<p>Thanks Cal!</p>
<p>Wow Reeinaz: only 7? you would think that’s a program that boys are all over. Go figure.</p>
<p>I’m figuring that either way it goes it’s fine. If it’s a no, it will be a good lesson in prioritizing and that deadlines come and go no matter how busy you are.</p>
<p>Correction - 132 writers out of 500 apps</p>
<p>Just got my acceptance to Iowa today (session 2!), so excited!!
Good luck to all who haven’t heard yet! :-)</p>
<p>Congrat’s Typewriter! I just opened the letter for my son and he got in too! Session 2 as well. I am sure all 66 of you are going to have a great time! I just sent him a text!</p>
<p>I got in for S2 as well, and I’m definitely going - I’ll probably see some of you there!</p>
<p>Anyone else anxiously waiting to hear back from Alpha? :)</p>
<p>@constantdreamer: I’m super psyched to have been accepted. I hope you got good news, too! :)</p>
<p>@allylale: yep!! I’m still having a little bit of trouble believing it, but I got in. I guess I’ll be seeing you there this summer :)</p>
<p>@constantdreamer: yay! I really hope my parents let me go, it sounds incredible :)</p>
<p>@allylale: good luck!!</p>
<p>Quick question for everyone: I’ve been accepted to both Alpha and Kenyon, and I’m only really considering Alpha. This is for several reasons:
-I’ve already done a similarly structured two weeks with Teen Ink
-I’m going to be taking creative writing classes in college come September which will probably be similar to the kinds of things they’d teach me at Kenyon, whereas my chosen college definitely does not have speculative fiction classes! (Although their creative writing program is excellent)
-I like that there’s an emphasis on getting published and the working writer theme rather than just perfecting craft. Again, not likely to be something I learn in college.
-TAMORA PIERCE AND HOLLY BLACK</p>
<p>However, my parents are worried about whether it’s worth it, because it’s not exactly one that’s very well publicized/known and they’re iffy about sending me off to some random place for ten days. I was wondering if you’ve heard about the program, if so from where, and whether you think it would be worth it for me?</p>
<p>Thanks! 
ally</p>
<p>Hey, y’all–I’m doing a blog post on high school (and college, if anyone has done college conferences) creative writing summer programs over at [YOUNG</a> WRITER’S NOTEBOOK](<a href=“http://www.youngwritersnotebook.■■■■■■■■■■■■■%5DYOUNG”>http://www.youngwritersnotebook.■■■■■■■■■■■■■). Having only attended Interlochen, I’m looking for any guest posters who’d be interested in writing a quick blurb about the other big names (Iowa, Kenyon, Sewanee…anything on this thread). </p>
<p>Anyone interested can contact me at <a href="mailto:glassesarechic@aim.com">glassesarechic@aim.com</a>. I’d love your input!</p>
<p>I just wanted to comment saying that I ended up going to Alpha and had an absolutely incredible time- 12 of the best days of my life. I’ve blogged about it, so I’ll copy what I said over here :)</p>
<p>Alpha is a 10 day writing workshop for teens geared specifically towards speculative fiction writers. Students attend lectures on everything from dialogue to tone given by a variety of staff and guest lecturers. Admission is based solely on the strength of the 2000-6000 word short story you apply with, and while you’re there, you work on another short story, which you get critiqued and then revise for submission to publications. At the end of the program, you go to Confluence, a sci-fi convention in Pittsburgh.</p>
<p>Now that I’ve gotten the basics out of the way, I can tell you why it was so much fun.</p>
<p>For starters, I got to hang out with incredibly cool people- where else can you discuss philosophy one minute and die of typhoid on the Oregon trail the next? The writing community is filled with kind, smart, easygoing, fun and talented people who will make you squee inside from feelings of oh-my-gosh-I’ve-known-these-people-for-five-minutes-but-they-totally-get-me and also keep you up chatting until four in the morning. I know I’ve made some lifelong friends.</p>
<p>Another awesome thing about alpha is the staff, who treat you like adults and dispense writerly wisdom (and humor) left right and center. Did I mention that they’re just great people in general? Alpha also hosts a slew of distinguished author guests, and I was lucky enough to meet David Levine, Scott Johnson, Ellen Kushner and Tamora Pierce.</p>
<p>I think one of the most valuable things about the workshop is the intense yet relaxed and fun atmosphere- the focus on pure writing, specifically in relation to short fiction, is very strong. There’s also a huge emphasis on writing for publication, with a lot of discussion about saleability, markets, and the publishing industry. It’s a welcome and thorough introduction to the real world, especially if you’re considering writing as a career!</p>
<p>Reviving this thread!</p>
<p>How many of these creative writing programs are open to international applicants? I’ve looked around on the Alpha and Iowa sites; neither of them have anything about international applicants, negative or otherwise (although Iowa’s does say from around the “country”). I’m having a really tough time finding summer programs that I’d like to attend that are open to international students at a reasonable price (I’m considering Interlochen, but it’s sort of expensive/competitive… then again most everything is). </p>
<p>Any advice?</p>
<p>I am an OCD planner and I’m gathering application materials now so that I won’t be freaking out mid-February. I plan to apply for Iowa, Kenyon, Sewanee, and UVA and try my luck! Sewanee’s closest, but Iowa looks so amazing and I can’t imagine turning it down if I somehow get in…</p>
<p>Anyway, for those of you who have applied previous years, did you have your English/Writing teacher just write one letter and send it everwhere? Or did you ask them to write new ones based on each program’s specific questions? I hate to ask my teacher for four different letters, but there are subtle differences in the questions asked in each recommendation prompt. Advice?</p>
<p>emeraldEvi - I like the planning ahead - just like me! My son went to Iowa last summer and had a great time! He applied to Bard, Sewanee, Kenyon and Iowa and got in to all four. He did have his Lit Mag teacher write the letters of rec - but he did not give her any direction on whether to use one letter or re-write for the specific application. He just gave her the forms from the individual programs and envelops to mail them in and that was it. My opinion is that you should leave it up to the teacher that you ask. Hope that helps!</p>
<p>thanks…my daughter really want to go to Iowa… she is working on her essay now… I feel better about it now.</p>
<p>And UVA’s application stuff is up! Just FYI. </p>
<p>Retro-- could you elaborate on your experiences at Iowa and Kenyon (and any others you’ve attended)? I’m not sure how to decide between them, if I manage to get into more than one.</p>
<p>Hello all(: I know this thread is pretty old, but I thought I’d try and revive it for acceptance season! I got my letter in the mail from Kenyon yesterday- in for unit one! Has anyone else heard from their sessions?</p>
<p>Congratulations bayfly! I got my acceptance email from UVA just now (session 1) and I’m so excited! Their website said emails would come out around April 1, but I’m so happy it came out early because now I can enjoy Spring Break without that email looming over me.</p>