<p>Hi, I am going to be a high school senior in the fall of 2014 and I am trying to decide the list of colleges I am going to apply to come winter. I have a real passion for writing stories so I want to do some form of creative writing in college; I would hope this would be in the form of a major but I know many universities only offer it as a minor or concentration in the english major. I'd rather skip most of the analytical, argumentative, non-fiction writing seen in a lot of English major classes if possible. I want to take classes in ficiton, prose, screenwriting and maybe even playwriting.
That being said, I understand the impracticality of majoring in creative writing alone, and so to quell both my mother and my own doubts and worries I have decided to double major (if c.w. is a major in the college i attend). I am interested in the sciences and math as well so I am contemplating some majors in the biological science fields. I considered biomedical engineering for a while but I just don't think I have what it takes to be an engineer lol.
Finally, to my question: I really want to attend a university with an amazing creative writing program since that is my primary interest; however I don't want the science program to be half-bad either, so I fear going to a small liberal arts college. What are some universities that can offer both to me? I am a very well-rounded student so I believe I have a shot at some of the tougher universities, don't hold back the big names for fear of my ability.</p>
<p>MIT is one choice that’s not obvious, but has a pretty good writing program, but that’s pretty tough to get into. Slightly easier, though still at the 25% admission level would be Hamilton, which emphasizes writing and communications in every course on the campus, plus is known for being a writing school. With no core requirements, you can probably avoid most of the things you don’t want, though you’d have to check the degree requirements to be sure.</p>
<p>There was a similar thread just this week on the same topic, you might try tracking that down and seeing what the answers were.</p>
<p>Oh wow, thank you, I had not even considered MIT. I always hear about science but never writing from them; I’ll definitely look into it! I have heard of Hamilton’s cw program but don’t know much about it, so I’ll look there too. :)</p>
<p>Are finances an issue? How are your stats (ie. GPA and SAT/AP scores)? I would suggest Reed, New College of Florida, and the College of Creative Studies at UC Santa Barbara, as places with strong, “nerdy” cultures where students frequently merge science with arts and humanities. At NCF and CCS/UCSB, you may create your own major and curriculum. Brown is another possibility, if you have the academic qualifications.</p>
<p>I want to challenge two of your perceptions: one: “I don’t want the science program to be half-bad either, so i fear going to a small liberal arts college.” Where did you get the idea that LACs don’t have outstanding science programs? Are you looking for well-equipped labs? Many LACs have brand new (or recently renovated) science facilities. Hands-on research opportunities? No competition with graduate students for that! Close relationships with professors and mentoring? Ding ding ding – that’s the jackpot going off.</p>
<p>The second is your comment: “I’d rather skip most of the analytical, argumentative, non-fiction writing seen in a lot of English major classes if possible.” Wow – you are going to be in for a shock if you think that you can avoid writing that is going to be reasoned and analytical in college, whether or not you are a CW major, an English major, or any major for that matter. I don’t know what the CW offerings at Hamilton are, but I am pretty sure their emphasis on writing means that it spans the disciplines and students will be expected to do precisely the kind of writing you seem to want to avoid.</p>
<p>Johns Hopkins has an amazing CW program along with it’s outstanding science offerings. Northwestern is an option also. </p>
<p>@woogzmama finances are not great but not terrible either so I probably won’t get that much aid. I have a 4.1 gpa and a current 2100 in the SATs but I recently took them again and expect my scores to go up. I’ll check those out! I like the idea of having some freedom and flexibility with designing my major.</p>
<p>@SDonCC I’m not really sure where I got that idea from. It might have been from an article I read or a relative or something, but I’ve always just thought liberal arts colleges meant lackluster science and math programs. I guess not, sorry about that! What you said definitely abetted some of my worries then. As for the analytical writing, I might have phrased that poorly. I know that there will still be a lot of that in college but after a year of hardcore analyzing elements of argument and nonfiction in my English class this year(Machiavelli for instance), I realize I would just rather be working with fiction. That being said, I don’t mean I want to avoid this type of writing all together because I know it isn’t possible. I would just rather have a major that lets me deal primarily with fiction and poetry</p>
<p>@amtc thanks I’ll check JHU out, and I’ve been considering Northwestern also lately but I’m unsure about the location for me.</p>
<p>There are probably a lot of LACs out there with creative writing programs and top of the line science departments. Wesleyan comes to mind. It certainly graduates a lot of writers and two of their best known happened to be MDs:
<a href=“Robin Cook (American novelist) - Wikipedia”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Cook_(American_novelist)</a>
<a href=“Michael Palmer (novelist) - Wikipedia”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Palmer_(novelist)</a></p>
<p>You can sign up to take a Creative Writing class as an elective almost anywhere, but there might always be scheduling conflicts or other requirements you need to fulfill first. If it is a passion, and you don’t want to double-major or minor in English, then I suggest looking at some unconventional undergraduate colleges where you have a lot of flexibility in designing your own course of study. </p>
<p>Please don’t base your perceptions of college English programs on your high school curriculum. Look up English departments at different colleges to see what courses they offer and what is required for the major before deciding that you only want a separate creative writing program, and ruling out colleges that have creative writing classes offered within a broader English major. I’d be surprised if most creative writing programs didn’t have a strong reading and literary analysis component anyway. </p>
<p>First, you need to clarify your financial situation. If your family doesn’t expect to get much need based aid, is their estimated family contribution workable? Before you go any further with your list ask your parents to use a few net price calculators to make sure you can afford a private college.</p>
<p>I agree with @SDonCC, many LACs have good to great math and science programs. Many have excellent English departments too, but undergrad creative writing majors are few. </p>
<p>Creative writing concentrations or programs are fairly common at many colleges, of all sizes, but for sure you’d still be expected to do the reading, criiticism, and expository writing that comes with the English major. though the focus could certainly be on fiction.</p>
<p>Many English departments also have professional fiction writers on the faculty, either full time or visiting. Check to see who’s teaching to get an idea of the direction of the writing programs</p>
<p>I’d look at the English departments and creative writing options at Kenyon, Wesleyan, Williams, Hamilton, Vassar. Smith if you are female. They all have strong sciences and strong English departments, though the creative writing programs vary. Skimore and Bard have excellent creative writing minors/concentrationd, Their sciences are good, but not as good as some of the other LACs.</p>
<p>Among medium sized privates, I’d look at JHU, CMU and Brown (though I’m not sure that any has an undergraduate creative writing major per se).</p>