<p>Hello everyone!</p>
<p>In hopes of having a more productive summer, I'm trying to research any great summer programs for Creative Writing. I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I’m looking into applying to the Juniper Institute (University of Massachusetts), Jonathan R. Reynolds (Denison University), and Kenyon Review (Kenyon College) Young Writers Workshops.
They all look good, and from scouring other threads, I know that the Iowa Young Writers’ Studio and the Sewanee Young Writers’ Conference are supposed to be fantastic as well.
Please let me know what you decide- like you, I’m still on the search & would also love reccomendations! 
</p>
<p>@turnthepages
Thank you so much for your help! I’ll definitely look into all of the programs you’ve recommended. I’ve already applied for the summer program at Brown University (Summer@Brown), but I don’t know if I’ll go, especially now that you’ve presented me with so many other options. I’ll try to keep you updated with what I decide. Once again, thanks a bunch!</p>
<p>The program at Brown looks so good, it’s just a bit too long for me personally. (I think that’s the one that’s 4 weeks long, but I may be mistaken) Good luck!</p>
@turnthepages
Hello again! I just wanted to give you a quick update: I’m currently looking into applying for the Juniper Institute, the Iowa Young Writers’ Studio, and the Sewanee Young Writers’ Conference. Not quite sure about the others yet (who knew that sitting at a computer and googling summer programs could be so exhausting?), but just wanted to let you know. 
Is there any program that you’re prioritizing over the others? All of them sound so good!
Hi!
Those all look awesome! I wish Sewanee wasn’t so far from home; it would be at the top of my list. (I’ve been scouring every creative writing forum on here and narrowing down writing workshops for months. I can totally relate; it’s so tiring! :)) )
I think Reynolds at Denison is the one I’m most hoping to get into. It’s kind of a gut feeling drawing me towards it… On the other hand, John Green and Ransom Riggs both attended Kenyon College, so that certainly says something about the school! I want to go to Juniper, too, though! It’s such a tough choice between the three- I think I’ll see if I get into any of them, and go from there, ha. But, yeah, Reynolds is probably my number one. (:
Let me know what happens!
Are there any that aren’t that expensive? I’m thinking of applying to one or two, but I don’t see the point in spending 2k for a two-week workshop…
Hollins is less expensive and they will let you apply most of the summer program money towards tuition if you end up going there. Also, when our daughter attended she met both the university president and the admissions team and was subsequently admitted with a nice merit scholarship!
Heyy. I’m also going to be applying to Writing programs, notably the Iowa and UVA programs. I might apply for a third, if one catches my eye.
Does anyone know how prestigious California State Summer School for the Arts is (it has a creative writing program; it’s held at CalArts)? It’s really inexpensive for me (since I’m a Cali resident)–under 2k for a four-week program.
Hey guys!
@topaz1116 Sorry, all the programs that I’ve looked into so far are pretty much 2K for 2 weeks… minimum. It’s a real bummer how nowadays, you need to cough up cash for quality, and sometimes you don’t even get the quality. xP But no worries: according to the research I’ve done so far, all the programs listed above seem like a worthy investment. ^-^ And I did glance over the creative writing program at CalArts, but unfortunately for me, it’s a bit too far away. I don’t know much about it. I’m jealous, though: that instate price sounds AMAZING, and the program looks promising, too.
@turnthepages I think I’m getting the same gut feeling about Sewanee. I’m not far from Tennessee, and it sounds really good! Now I just need to apply… O.o
Now that I’ve mostly settled down from my frantic Summer-Program Hunt, I thought I might as well share my notes. Researching all the programs is exhausting, so maybe these notes will give you a little boost or something. Most of the programs have already been mentioned on this thread. I starred the ones I’m applying for. Sorry for spamming. Hope this helps someone out!
Sewanee Young Writers’ Conference (probably my priority)
http://static.sewanee.edu/ywc/
Location: Sewanee College, Tennessee
Length: (2 weeks) June 28 - July 11
Cost: $2,200 for tuition (additional fee of $130 for transportation from the airport IF you need it)
Application: Rolling admissions, application review begins on Feb. 27; teacher recommendation; statement of purpose; writing sample
Juniper Institute for Young Writers
http://www.umass.edu/juniperyoungwriters/
Location: University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Length: (9 days) June 20-28
Cost: $1,596 (including $30 for the application fee and $216 for housing if you want to board)
Application: Rolling admissions, squishy deadline May 15; $30 application fee; writing sample (5-7 pages); personal statement (300 word limit); teacher recommendation
Iowa Young Writers’ Studio
http://iowayoungwritersstudio.org/
Location: The University of Iowa
Length: (2 weeks) June 14-27 (Session 1); July 5-18 (Session 2)
Cost: $2,250 (includes $250 deposit to reserve spot)
Application: Application period is Feb. 2, 8 AM - Feb. 13, 5 PM, deadline is Feb. 13, 5 PM; creative writing sample (10 pages); statement of purpose (1-2 pages); recommendation letter; high school transcript
The Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop
http://www.kenyonreview.org/workshops/young-writers/
Location: Kenyon College, Ohio
Length: (2 weeks) June 28 - July 11 (Session 1); July 19 - August 1 (Session 2)
Cost: $2,275
Application: Deadline is March 1; story/essay of personal statement (300 word limit); recommendation letter; high school transcript
Interlochen High School Creative Writing Summer Program (sounds nice, but a bit pricey)
http://camp.interlochen.org/program/creative-writing/hs/summer
Location: Interlochen Center for the Arts, Michigan
Length: June 27 - July 18 (Session 1); July 19 - August 10 (Session 2)
Cost: [WARNING: kind of pricey] $4,985 (including the $50 application fee)
Application: Deadline is Feb. 1 [soon]; personal essay; writing portfolio (your entries will vary depending on which two genres you pick out of poetry, fiction, playwriting, or nonfiction) (must be typed, proofread, standard 12-pt font, and the whole portfolio cannot exceed 30 pages)
The Young Writers Workshop
http://theyoungwriters.org/summer-program
Location: University of Virginia
Length: June 21 - July 3 (Session 1, 2 weeks); July 5 - July 24 (Session 2, more advanced, 3 weeks)
Cost: Session 1 - $1750; Session 2 - $2750
Application: Deadline is March 1; personal essay; recommendation; portfolio (3-5 pages) (entries will vary depending on your first choice genre among Graphic Fiction & Nonfiction, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry, Songwriting, and Screen & Playwriting); writing sample (2-3 pages of your 2nd choice genre)
Feel free to add your notes! (Or don’t, it’s pretty exhausting) x.x
Sorry, forgot this one! One more:
Young Writers Workshop
http://simons-rock.edu/young-writers/
Location: Bard College at Simon’s Rock, Massachusetts
Length: July 12 - August 1 (3 weeks)
Cost: $2,850 (pretty good for 3 weeks)
Application: Rolling admissions, squishy deadline is April/May; “Reflective Writing” essay; teacher recommendation
California State Summer School for the Arts
https://www.csssa.org/academic-programs/creative-writing/
Location: California College of the Arts, Valencia, California
Length: July 11 - August 7 (4 weeks)
Cost: $1550 instate; $5000 out-of-state (plus $20 application fee)
Application: Deadline is February 28; personal statement, memoir, dramatic script, flash fiction, poem + supplemental materials optional; teacher recommendation
Here’s a fantastic program that I’m thinking of applying to next year:
Between the Lines International Writing Program
http://iwp.uiowa.edu/programs/between-the-lines/2015
Location: University of Iowa
Length: June 21 - July 5 (Session 1), July 18 - August 1 (Session 2) 2 weeks
Cost (For US Applicants): $1800
Application: Deadline is April 1; letter of recommendation, transcript, 6-8 pages of fiction and/or poetry, 2-5 pages of fiction and/or in response to prompts, & statement of purpose
This program brings together writers from diverse backgrounds- the first session accepts students from Russia, Arabic-speaking countries, and the United States and the second session accepts students from Armenia, Turkey, and the United States.
It looks like a really spectacular experience and the price isn’t half bad. 
I am puzzled about something. Kenyon has such a fantastic reputation, but they are one of the only programs that doesn’t require a writing sample. And they limit their “Why do you want to attend?” essay to only 300 words. So how are they accurately choosing who is a strong writer, and how are they so selective?
@desie1 I’ve wondered the same exact thing! I assume that they want to see who stands out when given so little to work with. Bummer, because when it comes down to essays and short stories, the latter is definitely my strength…
Also, @sunbloom , you said I should keep you updated- I was accepted into Juniper. Have you heard back yet from any of the programs you applied to?
@desie1 I have the same thoughts about Kenyon. How could a program ask for so little writing material from their applicants, and yet still be so selective? Besides, it’s a bit hard to give the admissions people a feel for who you are and how you write with a 300 word limit looming over your head. I think it’s so much better when programs request a 6-10 writing sample instead. Much more room to breathe!
@turnthepages I didn’t apply to Juniper, but I did just submit my application to Iowa. I’m also planning on applying to Sewanee, Kenyon, The Young Writers Workshop, and (get this, @topaz1116 !) CSSSA. I have a good friend applying to CSSSA, and the application requirements for the writing sample sound really fun, so I decided that I might as well give it a try. The price isn’t bad at all, either, even for out-of-state students.
I’ve just been so busy lately. It’s hard juggling schoolwork AND trying to build up a decent portfolio. At least I have a snow day. It’ll help me get a little more organized. If I stop procrastinating. LOL -_-
My daughter was accepted into Sewanee today! (snail mail, thin envelope) So excited! She really wants to learn how to perfect her writing.