar with like one or two of the professors at these universities and I haven't read much of their work. And I don't feel like the point of MFA programs is to team up with a professor who writes like you do, or one who writes about the same stuff. In this case, is it just better to talk about how the program at This University is so great and so prestigious and has the best resources and it would be a wonderful opportunity to improve myself as a writer etc. etc.?