College for Poetry, Among Other Things

College Search & Selection
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<p>Hi there!</p>

<p>So I've lurked on College Confidential since my freshman year of high school, and now that I'm nearing the end of my junior year, I find myself in need of some help. I'm trying to narrow down my college search, but am having some trouble.</p>

<p>I am (something of) a poet, and really want to go to a college that would allow me to take WORKSHOPS in poetry, as well as one that has a good atmosphere for creative writing in general. That said, I'm also interested in studying history, philosophy, literature, and film. As you can see, I love the humanities.</p>

<p>I prefer urban to rural, though I grew up in the suburbs, so I think I could tolerate them for four more years. From the colleges I've visited, I think I prefer large schools to small ones, though I could be persuaded to consider a small one. Most importantly, I need a good library and a good bookstore. It would also be nice to have a good literary magazine, student newspaper, etc... East coast preferred.</p>

<p>I go to a private school on Philadelphia's Main Line that places students at top schools. It is also important to note that I had a serious illness this year, and missed about 8 weeks of school because of it. Thus, my grades this year are not what they should have been, and my Dean of Students had me medically drop a class halfway through the year (however, since I had been taking one class above the recommended course load, I am still completing a full course load). This unfortunately meant that I could not continue my language studies.</p>

<p>My course load is rigorous with a humanities bent.</p>

<p>I had more As than Bs freshman year, straight As sophomore year, and a mix of As and Bs this year (though I really don't know how things will turn out in the end).</p>

<p>My PSATs were a 212 this year, however my SATs (taken May 1) were 1940 (620 M, 640 CR, 680 W).</p>

<p>I was staff on a Congressman's campaign for 1.5 years; I am on Model UN and have won an award; I used to be on the school newspaper; I co-founded my school's literary magazine; I am a writing tutor; I participated in a non-profit's youth advisory committee; I have done chrous and drama intermittently.</p>

<p>Furthermore, I write a lot of poetry (and a fair amount of prose) and want to send a creative writing supplement wherever I apply.</p>

<p>Thanks,
Odd Poet</p>

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<p>Also, if it helps, I got a 740 on the World History SAT Subject Test.</p>

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<p>JHU (bit of a reach)
Iowa
Bucknell</p>

4

<p>NYU is the first to come to mind. </p>

<p>Carnegie Mellon would also be a superb option, though a slight reach at this point.</p>

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<p>Thanks so much for the responses. I was really surprised to find that Bucknell had a center for poetry, and what looked like a very active poetry scene. Are there any other schools that come to mind?</p>

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<p>For a summer program, you should definitely check out the workshops at Naropa and Lewis and Clark. Serious stuff.</p>

7

<p>People always mention Kenyon for writing. And you scores might be in their range.</p>

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<p>^
There are many excellent options for creative writing across the country (Sarah Lawrence, Northwestern, U Redlands, etc.), but I hesitated to include them because they didn’t seem to meet the OP’s criteria. Kenyon, for example, is small (the OP prefers large), rural (the OP prefers urban or at least suburban), and in Ohio (the OP prefers east coast).</p>

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<p>I would say that the grades issue, albeit understandable with your medical situation, will hold you back, because at the end of the day, it is the most important thing to colleges. This may sound crazy, but you might want to consider a 13th year program somewhere. Kristin M. White’s Gap Year Program guide lists schools that have Grade 13. This way, you could show a very strong upward grade trend, not only for a full senior year, but for fall of the 13th year as well.</p>

<p>Also, rigorous private schools typically practice such enormous grade deflation (applying a bell curve to a very elite population), that they limit your college choices more than if you were attending a public high school. It’s ironic, I know. But I have seen this with many clients. Colleges probably know your school’s rigorous reputation but they don’t typically build that in sufficiently to make up for an UW GPA below 3.5.</p>

<p>Steven Antonoff’s College Finder does not list poetry schools, but gives this list for the creative writer: U Arizona, Bard, Bennington, Brown, UC-Riverside, Carnegie Mellon, Colorado College, Emerson, Franklin & Marshall, Hamilton, U Iowa, Kenyon, Knox, Lewis & Clark, Middlebury, UNC-Chapel Hill, Oberlin, U Puget Sound, U Redlands, Santa Fe, Sarah Lawrence, Washington College (MD), Wash U in St Lous, Wesleyan.</p>

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<p>U Pennsylvania might be a bit of a stretch (given your SATs) but otherwise sounds perfect for you: good support for writer’s (check the Kelly Writer’s House), strong humanties, relatively large, urban, east coast, etc., but it’s worth a shot…</p>

<p>Besides the schools other posters mentioned, you also might consider Case Western Reserve.</p>

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<p>DEFINITELY the University of Iowa.</p>

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<p>“Poetry was what we did at Kenyon, the way at Ohio State they played football.” - E.L. Doctorow '52</p>

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<p>Univ of Iowa</p>

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<p>“Colleges probably know your school’s rigorous reputation but they don’t typically build that in sufficiently to make up for an UW GPA below 3.5.”</p>

<p>Hmm. </p>

<p>DD had a Weighted GPA of 3.7 from an elite public, and got into Lehigh, Case, and RPI, and was WLed at WUSTL. Unless you are talking about ivies (but see the lists of schools people in the thread are actually discussing) he probably stands at least some chance at most of these schools (though my DD’s SATS were quite a bit higher)</p>

<p>DD, had we hired a college consultant, probably would have been advised to aim lower. AFAICT the only colleges where attending an elite school and getting a lower GPA would have hurt her were our states flagship publics, which she ended up not applying to anyway, as she wanted a smallish school.</p>

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<p>Like others I suggest the University of Iowa. Prestige and is really the best place to study creative writing. University of Iowa located in Iowa City is ( and only city in the USA) recognized as World City of Literature.</p>

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<p>So I actually did a Writers Workshop at Kenyon, and I loved it while I was there, I’d only be concerned about whether I could stand 4 years in a place that rural.</p>

<p>My school sends a lot of people to Penn, and it is a school I will look at, but I’m worried it’s too…well, too much like my high school–which would not be desirable.</p>

<p>Sarah Lawrence I visited and hated…a lot.</p>

<p>U Iowa I know has always had the top MFA in creative writing. But how good are they, really, when it comes to undergraduate creative writing? I’ve heard very mixed things, especially about the quality of the undergraduate student body overall.</p>

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<p>I will be attending The University of Iowa and know that a student entering should not be concern about the quality of the school.
University of Iowa undergraduate creative writing has recently advance in courses offered to their undergraduate students. Iowa would be the best place to study creative writing considering all the information you provided.</p>

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<p>I forgot to suggest Pitt earlier. </p>

<ul>
<li>Urban, check (Pittsburgh)</li>
<li>East coast, check </li>
<li>Large, check (27,000 students)</li>
<li>Great writing program with a poetry track, check</li>
<li>Compatible with the OP’s stats, check</li>
</ul>

<p>As a bonus, it’s nearly $15K cheaper a year than OOS Iowa and is a stronger university overall. In terms of best bang for one’s buck, it’s probably the superior option.</p>

<p>[U&lt;/a&gt; Pittsburgh - Creative Writing](<a href=“http://www.creativewriting.pitt.edu/]U”>http://www.creativewriting.pitt.edu/)</p>