Best colleges for future writers

[rcharney]

My granddaughter is a senior and ever since middle school has always dreamed of being a writer. I have read some of her short pieces and I believe she some talent. She is adamant with this goal. What are the colleges that you would recommend? Or should any college or community college will suffice. She took the ACT as a junior and was in the 95th percentile.

[Lilyandrews]

Creative writing degrees tend to be graduate level. You can get an MFA in creative writing, but first you need a BA in something else. English Lit is a great place to start, or Journalism, or business writing. Any of these area of undergraduate study will help her to learn the tools of the trade: Grammar, punctuation, syntax, etc, plus exposure to a lot of great writers Then when she has her BA she can go into a Masters program.

In the meantime, there are some great creative writing communities on line. My favorite is www.critiquecircle.com

I wish her well!

[jon1jt]

Originally Posted by rcharney

My granddaughter is a senior and ever since middle school has always dreamed of being a writer. I have read some of her short pieces and I believe she some talent. She is adamant with this goal. What are the colleges that you would recommend? Or should any college or community college will suffice. She took the ACT as a junior and was in the 95th percentile.

first choice, Emerson College in Boston, one of the premier writing colleges in northeast. ACT doesn't test logical/critical thinking, just rout memory information gleaned in high school. i've consistently experienced students who scored high on ACT and low on the SAT, so i don't know how much of an indicator that is as it pertains to your granddaughter. and ACT doesn't require writing sample. did she do one?

i also highly recommend St. John's College in New Mexico or Maryland.

[SleepyWitch]

The University of East Anglia School of Literature and Creative Writing. it's in Englandk, though.
http://www1.uea.ac.uk/cm/home/schools/hum/lit

[Nossa]

I have a question..can you get a degree in creative writing after finising university?! I mean is there a degree in creative writing?! I never knew that!

[dramasnot6]

Originally Posted by jon1jt

i also highly recommend St. John's College in New Mexico or Maryland.

that's my dream college

[Virgil]

Originally Posted by rcharney

My granddaughter is a senior and ever since middle school has always dreamed of being a writer. I have read some of her short pieces and I believe she some talent. She is adamant with this goal. What are the colleges that you would recommend? Or should any college or community college will suffice. She took the ACT as a junior and was in the 95th percentile.

Best creative writing program in the United States has historically been the University of Iowa. Here is a site that lists and ranks them: http://www-as.phy.ohiou.edu/~rouzie/...University.htm

Originally Posted by Nossa

I have a question..can you get a degree in creative writing after finising university?! I mean is there a degree in creative writing?! I never knew that!

Yes, in the US we have creative writng programs. I took several classes when I was an undergraduate. Even if you are not a creative writing major, I recommend taking a class or two. They are fun and challenging and really gets you to understand literature much better. Literature is not about some intellectualized puzzle to crack open by a student, but a work of art to be appreciated. Creative writing programs get you to think like a writer, not like a literature professor.

[Nossa]

Originally Posted by Virgil

Yes, in the US we creative writng programs. I took several classes when I was an undergraduate. Even if you are not a creative writing major, I recommend taking a class or two. They are fun and challenging and really gets you to understand literature much better. Literature is not about some intellectualized puzzle to crack open my a student, but a work of art to be appreciated. Creative writing programs get you to think like a writer, not like a literature professor.

I totally agree with you. Love how you put the last sentence.. I'm currently searching for creative writing programs, hopefully I'll find something that works...thank you!

[Virgil]

Sure Nossa. Even just a class or two I think would make a world of difference. I really think you would like it. I'm not sure about majoring in it, though. I'm not sure what kind of jobs it would lead to.

[jon1jt]

Originally Posted by dramasnot6

that's my dream college

Go dramas go!