Hello! My daughter is looking at small liberal arts colleges in the Northeast. She wants to go to an very well regarded school with a strong Writing and Literature program/department.
My daughter loves the schools mentioned above. Are there any other schools she should consider that are comparable?
Thanks!
These articles discuss some highly regarded programs for writing and literature:
http://contently.net/2014/11/06/resources/10-best-colleges-creative-writers/
http://flavorwire.com/409437/the-25-most-literary-colleges-in-america
https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/writing-programs
It has a different vibe, but Bard is a great school for writing (and a bit easier to get into.) Kenyon is known for its writing program and more like those 3. Is she looking to add somewhat less reachy schools or more of this type?
To summarize: all are excellent, but Colby is weaker than the other two, and Hamilton is usually thought to have an edge over Middlebury, though Midd is also associated with the Bread Loaf.
To @merc81’s lists, I would add Adroit Journal’s list, which, in my opinion, is a better list, since it is produced by people in the discipline, and is non-profit. Still, it is subjective, so it won’t be perfect either. https://theadroitjournal.org/2019/04/18/best-creative-writing-colleges/
Other small colleges with top-notch writing programs are below.
In the NE:
Williams
Wesleyan
Bennington
Emerson (in Boston)
In the Midwest:
Kenyon
Carleton
Knox
Oberlin
In the South:
Sewanee
Davidson
Women’s colleges:
Smith (NE)
Bryn Mawr ¶
Barnard (NY)
Sarah Lawrence (NY)
Agnes Scott (GA)
Since it would be of importance to those considering the school, we should note that Sarah Lawrence enrolls both men and women.
Regarding college suggestions not yet made, I’ll toss in Vassar.
I stand corrected, and Vassar is an excellent choice.
Thank you so much for all of your responses. I appreciate your insights. We looked at Vassar - beautiful school but not the vibe my daughter has in mind. I will check out the lists. We have considered Williams but think it might be out of reach. It is hard to decipher the true quality and reputation of these schools - not the hype.
Your daughter appears to like what can be regarded as northern-tier NESCACs (Colby, Middlebury, Williams, Hamilton). If she becomes decisive in this preference, it will help her consolidate her choices. Though not a NESCAC, Colgate resembles this group in some ways. For a safer admit, look into St. Lawrence.
You should consider Colgate. It is only 30 minutes from Hamilton and definitely worth a visit.
Union is another that has a similar feel to many of these and is a bit easier to get into.
For NE liberal arts colleges that are good for writers and that have higher acceptance rates, I will repeat my recommendation for Bennington College.