<p>Hi, I'm a high school junior and I'm planning on studying English Literature with a Creative Writing focus. I'm looking for schools without a religious affiliation, are academically rigorous, and are in cities that are creatively stimulating. Thanks. </p>
<p>Sounds like NYU is tailor-made for you. You could do a whole lot worse than learning writing from Doctorow, Olds, Oates, Ashberry (if he’s still teaching), etc. These people are some of the great writers of our times. What’s more creatively stimulating than the Big Apple? NYC is one of the reasons NYU is able to hire such great writers, but this rule also applies to other colleges in and around great cities. </p>
<p>The big question here, as it is for any applicant, is what can your family afford? Get their most recent tax return and plug the data into each school’s “net price calculator” and take the answers to your parents and ask them what they are willing to spend on your college education. NYU is expensive, as are many schools, and NYU is tight-fisted. </p>
<p>^ I agree with @jkeil911. That question is most important.</p>
<p>Try the University of Pennsylvania. They have an amazing program over at the Kelly Writer’s House! It is very up-and-coming.</p>
<p>Check out Emory:
<a href=“Emory seen as top destination for literary arts”>http://news.emory.edu/stories/2014/03/er_literary_arts_at_emory/campus.html</a></p>
<p>It’s in the Atlanta area and if campus vibe is of concern, has more of a traditional campus than NYU. It depends on what you are looking for. :)</p>
<p>If you enjoy character-oriented (literary) fiction, most CW programs will be pretty good. If you lean more toward story-oriented (genre) fiction, you may find that a lot of CW professors will not be interested in your work. Some of their feedback may be helpful, but some of it may actually be destructive. If that sounds like you, before you choose, investigate every writer who teaches in the program.</p>
<p>Check out Johns Hopkins. Edgar Allen Poe is from Baltimore and even his grave is there. F Scott Fitzgerald lived in one of the buildings on campus. Not to mention JHU has a top ten english/creative writing program, and is very academically rigorous. Plus, Baltimore is not far from DC, so if you’re into writing about history and politics and such, it shouldn’t be an issue for you.</p>
<p>Creatively stimulating is up to interpretation. I always thought I was a city girl, but I find it easiest to write when connected to nature/natural settings. There’s something really peaceful about sitting in the grass and only hearing birds and other animals while you write.</p>
<p>The first college that came to mind was Hamilton College - the only problem is that it’s not in a city (it’s in Clinton, NY). If you’re a young woman, you might also be interested in some of the women’s colleges - Bryn Mawr (right outside of Philadelphia) and Wellesley (right outside of Boston). You may be interested also in the Claremont Colleges (fairly close to Los Angeles; Claremont McKenna, Scripps, Pomona, and Pitzer are the ones of interest here).</p>
<p>What are your grades and test scores like? Some of these schools may or may not be realistic for you.</p>
<p>Reed College, some great writers have come out of there. Lewis and Clark is also quite good; for many years, a quite well-known poet, William Stafford, taught there and left a lasting influence on the department. Both colleges are in Portland. It is easier to get to restaurants and more bustling parts of the city from Reed. L&C runs a shuttle to compensate. Both are beautiful campuses. Reed is highly selective.</p>