best writing schools

Hi! I’m a junior looking for a smallish (but not tiny) college with a very strong creative writing program and maybe political science/government, as well. I’d like to stay on the East Coast if possible. I would also love to be involved in a campus publication. I’m not Ivy-League-good in terms of stats, but I would be a competitive applicant at most schools. I’ve been researching Wesleyan, Vassar, WUSTL, Brown, Williams, and Middlebury, mostly. Natural beauty is important to me, but I’m worried I’ll feel isolated if I’m really in the middle of nowhere. Any recommendations? Thoughts on the schools I named? I’ll go visit many of them this spring break.

Kenyon.

I agree with Kenyon but if OP is worried about being “in the middle of nowhere,” well that’s Gambier, Ohio.

At smu I have a few creative writing friends (a concentration in the English major). I have another friend that went to high point university for creative writing. Both are small less that 7000 undergrads. And high point is in North Carolina, while smu is in Dallas. Best of luck

Hamilton.

I would add Bard to your list. Fantastic writing program.

Agree with all the above and add Susquehanna

And Beloit and Bennington

http://college.usatoday.com/the-10-best-american-colleges-for-writers/

http://contently.net/2014/11/06/resources/10-best-colleges-creative-writers/

http://flavorwire.com/409437/the-25-most-literary-colleges-in-america

Hamilton may meet most or all of your criteria. Though beautifully rural by certain aspects, the college offers hourly shuttle service to a nearby suburban area, as well as occasional service to the small urban area beyond that:

https://www.hamilton.edu/campuslife/transportation/the-jitney

https://www.hamilton.edu/campuslife/transportation/utica-jitney-service

Of your listed schools, Wesleyan and Vassar would seem to be additional excellent options.

If you’re looking for campus publications, take a look at the New England Review out of Middlebury College. Of course, I presume you’re familiar with Middlebury’s Breadloaf Writers’ Conference.

Amherst, Middlebury, Hamilton, Wesleyan, Pomona and Vassar would be near the top of my list.